The main goal of most Pokémon games is collecting badges and eventually rising to the level of a challenger to the Elite Four, and eventually, the Champion. Most games have eight available badges across eight gyms, each of which tests your mettle against the most advanced trainers in the region to prove you have what it takes to challenge the Elite Four.
Almost every gym has a specialty type, awarding a badge that matches that type in design appearance and name. With so many different badges introduced into the series, some are bound to be nicer than others. Here are the ten best, ranked.
10 Rising Badge
If you’re looking to add a cool, intimidating-looking badge to your case, consider the Rising Badge. This dragon-inspired black and red design can be won by defeating Clair in Blackthorn City in Johto.
Unfortunately, she won’t immediately reward you with the badge. After her defeat, she’ll test you even further by sending you into the Dragon’s Den out back to prove your worth. It’s irritating, but the fact that it lets you control Pokémon up to the maximum level 100 makes it worth it.
9 Patience Badge
This badge is not actually from the main series, and comes by way of Pokémon Masters EX. In this mobile game, the Patience Badge can be won from the Hoenn region’s Normal-type leader, Norman.
You can encounter Norman for the battle against him in Chapter 7 of the game’s main story. He serves as the third leader to hand out a badge after Erika and Skyla. This badge is a fantastic-design, simple and sleek but somehow reflective of the virtue it represents.
8 Fairy Badge
This is one of the only badges before Generation VIII to be named for the type of its respective gym, which at the time was the newly-introduced Fairy-type. Interestingly, Galar also has a Fairy badge, making these two the only ones to share a name.
This original Fairy badge, though, is awarded to trainers who defeat Valerie in Kalos’s Laverre City. It’s a gorgeous design, resembling both stained glass and Valerie’s own winged outfit.
7 Rainbow Badge
Possibly the most colorful badge across all of the games is the Rainbow Badge, awarded to the player by Celadon City’s Erika in the Kanto region after defeating her. As a specialist in Grass-type Pokémon, it makes sense that Erika’s badge resembles a colorful flower.
With this badge, Pokémon up to level 50 will obey the player, marking a nice almost halfway point through the gym system in the Kanto region. Unfortunately, it gets much harder from there, with leaders like Sabrina and Koga standing in the way next.
6 Trio Badge
One of the most interesting gyms across the entire series is the first one found in the Unova region in Black & White. In Striation City’s gym, players will face off against one of three potential gym leaders for the first time in series history.
Those who choose Oshawott as their starter will go up against the Grass-type user Cilan, those who choose Tepig will fight Water-type Cress, and those who choose Snivy will fight Fire-type Chili.
The badge they reward is perfect, as it contains red, blue, and green to represent all three leaders.
5 Feather Badge
Very few badges make it more clear which type their respective gym uses more than the Feather Badge. This nice, simple badge is won from Winona of Fortree City in the Hoenn region after defeating her. Winona and the members of her gym specialize in the Flying-type.
The Feather badge is representative of the Flying-type in both name and design. Its silver-blue wing motif is very elegant and sends a clear message of “Flying-type.”
4 Galar Badges
An interesting choice was made in Generation VIII regarding how the badges would be handled. Rather than individualized badges given by each leader to fit into a nice four-by-two case, Galar has a ring that all the badges fit into like a puzzle.
As a result, the player ends with a large, colorful medallion made up of the jagged-shaped badges of each gym. It’s a cool idea, and it really ties them together better than some other regions.
3 Icicle Badge
One of the most difficult gym leaders in the Sinnoh region, Candice, also has one of the most challenging gym puzzles. After defeating her and her Ice-type Pokémon, the player is awarded the Icicle badge, which almost makes the whole challenge worth it.
This badge, like some others, sends a clear indication of what type its gym uses. However, at second glance, it is also shaped like a ferocious face, which is a perfect touch to showcase Abomasnow, Candice’s ace Pokémon.
2 Cliff Badge
The leader of the Cyllage City gym in the Kalos region, Grant, specializes in Rock-type Pokémon. He’s an avid rock-climber, and his gym subjects the player to a type of rock-climbing challenge, as well as being located in a cliff-face.
There’s no doubt that rocks are the theme of this gym, so the badge it awards, the Cliff badge, is perfect. The name is great, and the staircase-design in interchanging shades of grey and brown is absolutely perfect.
1 Legend Badge
Unova actually has a second gym where the leader can change depending on certain factors. In Opelucid City, players with White will face Iris, while players with Black will face Drayden. Either way, they’ll receive the Legend badge upon defeat.
This badge is amazing. Its sharp design shows how tough the player must be to have defeated these Dragon-type specialists, and the name suggests that the player is exactly that — a legend. Anyone carrying this badge clearly earned it, and their now-legendary status is one to be reckoned with.
NEXT: Pokémon Sword & Shield: 10 Hardest Evolutions To Achieve, Ranked
