Gym leaders are, more often than not, pretty straightforward fights. They’re meant to be the most advanced trainers in the region, apart from the Elite 4 and Champion, but they’re usually pretty easy, especially since their team usually consists of a single type.
However, every generation has that one leader that just poses serious issues for the player. From amazing type combos to good moves and high levels, each of the leaders on this list represents what most gym leaders should be: difficult, challenging, and needing a well-thought-out strategy to take down. From each region, Kanto to Galar, there’s a single gym leader that embodies this principle.
8 Kanto
Sabrina, like many gym leaders from Kanto, has made an appearance in several games across Pokémon decades-long history, as Kanto itself has been shown again and again. Throughout all of these appearances, Sabrina has always been a difficult foe. Psychic-types were extremely overpowered in Generation I due to the glitch in type matchups, and her team is pretty stacked in members that are hard to combat.
Her team is also fairly high-leveled by the point in the game that you meet her, and her Alakazam always hits hard. Sabrina has become easier to defeat over the years, but she’s still the title-holder for the hardest Kanto gym leader, without question.
7 Johto
There are few gym leaders that strike fear into the hearts of players everywhere, but Whitney is probably the best example of exactly that. Ask anyone who played the original versions of Gold, Silver & Crystal which gym leader they struggled with the most, and it wouldn’t be surprising if every one of them said Whitney, leader of Goldenrod’s gym.
Whitney is intimidating for one main reason: her Miltank. This beast doesn’t just have extremely good stats for this early in the game — it’s also notorious for its powerful Rollout attack that rips through your team before you can even react. Throw in the fact that it uses Milk Drink to restore health when you manage to actually hit it, and you’re in trouble.
6 Hoenn
This entry doesn’t go to a single gym leader, but instead, two of them. However, they act as one, pitting you against their challenge in the form of a double battle. Tate and Liza are the gym leaders of Mossdeep Gym, and they utilize Psychic-type Pokémon.
The biggest challenge from these two is their matching Solrock and Lunatone. The Solrock uses Sunny Day early, letting it throw off a SolarBeam in a single turn as well as a powered-up Flamethrower. Lunatone loves utilizing Light Screen, Calm Mind, and Hypnosis to whittle down your patience. It takes some serious strategy to defeat these two.
5 Sinnoh
Late in the game in the Sinnoh region, you’ll come up against Candice in Snowpoint City’s gym. She’s the seventh leader you’ll face, and she wants to make sure you know it. Candice is tough, featuring two deadly threats: her lightning-quick Sneasel and her brick wall heavy-hitter, Abomasnow.
If you’ve come into her gym with some Rock-, Steel-, or Fighting-types (all of which are good against Ice), she also uses a Medicham that will take them down quickly. You’ll want to stick with Fire-types, which Sinnoh notoriously has a huge lack of.
4 Unova
Elesa is the downfall of many Unova League hopefuls. She’s an incredibly tough opponent, and she’ll leave you returning to the Pokémon Center in Nimbasa City — where her gym is located — time and time again. This Electric-type specialist uses three Pokémon: two Emolga and her signature ace, Zebstrika.
Leading up to Nimbasa is Route 4, known for being a desert route with a few Ground-types, like Sandile. Knowing that Elesa uses Electric-types, you might catch yourself one. Well, her two Emolga are both immune, so, nice try. These two flying mice also love using Volt Switch, so you’ll have quite the time trying to hit them regardless of what Pokémon you use, anyway. Luckily, she only has one Emolga in the sequel games.
3 Kalos
Kalos and the games that take place there — X & Y — are known for being pretty easy and not posing any real challenges to more experienced players. But, there are still moments with a bit more difficulty than the game overall.
One of these moments is the gym fight against Wulfric, the final gym leader and final boss of Snowbelle City’s gym. Wulfric has some high-level Pokémon since he’s the only thing standing between you and the Kalos Elite 4. His Avalugg has one of the highest defense stats you’ll probably ever see. Good luck!
2 Alola
The Alola Region famously doesn’t have gyms, of course, but it does have the Trial system and the four Island Kahunas. Amongst these pseudo-gym leaders, the most difficult is definitely Nanu.
The kahuna of Ula’ula Island, Nanu specializes in Dark-type Pokémon. Among players, it’s clear that many have struggled with this fight. As part of his grand trial, Nanu uses a Sableye, Krokorok, and Alolan Persian, which is equipped with Darkinium Z. He’s a pretty tough fight, so keep your wits about you.
1 Galar
Sword & Shield, like many of the more modern games, are a bit easier than original entries in the series. However, some of the gym leaders in Galar can pose a bit of a challenge if you’re unprepared.
Raihan is probably the biggest challenge, for a couple of reasons. First, he pits you against two Pokémon at once, taking a page from Tate and Liza’s book and issuing a double battle. Second, he loves to use weather effects, making sure you’re battered by a Sandstorm and much more.
NEXT: Pokémon: The 7 Most Useful Type Combinations (& 7 That Aren’t That Great)
