These Gym Leaders Will Live In Pokémon Fans' Hearts Forever (2024)

Pokémon Gym Leaders stand out in several ways in the anime, whether it's their striking character designs or surprisingly difficult challenges. Each leader runs a Gym that specializes in a specific type, where trainers must defeat them in battle to obtain a badge. In their quest to qualify for each region's league, trainers will have run into many Gym Leaders over the past several generations, each more powerful than the last.

A select few characters at the head of these top-tier battling establishments have left a lasting impression over the course of the series. The Pokémon anime offers a varied selection of incredibly strong Gym Leaders, each with distinct personalities and determined Pokémon. From the sunny beaches of Sinnoh to the populous harbors of Unova, these Gym Leaders come far and wide to show off their skills and their featured episodes are some of the most enjoyable.

10 Roxie Plays a Rocking Tune in The Anime

The Expert Musician Delivers Quite The Shivers Down Spines

With a love for punk rock music, Roxie knows how to draw a live crowd to her shows, and has more than enough confidence to defeat any trainer setting foot in her territory. This is completely justified as the anime somehow makes her Poison-type Pokémon even more dangerous than in the games she originates from. As soon as he shows up, Ash notices several trainers have already been taken out beforehand.

Right away, this sets a perilous tone for her impending encounter. Roxie only fights using three of her Pokémon while she lets trainers use their entire teams, and more often than not, they all pay a visit to a nearby center. Ash’s Pikachu ends up being the only survivor on his team, and even then, Ash only won because Roxie’s Garbodor was paralyzed by the Static ability. The anime version of Roxie is among his toughest opponents in the Pokémon series.

9 Brassius is The Master of The ''Avant Garde''

The Overly Dramatic Artists Brings Flair And Panache

Personality goes a long way in the Pokémon series. Despite being on the weaker side of Gym Leaders, the highly eccentric Brassius steals the show whenever he appears. Pokémon battles are merely artistic expressions to him. In their search for a black Rayquaza in the Paldea region, Roy and Liko run into his art exhibit as he ponders on his next inspiration. Brassius definitely finds it during an unofficial battle with Roy.

This is the official introduction of the Terastal phenomenon in Pokémon Horizons, which is a key mechanic from the games. Brassius’ Sudowoodu takes out Roy’s Fuecoco despite a type disadvantage. Roy eventually wins a rematch down the line after learning how to properly Terastalize his Pokémon. Brassius isn’t just a fun personality to watch, he’s also a very important keystone in Roy’s training development.

8 Raihan Lives in The Shadow of Leon

Always Second Best, He Strives For a Lot More

Pokémon Journeys teaches a hard truth about competitive struggles. No matter how many times a person tries, sometimes they can never settle for anything beyond second best. Raihan is a rival character to Leon, the undisputed champion of the Galar League, and has yet to claim any sort of victory. However, after losing to Ash to determine the placement for the Masters Eight tournament, Raihan undergoes surprising character development.

The Hammerlocke Gym Leader no longer has sore loser tendencies like he used to. He eventually realizes that Ash is also serious about defeating Leon, which validates his own determined outlook on competitive fighting, and he declares his intention to someday beat Ash and Leon. Raihan is popular among fans due to his weather control playstyle and Dragon-type Pokémon, which are historically very competitive in the games.

7 Blaine Sets a Serious Tone in His Fight

He Doesn't Just Give Away Badges Like Free Candy

Gym Leaders rarely live up to their fearsome reputation quite like Blaine did in the original anime series. An intellectual man, he often tests other trainers with a series of riddles before they even get a chance to face him. By doing so, he roots out competitive trainers and random tourists on Cinnabar Island. It’s only fitting that his team of Fire-type Pokémon fight on a volcano that could potentially blow up with one wrong move.

Blaine is among the very few Kanto Gym Leaders that Ash defeats in a straight up battle. By this point in the Pokémon anime series, Ash collected most of his badges through unconventional means outside the battlefield. His victory over Blaine in a competitive setting is very significant, as it proves Ash is a Pokémon trainer at the highest level.

6 Clemont is a Boy Genius With Good Character Development

He Really Grows Into His Own Person After Travelling With Ash

Clemont is sometimes too smart for his own good. Before he met Ash on his journey in Pokémon the Series: XY, he initially lacks confidence in himself and builds a robot to look after his gym. However, due to a programming error with badge restrictions, the Clembot goes rogue and starts brutalizing trainers. Clemont works up the courage to face his fears and eventually risks everything in order to win back his gym.

In addition to his aforementioned role, Clemont is also a highly intelligent member of Ash’s traveling buddies, and often provides the necessary exposition on any given battle strategy. Clemont’s inventive mind also rivals that of Team Rocket, a trait which is not commonly seen in any of Ash’s friends. Beyond that, he’s also a very sweet and caring person.

5 Korrina Invokes The Series' Fighting Spirit

Her Relationship With Lucario is a Very Touching One

At the end of the day, Gym Leaders are still trainers at heart. They might reach a certain level in the competitive scene, but they will always grow with their Pokémon. Ever since her early childhood, Korrina has always looked after her Riolu, who has now become a powerful Lucario in Pokémon the Series: XY. She once defeated Ash to earn a 99th consecutive victory, a true showcase of her overall power in the anime.

Korrina’s charming design and passionate nature already makes her a favorite within the fandom, but her relationship with Lucario is what really develops her character. Her ancestral family is the first to figure out the process behind Lucario’s Mega Evolution. Korrina does spend a few episodes trying to find a Lucarionite, but even without it, she’s a major threat.

4 Volkner and His Pokémon Are Victory Personified

The Highly Intelligent Engineer Desires a Real Challenge

The strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh, Volkner relies on his analytical mind to determine winning strategies. In the events of Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, he wins so often that he grows bored with battle and starts giving away badges freely instead. Ash has to prove himself against Volkner’s rival Flint in order to get the match that he wants.

Volkner is the living embodiment of ennui, but he eventually considers Ash to be a worthy opponent, and rediscovers his love for Pokémon fights. Many fans like him for being a different take on dominant Gym Leaders through the series. The main protagonist must fight a battle of the mind before he could even get a physical one from Volkner.

3 Sabrina is The Scariest Gym Leader in The Series

The Psychic Master is a Cold and Calculating Person

There is an underlying darkness beneath the shiny brightness of the Pokémon anime. Sabrina’s powers and personality are pure nightmare fuel at its finest. With a split personality and strange ability to transform people into living dolls, her Psychic-type Pokémon are somehow the least scary part of the Saffron Gym.

Tellingly, Ash never finds a way to defeat her Kadabra in both of his respective battles against her. Instead, he’s forced to visit a haunted tower just to capture a Ghost-type Pokémon, and nearly loses his life in that process. A random Haunter he befriends manages to make Sabrina smile for the first time in years, finally breaking her free with some laughter. Sabrina is so overpowered that she remains undefeated even today.

2 Misty Will Always Have a Place in People's Hearts

She Was Ash's First Ever Companion in The Anime Series

The original anime series will always be among the most popular forms of media within the Pokémon franchise. Millions of viewers grew up with Ash’s journey across the Kanto region, but even in the very beginning, Misty was right there alongside him. She reluctantly followed Ash in the hopes that he would repay her destroyed bike from the first episode.

Misty greatly appeals to a large female demographic watching the show. Her determined outlook on life, not to mention her competency in fighting, make her a worthy Gym Leader in the eyes of many. Misty dreams of becoming a Water Pokémon Master, a very difficult goal that requires her to specialize in one type, but it’s a very admirable goal indeed.

1 Brock Simply Rocks The ''Big Lovable Bro'' Archetype

He Remains Ash's Longest Tenured Companion in The Anime

Despite his rather serious portrayal as a Gym Leader in the earliest Pokémon episodes, Brock is among the funniest characters in the entire series. Whether he falls in love with every woman he sees or makes a ridiculously terrible pun, Eric Stuart’s voice acting in the English dub is a real highlight. Despite his seeming lack of maturity, Brock deeply cares for his biological family, and he treats Ash like a little brother to look after.

Brock is Ash’s first test in fighting a Gym Leader, and his Onyx proves to be a difficult obstacle for Pikachu to overcome. Many older fans will always have nostalgic memories of Ash’s most prolific companion and arguably best friend. Brock is the face of the early series, to the point that fans were furious when Tracey replaced him in the Orange Isles arc.

Pokemon

Expanding across a multitude of media, including TCGs, video games, manga, live-action movies and anime, the Pokémon franchise is set in a shared world of humans and creatures with a wide variety of special abilities.

Created by

Satoshi Tajiri

First Film

Pokemon: The First Movie

Latest Film

Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle

First TV Show

Pokémon (1997)

Latest TV Show

Pokémon Horizons (2023)

First Episode Air Date

April 1, 1997

Video Game(s)

Pokémon GO , Pokemon X and Y , Pokémon Legends: Arceus , Pokémon Scarlet and Violet , Pokémon Sword and Shield , Pokémon Diamond & Pearl , Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl , Pokemon Red and Blue , Detective Pikachu , Detective Pikachu Returns , Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! , Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!