As a competitive Pokémon player since the 1990s era of Link Cables, I‘ve conquered every gym and elite four across multiple generations. Now with the launch of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (SV), I‘m excited to guide new trainers in Paldea on optimally overcoming these milestones along their adventure.
In this expansive guide, I‘ll be sharing my battle-tested tips, research and insights on defeating all 8 gyms in the ideal sequence.
How Paldea‘s New Gyms Differ from Traditional Ones
Before diving into each gym, it‘s important to understand their new mechanics that set them apart:
– Open World Freedom: You can challenge gyms in whichever order you prefer, but following my recommended sequence optimizes difficulty curve.
– Gym Tests: Unique puzzles and challenges you must complete before you can battle that gym‘s leader. I‘ll explain solutions for each.
– Rewards: Gym badges now only dictate obedience levels instead of enabling HMs. But you still acquire TMs for defeating leaders!
Now let‘s get into the nitty gritty details on beating each specialized-type gym in turn…
Recommended Gym Progression
Here is the sequence I advise tackling gyms from easiest to most difficult based on experience:
| Gym # | Location | Specialty | Recommended Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cortondo | Bug | 10-12 |
| 2 | Artazon | Grass | 13-15 |
| 3 | Levincia | Electric | 17-19 |
| 4 | Cascarrafa | Water | 20-23 |
| 5 | Medali | Normal | 25-27 |
| 6 | Montenevera | Ghost | 30-32 |
| 7 | Alfornada | Psychic | 33-36 |
| 8 | Glaseado | Ice | 38-40 |
Now let‘s get into key weaknesses, battle tips and puzzle solutions for each gym…
Cortondo Gym – Bug Specialist Katy
Cortondo‘s Bug gym is the simplest start to ease you into core mechanics before tougher challenges.
Countering Katy‘s Team & Strategy
Katy fields Nymble / Tarountula / Teddiursa. Key factors to overcome them:
Weaknesses: Fire, Flying, Rock
Strengths: Fighting, Grass, Ground
I suggest leading Fiaro the pepper Pokémon, utilizing its strong Fire and Psychic attacks to roast bugs. Fletchling or Flamigo provide Flying coverage. Avoid Quaquaval / Sprigatito here.
Teddiursa‘s Terastalized form turns it fully Bug-type too. So exploit the same weaknesses rather than its normal Ursaring Ground vulnerability later.
Solving the Gym Test Puzzle
Objective: Navigate an olive through a small maze filled with walls and bumpers.
This test isn‘t overly complicated. Carefully roll the olive, adjusting angles and speeds to succeed. I always ensure I have cleared Cortondo‘s Bug Gym first to snag the Bug Badge and TM Pounce early!
Artazon Gym – Grass Specialist Brassius
Let‘s head west to the forests of Artazon next to wither Brassius‘ plant Pokémon platoon.
Countering Brassius‘ Team & Strategy
Brassius wields Petilil / Smoliv / Sudowoodo. Key advantages against them:
Weaknesses: Fire, Flying, Poison, Bug, Ice
Strengths: Water, Electric, Ground, Grass
Fiaro remains your star here with Fire moves demolishing Grass types. Diglett‘s new evolution Dugtrio can Earth Power Smoliv‘s secondary Ground weakness too.
Avoid using Cyclizar, Quaquaval or Toedscool against Sudowoodo and Smoliv‘s Ground immunity.
Solving the Gym Test Puzzle
Objective: Gather and lead 10 Sunflora to Brassius‘ gym.
Find Sunflora around town, speak to them and herd the group over to the gym for access. This test is more about patience than skill – but at least you skip trainer battles for now!
Levincia Gym – Electric Specialist Iono
Next up is lightning fast Iono who demands you chase down the right trainer among Levincia‘s townspeople before clashing currents.
Countering Iono‘s Team & Strategy
Iono wields Wattrel / Bellibolt / Luxio / Mismagius. Key counters for them:
Weaknesses: Ground
Strengths: Electric, Flying, Steel
Ground is truly king here – shift Diglett into dugtrio for potent Mud Slap / Earth Power. Dugtrio resists Electric attacks too for safer matchups.
Fiaro has the firepower to deal with Mismagius. Fidough‘s evolution Dachsbun can Bite Luxio. Avoid using your Cyclizar here.
Solving the Gym Test Puzzle
Objective: Find and defeat the incognito gym trainer among 3 townspeople.
Chat to the wandering locals to uncover the hidden trainer through process of elimination based on dialog cues. Shock them with ground attacks once found!
Cascarrafa Gym – Water Specialist Kofu
The beautiful beachside locale of Cascarrafa hides deadly Water danger around every corner in the form of Kofu‘s aquatic roster.
Countering Kofu‘s Team & Strategy
Kofu commands Veluza / Wugtrio / Crabominable. Key factors checkmating them include:
Weaknesses: Grass, Electric
Strengths: Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Shift Diglett or Wooper into their potent evolved forms to unleash super-effective Earth Power / Scald on Kofu‘s lineup.
Tinkatink can zap foes efficiently too. Fidough or Dachsbun handle Crabominable with Bite rendering its Ice defense nil.
Solving the Gym Test Puzzle
Objective: Track down Kofu, return his wallet and win his marketplace seaweed auction
Locate Kofu in town, trade back his lost wallet, then outbid competitors in his rapid-fire seaweed bidding war to prove your worth. Savings those Poké Dollars early pays off here!
Medali Gym – Normal Specialist Larry
Deceptively dangerous Normal master Larry awaits in Medali with a diverse movepool that can counter most types outside key weaknesses.
Countering Larry‘s Team & Strategy
Larry commands Komala / Dudunsparce / Staraptor. Vital checkmating considerations are:
Weaknesses: Fighting
Strengths: Ghost
Fighting attacks are essential here – evolve Fletchinder into Fletchinder to smash Larry‘s crew with Double Kick. Tinkatink, Dachsbun and Close Combat Lucario are key too.
Watch out for Ghost and Psychic immunity though on certain members. A prolonged battle of attrition awaits!
Solving the Gym Test Puzzle
Objective: Discover the secret menu item by defeating the local student trainers, then order correctly to Larry.
Battle enthusiasts around town for menu hints. Combine their clues to order the Extra Crispy Medium Grilled Rice Balls With Lemon successfully to progress.
Montenevera Gym – Ghost Specialist Ryme
The haunted vibes of Montenevera conceal spooky specter Ryme, who unleashes a spine-chilling team of terrifying Ghost Pokémon.
Countering Ryme‘s Team & Strategy
Ryme wields Banette / Mimikyu / Houndstone / Toxtricity. You can haunt her team right back with:
Weaknesses: Ghost, Dark
Strengths: Poison, Bug, Normal, Fighting
Meowscarada‘s potent Ghost / Dark combo ranging between Shadow Claw, Spirit Shackle and Bite will pressure Ryme tremendously.
Dugtrio can continue dealing Ground type damage while resisting Poison moves. Don‘t forget Normal and Fighting attacks have no effect here though!
Solving the Gym Test Puzzle
Objective: Participate and win Doubles Battle against other trainers on stage.
Ryme evaluates your skills in crowded Double Battles. Coordinate moves and positioning between both your Pokémon to triumph. The audience may also boost your stats for flashy tactics!
Alfornada Gym – Psychic Specialist Tulip
photogenic Pawmi greets you as Gym mascot here before Tulip attempts to bend your mind with her expansive Psychic force.
Countering Tulip‘s Team & Strategy
Tulip controls Farigiraf / Gardevoir / Espathra / Florges. You can out-brain her lineup by targeting:
Weaknesses: Dark, Bug, Ghost
Strengths: Fighting, Psychic
Evolve Pawmi into Pawmot who can unleash potent Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball to mystify Tulip‘s team. Back it up with Dugtrio‘s new Steel move Iron Head.
Watch Gardevoir shrug off Bug, Dark AND Dragon moves though thanks to its complex Fairy / Psychic typing. Have back-up plans ready!
Solving the Gym Test Puzzle
Objective: Select the prompts matching Tulip‘s emotions she describes.
Listen carefully to Tulip’s hints and tap the corresponding emotion icons. Get both rounds right to unlock a battle and TM Psychic!
Glaseado Gym – Ice Specialist Grusha
Last but not least, extreme conditions await atop frigid Glaseado Mountain where the expert mountaineer Grusha harnesses devastating Ice Pokémon.
Countering Grusha‘s Team & Strategy
Grusha controls Frosmoth / Beartic / Cetitan / Altaria. Their frosty onslaught can be thawed by targeting:
Weaknesses: Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel
Strengths: Ice
Evolve Fuecoco into Skeledirge to incinerate opponents with Fire Spin, Heat Wave and Solar Beam. Complement with Paldean Wooper‘s new evolution Clodsire unleashing Fighting type Mega Punch waves.
A dual Fire / Psychic pepper Pokémon like Fiaro resists both Ice attacks AND Beartic‘s Water coverage. Consider it the ace up your sleeve against Grusha!
Solving the Gym Test Puzzle
Objective: Careen down Glaseado slopes hitting all scoring gates within the tight time limit.
This Gym Test evaluates skill controlling your Legendary mount Pokémon (Koraidon / Miraidon) rather than battling. Brace yourself for extreme downhill racing just reaching Grusha’s arena!
Conclusion
And there you have it – my complete walkthrough for conquering every Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gym in optimal sequence!
I hope these detailed breakdowns of team matchups, puzzle solutions and expert strategy advice aids your quest to gather all 8 badges enroute to the Pokémon League. This open world journey lets you forge your own path – but adapt my guidance to steadily strengthen your team at each stop.
Now go catch ‘em all and become Paldea‘s Champion! Let me know in the comments if you have any other gym battle questions.
