Gym Leaders & Elite Four Guide

Gym #1 - Brock (Pewter City)

Brock is the first Gym Leader you'll face. His Rock-type Pokémon have high defense but are weak to Water and Grass-type moves. If you chose Squirtle or Bulbasaur as your starter, this battle should be straightforward. When using Charmander you may need to strategize a bit more and bring in other Pokémon to help.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Geodude	12
Onix	14

Gym #2 - Misty (Cerulean City)

Misty's gym is a straightforward path around a pool. Misty uses the starfish Pokémon, Staryu and Starmie, which will try to confuse you with Water Pulse. Electric and Grass-type moves are super effective here.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Staryu	18
Starmie	21

Gym #3 - Lt. Surge (Vermilion City)

Before you can enter Vermilion City gym, you must use Cut to clear the tree blocking the path. Once inside, prepare to check each garbage can until you find both switches to open the electric door. The second switch is always beside the first one, but if you find the wrong one the locks reset. Ground-type Pokémon like Sandshrew and Diglett are immune to Electric-type moves and make this battle much easier.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Voltorb	21
Pikachu	18
Raichu	24

Gym #4 - Erika (Celadon City)

Erika's gym requires Cut to navigate. Her Pokémon use the self-healing attack Giga Drain, which is also handed out via TM19 once the match is won. Fire, Ice, Flying, and Bug-type moves are all super effective against her team.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Victreebel	29
Tangela	24
Vileplume	29

Gym #5 - Koga (Fuchsia City)

The fifth Pokémon gym is a maze of invisible walls. The lighter tiles are actually invisible walls you must travel through to find Koga. The gym trainers use a mix of Ground, Psychic, and Poison-types. Koga's team uses only Poison-types. While Muk can be hit with Ground-type moves, Koga's other Pokémon can't as they have the Levitate ability. Koga's Pokémon use Toxic which causes a unique type of poisoning where damage exponentially increases each turn.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Koffing	37
Muk	39
Koffing	37
Weezing	43

Gym #6 - Sabrina (Saffron City)

Only accessible after Team Rocket have been defeated in Silph Co, Sabrina's gym is a network of warp panels. Not all the trainers have to be fought, but many of them do in order to reach all these panels. Kadabra and Alakazam both have bad defenses so try to use attacks that fall under the physical type categories. Be careful though as they can do significant damage with their high Special Attack.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Kadabra	38
Mr. Mime	37
Venomoth	38
Alakazam	43

Gym #7 - Blaine (Cinnabar Island)

After finding the hidden key to the Cinnabar Gym in Cinnabar Mansion, you'll be able to take on Blaine's Fire-type Pokémon Gym. Each room has a quiz machine that asks you a question. If you answer it wrong or don't want to do it at all, you'll have to fight the trainer to open the door.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Growlithe	42
Ponyta	40
Rapidash	42
Arcanine	47

Gym #8 - Giovanni (Viridian City)

After you have collected the seven other Badges and completed the first quest in the Sevii Islands, Viridian City's Gym Leader has returned, and it turns out to be Team Rocket Boss Giovanni. The spinning tile maze here is similar to the one in the Celadon City Rocket Hideout. Giovanni's team uses only Ground-types, and powerful ones to boot.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Rhyhorn	45
Dugtrio	42
Nidoqueen	44
Nidoking	45
Rhyhorn	50

Elite Four Lorelei

Lorelei is the first member of the Elite Four you'll face. Her team consists of Ice and Water-type Pokémon. Electric, Grass, Fighting, and Rock-type moves are your best bet here. Watch out for her Lapras, which has high HP and can deal significant damage.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Dewgong	52
Cloyster	51
Slowbro	52
Jynx	54
Lapras	54

Elite Four Bruno

Bruno specializes in Fighting-type Pokémon, though he also has two Onix on his team. Psychic and Flying moves work well against his Fighting-types, while Water and Grass moves are effective against the Rock/Ground-type Onix.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Onix	51
Hitmonchan	53
Hitmonlee	53
Onix	54
Machamp	56

Elite Four Agatha

Agatha specializes in Ghost and Poison-type Pokémon. Despite her Ghost-type specialty, only her Gengar and Haunter are actually Ghost-types. Psychic and Ground-type moves are effective against most of her team. Be prepared for status effects like poison and confuse ray.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Gengar	54
Golbat	54
Haunter	53
Arbok	56
Gengar	58

Elite Four Lance

Lance is the Dragon-type master of the Elite Four, and not a foe to be trifled with. Ice-type moves are very effective in this battle, hitting everything on his team for significant damage.

Pokémon	Level	Type
Gyarados	56
Dragonair	54
Dragonair	54
Aerodactyl	58
Dragonite	60

Champion

Staying one step ahead the whole game, it seems your rival has gone and beaten the Elite Four before you could. He uses a very balanced team, incorporating many different elemental types as well as some strong moves. The best strategy is to repay him in kind with a balanced team of your own. His final Pokémon depends on which starter you chose at the beginning of the game.

If you chose Bulbasaur he uses Charizard:

Pokémon	Level	Type
Pidgeot	59
Alakazam	57
Rhydon	59
Exeggutor	59
Gyarados	61
Charizard	63

If you chose Charmander he uses Blastoise:

Pokémon	Level	Type
Pidgeot	59
Alakazam	57
Rhydon	59
Arcanine	59
Exeggutor	61
Blastoise	63

If you chose Squirtle he uses Venusaur:

Pokémon	Level	Type
Pidgeot	59
Alakazam	57
Rhydon	59
Gyarados	59
Arcanine	61
Venusaur	63

Elite Four Lorelei - Rematch

Pokémon	Level	Type
Dewgong	64
Cloyster	63
Piloswine	63
Jynx	66
Lapras	66

Elite Four Bruno - Rematch

Pokémon	Level	Type
Steelix	65
Hitmonchan	65
Hitmonlee	65
Steelix	66
Machamp	68

Elite Four Agatha - Rematch

Pokémon	Level	Type
Gengar	66
Crobat	66
Misdreavus	65
Arbok	68
Gengar	70

Elite Four Lance - Rematch

Pokémon	Level	Type
Gyarados	68
Dragonite	66
Kingdra	66
Aerodactyl	70
Dragonite	72

Champion - Rematch

If you chose Bulbasaur he uses Charizard:

Pokémon	Level	Type
Heracross	72
Alakazam	73
Tyranitar	72
Exeggutor	73
Gyarados	73
Charizard	75

If you chose Charmander he uses Blastoise:

Pokémon	Level	Type
Heracross	72
Alakazam	73
Tyranitar	72
Arcanine	73
Exeggutor	73
Blastoise	75

If you chose Squirtle he uses Venusaur:

Pokémon	Level	Type
Heracross	72
Alakazam	73
Tyranitar	72
Gyarados	73
Arcanine	73
Venusaur	75