Summary
ThePokemonfranchise has been successful for over twenty-five years, and that is mostly due to its great formula which has hardly changed during its time. Players still love assembling a team of Pokemon to take on the gym challenge and become the champion of a new region.
Of course, this challenge wouldn’t be as fun if the gym leaders themselves weren’t that excitingto meet and battle. Every gym leader in the series so far has had a unique personality, a strong team of Pokemon, and one partner that defines them. This is their ace Pokemon, the one team member that represents everything about their chosen type and their profession. Almost every gym leader in the franchise has an ace that fits this description, but the few who do not will need a new Pokemon by their side.
EveryPokemonfan instantly recognizes the Electric-type gym leader in Kanto, Lt. Surge. This chiseled man is easy to identify from his army fatigues and tough-looking physique. From his conversations with the protagonist in the Kanto region, it is also clear that this man has fought many a battle. That makes the fact that he chooses to use the cute and cuddly Raichu as his ace all the more confusing.
Lt. Surge’s Raichu provides a great dynamic in thePokemonanime, but it seems out of place in his gym in the games. This is especially true given that there isanother electric Pokemon in the region that fits Lt Surge’s motif better. Electabuzz is a mean-looking and strong electric Pokemon that would look much better in an army environment than a Raichu.
Koga is the fifth gym leader that players will face in the Kanto region. He usesa team of Poison-type Pokemon, in an effort to show the player how difficult it is to battle when subjected to a series of status conditions. He has appeared in every version of the Kanto games and was even promoted to a member of the Elite Four in the second generation. Sadly, there still isn’t a Pokemon that players can easily define as Koga’s ace.
In the first Red and Blue games, this leader’s final Pokemon and highest-level team member is his Weezing. However, Koga’s team is changed completely inPokemon Yellowto make it closer to the anime. This change gives him three Venonats and makes his final Pokemon a Venomoth. Neither Weezing nor Venomoth seem to fit the agile nature of this ninja, but theLet’s Gogames give him a perfect replacement. Golbat is an acrobatic and fast poisonous type that is used as just another member of Koga’s team. However, this Pokemon would suit Koga much better as his ace and even ties into the fact that he has a Crobat in the Johto games.
Many fans agree that the Johto gym leaders are allin need of a team change,and no one fits this statement more than the seventh gym leader, Pryce. A lot of the problems with the Johto gyms are that the leaders rarely have team members from that generation, and the difficulty level between gyms is a bit skewed. For example, Pryce’s final Pokemon, Piloswine, is at level 34, while the previous gym in the region finished the battle with a level 35 Steelix. What makes Pryce’s team even less difficult is the fact that he only has two more Pokemon on his team, a Seel and a Dewgong.
Giving Pryce an additional team member that is a higher level than Piloswine would make him a worthy challenge as the seventh gym, and give him an ace Pokemon to use. The second generation has a brand-new ice type that isn’t used by any other gym leader and fits in well with the gym aesthetic. That Pokemon is Sneasel.
In terms of challenge,the Fighting-type leader, Brawly, has a great team as only the second gym in the Hoenn region. This active youngster has turned his gym into a fitness center, which suits his personality quite well. However, his ace Pokemon, Makuhita, doesn’t seem to do this as well.
Makuhita is a fighting type from the Hoenn region, so its inclusion makes complete sense. Unfortunately, his rounded body makes it stick out a bit in this gym. Makuhita looks like it would be much better as a wrestler or boxer, than a Pokemon that can accompany Brawly when rock-climbing and surfing. That is why he may want to consider changing his ace to Combusken. This active chicken is far more agile than a Makuhita and is not too overpowered to be featured in the second gym.
Wulfric is the final challenge for players in the Kalos region before they are free to take on the Elite Four. With that in mind, his team of ice types leaves a lot to be desired. For starters, he only has three Pokemon on his team, and the highest-level member is his Abomasnow. While this Pokemon does fit Wulfric’s large stature and presence, it would be nice if his ace was from the Kalos region.
The new Kalos ice type, Avalugg, is already on his team, but its design isn’t exactly brimming with personality. That is why adding a strong Aurorus to his team would make him more of a challenging fight, while also giving him a lofty ace Pokemon.
