How to Become a Gym Leader

By Mambo and Cased. Art by Ssensenh.
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Leader Cased by Ssensenh

Introduction

Congratulations on being appointed to defend the Little Cup City Gym! It is your duty as Gym Leader to evaluate, through combat of course, the Pokémon skills displayed by the onslaught of novice trainers arriving at your doors. Though you may see yourself as a fearsome warrior prepared to safeguard the reputation of the Little Cup City Gym, you don't even know the first thing to becoming a satisfactory, much less an exceptional, Gym Leader. That's where we step in.

Combat

We will begin with a lesson on combat within the confines of Little Cup City. Though the Pokémon that reside within these walls may appear small and feeble, your ability to effectively wield their power will define your success as a Gym Leader. Of course, as you may already know, a Gym Leader is limited to utilizing a specific Pokémon type. Little Cup City is home to a plethora of threatening typing combinations, resulting in quite formidable Pokémon teams. We have spent days scouring the Pokédex, formulating blueprints, and analyzing matchups in order to craft the ultimate team for your disposal. Considering your lack of Gym Leader knowledge, as well as the abundance of inexperienced trainers who will be challenging you, perhaps a Normal-type team would suit you best.

CasedVictory's Gym Leader Tip: Every Gym Leader team must possess a means to overcome Pokémon with type advantage, as well as a means to overcome threatening sweepers that may take advantage of the chosen typing.

Fletchling Aipom Porygon Taillow Lickitung Zigzagoon

Overheat Fletchling is near essential to a Normal-type Gym Leader team, as both Pawniard and Magnemite can have a field day against this sort of team. This set functions as a fantastic lure for opposing Steel-types and still poses a threat to any team thanks to Swords Dance and Gale Wings Acrobatics. U-turn allows Fletchling to pivot out of unfavorable matchups and into another Normal-type with the appropriate coverage move for the situation. Mixed attacking Fletchling results in a rather intricate EV spread and nature, as to not diminish any of its attacking power nor Speed. The SpA investment allows Overheat to 2HKO standard Eviolite Pawniard should you nail it twice without any SpA drops, as well as 2HKO it after Stealth Rock should you choose to hit it the second time with the SpA drop. The Attack stat is maximized with the given EVs and a Brave nature, and the Speed EVs allow Fletchling to outspeed Timburr's Mach Punch with Acrobatics.

Fletchling Aipom Porygon Taillow Lickitung Zigzagoon

Aipom provides a Normal-type Gym Leader with a solid means of revenging foes, as well as breaking down any opposing walls. The given EVs, nature, and Life Orb maximize Aipom's offensive capabilities, as a Jolly LO Fake Out + Skill Link Fury Swipes can eliminate Timburr and Mienfoo from full HP. Obviously, this is quite the feat for a Normal-type team. Knock Off allows Aipom to revenge Gastly and Seed Bomb prevents Tirtouga and Omanyte from using Aipom as Shell Smash setup fodder.

Fletchling Aipom Porygon Taillow Lickitung Zigzagoon

Due to Fletchling's and Aipom's inability to switch into a plethora of strong attackers, Porygon serves as a fantastic blanket check to some of Little Cup City's most fearsome attackers. An offensively oriented set suits this Normal-type offense quite well, as a Download-boasted Tri Attack can severely dent any potential switch-in. Psychic nails Gastly, Croagunk, and Foongus, among others. Hidden Power Fighting allows Porygon to threaten any opposing Steel-types, namely Pawniard. The SpA EVs and a Modest nature maximize Porygon's damage output and the EVs invested in bulk hit 23 / 14 / 16 (Eviolite numbers!), which increases Porygon's likelihood of tanking strong attacks.

Fletchling Aipom Porygon Taillow Lickitung Zigzagoon

Taillow completes one of the fearsome "Bird Spam" cores alongside Fletchling, busting through the various checks the two have in common with LO-boosted Brave Birds and Boombursts. Scrappy Boomburst allows Taillow to easily combat Gastly, which is otherwise quite troublesome for a Normal-type team should it be allowed to set up a Substitute. Pursuit can net damage on any foes trying to escape a Boomburst, namely Gastly and Abra. Heat Wave puts a solid dent in opposing Steel-types, most notably Pawniard, Magnemite, and Ferroseed.

Fletchling Aipom Porygon Taillow Lickitung Zigzagoon

If you thought Porygon was a good blanket check, Lickitung is going to blow your mind. The given EVs and nature allow Lickitung to hit 26 / 16 / 16 in bulk (more Eviolite numbers!) as well as outspeed standard Croagunk and 0 Spe Skrelp. Though it may appear odd that Lickitung doesn't carry any STAB moves, its main purpose is to hit the things it needs to super effectively. That being said, the coverage moves are utilized as follows: Hammer Arm is for Pawniard; Knock Off is for Gastly, Pumpkaboo, and crippling anything with an item; Earthquake is for Skrelp, Croagunk, and Magnemite; and Power Whip is for Shell Smash users.

Fletchling Aipom Porygon Taillow Lickitung Zigzagoon

Belly Drum Zigzagoon is quite possibly the most threatening Pokémon that resides in Little Cup City. With one free turn, the game can be decided thanks to the potency of a +6 Extreme Speed. The EVs and nature maximize Zigzagoon's Attack, as well as fill out its bulk in order to potentially set up a Belly Drum on some not-so-free turns. Thief is necessary for nabbing Ghost-types, which are immune to Extreme Speed, as well as plucking an item off of a foe after Zigzagoon consumes its Berry Juice. Protect is to avoid being revenged by Fake Out or faster Extreme Speed users (Dratini), as well as serve as an "answer" to Scarf Mienfoo's High Jump Kick. Because Zigzagoon can't actually beat opposing Steel- and Rock-types, it's quite important to lure these Pokémon in early-game with Zigzagoon's teammates and damage them with respective coverage moves.

CasedVictory's Gym Leader Tip: It is essential to utilize this team aggressively, taking advantage of an opponent's attempt to conserve their Normal-type answers to overwhelm them. You'll be rewarded for playing in a ballsy manner.

Should any further questions arise regarding this topic, consult Old Man Macle, who resides amongst the lilypads with his family of Poliwags.

Style

Although one's battling capabilities are important, a Gym Leader's style and flair are essential to maintaining an image of dominance and authority. Luckily for you, our team of expert fashionistas has designed an appropriate image for the team above, as well as the respective Gym's Badge.

Scrap those Ralph Lauren polo shirts and toss those Gucci belts in the trash. THIS is high fashion, especially when paired with the behemoth that is the aforementioned Normal-type team.

Youngster

Gaze upon those comfy, easy-to-wear shorts. Look at how they showcase those dazzling calf muscles you've so passionately honed within your Gym. The shades of blue found in the hat, shorts, and shoes truly make the indigo in your eyes sparkle. This stylish combination of clothing is the epitome of both fresh and formidable. But what Gym Badge could possibly match this outfit oh-so perfectly? How about this design, which we've entitled "Click X".

X-Badge

Masquerading as a prize, this Gym Badge will simply remind your opponent that they got extremely lucky in defeating you and there are seven more Gym Leaders ahead waiting to crush their challengers' spirits. They should probably just forfeit now, right?

Behavior

Following one's attire, a Gym Leader must speak to challengers in an appropriate manner and interact with them prior to and during the match in a suitable fashion. As a Gym Leader, it is only fitting that you continually remind your opponent how inferior they are in comparison to yourself. For example:

Imagine being Canadian and slightly overweight. Imagine you've been trying to grow out a sweet handlebar mustache to impress that new girl at work. How much do these comments sting? Exactly. This is the type of dominance you need to assert over your opponent throughout a challenge. Remind them who daddy is.

Conclusion

Huh? Conclusion? You read the article; conclude it yourself. Problem solving's a nifty skill to have.

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