Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. Guides

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gym rematch guide: teams, weaknesses, and more

By

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet offer trainers three unique quests to pursue through the new Paldea region. This not only adds variety, but plenty more content to do after you accomplish any single task. One of these main quests is the familiar journey to beat all eight gym leaders, claim their badges, defeat the Elite Four, and become the region’s Pokémon League Champion. This has been the main goal of essentially all mainline Pokémon games and is just as fun to complete this generation as ever before.

Once you’ve done all that, however, you might be at a loss for challenging opponents to battle in Paldea. You won’t have to restart your entire adventure to get another crack at facing off against your favorite gym leaders, though. So long as you’ve gotten all the badges, beaten the Elite Four, and become the Champion, you’ll be given the option to challenge all the gym leaders to a rematch. However, this isn’t a simple repeat of your first fight with them. Every gym leader is far stronger the second time around, so here’s how you can best prepare for your rematch in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Recommended Videos

To rematch any gym leader, simply return to their gym and speak to them to start the battle.

Related

See more

Cortondo Gym (Bug-type)

The bug gym leader aplogizing.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Katy’s back and has managed to make Bug-types a real threat. She’s the lowest-level gym leader you can rematch, just like she was the lowest-level gym leader the first time around. Here’s her new and improved roster of Pokémon:

  • Lokix — Level 65 (Bug/Dark-type)
  • Forretress — Level 65 (Bug/Steel-type)
  • Heracross — Level 65 (Bug/Fighting-type)
  • Spidops — Level 65 (Bug-type)
  • Urasring — Level 66 (Normal-type with Bug Terra Type)

The majority of Katy’s team can be wiped out with a high-level Fire, Flying, or Rock-type. Her Urasring is the only one to watch out for, but at this point in the game, you should have plenty of strong Pokémon with these types to easily counter her team.

Artazon Gym (Grass-type)

A tired looking gym leader.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Brassius and his Grass team are back, better, but not all that big a step up in challenge from Katy. Here’s what his new team looks like:

  • Lilligant — Level 65 (Grass-type)
  • Tsareena — Level 65 (Grass-type)
  • Breloom — Level 65 (Grass/Fighting-type)
  • Arboliva — Level 65 (Grass/Normal-type)
  • Sudowoodo — Level 66 (Rock-type with Grass Terra Type)

All Grass-types are weak to a number of other types, including Bug, Fire, Flying, Poison, and Ice. While most of those can do, you should stay away from using an Ice-type at least when facing the Breloom, which counters Ice. Otherwise, Fire is a nice easy type to rip through most of his team.

Levincia Gym (Electric-type)

It's time to enter the Iono Zone!
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Iono’s team is another easy one to plan for since, with two exceptions, they are all single-type Pokémon. Here’s her shocking team of Pokémon:

  • Kilowattrel — Level 65 (Electric/Flying-type)
  • Luxray — Level 65 (Electric-type)
  • Bellibolt — Level 65 (Electric-type)
  • Electrode — Level 65 (Electric-type)
  • Mismagius — Level 66 (Ghost-type with Electric Terra Type)

All of Iono’s Pokémon, with the exception of Kilowattrel, will be completely stomped by a strong Ground-type. Because it is dual Flying-type, have an Ice or Rock-type ready to bring down Kilowattrel and you should easily secure the win.

Cascarrafa Gym (Water-type)

Kufu getting ready to fight.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Kofu hasn’t learned his lesson and, much like Iono, is susceptible to one strong type almost completely countering his entire team. Here’s his full roster:

  • Veluza — Level 65 (Water/Psyhcic-type)
  • Pelipper — Level 65 (Water/Flying-type)
  • Clawitzer — Level 65 (Water-type)
  • Wugtrigo — Level 65 (Water-type)
  • Crabominable — Level 66 (Fighting/Ice-type with Water Terra Type)

This entire squad of Water-types can’t do anything against a good Electric-type. Grass is another possibility, though any of his dual-type Pokémon will pose a bit of a problem there. You can also have a Flying-type if the Crabominable is giving your trouble.

Medali Gym (Normal-type)

Larry holding a pokeball.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This will technically be your third battle against good old Larry since he also turned out to be a member of the Elite Four. Wouldn’t you know it, but he’s even stronger this time. Check out his team:

  • Oinkolonge — Level 65 (Normal-type)
  • Braviary — Level 65 (Normal/Flying-type)
  • Dundunsparce — Level 65 (Normal-type)
  • Komala — Level 65 (Normal-type)
  • Staraptor — Level 66 (Normal/Flying with Normal Terra Type)

If you remember the one trick to Larry from before, it still applies here. Fighting-types will counter all his Normal-types, but will be countered by all his Pokémon with Flying moves. Since Normal-types have no other weaknessess, just bring out a something strong against Flying, like Electric or Rock, that can hit hard.

Montenevera Gym (Ghost-type)

A pathetic rap battle.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ryme’s Ghost-type squad isn’t too much to be afraid of. Here’s how her team shakes out:

  • Mimikyu — Level 65 (Ghost/Fairy-type)
  • Banette — Level 65 (Ghost-type)
  • Houndstone — Level 65 (Ghost-type)
  • Spiritomb — Level 65 (Ghost/Dark-type)
  • Toxitricity — Level 66 (Electric with Ghost Terra Type)

Ghost and Dark/types are the two best types to bring here, but be aware that Mimikyu’s Fairy moves can counter your Dark Pokémon. Having a Fairy of your own is also a good call to beat Spiritomb.

Alfornada Gym (Psychic-type)

Gym Leader Tulip.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Psychic Pokémon are historically tough, but you should be well prepared to take down Tulip’s team at this stage in the game:

  • Farigiarf — Level 65 (Normal/Psychic-type)
  • Gallade — Level 65 (Psychic/Fighting-type)
  • Gardevoir — Level 65 Psychic/Fairy-type)
  • Espathra — Level 65 (Psychic-type)
  • Flogres — Level 66 (Fairy-type with Psychic Terra Type)

Psychics are weak to Bug, Dark and Ghost-types, though you need to beware her Gallade’s Fighting moves that counter Dark-types. While in Fairy form, Flogres will be weak to Poison and Steel.

Glaseado Gym (Ice-type)

Grisha introducing herself.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Finally, we are back to Grusha’s team of Ice.

  • Frosmoth — Level 65 (Ice/Bug-type)
  • Beartic — Level 65 (Ice-type)
  • Cetitan — Level 65 (Ice-type)
  • Weavile — Level 65 (Dark/Ice-type)
  • Altaria — Level 66 (Dragon/Flying-type with Ice Terra Type)

Ice, as you should know well enough, is weak to Fire, Fighting, Rock, and Steel-types. Naturally, Fire is a great pick here, especially against Frosmoth and Weavile. Bring your best and you’ll crack this Ice-type team.

Editors’ Recommendations

Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox has been a writer at Digital Trends for over four years and has no plans of stopping. He covers all things…
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: shiny hunting guide
Shiny Azumarill.

It's already a major task to catch all the Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, or any of the games for that matter, but GameFreak introduced another factor completionists will need to account for starting in Generation 2, that being shiny Pokémon. These are very rare forms of Pokémon that feature alternate colors of their regular, non-shiny forms. They never have any numerical or mechanical differences from their regular versions and are only differentiated based on their color and rarity.

Shiny hunting has been around since shiny Pokémon were introduced, but the methods and odds of encountering them always change from game to game. They are still present in Scarlet and Violet, but the open-world format has made hunting them slightly different. If you want to know how to get the best odds of finding these rare Pokémon, here's everything you need to know about shiny hunting.
Shiny hunting basics

Read more
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC lets players venture outside of Paldea
Key art featuring new characters and Pokémon that are in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Teal Mask.

During a Pokémon Presents showcase to celebrate Pokémon Day, the DLC for Scarlet and Violet was revealed. The Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC is titled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero and will release in two parts, both planned to launch in 2023.
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero ✨| Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet
Both pieces of DLC take place outside of the Paldea region and will be accessible once players start the Treasure Hunt in the main game's story. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Teal Mask, which comes out first, sees players go on a school trip to the Japan-inspired land called Kitakami. While there, players will encounter new Pokémon, such as the monkey-like Munkidori, dog-like Okidogi, bird-like Fezandipti, and the mask-wearing Legendary Pokémon Ogerpon. The Teal Mask comes out this fall.
Then, this winter, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Indigo Disk will arrive and let players transfer to Blueberry Academy, where they will meet lots of new students and teachers. It will continue the story established in The Teal Mask and ultimately culminate in an encounter with another new Legendary Pokémon called Terapagos. Over the course of both DLCs, over 230 older Pokémon will come to Scarlet and Violet, including Chingling, Milotic, Shiftry, Vikavolt, Yanma, Ninetales, Zebstrika, Metagross, Dewgong, Espurr, Whimsicott, and Alcremie.
Additionally, once players preorder The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC by October 31 will get a Hisuian Zoroark that knows the moves Happy Hour, Tera Blast, Bitter Malice, and Nasty Plot and has a Dark Tera Type as a bonus alongside some new outfits. 
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch. The Teal Mask launches sometime during fall 2023, while The Indigo Disk will arrive during winter 2023.

Read more
Pokémon Presents February 2023: how to watch and what to expect
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet protagonist holding glowing Poke Ball

Pokémon Day 2023 is nearly upon us, and it will bring another Pokémon Presents showcase full of exciting announcements regarding the long-running series. As Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were quite successful despite technical problems, a lot of fans are curious to learn what's next, both for those individual titles and the franchise as a whole.
Pokémon fans who want to learn about the series' future should certainly tune into this presentation. If you're wondering how to watch it and what kinds of announcements to expect for the first Pokémon Presents of 2023, we've rounded up all of that information here for you.
When is the February 2023 Pokémon Presents?
This Pokémon Presents showcase will start at 6 a.m. PT on February 27, which is Pokémon Day, as well as the 27th anniversary of the series. The Pokémon Company says the presentation will last "around 20 minutes." 
How to watch
The February 27 Pokémon Presents will be officially live-streamed on the main Pokémon YouTube Channel. We'll embed the live stream below ahead of the presentation. Other sites and Pokémon-themed content creators will likely be co-streaming the event as well. 
https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1628032454295531522
What to expect
Unfortunately, The Pokémon Company was light on giving any real hints as to what we'll see during this Nintendo Direct-like presentation. But if this showcase falls in line with previous Pokémon Presents live streams, then we can expect it to give us an overview of all the big Pokémon titles coming out this year. Currently, we don't know if any brand-new Pokémon games are launching in 2023; if there aren't, then hopefully we'll see some DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. 
Some leaks may have also spoiled some of the Pokémon Presents' surprises. Leakers have found data for more new Pokémon forms that could potentially come to Scarlet and Violet via updates. Meanwhile, fans found mention of Spike Chunsoft in the new Pokémon Together website's source code, so it seems likely that a new Pokémon Mystery Dungeon from that developer is coming soon. Regardless of what's actually announced, February 27 is shaping up to be a really exciting day for Pokémon fans. 

Read more