Pokémon has outdone itself with its latest release, Pokémon Violet. The games bring a new, open world experience to the series. Now, players can challenge any of 18 different type-based challenges in whatever order they choose. This includes, of course, eight gym leaders.
The gym leaders in Scarlet & Violet are among the best in the series. They come with interesting techniques and strategies, including a final Pokémon that makes interesting use of the new Terastal mechanic. It's an improvement on most gym leaders that the series has had to offer, though including more held items like Sitrus Berries would have been nice to add an extra challenge.
8 Larry
Larry has one of the simplest names and designs in the history of the franchise. However, given that his gym is a Normal-type gym, that seems to have been what the games were going for.
Larry uses three Pokémon in his gym: Komala, Dudunspare, and a Tera Normal Staraptor. The gym isn't the easiest in the game by a long stretch, and the Staraptor can do huge damage if the player isn't careful. Dudunsparce is a threatening force in its own right and one of the strongest Pokémon that can be found in the wild. While the fight isn't necessarily easy, Larry is definitely not as memorable as his fellow Paldean gym leaders.
7 Katy
Katy is the Cortondo Gym Leader and the first that most will battle. She works as a baker when she isn't battling and favors Bug Pokémon in battle. Unlike first gym leaders from other games, Katy uses three Pokémon instead of two.
Katy is certainly the easiest gym leader in Scarlet & Violet, with a team of Nymble, Tarountula, and a Tera Bug Teddiursa. She's easily defeated if the player chose Fuecoco as their starter, but even Sprigatito s can fairly easily find a Flying type to crush Katy's entire team. She isn't very memorable as a character either, the main thing that fans will about her gym is the Rocket League-style olive challenge beforehand.
6 Kofu
Kofu is the Water-type gym leader of Cascarrafa. He appears to be a very absent-minded gym leader, leaving his wallet at the gym. When he isn't battling, Kofu's main hobby seems to be participating in auctions.
Kofu begins the fight with Veluza and Wugtrio. Wugtrio is the evolution of Wiglett, a member of the underutilized convergent species mechanic. To cap the fight off, Kofu sends in his Water Tera Type Crabominable. It's one of the easier fights overall, but Kofu certainly has a fun and memorable personality. It's nice to have gym leaders that don't always take themselves too seriously, though his fight would benefit from adding a fourth Pokémon.
5 Brassius
Brassius is the gym leader of Artazon gym. Much like the pun in the name of his city implies, Brassius is an artist. His sculptures are scattered all across the town, giving the player something extra to look forward to before they even meet him.
The Grass-type Gym Leader may not have the strongest team, leading off with Smoliv and Petilil. However, he has perhaps the most interesting and fun of the Terastal boss battles: a Grass-type Sudowoodo. Turning a fake tree into a real one is a great concept, and that alone makes Brassius one of the most memorable gym leaders. On top of that, his thorn-like hair really adds to the idea of a Grass gym leader.
4 Tulip
Tulip is the gym leader of Alfornada's gym and runs one of the hardest gyms in of difficulty. When she isn't battling, Tulip works as a model and influencer, continuing the trend of Scarlet & Violet leaders with major careers outside of battling.
The four of Tulip's team include Farigaraf, Gardevoir, Espathra, and a Tera Psychic Florges. It's a team that isn't easily answered by Dark types due to two powerful Fairy move s in Gardevoir and Florges. While some view Farigiraf as a disappointing evolution, many love the evolution. It's a stacked team full of powerhouses, and Tulip's design only helps to bolster her status as an interesting and memorable gym leader.
3 Iono
The Electric-type gym leader, Iono, is in charge of the Levincia Gym. She seems to take her job as an idol very seriously, incorporating her idol work and stream views into her gym battles. Even her gym challenge is related to getting as many views as possible.
Iono's team consists of a Wattrel, a Bellibolt, a Luxio, and an Electric Tera Type Mismagius. It isn't the hardest team in the world, but a four Pokémon gym early on with considerable move diversity can prove to be a challenge. Difficulty aside, Iono's design is one of the best designs for an early gym leader. Her Magnemite hair clips are fun and go with her colorful hair perfectly, along with her oversized yellow coat.
2 Ryme
There have been some cheesy, punny names throughout the Pokémon franchise. However, the gym leader/rap star nicknamed "Ryme" may be the most on-the-nose pun for a gym leader yet.
The Ghost-type gym leader features a team of Banette, Mimikyu, Houndstone, and a Ghost Tera Type Toxtricity. The battle is one of the few gym battles in the history of the game to be a double battle, and it's a nice change of pace for the game. Alongside a memorable design of having an older woman be the rap gym leader, Ryme is the type of gym leader that will stand out among her peers years after Gen 9 has run its course.
1 Grusha
Level-wise, it seems that the game intended Grusha to be the final gym leader that the player faces. The Ice-type Glasaedo Gym Leader fulfills that role well, and their career as a former professional snowboarder makes them all the more perfect as an Ice-type leader.
Grusha's team consists of a Frosmoth, a Beartic, a Cetitan, and an Ice Tera Type Altaria. It's a powerful team that's well-prepared for Fire types and Fighting types alike due to great Water and Flying coverage on Grusha's Pokémon. Alongside their team being solid, Grusha has a great character design and a little aura of mystery thanks to the scarf constantly covering their face.
