Pokémon Sword and Shield introduced several new features into the monster fighting franchise's formula, including a new Gigantamax and Dynamax feature and in-game Pokémon League Cards for Trainers. Notwithstanding, the eighth generation of Pokémon games took a trademark of the series and improved it exponentially: the Gym Challenge. Each of the Gym battles were given astounding spectacle, with entertaining activities and challenges posed to players with each new metropolis. Unfortunately, some of the Gym Leaders didn't provide as much enjoyment.

Like about Pokémon regions, Galar has its own gear up of 8 Gym Leaders that stand between the player character and the title of Champion. Each is a main of their own unique Pokémon typing, usually (but non always) reflecting the territory or makeup of the city their Gym is based in. Pokémon Sword and Shield goes above and beyond to craft unique Gyms and Gym Leaders, but there are a few that have earned their place as the worst Gym Leaders in the region.

While Bede is not a Gym Leader during the form of Sword and Shield's primary story, he later becomes i every bit Opal'due south successor as the Fairy Type Gym Leader in Ballonlea. While recent generations of Pokémon games have replaced embittered and vicious rivals with more friendly faces, Bede arrived to remind players not all competition involves handshakes and smiles. He has some great grapheme development, and is humbled as the master grapheme defeats him, but throughout a majority of his interactions with players Bede shows himself to exist 1 of the cruelest NPCs in-game. Following his inheritance of the Gym Leader title, Bede once again challenges the actor at the Title in order to testify himself. The return of a cruel rival and pompous Gym Leader is nice, but his Fairy and Psychic-Type team crusade more headaches than they're worth.

Not All Of Pokémon Sword & Shield's Gym Leaders Are Good

Pokémon Sword and Shield featured different Gym Leaders at 2 locations depending on the version players purchased. Circhester Metropolis was one such location, where Pokémon Shield players would encounter another terrible Gym Leader by the name of Melony. An Water ice-Type master, Melony tried to push her son, Gordy, into taking over her gym when she retired. This only succeeded in pushing Gordy further and further away until their relationship was practically ruined. Her League Card details that while she is an "effective omnibus" she is "incredibly strict", likely contributing to an boosted separation between her and Gordy.

Pokémon Sword players aren't exempt from the pain that Circhester Metropolis brings with their version's Gym Leader, every bit Gordy brings his own undesirable qualities to the table. While his obnoxious beliefs likely stems from the tense human relationship he has with his mother, players are less likely to show him mercy after the frustrating Gym Challenge that predates his fight. Additionally, Gordy is not nigh as charming as the other Pokémon Sword and Shield Gym Leaders and his personality does not spark equally much entreatment as other Leaders such equally Raihan, Nessa, or Allister. His team offers a slight claiming in battle, but his overall character fails to brand him very memorable.

Bede's hostile and demeaning attitude toward others translates into irritating overconfidence as a Gym Leader. Melony'southward failures every bit a mother and connected strict regimen shows that she's failed to learn from the mistakes of estranging her son. Gordy fails to make himself every bit memorable as the other characters and has his Gym mirror his mother's frustrating Gym Claiming. While none of the Galarian Gym Leaders are secretly crime lords like Kanto's Giovanni, they are human and each have their own flaws. Pokémon Sword and Shield 'southward Galar region succeeded in creating many colorful and unique Gym Leader characters, just a few of them fall far below the others.

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About The Author

Natalie Lindner (533 Articles Published)

Natalie Lindner is a Game Features Author for Screen Rant, creating content on the past, present, and future of games in the industry. Prior to this, she worked out of a writing consultancy in Rhode Island from 2018 to 2021, where she helped higher students ameliorate their writing abilities. Natalie has contributed her video game writing to several smaller websites and projects since 2018 and is eager to go on that journey with Screen Rant. Working out of New Hampshire, Natalie spends the time she isn't writing about games exterior; hiking or biking. On those rainy days, she can exist found striving for activity on the latest FPS or perusing the latest comic books.

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