All eight Gym Leaders: teams, levels, badges and puzzles
Check every original Black / White Gym team, badge, TM reward, unlock event and practical battle or puzzle strategy.
Story and late-game spoilers.
Original Black and White; their sequels have different routes and encounter availability.
6 characters · one picture per entry · open a picture for full size.
Character directory
1. Striaton
Defeat Cheren at the Trainers’ School to open the Gym. Pick the floor symbol that has an advantage against each curtain: Water for Fire, Grass for Water, Fire for Grass.
2. Nacrene
Read the library clues in order and speak to the trainers at the relevant shelves. The final clue opens the staircase beneath a bookcase.
4. Nimbasa
The original Gym is inside the amusement park and uses roller coasters. Ride to a platform, defeat the trainer and activate the switch that connects the next track.
5. Driftveil
Clear Cold Storage with Cheren to unlock the challenge. Descend the mining lifts and cross the girders; the central lift takes you down to Clay.
6. Mistralton
Climb Celestial Tower on Route 7 and ring the rooftop bell before returning to Skyla. Her original Gym uses cannons to cross the hangar.
7. Icirrus
The ice puzzle uses curved bumpers that turn the direction of a slide. Step onto switches to rotate the relevant bumper, then repeat the slide from a tile where the new direction can reach the next platform.
1. Striaton
| Chosen starter | Leader / specialty | Team | Useful Dreamyard gift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snivy | Chili — Fire | Lillipup Lv.12; Pansear Lv.14 | Panpour |
| Tepig | Cress — Water | Lillipup Lv.12; Panpour Lv.14 | Pansage |
| Oshawott | Cilan — Grass | Lillipup Lv.12; Pansage Lv.14 | Pansear |
2. Nacrene
| Pokémon | Level | Type | Battle concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herdier | 18 | Normal | Physical pressure and the handoff to Watchog |
| Watchog | 20 | Normal | Retaliate after a teammate faints; Hypnosis |
4. Nimbasa
| Pokémon | Level | Type | Battle concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emolga ×2 | 25 each | Electric / Flying | Ground immunity, Volt Switch and Aerial Ace |
| Zebstrika | 27 | Electric | Volt Switch and Flame Charge |
5. Driftveil
| Pokémon | Level | Type | Battle concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krokorok | 29 | Ground / Dark | Crunch, Swagger and Bulldoze |
| Palpitoad | 29 | Water / Ground | Water damage; fourfold Grass weakness |
| Excadrill | 31 | Ground / Steel | Hone Claws and strong physical attacks |
6. Mistralton
| Pokémon | Level | Type | Battle concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swoobat | 33 | Psychic / Flying | Psychic and Flying coverage |
| Unfezant | 33 | Normal / Flying | Air Slash and Quick Attack |
| Swanna | 35 | Water / Flying | Water coverage; fourfold Electric weakness |
7. Icirrus
| Pokémon | Level | Type | Battle concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanillish | 37 | Ice | Frost Breath and Acid Armor |
| Cryogonal | 37 | Ice | Special durability, Reflect and Levitate |
| Beartic | 39 | Ice | Icicle Crash, Swagger and Brine |
Quick notes
- How to use the Gym reference. The eight badge order is fixed in original Black and White.
- 3. Castelia: Burgh. Complete the harbor and Team Plasma investigation first.
- 8. Opelucid: Drayden in Black, Iris in White. Complete the Opelucid story conversation, then follow the narrow dragon-shaped walkways.
- After the eighth badge. Use the story walkthrough to finish Route 10, Victory Road and the first League visit.
Badge and TM reward table
| Order and city | Leader | Badge | TM reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Striaton | Chili / Cress / Cilan | Trio | TM83 Work Up |
| 2 — Nacrene | Lenora | Basic | TM67 Retaliate |
| 3 — Castelia | Burgh | Insect | TM76 Struggle Bug |
| 4 — Nimbasa | Elesa | Bolt | TM72 Volt Switch |
| 5 — Driftveil | Clay | Quake | TM78 Bulldoze; received at Chargestone Cave |
| 6 — Mistralton | Skyla | Jet | TM62 Acrobatics |
| 7 — Icirrus | Brycen | Freeze | TM79 Frost Breath |
| 8 — Opelucid | Drayden (Black) / Iris (White) | Legend | TM82 Dragon Tail |
3. Castelia: Burgh
| Pokémon | Level | Type | Battle concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlipede | 21 | Bug / Poison | Poison pressure and Struggle Bug |
| Dwebble | 21 | Bug / Rock | Rock coverage; distinct defensive typing |
| Leavanny | 23 | Bug / Grass | Razor Leaf and a major Fire / Flying weakness |
8. Opelucid: Drayden in Black, Iris in White
| Pokémon | Level | Type | Battle concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fraxure | 41 | Dragon | Dragon Dance, Dragon Rage and Dragon Tail |
| Druddigon | 41 | Dragon | Physical coverage including Revenge |
| Haxorus | 43 | Dragon | Dragon Dance and physical Dragon pressure |
Check the next leader’s entire team, then heal the teammate intended to answer its ace.