Pokémon Sword / Shield / Water Gym Leader

Nessa

Water Gym Leader · Hulbury Stadium

Nessa leads Hulbury’s Water Gym and later returns as a Champion Cup finals opponent.

Story: Her Gym mission involves changing water flows. The first team has three Pokémon; the Cup team has five.
In the game: Drednaw’s Water/Rock typing makes Grass attacks especially useful. Its Gym battle uses Dynamax, while the finals team uses Gigantamax.

Story spoilers.

Pokémon Sword / Shield · Nintendo Switch · 2019 · Original Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield for Nintendo Switch (2019). Version-exclusive Gyms and starter-dependent teams are labelled. · Picture: Nessa: original Pokémon Sword and Shield character artwork.

Sword and Shield battle teams

Open searchable Gym Leaders ↗

Nessa

Hulbury Stadium · Gym 2

Sword and Shield

Water

Badge: Water Badge

Reward: TM36 Whirlpool

Nessa uses ordinary Dynamax on Drednaw in her Gym battle; her Champion Cup Drednaw uses Gigantamax.

Grass deals four times normal damage to Drednaw. Electric attacks help against the first two opponents, while Grass also covers the ace.

Gym 2 · Nessa3 Pokémon

Goldeen

Lv. 22

Water

Water Pulse
Whirlpool
Horn Attack
Agility

Arrokuda

Lv. 23

Water

Aqua Jet
Bite
Whirlpool
Fury Attack

Drednaw

Lv. 24Ace

WaterRock

Dynamax

Razor Shell
Water Gun
Bite
Headbutt

Open searchable Champion Cup ↗

Nessa

Wyndon Stadium

Sword and Shield

Water

The first scheduled finals opponent. Nessa Gigantamaxes Drednaw in this battle.

Electric covers the Water team well, especially Pelipper, while Grass punishes Drednaw. Barraskewda’s Ice Fang and Seaking’s Megahorn can hit Grass counters.