- Path of the Champ in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet – The Complete Guide
- What Is the Path of the Champ
- Recommended Gym Order
- All Gyms, Exams and Leader Teams
- Bug Gym – Cortondo Gym, Leader: Katy
- Grass Gym – Artazon Gym, Leader: Brassius
- Electric Gym – Levincia Gym, Leader: Iono
- Water Gym – Cascarrafa Gym, Leader: Kofu
- Normal Gym – Medali Gym, Leader: Larry
- Ghost Gym – Montenevera Gym, Leader: Ryme
- Psychic Gym – Alfornada Gym, Leader: Tulip
- Ice Gym – Glaseado Gym, Leader: Grusha
- The Verbal Exam
- The Practical Test – Elite Four and Champion
- Rika – Ground Focus (Lv. ~57–58)
- Poppy – Steel Focus (Lv. ~58–59)
- Larry – Flying Focus (Lv. ~59–60)
- Hassel – Dragon Focus (Lv. ~60–61)
- Champion Geeta (Lv. ~61–62)
- Bonus: After the Champion
- Practical Preparation Tips
Path of the Champ in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet – The Complete Guide
The Path of the Champ (Weg des Champs) leads you through Paldea via 8 gyms, a verbal exam, and then the practical exam against the Elite Four plus the final battle against the Champion. In this guide you’ll find a recommended gym order, details on each gym exam, the leader’s team, strategies for the Elite Four and Champion, and bonus tips for after you defeat the Champion.
What Is the Path of the Champ
You can choose freely in which order you tackle the eight gyms. After winning the eighth gym, you proceed to the Pokémon League, where you first face a short verbal exam, and then the practical test against the Elite Four. Finally, you battle the Champion Geeta. Optionally, you’ll have a showdown with Nemona afterward.
Recommended Gym Order
This order aligns well with level progression and keeps difficulty steady:
- Cortondo – Bug (Lvl. 15)
- Artazon – Grass (Lvl. 17)
- Levincia City – Electric (Lvl. 24)
- Cascarrafa City – Water (Lvl. 30)
- Medali – Normal (Lvl. 36)
- Montenevera – Ghost (Lvl. 42)
- Alfornada – Psychic (Lvl. 45)
- Glaseado – Ice (Lvl. 48)
Tip on obedience caps: With each badge, your captured Pokémon obey to higher levels. After 1 to 7 badges obedience limits increase in 5-level steps from 25 up to 55; after all 8 badges, all your Pokémon obey you regardless of level.
All Gyms, Exams and Leader Teams
Below is an overview for each gym: the city, leader, their exam, and their team. Use this to plan counters and prepare your team.
Bug Gym – Cortondo Gym, Leader: Katy
- Exam: Push a grape-shaped ball through an obstacle course into a goal.
- Team: Micrick Lv. 14, Tarundel Lv. 14, Teddiursa Lv. 15
- Strategy: Fire, Flying, and Rock types are safe bets. An early Fire type can shorten the fight.
Grass Gym – Artazon Gym, Leader: Brassius
- Exam: Find 10 Sunflora in the city and return them into an enclosure.
- Team: Lilminip Lv. 16, Olini Lv. 16, Mogelbaum Lv. 17
- Strategy: Fire, Flying, Poison, Ice, Bug types all work. Watch out for Mogelbaum when it Terastallizes into Grass.
Electric Gym – Levincia Gym, Leader: Iono
- Exam: “Where is Clavion?” — find the academy director hidden in picture puzzles.
- Team: Voltrei Lv. 23, Luxio Lv. 23, Wampitz Lv. 23, Traunmagil Lv. 24
- Strategy: Ground types are ideal against Electric. Use Dark/Ghost vs Traunmagil if needed.
Water Gym – Cascarrafa Gym, Leader: Kofu
- Exam: Return Kombu’s lost wallet and win an auction in the market.
- Team: Agiluza Lv. 29, Schligda Lv. 29, Krawell Lv. 30
- Strategy: Electric and Grass types shine. Note: Krawell may Terastallize into Water.
Normal Gym – Medali Gym, Leader: Larry
- Exam: Solve a secret menu in a restaurant using the answers: “Fried Rice Balls – Medium – Firestorm Style – Squeeze Lemon.”
- Team: Koalelu Lv. 35, Dummimisel Lv. 35, Staraptor Lv. 36
- Strategy: Fighting is strong against Normal. Staraptor may use both Flying and Fighting moves—Electric or Rock are safe alternatives.
Ghost Gym – Montenevera Gym, Leader: Ryme
- Exam: Defeat all trainers in double battles on stage.
- Team: Mimigma Lv. 41, Banette Lv. 41, Friedwuff Lv. 41, Riffex Lv. 42
- Strategy: Dark or Ghost types. Break Mimigma’s disguise first, then finish. Riffex may Terastallize into Ghost.
Psychic Gym – Alfornada Gym, Leader: Tulip
- Exam: “Feeling gymnastics” – like “Simon says” over three rounds, combined with trainer battles.
- Team: Farigiraf Lv. 44, Psiopatra Lv. 44, Guardevoir Lv. 44, Florges Lv. 45
- Strategy: Dark and Bug types are strong. Beware Florges’ Fairy moves which threaten Dark types—include some physically strong counters.
Ice Gym – Glaseado Gym, Leader: Grusha
- Exam: A slalom course on an ice toboggan run using Koraidon or Miraidon.
- Team: Mottineva Lv. 47, Siberio Lv. 47, Kolowal Lv. 47, Altaria Lv. 48
- Strategy: Fire, Rock, and Steel types work well. Altaria has a quadruple weakness to Ice but can use a Fire move—don’t just blindly use Ice.
The Verbal Exam
Before facing the Elite Four, Rika quizzes you with 10 short questions. What matters is consistency—especially with the question “what you will do next as Champion.” Use these as a reference:
- How did you get here? – Any answer is fine.
- What is the name of your academy?
- Scarlet (*) → Naranja Academy
- Violet (*) → Uva Academy
- Why did you come to the Pokémon League?
- “To become Champion.”
- What will you do next when you become Champion?
- Remember this answer; it’s repeated later.
- Which gym was hardest?
- Be specific: gym name, leader, type. E.g. “Mesclarra Gym, Leader Aoki, Normal.”
- What was your starter Pokémon?
- Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly / their evolved forms.
- What will you do when you become Champion?
- Must match your earlier answer exactly.
- Do you like Pokémon?
- Answer “Yes.”
If you pass perfectly, you proceed to the practical test (Elite Four + Champion).
The Practical Test – Elite Four and Champion
You battle in sequence against Rika, Poppy, Larry, and Hassel. You may heal between fights.
Rika – Ground Focus (Lv. ~57–58)
Team: Welsar, Donphan, Digdri, Camerupt, Suelord (Tera: Ground, Water Absorb)
- Tips: Grass is strong but Welsar’s Blizzard is a risk. Water counters Camerupt; Suelord absorbs Water, so use Grass or Ice there.
Poppy – Steel Focus (Lv. ~58–59)
Team: Patinaraja, Magnezone, Krarmor, Bronzong, Granforgita (Tera: Steel)
- Tips: Ground attacks are effective. Watch out for Bronzong’s Levitate and hazards like Stealth Rock. Fire is helpful but many opponents use Ground moves.
Larry – Flying Focus (Lv. ~59–60)
Team: Tropius, Staraptor, Altaria, Choreogel, Flaminkno (Tera: Flying)
- Tips: Electric and Ice work well. Be cautious of close-range fighters and Altaria’s possible Fire counter.
Hassel – Dragon Focus (Lv. ~60–61)
Team: UHaFnir, Tandrak, Maxax, Drapfel, Espinodon (Tera: Dragon)
- Tips: Fairy is safe, except vs Tandrak (use Psychic). Avoid Fire moves on Espinodon (Thermo Change effect).
Champion Geeta (Lv. ~61–62)
Team: Psiopatra, Aktilas, Gladimperio, Chevrumm, Agiluza, Lumiflora (Tera: Rock)
Tips: Use Dark/Ghost vs Psiopatra, Fighting/Ground vs Gladimperio, Electric/Grass vs Agiluza, Fire vs Aktilas, Water/Ground vs Lumiflora. Plan switches carefully—Lumiflora can spread Poison on switch-ins.
Bonus: After the Champion
After defeating Geeta, Nemona, challenges you at the main square in Mesalona City. Her team is slightly higher-level than Geeta’s. This optional fight is a strong final showdown on the Path of the Champ.
Practical Preparation Tips
- Heal and save before each Elite Four battle.
- Bring status healers for poison and paralysis.
- Carry 2–3 strong type counters rather than a mono-type team.
- Use Terastallization situationally – e.g. to gain resistance or deliver a surprise final blow.
(*) Affiliate Links
