Multiple campaigns and non-linear structure mean more decisions for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet than ever before, especially regarding the best gym order.
GameFreak’s take on open-world design, first pioneered for the franchise with Pokémon Legends Arceus, allows players to choose not only the gym order but the order of all three campaigns.
Now that planning your route is a part of the experience, it begs the question of which gym order is the best for you? But before you choose, why not investigate the enemy with our guide on every Gym Leader in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?
What is the Best Gym Order in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?
The best gym order for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet by level is Katy, Brassius, Iono, Kofu, Larry, Ryme, Tulip, and Grush, beginning at level 15 recommendation and ending at level 48.
But if you plan on taking on all the campaigns simultaneously (i.e. Team Star and titans), the best order is Katy, Klawf Titan, Brassius, Bombirdier Titan, Giacomo, Iono, Mela, Orthworm Titan, Kofu, Atticus, Larry, Ryme, Donphan Titan, Tulip, Grush, Ortega, Dondozo and Tatsugiri, and Eri.
- Katy
- Brassius
- Iono
- Kofu
- Larry
- Ryme
- Tulip
- Grush
All campaigns, including Victory Road, are unlocked after completing the intro and watching the Professor’s treasure hunt speech.
Bug Type Gym in Cortondo – Level 15 Recommended
| Nymph | Bug | 14 |
| Tarountula | Bug | 14 |
| Teddiursa | Bug (Tera Type) | 15 |
The first stop on the journey is the bug-type gym, where you’ll face the Gym Leader, Katy.
Place any Grass, Dark, and Psychic-type Pokémon in a box and try to have some Fire, Flying, and Rock-type Pokémon on hand.
Grass Type Gym in Artazon – Level 17 Recommended
| Petilil | Grass | 16 |
| Smoliv | Grass/Normal | 16 |
| Sudowoodo | Grass (Tera Type) | 17 |
Feel free to stop by the Klawf Titan in the South Province but otherwise, head straight for Artazon and the Grass Gym Leader Brassius.
Here avoid Ground, Rock, and Water-types and have Bug, Fire, Flying, Ice, or Poison-types available to fight.
Electric Type Gym in Levincia – Level 24 Recommended
| Wattrel | Electric/Flying | 23 |
| Luxio | Electric | 23 |
| Bellibolt | Electric | 23 |
| Mismagious | Electric (Tera Type) | 24 |
For an easier grind, stop by Bombidier Titan in area one of the West Province and the Team Star leader Giacomo in the same area.
The next leader is Iono of the Electric Gym. Avoid having any Flying or Water-type Pokemon, and have a couple of Ground-types at the ready.
Water Type Gym in Cascarrafa – Level 30 Recommended
| Veluza | Water/Psychic | 29 |
| Wugtrio | Water | 29 |
| Crabominable | Water (Tera Type) | 30 |
Take a detour and face Team Star leader Mela in area one of the East Province and or the Orthworm Titan in area three of the same province to skip the grind.
Kofu is the Water Gym Leader. Empty your roster of any Fire, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon and load up on Electric and Grass-types.
Normal Gym in Medali – Level 36 Recommended
| Komala | Normal | 35 |
| Dudunsparce | Normal | 35 |
| Staraptor | Normal (Tera Type) | 36 |
Head to Tagtree Thicket to level up against Team Star Leader Atticus. If you wish otherwise, continue on your way to Medali.
Larry is the Normal Gym Leader. Normal-type Pokémon have no strengths, but they are weak to Fighting-type Pokémon, so be ready with a couple on your team.
Ghost Gym in Montenevera – Level 42 Recommended
| Mimikyu | Ghost/Fairy | 41 |
| Banette | Ghost | 41 |
| Houndstone | Ghost | 41 |
| Toxtricity (Low Key Form) | Ghost (Tera Type) | 42 |
You can travel straight over from Medali to Montenevera to reach the next gym.
Rhyme is the Ghost Gym Leader. Remove any fellow Ghost or Psychic-types and gather Dark-types to strengthen your party.
Psychic Gym in Alfornada – Level 45 Recommended
| Farigirag | Normal/Psychic | 44 |
| Gardevoir | Psychic/Fairy | 44 |
| Espathra | Psychic | 44 |
| Florges | Psychic (Tera Type) | 45 |
Consider going to the Asado desert to fight the Future Donphan, Iron Treads (Pokemon Violet), or the Past Dophan, Great Tusk (Pokemon Scarlet).
Otherwise, find your way over to Alfornada to Fight Tulip, the Psychic Gym Leader. Here you want to avoid Fighting and Poison-type Pokémon and stack your side with Bug, Dark, and Ghost-type Pokémon.
Ice Gym in Glaseado – Level 48 Recomended
| Frosmoth | Ice/Bug | 47 |
| Beartic | Ice | 47 |
| Cetitan | Ice | 47 |
| Altaria | Ice (Tera Type) | 48 |
Again head straight to Glaseado Mountain from the town of Alfornada after defeating Tulip.
Grush, the Ice Gym Leader, is the final Gym Leader before Victory Road. Dump your Dragon, Flying, Grass, and Ground Type Pokémon and fill your roster with Fighting, Fire, Rock, and Steel-type Pokémon.
After beating Grush, you can challenge the Elite Four and then finally the Top Champion to complete the Victory Road storyline.
Or head over to area three of North Province to fight Team Star Leader Ortega and then to area one to fight Team Star Leader Eri to finish the Team Star storyline. Stop near Casseroya Lake to finish off the Titans Dondozo and Tatsugiri.
Is There a Victory Road in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?
Yes, after completing all eight gyms around Paldea, go to the Pokemon League, which is northwest of the academy, right next to the Great Crater of Paldea.
Your roster should all be around level 60 before you face the Elite Four and, finally, the Top Champion. Make sure to stock up on potions and items, and try to have all pokemon you plan to use, including those in the box, at full health.
Rika also quizzes you before battling on Gym Leaders their specialties, names, and locations, listed below.
- Cortondo > Katy > Bug
- Artazon > Brassius >Grass
- Levincia > Iono > Electric
- Cascarrafa > Kofu > Water
- Medali > Larry > Normal
- Montenevera > Ryme > Ghost
- Alfornada > Tulip > Psychic
- Glaseado > Grusha > Ice
What Are The Different Storylines in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet?
There are three different storylines or campaigns in Scarlet & Violet; Victory Road, Path of Legends, and Team Star Battles.
Victory Road is the classic gym battles leading up to the Pokemon League. Path of Legends has you assisting Arven in collecting Herba Mystica and fighting titan Pokemon. Lastly, Operation Star involves clearing team bases, ala Team Rocket, and fighting a boss at the end of each.
It’s up to you which storyline you want to take on first, and they are nonlinear, so they can be approached in any way you’d like.
But if you’re unsure which storyline to try first, check out which story path you should do first in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.
