Pokémon Scarlet and Violet diverts from the linear style of previous games in the franchise to provide a much more open world experience. Within that experience are three storylines, with one being the traditional Victory Road narrative where trainers must battle through eight gym leaders to head to the Elite Four and become the new Pokémon Champion. Despite the freedom to choose which order to challenge the gym leaders, there’s a definitively easier route to take through these gyms to ensure your Pokémon are levelled appropriately and no gym leader becomes too challenging, as their levels do not scale. Here’s the best gym order to complete in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Gym Order
1. Cortondo Gym – Katy (Bug)
Recommended Level: 15+
Cortondo Gym is where Nemona herself suggests you head first after she explains the Victory Road story path and all of its details at the end of the tutorial section. Here, you’ll meet Katy the bug-type Pokémon leader who has Pokémon with a level cap of just 15. Her Pokémon are a level 14 Nymble, a level 14 Tarantoula and a level 15 Teddiursa. Fire, Flying or Rock-type Pokémon will all help you secure an easy victory against Katy.
2. Artazon Gym – Brassius (Grass)
Recommended Level: 15+
Artazon Gym is in the direction Arven sends you in after explaining where to find the closest Titan Pokémon he’s been telling you about. Brassius resides here, and will leap from atop a windmill to face you with his Grass type Pokémon. Brassius has a level 16 Petlil, a level 16 Smoliv and a level 17 Sudowoodo. Bug, Fire, Flying, Grass, Poison, Dragon, and Steel-type Pokémon will all ensure an easy trip through this gym.
3. Levincia Gym – Iono (Electric)
Recommended Level: 23+
After the first two gyms, the levels begin to scale up quite dramatically and the order in which you face them becomes more important. The introductory gyms are mechanics placed in the game to get players used to the new style and learn all there is to know about battling gym leaders. Internet streamer Iono and her electric-type Pokémon await you at Levincia Gym, which is the easiest to reach after leaving Artazon. She has a level 23 Wattrel, level 23 Bellibolt, level 23 Luxio and a level 24 Mismagius for you to defeat. Bringing Ground, Grass, Electric or Dragon-types will secure the win against Iono.
4. Cascarrafa Gym – Kofu (Water)
Recommended Level: 30+
Cascarrafa Gym is up next, where chef Kofu will meet you. The gym challenge for Cascarrafa sees you traversing the land further than you’ve been before, but it’s a generally very wholesome time and Kofu seems genuinely excited to battle you. This journey for the challenge gives plenty of opportunity to prepare your team and level up your Pokémon en-route to collect his wallet, which he left in the gym on his way to Porto Marinada. Kofu will come at you with a level 29 Veluza, a level 29 Wugtrio and a level 30 Crabominable. Electric and Grass types will be useful.
5. Medali Gym – Larry (Normal)
Recommended Level: 35+
Medali Gym is home to a businessman in a restaurant, the normal-type leader Larry. Larry seems thoroughly unimpressed with the entire scenario and after you’ve chased down some clues around the town in order to decipher a “secret” menu item, you’ll face his tricky team. It’s no easy feat, but with plenty of preparation and ensuring your Pokémon are a suitable level, Larry shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle. He will fight you with a level 35 Komala, a level 35 Dudunsparce and a level 36 Staraptor. Normal-type Pokémon are only weak to Fighting types so ensure you’ve got a few in your party.
6. Montenevera Gym – Ryme (Ghost)
Recommended Level: 40+
Montenevera Gym is the next most logical place to head towards in terms of levels. The Ghost-type leader Ryme is a rapper and this is a really fun battle. The arena changes appearance with each Pokémon battle completed, and while there’s more fighting in the build-up to meeting the gym leader herself for the first time here, there’s nothing too taxing if you’re prepared with the right typing and high enough levels. Ryme will use a level 41 Banette, a level 41 Mimikyu, a level 41 Houndstone and a level 41 Toxtricity in a series of double battles. Dark and Ghost-type Pokémon will ensure an easy win against Ryme.
7. Alfornada Gym – Tulip (Psychic)
Recommended Level: 45+
Alfornada Gym is on the opposite side of the map with the hardest location to reach in the game, so it would be wise to ensure you’ve completed all the Titan Pokémon encounters by this point to enable easier traversing of the world. The Psychic leader Tulip will meet you here, and it’s unclear whether she’s more bothered about battling you or her mascara. Either way, she’ll bring out a level 44 Farigiraf, a level 44 Gardevoir, a level 44 Espathra and a level 45 Florges. Bug, Ghost and Dark-types will assist your victory against Tulip.
8. Glaseado Gym – Grusha (Ice)
Recommended Level: 45+
Glaseado Gym is the easiest to get to of the final three gyms and so, if you’re like us, you may have accidentally ventured there a little underleveled and battled through painfully. However, in order to make the Glaseado gym an easier fight, we recommend leaving it until last as the Ice-type Pokémon here are the highest level in any gym. Ex-snowboarder Grusha will meet you here with a level 47 Frosmoth, a level 47 Beartic, a level 47 Cetitan and a level 48 Altaria. Steel, Fire, Water and Ice-types should be in your party if you want to defeat Grusha.
After beating all eight gyms, you can control Pokémon of any level as well as heading to the Pokémon League to battle the Elite Four in your hopes to become Champion, or you can complete the Path of Legends or Operation Starfall. The beauty of this first ever open world mainline Pokémon game is that the choice really is yours.
If you’re looking for more advice on how to be best prepared with Pokémon typings for the gyms, check out the guide on strengths and weaknesses, or figure out how you can evolve Pawmo into Pawmot.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are out now for Nintendo Switch.
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