The Pokemon franchise has returned to the Sinnoh region after 15 years, so here is how to beat all Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Gym Leaders.
Although Studio ILCA brought a flurry of new features to the Gen IV remakes, the team has also gone to great lengths to create a faithful adaptation of Game Freak’s original 2006 DS titles.
In Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Trainers face off against eight Gym Leaders across the region, so here is how to beat each of the Sinnoh Gym Leaders to get to the Elite Four and the Pokemon League Champion.
Contents
- Gym #1 – Oreburgh City Gym
- Gym #2 – Eterna City Gym
- Gym #3 – Veilstone City Gym
- Gym #4 – Pastoria City Gym
- Gym #5 – Hearthome City Gym
- Gym #6 – Canalave City Gym
- Gym #7 – Snowpoint City Gym
- Gym #8 – Sunyshore City Gym
How to beat Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Gym Leaders
Gym #1: Oreburgh City Gym
In Gen IV, players encounter their first Sinnoh Gym Leader once reaching Oreburgh. The locale can be found after visiting Jubilife City and then following Route 203 into the Oreburgh Gate cave.
You will not be able to take on the Gym Leader just yet, however, as you will first need to go find him studying rocks in the Oreburgh Mine. After talking to Roark, he will return to his gym to prepare for battle.
Gym Leader Roark
Gym Leader Roark team
| Pokemon | Type |
|
Geodude (Lv. 12) |
Rock / Ground |
|
Onix (Lv. 12) |
Rock / Ground |
|
Cranidos (Lv. 14) |
Rock |
How to beat Gym Leader Roark – weakness & counters
| Pokemon | Weakness |
|
Geodude |
Water (4x Damage)Grass (4x Damage)
Fighting |
|
Onix |
Water (4x Damage)Grass (4x Damage)
Fighting |
|
Cranidos |
WaterGrass
Fighting Ground |
Gym #2 – Eterna City Gym
After obtaining the Coal Badge from defeating Roark in Oreburgh, players should head back to Jubilife City to reach Route 204 South. Now that you have access to the Rock Smash HM, you can pass through the Ravaged Path to get to Route 204 North.
After reaching Route 205, Trainers will have to take a detour and fight Team Galactic at the Valley Windworks. After resolving the quest they can resume Route 205 until they hit the Eterna Forest. After clearing the woodlands, you will finally arrive at Eterna City – home of the second gym and its leader Gardenia.
Gym Leader Gardenia
Gym Leader Gardenia team
| Pokemon | Type |
|
Cherubi (Lv. 19) |
Grass |
|
Turtwig (Lv. 19) |
Grass |
|
Roserade (Lv. 22) |
Grass / Poison |
How to beat Gym Leader Gardenia – weakness & counters
Gym Leader Gardenia mainly centers her team around Grass-types, so in order to swiftly beat her Trainers should be using Fire, Bug & Flying-type moves. Although not as common in the game so far, Poison-type is also potent.
Those who picked Chimchar are in for an easy fight, while the other two Starters will need to look for alternatives. Below we will list the best counters that will bring down the Gardenia Gym Leader in no time at all.
| Pokemon | Weakness |
|
Cherubi |
FireFlying
Bug |
|
Turtwig |
FireFlying
Bug |
|
Roserade |
FireFlying
Bug |
Gym #3 – Veilstone City Gym
After visiting Hearthome City, players are thrown for a curveball when they are unable to challenge the Gym Leader at the current point in the story.
Instead, Trainers will need to make their way to Veilstone City after passing through Solaceon Town and Route 215.
Once you arrive at Veilstone, you can now take on Gym Leader Maylene instead for your third badge. Players should prepare to throw down as the fierce Trainer’s team is entirely centered around Fighting-type Pokemon.
Gym Leader Maylene
Gym Leader Maylene team
| Pokemon | Type |
|
Meditite (Lv. 27) |
Fighting / Psychic |
|
Machoke (Lv. 27) |
Fighting |
|
Lucario (Lv. 30) |
Fighting / Steel |
How to beat Gym Leader Maylene – weakness & counters
Because most of Maylene’s team is made up of Fighting-type Pokemon, Trainers should focus on building their team around Flying and Psychic-based moves.
Pokemon such as Kadabra and Staravaria are both great examples of characters who can really do an incredible amount of damage in this fight.
Where things get interesting is her final fighter slot Lucario due to the Sinnoh favorite being a Steel dual-type. This can easily be countered by bringing a Fire-type into the mix.
| Pokemon | Weakness |
|
Meditite |
GhostFlying
Fairy |
|
Machoke |
FlyingPsychic
Fairy |
|
Lucario |
FireFighting
Ground |
Gym #4 – Pastoria City Gym
Passing through the Grand Lake Hotel, players will find themselves stepping foot on a beach shore which eventually connects to Route 213. Following the ocean-edge path will eventually lead you to Pastoria City.
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After exploring the Great Marsh and the Safari Zone, Trainers are going to head to the Gym to take on Crasher Wake. Living up to its name, prepare for a torrent of Water-type ‘mon.
Gym Leader Crasher Wake
Gym Leader Crasher Wake team
| Pokemon | Type |
|
Gyarados (Lv. 27) |
Water / Flying |
|
Quagsire (Lv. 27) |
Water / Ground |
|
Floatzel (Lv. 30) |
Water |
How to beat Gym Leader Crasher Wake – weakness & counters
| Pokemon | Weakness |
|
Gyarados |
Electric (4x Damage)Rock (4x Damage) |
|
Quagsire |
Grass (4x Damage) |
|
Floatzel |
GrassElectric |
Gym #5 – Hearthome City Gym
After being denied a battle at the beginning of the story, players will now be able to face off against Sinnoh Gym Leader Fantina back in Hearthome City.
Trainers need to make their way back to the familiar locale and can do so by hitting up Route 210 and 211 east. You can also just use Fly HM in your Poketch and go directly to the much-anticipated showdown.
Entering the spooky gym, it becomes quickly apparent that Fantina will be challenging you with a Ghost-type team.
Gym Leader Fantina
Gym Leader Fantina Team
| Pokemon | Type |
|
Drifblim (Lv. 32) |
Ghost / Flying |
|
Gengar (Lv. 34) |
Ghost / Poison |
|
Mismagius (Lv. 36) |
Ghost |
How to beat Gym Leader Fantina – weakness & counters
| Pokemon | Weakness |
|
Drifblim |
Ghost
Dark Electric Ice Rock |
|
Gengar |
Ghost
Psychic Dark Ground |
|
Mismagius |
Ghost
Dark |
Gym #6 – Canalave City Gym
Now that you’ve acquired the Surf HM, it’s time to return to Jubilife City where you can now enter the west exit into Route 218. Use the Hidden Move to travel across the small lake of water.
Once you reach land again, you will immediately stumble upon a tunnel that takes you directly to Canalave City. Despite being a seaside town, the Gym battle here will mainly focus on Steel-types.
Gym Leader Byron
Gym Leader Byron Team
| Pokemon | Type |
|
Bronzor (Lv. 36) |
Steel / Psychic |
|
Steelix (Lv. 36) |
Steel / Ground |
|
Bastiodon(Lv. 39) |
Rock / Steel |
How to beat Gym Leader Byron – weakness & counters
| Pokemon | Weakness |
|
Bronzor |
Ghost
Fire Ground Dark |
|
Steelix |
Fighting
Ground Fire Water |
|
Bastiodon |
Fighting (x4 Damage)
Ground (x4 Damage) Water |
Gym #7: Snowpoint City Gym
After making it through the north path of Mt Coronet, Trainers will eventually find themselves on Route 216. Users need to then proceed to Route 217 which is being hammered with a blizzard.
After trekking through the snow, you will eventually arrive at Snowpoint City where you will find Sinnoh Gym Leader Candice, where you’ll need to prepare for a fight that involves Ice-type Pokemon.
Gym Leader Candice
Gym Leader Candice Team
| Pokemon | Type |
|
Snover (Lv. 38) |
Ice / Grass |
|
Sneasel (Lv. 38) |
Dark/ Ice |
|
Medicham (Lv. 40) |
Fighting / Psychic |
|
Abomasnow (Lv. 42) |
Ice / Grass |
How to beat Gym Leader Candice – weakness & counters
Predictably, the Snowpoint City Sinnoh Gym Leader mainly centers around Ice-type Pokemon which means Fire moves will be your go-to. However, since Candice also has dual-type characters with Psychic and Dark, players should make sure to have a Fighting-type ‘mon on hand to take on Sneasel.
Just like Eterna Gym, those who chose Chimchar as a starter are going to sweep up easily as by level 40 they should have Infernape already, which has both Fire and Fighting.
| Pokemon | Weakness |
|
Snover |
Fire (4x Damage)Fighting
Flying Rock |
|
Sneasel |
Fighting (4x Damage)Fire
Rock Bug |
|
Medicham |
FlyingGhost
Fairy |
|
Abomasnow |
Fire (4x Damage)Fighting
Flying Rock |
Gym #8: Sunyshore City Gym
Following the defeat of Team Galactic, Trainers will make their way back to the Hotel Grand Lake. Take the east exit to enter Route 222. After completing your trek across the long straightaway, you will eventually arrive at Sunyshore City.
In order to unlock the fight, players will need to make their way up to the Lighthouse where Volkner can be seen looking through a telescope. After talking to him, he will tell you to meet him at his Gym to face off in battle.
Gym Leader Volkner
Gym Leader Volkner team
| Pokemon | Type |
|
Raichu (Lv. 46) |
Electric |
|
Ambipom (Lv. 47) |
Normal |
|
Octillery (Lv. 48) |
Water |
|
Luxray (Lv. 49) |
Electric |
How to beat Gym Leader Volkner – weakness & counters
For the final Gym Battle, Trainers will need to mix things up if they want to win. Although Volkner is themed around Electric Pokemon, his actual team is all over the place.
Players should bring in a few strong Ground-type ‘mon as they will counter half of Volkner’s team. However, you will also need Fighting and Grass (or Electric) picks as well to round out the battle.
| Pokemon | Weakness |
|
Raichu |
Ground |
|
Ambipom |
Fighting |
|
Octillery |
Grass
Electric |
|
Luxray |
Ground |
Now that you’ve beaten all eight Sinnoh Gym Leaders and are headed for the Elite 4, check out some of our other BDSP guides:
How to get Jirachi in BDSP | How to get Mew in BDSP | Pokemon Diamond & Shining Pearl version exclusives | All Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon | How to get the Poketch in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl | Best starter to pick | All Styles | How to beat all Gym Leaders | How to walk with your Pokemon