Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Guide: Walkthrough Gyms Evolutions and Tips

From hidden shiny odds to time-saving breeding tricks, these guides break down everything you need to conquer Paldea’s toughest challenges and train a team that stands above the rest.

Our guides will help you navigate this vast region, whether you’re a Pokémon expert or a newbie to the franchise. We’ll teach you about type advantages, the best counters for gym leaders, how to breed the strongest Pokémon you can, and, of course, how to make mouth-watering sandwiches.

While the new open-world nature of the game may be daunting, it’s not so bad, as you’ll have access a variety of powerful Pokémon to turn into companions (plus our guides to walk you through every step of the way). Whether you want to focus on being a Pokémon League Champion or would prefer to just go collect Herba Mystica, we’re here to help.

Just starting out

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Your biggest Pokémon Scarlet and Violet questions, answered
Who is the best starter in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet type chart
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Tera Types, explained
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gym order and badge progression guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Legendary Pokémon, explained
Why it’s worth taking Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s academy classes
How to rename your Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet
How Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s multiplayer works (and doesn’t)
How to get mystery gifts in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
A definitive guide to shiny hunting in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
The definitive guide to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Tera Raids
Can you Nuzlocke Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
How to transfer your Pokémon Scarlet and Violet save data between two Switches

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Victory Road (gyms, Elite Four, and Champion)

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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Artazon gym (Brassius) guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Levincia gym (Iono) guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Cascarrafa gym (Kofu) guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Medali gym (Larry) guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Montenevera gym (Ryme) guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Alfornada gym (Tulip) guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Glaseado gym (Grusha) guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Elite Four and Champion guide
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Nemona final battle guide
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Starfall Street and Path of Legends

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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Academy Ace Tournament guide

Filling out your Pokédex

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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Chi-Yu shrine and stake (blue) locations
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Ting-Lu shrine and stake (yellow/green) locations
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Chien-Pao shrine and stake (orange/gold) locations
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Special evolutions

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Training powerful Pokémon

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The Teal Mask DLC Guides

Paldea gym leaders order and weaknesses

Here’s a recommended level order for the Paldea gyms, plus the main type weaknesses for each leader’s specialty.

Best gym order in Paldea

Cortondo Gym – Katy (Bug)
Artazon Gym – Brassius (Grass)
Levincia Gym – Iono (Electric)
Cascarrafa Gym – Kofu (Water)
Medali Gym – Larry (Normal)
Montenevera Gym – Ryme (Ghost)
Alfornada Gym – Tulip (Psychic)
Glaseado Gym – Grusha (Ice)

You can do them in any order, but this route follows their general level curve from lowest to highest.

Types to use against each gym

Cortondo – Bug:
- Weak to: Fire, Flying, Rock.
Artazon – Grass:
- Weak to: Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug.
Levincia – Electric:
- Weak to: Ground (watch out for part-Flying or Levitate).
Cascarrafa – Water:
- Weak to: Electric, Grass.
Medali – Normal:
- Weak to: Fighting (Ghost attacks do nothing).
Montenevera – Ghost:
- Weak to: Ghost, Dark (Normal is immune to Ghost, and Ghost is immune to Normal).
Alfornada – Psychic:
- Weak to: Bug, Ghost, Dark.
Glaseado – Ice:
- Weak to: Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel.

If you tell me your current team and levels, I can suggest the best next gym and specific catches or TMs to cover your weaknesses.

Recommended Pokémon teams for each Paldea gym leader

Here’s a strong, story-friendly team suggestion for each Paldea gym, using only Pokémon you can reasonably have by that point and that hit the leader’s weaknesses.

1. Cortondo Gym – Katy (Bug)

Bring mostly Fire/Flying/Rock moves around level 12-15.

Fuecoco / Crocalor – Ember or Incinerate.
Fletchling – Peck, Ember (after evolving to Fletchinder).
Lechonk / Oinkologne – Any strong Normal move for neutral damage.
Rockruff – Rock Throw or Smack Down.
Any early Flying type (Squawkabilly, Starly from raids, etc.) with Flying STAB.

2. Artazon Gym – Brassius (Grass)

Prioritize Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison, or Bug around level 15-18.

Fletchinder – Flame Charge, Ember.
Crocalor – Incinerate, Round.
Shroodle / Grafaiai – Poison Fang / Poison Tail.
Nacli – Smack Down (good bulk, resists Grass).
Any early Bug/Flying (Tarountula, Nymble lines) with Bug Bite or Struggle Bug.

3. Levincia Gym – Iono (Electric)

Ground is ideal; avoid using only Water/Flying. Aim for low-mid 20s.

Paldean Wooper / Clodsire – Mud Shot, Mud Bomb, very high value here.
Diglett / Dugtrio – Dig, Mud-Slap.
Early Grass starter (Floragato) – resists Electric, hits neutral with Bite/Seed Bomb.
Any Ground Tera Pokémon you’ve caught from raids with a Ground attack.

4. Cascarrafa Gym – Kofu (Water)

Use Electric or Grass at roughly mid-late 20s.

Floragato / Meowscarada – Seed Bomb, Trailblaze.
Pawmi / Pawmo – Spark, Nuzzle, later Thunder Punch.
Wattrel – Spark, later Volt Switch; also resists Water/Flying coverage.
Capsakid / Scovillain – Bullet Seed, Energy Ball, or Giga Drain.

5. Medali Gym – Larry (Normal)

Fighting is best; have one or two solid Fighting attackers in the low-mid 30s.

Pawmo / Pawmot – Low Kick, Brick Break, Close Combat later.
Crocalor / Skeledirge – Torch Song for safe neutral hits and special bulk.
Any Fighting type from the desert/rocky areas (Makuhita line, Flamigo) with Double Kick, Brick Break, or Arm Thrust.
A Ghost type (Mimikyu from raids, Greavard) to wall Normal moves; just watch for coverage.

6. Montenevera Gym – Ryme (Ghost)

Dark and Ghost moves shine here; be around low-mid 40s.

Mabosstiff – Bite, Crunch; Intimidate helps in doubles.
Houndstone – Crunch, Shadow Ball / Shadow Claw.
Ceruledge / Armarouge – Shadow Claw / Shadow Ball.
Any Dark type from earlier routes (Shroodle/Grafaiai, Sableye from raids) with Bite, Night Slash, or Foul Play.

7. Alfornada Gym – Tulip (Psychic)

Dark, Ghost, and Bug around low-mid 40s.

Mabosstiff – Crunch is excellent again.
Houndoom / other Fire/Dark raid catches – Bite, Crunch, Flamethrower.
Lokix – First Impression, Throat Chop or Sucker Punch.
Any strong Ghost (Ceruledge, Houndstone, Mimikyu) with Shadow Claw/Ball.

8. Glaseado Gym – Grusha (Ice)

Fire is king; Fighting, Rock, and Steel also help. Aim for mid-high 40s.

Armarouge / Ceruledge – Flamethrower, Bitter Blade, or Armor Cannon (Scarlet).
Skeledirge – Torch Song, Flamethrower, great special bulk.
Flamigo / other Fighting type – Close Combat, Brick Break.
Any Fire type from surrounding mountains (Pyroar, Talonflame) with Flamethrower or Flare Blitz.
A Steel type like Tinkaton – Gigaton Hammer, Play Rough for coverage.

If you tell me your current starter and roughly what level you’re at, I can turn this into an exact 4-6 Pokémon squad for your next one or two gyms.