15 Best Gym Leader Character Designs in Pokémon (Ranked)

Health club leaders play an enormous half within the Pokémon video games, regardless of not getting the love that I believe they deserve.

I’ve determined to rejoice them in my very own means by rating gymnasium chief primarily based on their designs.

It’s laborious to separate design from character, I’ll admit. And there are a couple of occasions on this record the place I mix the 2. So in case you disagree with me and suppose I’m a complete hack, I get it.

I additionally get in case you suppose my admittedly male mind has influenced this record in any vital means, as a result of it has.

Regardless of my flaws, I nonetheless suppose my conclusions are pretty stable. When you’re into character design in any respect you then’ll discover loads right here to agree with.

15. Winona

You’re going to appreciate that there’s a massively disproportionate variety of feminine trainers to male trainers.

I truthfully don’t know why that may very well be, however it’s what it’s.

Beginning off that pattern (and this record) is Winona, the flying sort gymnasium chief from Gen III.

I fought with the concept of placing her on right here as a result of, realistically, she isn’t all that memorable. It’s been some years since I’ve visited Hoenn, however I forgot all about her.

She has design, although. The wings on the boots, vambraces, and hat make her appear to be a Pokémon Quicksilver, and the tail-like ponytail solely provides to that aesthetic.

Her white and silvery blue coloration mixture can be probably the most serene I’ve seen on any gymnasium chief. She’s received an excellent design, even when I fully forgot that she existed within the first place.

14. Korrina

Korrina is a blended bag for me.

On the one hand, she’s the favored lady in highschool that you just used to crush over, however couldn’t inform anybody since you have been punk.

And alternatively, she’s a primary instance of one in all X and Y’s greatest points: the issue.

By way of uncooked design, although, she’s a curler skater. And that’s fairly superior.

The crimson and white coloration scheme works extremely properly, and the truth that she truly has considerably of a task to play in X and Y helps her memorability immensely.

13. Clemont

There’s a bizarre factor about X and Y having a couple of stellar characters, after which a bunch of rubbish.

Clemont simply misses out on that rubbish heap.

He’s a bizarre little youngster prodigy that, for some cause or one other, has a backpack that shoots out a satellite tv for pc and robotic arm.

He doesn’t want both of these issues; he simply has them for model factors.

The truth that he’s the one gymnasium chief(after Korrina) that I may bear in mind from Kalos says all the pieces about Clemont and why he’s on this record.

12. Nessa

Sword and Protect have some severely standout designs.

Nessa is one in all them.

There’s simply one thing about her design that reveals a sure stage of care was put into her design.

Even right down to her sandals, which have life rings on them.

The flowing blue streaked hair, her intimidating eyes, and the admittedly skimpy albeit tasteful clothes, all go in the direction of cementing Nessa as one in all my favourite gymnasium chief designs.

11. Skyla

For no matter cause, Skyla is the one gymnasium chief that I bear in mind probably the most from all the collection.

It might need to do with my TCG deck on the time relying closely on her coach card. However I’m undecided that’s all there’s to it.

I imply, she has one of many best-designed gyms of all time.

It basically acts as an enormous center finger to all well being and security regulatory officers, one thing which we’ve all needed to do in some unspecified time in the future.

By way of design, although, she’s one other flying sort chief. In contrast to Winona, there’s not all that a lot alluding to that on her design. The truth that I nonetheless find it irresistible regardless of that speaks volumes.

She’s merely received a multi-shaded blue crop prime, shorts, boots, and a few straps thrown across the place. It’s an extremely cute design that’s so simple as it’s efficient.

10. Clair

I really feel sorry for Clair.

She’s Lance’s cousin, however as a substitute of being the Champion, she’s relegated to gymnasium obligation. Simply think about how terrible these household get-togethers have to be for her.

Regardless of the inferiority points that I’m constructive she’s working via, Clair overcompensates massive time on the subject of model.

The high-rise excessive heel boots, Lance-like flowing cape, the gloves that appear to be they’re manufactured from satin and value greater than my internet value, the gown that reveals off simply sufficient leg to be each engaging and intimidating… and naturally, these piercing blue eyes.

Overlook her Gyarados’ potential; she’s going to be the one intimidating any 10-year-old coach that wanders via the entrance door, therefore the quantity 10 spot.

9. Crasher Wake

Crasher Wake has an actual man’s physique.

He’s massive, he’s chunky, and he may simply rip you in two.

He someway balances being each a gymnasium chief and knowledgeable wrestler, though he looks like a little bit of a Hulk Hogan as a result of he by no means does the job on tv, apparently.

There’s additionally the truth that the primary time you meet him in Platinum, he sings his personal theme track.

That doesn’t play into the design, but it surely’s humorous to think about.

Crasher Wake’s design is definitely fairly easy however very efficient. He has orange and blue wrestling tights that form of make him appear to be Mermaid Man. He doesn’t put on a prime, which is truthfully extra alluring to me than any of the feminine gymnasium chief designs on this record, and he’s received a very bizarre and spikey masks.

All of it comes collectively in not only a well-designed gymnasium chief, however a real character. And that needs to be the purpose of all character design.

8. Koga

I’m going on and on about Koga in my lists, so I’ll give the inspirational story a relaxation for this one.

Design-wise, Koga is a literal ninja. That’s all.

Do I must say anything?

7. Clay

Ninjas are cool and all, however you understand what I actually wish to battle in opposition to in my Pokémon video games?

Oil barons!

Okay, he’s a mining baron, not an oil one. However let me have my fantasy all the identical.

He kinda appears like Doug Dimmadome if Doug misplaced the spouse and children and turned to consuming as a coping mechanism.

Clay has this fixed scowl on his face, is all the time on the telephone, and all the time checking the time. He appears like a nasty piece of labor, in addition to a wannabe cowboy.

I really feel sorry for anybody that works for him. However there must be factors for no matter multi-million Pokédollar tailor dressed him.

6. Elesa

The Pokémon League should actually have horrible wages with all these gymnasium leaders turning to different professions to get by.

In Elesa’s case, it’s style.

Elesa is a mannequin. Which immediately places her on any record of mine, so far as I’m involved.

Nevertheless, it’s laborious to speak about her design as a result of she alters it up fairly dramatically from BW to BW2.

Her outfits are easy, however they have been a dream come true for 11-year-old me. That nostalgia issue may play into my bias, however check out her design and inform me that it’s not unbelievable.

5. Bea

Bea is the head of badass Pokémon character design.

She’s completely chiseled and is all the pieces Crasher Wake wished he may very well be.

The ashen grey hair with the headscarf works extremely properly, and I’ve completely no concept why. Probably due to the distinction between the orange and the grey, however both means, it appears unbelievable.

There’s not a lot room for creativity within the Gen 8 gymnasium chief designs due to the jerseys that they need to put on.

However Bea makes it work.

It’s easy, sturdy, and efficient, which is oftentimes simpler than some loopy OTT design.

4. Whitney

Whitney is easy, I’ll offer you that.

However she’s so near the highest for one very particular cause:

Her design suits her character completely.

She’s the kind of lady that places on this cute entrance, however when it comes right down to it, she’s an absolute little terror.

She’s continually occurring about cute Pokémon, however if you beat her, she throws a tantrum and refuses at hand over your badge… yeah.

You may inform she’s like this simply from a look.

Knee-high socks, pink hair and eyes (a basic anime trope for a psychopath), and a happy-go-lucky demeanor that you understand is ready to implode.

3. Valerie

Valerie is what I imply once I speak about how good the X and Y designs are, however how dangerous the precise characters are.

I forgot who Valerie was, which ought to by no means occur with a personality this properly designed.

If I can bear in mind Whitney after combating her 15+ years in the past, then I ought to be capable of bear in mind a coach I fought a couple of years again.

Valerie was the primary fairy-type gymnasium chief, and you’ll inform.

Her eyes have this huge dreamy anime feeling to them, which solely combines with the clear fairy wings that she wears as sleeves.

Sport Freak clearly went out of their approach to make the fairy sort debut particular; it’s only a disgrace the writing group was absent that day.

2. Roxie

Keep in mind once I stated that Korrina is the lady you secretly had a crush on?

Roxie is the one you had a crush on and made completely no effort to cover it.

She’s a punk rocker, and never simply in look.

You struggle her when she’s on stage together with her band in her gymnasium. Which has been was a dingy underground membership.

The punky hair, the massive boots, and the outsized jumper have been sufficient to seize my younger coronary heart. And even to at the present time, Roxie continues to be one in all my favourite gymnasium chief designs of all time.

1. Misty

May it’s anybody else?

Like Elesa, Misty will get a redesign between video games.

Additionally like Elesa, each designs are unbelievable.

She’s probably probably the most recognizable aspect character in Pokémon historical past. Which says all of it, actually.

She’s meant to be tom-boyish, and the design leans into that very properly. It’s not overly masculine, in addition to not being overly female.

Shorts and a crop prime, or a swimsuit.

It’s such a easy design that I’m positive we will all instantly visualize Misty in our collective minds. If for nothing else, that cause is greater than deserving of giving Misty the highest spot.