I recently got Pokemon Sword, so I thought I would do a little guide on the eight gyms that you have to go through during the course of the game. The gyms are different then previous games as instead of facing off against trainers in order to get to the leader, you have to complete various missions occasionally fighting a trainer before facing the leader. This game also features a function called Dynamaxing which all but one gym uses. This is a process that makes your Pokemon giant, your attacks stronger and a little health boost. However, it only lasts a few rounds and can only be used once. Every leader that uses this ability saves it for the final Pokemon in the battle.
Gym #1: Turffield
- Gym Leader: Milo
- Mission: Herd 20 Wooloos from one side of the gym to the other, avoid the Yampers as they will scare off the Wooloo
- Pokemon Level: 19-20
- Weakness: Fire, Poison, Bug, Flying, and Ice.
- Reward: TM10 Megical Leaf, Grass Badge, Grass Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 25.
Gym #2: Hulbury
- Gym Leader: Nessa
- Mission: Maze of changing paths blocked by pillars of water use switches to change the water flow.
- Pokemon Level: 22-25
- Weakness: Electric and Grass.
- Reward: TM36 Whirlpool, Water Badge, Water Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 30.
Gym #3: Motostoke
- Gym Leader: Kabu
- Mission: Get 5 points before the other trainers in the gym by capturing pokemon (worth 2 points) or defeating pokemon (worth 1 point).
- Pokemon Level: 25-27
- Weakness: Water, Ground, and Rock.
- Reward: TM38 Will-o-Wisp, Fire Badge, Fire Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 35.

Gym #4: Stow-On-Side
Sword:
- Gym Leader: Bea
- Mission: Slide down a slope to get to the end by rotating the control stick left or right while using punching gloves to get around the board.
- Pokemon Level: 34-36
- Weakness: Flying, Psychic, and Fairy
- Reward: TM42 Revenge, Fighting Badge, Fighting Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 40.
Shield. As I don’t have this version, I can’t tell you what the mission is as I do not know it.
- Gym Leader: Allister
- Pokemon Level: 34-36
- Weakness: Ghost and Dark
- Reward: TM77 Hex, Ghost Badge, Ghost Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 40.
Gym #5: Ballonlea
- Gym Leader: Opal
- Mission: Game quiz and battling various gym trainers. If you’re right you get a stat boost, if you’re wrong you get a stat drop. Here are answers including to the ones she asks during her battle:
- Do you know about Fairy type’s weaknesses? Poison or Steel, both are correct
- What was the previous trainer’s name? Annette
- What do I eat for breakfast every morning? Omelets
- Do you know my nickname? The Wizard
- What is my favorite color? Purple
- How old am I? 16 years old
- Pokemon Level: 36-38
- Weakness: Poison and Steel
- Reward: TM87 Draining Kiss, Fairy Badge, Fairy Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 45.
Gym #6: Circhester
Sword:
- Mission: Navigate through puzzle where tiles collpase if you walk on them sending you back to the start. Use the sensors given to detect these tiles using vibrations. Later in the puzzle you will be unable to see due to a sandstorm.
- Gym Leader: Gordy
- Pokemon Level: 40-42
- Weakness: Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, and Steel
- Reward: TM48 Rock Tomb, Rock Badge, Rock Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 50.
Shield. As I don’t have this version, I can’t tell you what the mission is as I do not know it.
- Gym Leader: Melony
- Pokemon Level: 40-42
- Weakness: Fire, Fighting, Rock, and Steel
- Reward: TM27 Icy Wind, Ice Badge, Ice Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 50.
Gym #7: Spikemuth
This is the only gym where Dynamaxing is not used as the gym leader is against it.
- Gym Leader: Piers
- Mission: Defeat various members of Team Yell who are preventing everyone but Marnie from getting this badge.
- Pokemon Level: 44-46
- Weakness: Fighting, Bug, and Fairy
- Reward: TM85 Snarl, Dark Badge, Dark Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 55.
Gym #8: Hammerlocke
- Gym Leader: Raihan
- Mission: Face off against four trainers in Double Battles each focusing on a certain weather setting.
- Pokemon Level: 45-48
- Weakness: Ice, Dragon, Fairy
- Reward: TM99 Breaking Swipe, Dragon Badge, Dragon Uniform and ability to capture Pokemon up to level 100.

Love ya,
Mae Polzine
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