Character Sheet: Gardenia

GARDENIA

Next up, we have Gardenia, the Grass-type gym leader of Eterna Gym, and protector of the nearby Eterna Forest. On top of her gym and game appearances, she has an especially notable role in the anime, becoming the owner of James’s Cacnea in one of the more emotional episodes.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Roserade

It will perform a small Solar Beam.

 

Side B: Honey

A common thing to do in Gen IV specifically, she will use that to draw in opponents.

 

Up B: Giant Flower

A giant flower like the one in her Platinum gym will rise up underneath her.

 

Down B: Shrubbery

She will hide behind a tree or bush, just like the trainers in her Diamond and Pearl gym.

 

Final Smash: Eterna Gym Forest Guardians

She will send out Roserade, Cherrim, and Torterra, and they will make Eterna Forest pop up on the stage itself.

 

Entrance: Her opening pose and line.

 

Taunts: Up, her little spin that accidentally erased her top for one frame in the anime. Side, she will hug and snuggle a Cacnea. Down, she will smile as her Turtwig runs around her feet.

 

Kirby Hat: Her hair

 

Kart: Based on Turtwig

Special Move: Shrubbery

 

Spirit Battle: On Spear Pillar (omega form), with her original team.

 

Victory Screen: She will dance around excitedly and strike a pose.

Losing Screen: She will hand over her badge.

 

Color Swaps: Her original look, a dress like Cheryl’s, based on Roserade, based on Cherrim, based on Turtwig, based on Cacnea, based on Carnivine, based on Shaymin.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Maylene joins the battle!

Character Sheet: Roark

ROARK

Now, we’ll move on to Sinnoh and cover the gym leaders there. First is Roark, the Rock-type gym leader of Oreburgh City, and an important figure at the local mine. His gym is fairly basic, but the mine does give us quite a bit to work with as well.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Cranidos

Obviously performing Headbutt.

 

Side B: Minecart

He will hop into a minecart from the Oreburgh mine and barrel across the stage.

 

Up B: Rock Climb

One of the most notable new HMs in this generation, so naturally he can feature it.

 

Down B: Explorer’s Kit

The mine was our first major introduction to the underground aspect of Sinnoh, so we could have him dig and form a tunnel, similar to Bugs Bunny from Multiversus.

 

Final Smash: Oreburgh Gym Rockstars

He will send out Rampardos, Bastiodon, and Golem, which will rampage across the stage.

 

Entrance: His opening pose and line

 

Taunts: Up, tipping his helmet. Side, wiping his glasses. Down, inspecting some gems and fossils.

 

Kirby Hat: His helmet

 

Kart: Based on Cranidos

Special Move: Minecart

 

Spirit Battle: On Spear Pillar (omega form), with his original team.

 

Victory Screen: Examining a jewel he just unearthed.

Losing Screen: Handing over his badge.

 

Color Swaps: His original design, based on Byron, based on Cranidos, based on Shieldon, based on Geodude, based on Onix, based on a hiker, based on Brock.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Gardenia protects the forest!

Character Sheet: Juan

JUAN

Next is Juan, the Water-type gym leader of Sootopolis City during Emerald specifically. He is the older mentor of Wallace and a contest star himself, though he plays more into the suave Don Juan archetype more. He will be mostly an echo of his student.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Walrein

Performing Ice Fang.

 

Side B: Waterfall

 

Up B: Contest Flourish

More his own personal style.

 

Down B: Ice Block

 

Final Smash: Sootopolis Gym Superstars

He will send out Walrein, Kingdra, and Crawdaunt instead.

 

Entrance: His opening line and pose.

 

Taunts: All Beauty Contest poses.

 

Kirby Hat: His hair and mustache.

 

Kart: Based on Walrein

Special Move: Ice Block

 

Spirit Battle: On Battle Frontier (omega form), with his original team.

 

Victory Screen: Performing a big contest finish.

Losing Screen: Handing over his badge.

 

Color Swaps: His main version, an outfit based on Wallace, based on Walrein, based on Milotic, based on Kingdra, based on Crawdaunt, based on Whiscash, based on Luvdisc.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Roark mines for the gold.

Character Sheet: Wallace

WALLACE

Now, we come to Wallace, the Water-type gym leader of Sootopolis City during Ruby and Sapphire, and ORAS. In Emerald, he takes the place of his, ahem, “friend” Steven Stone as Hoenn’s champion, and his mentor Juan becomes the new gym leader. Wallace is also a well-known Pokemon Contest star, so we’ve got quite a bit to work with.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Milotic

Milotic will perform Water Pulse.

 

Side B: Waterfall

Based on the waterfalls around his gym.

 

Up B: Contest Flourish

He will perform a big contest spin, with ribbons and his Milotic flying around him.

 

Down B: Ice Block

He will set down an ice spot in the stage. It can be walked across once before it shatters and a player is buried.

 

Final Smash: Sootopolis Gym Superstars

He will send out Milotic, Walrein, and Luvdisc, which will put on a spectacular water display.

 

Entrance: His opening line and pose.

 

Taunts: All Beauty Contest poses.

 

Kirby Hat: His turban thing.

 

Kart: Based on Milotic

Special Move: Contest Flourish

 

Spirit Battle: On Sky Pillar (omega form), with his original team.

 

Victory Screen: Performing a big contest finish.

Losing Screen: Handing over his badge.

 

Color Swaps: His original version, his champion version, his ORAS version, his original version with the cape covering himself, crossdressing in Lisia’s outfit, Steven’s outfit, based on Milotic, based on Walrein.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Juan makes a splash.

Character Sheet: Tate & Liza

TATE & LIZA

Next up, we have Tate and Liza, the Psychic-type twin gym leaders of Mossdeep City. They play a bit into the creepy psychic twins trope from lots of movies, and they’re also heavily tied to the Mossdeep space center, so there’s a bit we can do here. They will act similarly to the Ice Climbers.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Lunatone and Solrock

The pair will perform a psychic blast.

 

Side B: Telekinesis

Depending on the version, they are shown capable of this power, so we’ll feature it.

 

Up B: Warp Pad

Featured in their gym, so of course, it will be part of their moveset.

 

Down B: Rocket

They will launch a small version of the rocket from the space center, where their parents work.

 

Final Smash: Mossdeep Gym Masterminds

They will send out their Lunatone and Solrock, plus a Gardevoir and a Chimecho, which will perform a psychic blast upon the stage.

 

Entrance: Their opening pose and line.

 

Taunts: Up, they will high five each other. Side, they will stand back to back. Down, they will look all creepy for a second.

 

Kirby Hat: Their hair (Tate’s probably)

 

Kart: Based on Lunatone and Solrock.

Special Move: Rocket Ship

 

Spirit Battle: On Sky Pillar (omega form), with their original team.

 

Victory Screen: Performing a whole twin high-five routine with each other.

Losing Screen: Handing over their badge.

 

Color Swaps: Their original look, their ORAS look, a Ruby and Sapphire look, based on Brendan and May, based on Lunatone and Solrock, based on Plusle and Minun, based on Volbeat and Illumise, based on Zangoose and Seviper.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Wallace puts on a show!

Character Sheet: Winona

WINONA

Next up, we have Winona, the Flying-type gym leader of Fortree City. Her gym has a unique revolving door mechanic, and the city you challenge her in was notable for its invisible Kecleon infestation, so I think we can work with that.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Altaria

It will perform Aerial Ace.

 

Side B: Revolving Door

This will let her dodge oncoming attacks by revolving the door around herself and sending them flying behind her.

 

Up B: Fly

Just a given for any Flying-type leader really, at this point.

 

Down B: Kecleon

She will summon a Kecleon that will act as an invisible obstacle on the stage for a short time.

 

Final Smash: Fortree Gym Flight Squad

She will send out an Altaria, Swellow, and Pelipper who will all divebomb the stage.

 

Entrance: Her opening pose and line.

 

Taunts: Up, her Altaria will fly around her while singing. Side, she will test the mechanisms on a revolving door. Down, she’ll use a Devon Scope to reveal a hidden Kecleon.

 

Kirby Hat: Her flight cap and hair.

 

Kart: Based on Altaria.

Special Move: Revolving Door.

 

Spirit Battle: On Sky Pillar (omega form), with her original team.

 

Victory Screen: Taking to the sky on her Altaria.

Losing Screen: Handing over her badge.

 

Color Swaps: Her main outfit, her ORAS outfit, based on Skyla’s outfit, based on Wallace (because of their manga relationship), based on May, based on Altaria, based on Swellow, based on Pelipper.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Tate and Liza prepare for trouble and make it double!

Character Sheet: Norman

NORMAN

Next, we have Norman, the Normal-type gym leader of Petalburg City and the father of the game’s protagonist. His gym is very basic, which may give us some trouble, but considering his familial relations, he is a major player in both the anime and manga, so I think we’ll be fine (Hopefully, I don’t have to use the rather infamous moment in the manga where he straight up beats his son. I . . . think we’ll be fine without it).

 

Standard B: Slaking

It will use Dynamic Punch, delivering a devastating blow.

 

Side B: Retaliate

The TM he gives out in ORAS. Basically, a counter move.

 

Up B: Beautifly Fireworks

I am more than happy to represent a depiction of him as a loving husband and father, rather than a child abuser, so I’ll use his anniversary gift to his wife from the anime as a move, carrying him up into the air with it.

 

Down B: Truant

The infamous ability of his Slaking, he will lay down and rest for a moment, deflecting attacks.

 

Final Smash: Petalburg Gym Masters

He will send out Slaking, Delcatty, and Linoone, which will run around beating characters up.

 

Entrance: His opening pose and line

 

Taunts: Up, he’ll wave and say “Hi, Kiddo!” Side, he will cross his arms and look serious. Down, he will look down with a disgusted look, like in the manga.

 

Kirby Hat: His hair

 

Kart: Based on Vigoroth

Special Move: Truant

 

Spirit Battle: On Mt. Chimney (omega form), with his original team.

 

Victory Screen: For what it’s worth, the scene of him in shadow, standing up above Ruby while lightning flashes behind him, just after the aforementioned infamous scene, would be a pretty baller victory screen for him.

Losing Screen: Handing over his badge.

 

Color Swaps: His original design, his ORAS design, a “day off with the family” outfit, based on Slaking, based on Vigoroth, based on May, based on Brendan, based on Max.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Winona takes to the skies!