An iconic part of nearly every mainlinePokemongame is the Gym Challenge featured in each region, with a generation’s Gym Leaders largely responsible for a region’s identity. WhilePokemonfans are likely familiar with the importance of a Gym Leader’s type specialization, many of these trainers also share characteristics with traditional RPG archetypes. With this in mind, it’s clear to see how the Gym Leaders of Gen 1’s Kanto Region could fit intoDungeons and Dragons' class system.
Although theGym Leadersthemselves don’t do the fighting in thePokemonseries, the creatures they use and their overall aesthetic and type specialization play a role in establishing their identity. These aspects can be used as a basis for determining whichDnDclass fits them best.
There are a total of 13 classes forDungeons and Dragons2024 (includingTasha’s Cauldron of Everything) and only 8 Gym Leaders, so not every class will be represented.
Every Kanto Gym Leader Represented by a Dungeons and Dragons Class
Brock – Barbarian
Barbarians inDungeons and Dragonsare typically known for their high strength and constitution, making them formidable warriors on both offense and defense. Similarly, the Rock-type inPokemonalso tends to favor high levels of physical defense as hardened creatures of the earth. Brock is mainly known for using Geodude and Onix in his gym battle, which both have Defense as their highest stats, making a tanky class like Barbarian a natural fit for Pewter City’s Gym Leader.
Misty – Cleric
The closestDnDclass that Misty fits into is the Cleric, which tends to have high wisdom and charisma stats that bolster its healing capabilities. Water is typically associated with healing and cleansing so as the Water-type Gym Leader in the Kanto Region, Misty shares this aspect of the Cleric class. She also uses several critters with healing abilities, with her ace Starmie knowing Recover in its Gen 2 iteration, and her Pokemon World Tournament teams fromBlack 2 and White 2include Slowbro and Jellicent, who both have recovery moves as well.
Lt. Surge – Fighter
Lt. Surge makes a strong case for representing the Fighter class amongKanto’s Gym Leadersdue to his status as a former soldier. The Fighter is known for having high strength and constitution while being able to wield a wide range of weapons. A class like this is a great match for Lt. Surge’s tendency to use fast, Special Attacking mons like his ace Raichu.
Erika – Druid
Druids are masters of the natural world with high intelligence and wisdom stats inDungeons and Dragons, making a Grass-type Gym Leader like Erika the perfect representation of the class. While Druids tend to use nature magic as well as theWild Shape skillto transform into various animals, Erika leans more into the former with her Grass-types like Vileplume, which are known for inflicting status conditions like sleep, paralysis, and poisoning.
Koga – Monk
AlthoughDungeons and Dragonsdoesn’t have a true ninja class, the Monk is a similar martial class that excels at unarmed combat with its emphasis on strength and dexterity. With Fuchsia City’s Koga being aPoison-type masterand ninja, the Monk class makes the most sense for him. Monks tend to utilize evasion to avoid damage due to their frail constitution, which is fitting given how much Koga’s Muk likes to use the Evasion-boosting move Minimize.
Sabrina – Sorcerer
Dungeons and Dragonshas several magic-oriented classes, but none is a better fit for the Psychic-type Gym Leader Sabrina than the Sorcerer. Sabrina is often considered the toughest Gym Leader in the Gen 1 games, making her the perfect inheritor of the raw magical power that Sorcerers can channel. As someone with telekinetic abilities herself, the innate magical prowess of Sorcerers makes it the ideal class for Sabrina over magic-wielding classes like Warlock or Wizard.
Blaine – Artificer
The Artificer class found inTasha’s Cauldron of Everythingis able to create unique mechanical contraptions using their knowledge of magic and individual ingenuity. This makes Cinnabar Island’s Blaine the perfect fit for this class as he is a former scientist who worked alongside Mr. Fuji to study Pokemon. Blaine’s technical ingenuity is on display within his gym, where he has rigged up quiz machines to test the player’s Pokemon knowledge before they face him and his team of Fire-type mons.
Giovanni – Rogue
Rogues are infamous withinDungeons and Dragonsfor their stealth and subterfuge as a class with high intelligence and dexterity. Often, rogues are thieves or tricksters, which makes the leader ofTeam Rocket and Viridian City’s Gym Leader Giovannia great match for the Rogue class. Team Rocket’s criminal activities include an underground network of Pokemon smuggling, and Giovanni being the gang’s kingpin means he’s mastered the art of subterfuge and deception.
Pokemon Let’s Go
WHERE TO PLAY
Partner up with Pikachu to catch and collect Pokémon on a rich and vibrant adventure in the Pokémon™: Let’s Go, Pikachu! game – available now on the Nintendo Switch™ system! Become the best Pokémon Trainer you can be as you battle other Trainers, Gym Leaders, and the sinister Team Rocket.Explore the vibrant region of Kanto—home to beloved characters like Brock, Misty, and the nefarious trio Jessie, James, and Meowth! Throughout the story, your bond with your partner Pokémon grows stronger as you care for it and travel together. See the world in style by customizing Pikachu and your Trainer with a selection of outfits. True-to-size wild Pokémon roam around in the game—catch them like a real Pokémon Trainer by using timing and a well-placed Poké Ball™. Battle and trade with other players who own the game via local wireless or online**. Go on a stroll with your favorite Pokémon in your Poké Ball Plus to level them up, and to receive in-game rewards after returning them to the game. Connect to Pokémon GO* to transfer caught Kanto-region Pokémon, including Alolan and Shiny forms, as well as the newly discovered Pokémon, Meltan, from that game to this one!
