The Hardest Battle In Every Pokemon Game

Lance

“Pokémon Red and Blue” (1998) & “Pokémon Yellow” (1999)

 The original Pokemon games that started an obsession for millions of kids that continues to this day, Generation 1 introduced us to what has always been one of the strongest Pokemon types: Dragon. We know that Psychic is borderline unfair in these games, but we can’t deny that Elite Four leader Lance’s squad of Dragon types gave us a run for our money. Subsequent remakes iterated on his team of 5, but the OG release gave him a Gyarados, two Dragonair, an Aerodactyl, and of course, Dragonite. While these aren’t all strictly Dragon type, they’re Dragon-adjacent, and extremely powerful. The real challenge is finding either an Ice type or another Dragon type Pokemon to exploit Lance’s team’s weakness, and those are few and far between in the Kanto region.

Red

“Pokémon Gold and Silver” (2000) & “Pokémon Crystal” (2001)

One of the most daunting trainer battles in the second generation of Pokemon sees you facing off against Red, the protagonist of the Kanto games. Sporting some of the highest leveled ‘Mons the series has (and will see for a while), this unassuming little kid will wipe the floor with you if you’re not sufficiently prepared. Luckily, you won’t be able to battle Red until after you’ve Professor Oak gives you access to the summit of Mt. Silver which is very, very late in the game, so your training for this battle will happen naturally. His level 81 Pikachu is particularly menacing, so we recommend still grinding a little bit just in case.

Steven Stone

“Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire” (2003) & “Pokémon Emerald” (2004)

The Champion of the Hoenn region, Steven Stone is a Steel-type master and these games’ hardest trainer battle. Sporting powerful STAB moves (or same type attack bonus), entry hazards, and naturally built-in high defense, the son of the Devon Corporation president is a worthy opponent for those training to be the very best like no one ever was. In Pokemon Emerald, Wally has taken over as Champion, but you can still find and battle Steven in Meteor Falls after taking down the Pokemon League. He has the same team as his Ruby and Sapphire counterpart, but these Pokemons’ levels are in the high 70’s, compared to the high 50’s in the previous games. Train accordingly!

Cynthia

“Pokémon Diamond and Pearl” (2007) & “Pokémon Platinum” (2008)

Cynthia’s Garchomp gave us all nightmares when we were younger. With crazy high speed and monstrous physical attack, the land shark Pokemon was one of the toughest Pokemon battles in all the games up until this point. Her team of six is also composed of some of the most diverse types in the series, with Spiritomb having no weaknesses due to its unique Ghost and Dark typing. In Pokemon Platinum, Cynthia trades out the Water and Ground-type Gastrodon for Togekiss, another special attacking powerhouse, that makes her even more formidable.

Ghetsis

“Pokémon Black and White” (2011)

The big bad of the fifth generation of Pokemon, Ghetsis is the leader of Team Plasma and a certified psycho. His ultimate goal is total control over the Unova region and to have the power over Pokemon directly. Yeah, good luck with that. In battle, he’s just as formidable. His team consists of a wide variety of Pokemon types, all leveled in the low 50’s range. The mighty Dark Dragon Hydreigon is the centerpiece of his team, and will likely wipe the floor with your team if you’re underleveled. With the amount of Pokemon on Ghetsis’s team that have a Fighting type weaknesses, it would behoove a young Pokemon trainer such as yourself to invest in one in the early game.

Valerie

“Pokémon X and Y” (2013)

Pokemon fans spent a whopping 14 years between generations 2 and 6 not needing to worry about new Pokemon types, easily memorizing match ups and weaknesses over that time. When Pokemon X and Y were released in 2013, it brought with it the all-new Fairy type, opening the floodgates for a wider variety of Pokemon designs and updating older monsters with this type, like Jigglypuff and Granbull, to name a few. The game’s sixth gym leader Valerie, a master of Fairy types, takes advantage of this, making even veteran players scramble to figure out that Fairy types are weak to Steel and Poison, while strong against Dragon, Dark, and Fighting types. Aside from this, Valerie’s team is a strong trio of heavy hitting special attackers, headlined by the fan-favorite Sylveon.

Lusamine

“Pokémon Sun and Moon” (2016)

The founder of the Aether Foundation in the Alola Region, Lusamine also serves as this generation’s primary antagonist, and offers a unique spin this time around. Throughout the game’s story, she pursues the Ultra Beast Nihilego, fusing with the legendary monster towards the endgame. Once merged, her eclectic team of powerful Pokemon, including Milotic and Clefable, get considerable stat boosts. Her team of five are all level 50, and you should be around there too, and be sure to bring a team with good type coverage to take her down.

Raihan

“Pokémon Sword and Shield” (2019)

The toughest gym leader in the Galar Region, Hammerlocke’s Raihan is the final challenge before the Elite Four and the rival of region Champion Leon. With a proclivity for weather-based strategies, Raihan employs powerful dragons as well, like Flygon and the Gigantamaxed Duraludon. It’s best to take advantage of Raihan’s sandstorm, with abilities like Sand Veil offering a stat boost. Other than that, bring your best type match ups and grind away - all of his Pokemon are beefy, high-defense tanks. Oh, and this is also a double battle, so strategize accordingly.

Arceus

“Pokémon Legends: Arceus” (2022)

A change of pace from the tough and diabolical trainer battles we’re used to, the titular Pokemon deity is also this game’s hardest challenge. Even unlocking this fight is a challenge in itself, as not only will you have to progress through the game’s entire story, you’ll also have to complete the game’s Pokedex in order to do so. Like the previous bosses throughout the game, there's a real-time battle segment where you have to wear down Arceus’s yellow health bar before entering into the traditional turn-based section. Here, Arceus employs the devastating attack Judgment, which will change types depending on the type of plate it’s holding. It’s always been good to know when and when not to switch Pokemon throughout the franchise’s history, but in Legends: Arceus, it could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

AI Turo & AI Sada 

“Pokémon Scarlet and Violet” (2022)

The most recent mainline entry in the series, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet took the open-world concept from Legends: Arceus and sprinkled in the traditional Pokemon flair we’ve come to expect throughout the years. At the end of the game’s main story in the Great Crater of Paldea, you’ll face off against the AI counterparts of either professor Sada or Turo, depending on which version you’re playing. Both of their teams consist of Paradox Pokemon - beefed up versions of already powerful monsters with new typings, abilities, and movesets. Their teams are all leveled into the mid-60’s and sport a wide variety of types, so it’s recommended to bring your strongest team and grind some levels before making your way down here. What do you think of our picks?

Did any other Legendary Pokemon or tough trainers give you a hard time? Let us know in the comments below.