Pokemon Scarlet & Violet gym order: All paths level order & post-game walkthrough

Zackerie Fairfax
A Pokemon trainer and their Fuecoco stand in front of a gym leader and Cetitan

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet players have the freedom to pick from three different paths in the game. After completing the game multiple times, we have found the best Pokemon Scarlet gym order and Pokemon Violet gym order with level scaling in mind, for those who want to traverse the Paldea region in a more linear way (in order).

Pokemon games used to be fairly straightforward, jumping from gym to gym, with the occasional battle or event to spruce things up. With three main storylines and plenty of challenges in between, things can get a little overwhelming in Scarlet and Violet, so we have mapped the ideal way to help you progress through the story.

Now that both DLC parts – The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk are out – don’t forget to check our other guides, including all version-exclusive Pokemon, and The Complete Blueberry Pokedex.

All Pokemon Scarlet & Violet paths explained

There are three distinct storylines spread across Scarlet & Violet’s open world, and players can progress each storyline in whichever order they choose. These storylines are:

  • Victory Road (Gym battles)
  • Path of Legends (Titan Pokemon)
  • Operation Star Street (Team Star battles)

Scarlet & Violet being open world means that if you want to take on Glaseado Mountain’s Gym Leader and their level 40+ team right away, you can.

However, for those who want to experience a more traditional Pokemon journey, we’ve designed the ideal Gym order in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, as well as how you should complete the Path of Legends and Operation Star Street storylines.

A Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Screenshot shows several trainers exploring outdoors

Here is the proper level order of challenges for Gyms and more in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, as well as where each one is located on the map of Paldea:

  1. Bug Gym – Cortondo
  2. Stony Cliff Titan Klawf – South Province (Area Three)
  3. Grass Gym – Artazon
  4. Open Sky Titan Bombirdier – West Province (Area One)
  5. Team Star Dark Crew – West Province (Area One)
  6. Electric Gym – Levincia
  7. Team Star Fire Crew – East Province (Area One)
  8. Lurking Steel Titan Orthworm – East Province (Area Three)
  9. Water Gym – Cascarrafa
  10. Team Star Poison Crew – Tagtree Thicket
  11. Normal Gym – Medali
  12. Ghost Gym – Montenevera
  13. Quaking Earth Titan – Asado Desert
  14. Psychic Gym – Alfornada
  15. Ice Gym – Glaseado
  16. Team Star Fairy Crew – North Province (Area Three)
  17. False Dragon Titan – Casseroya Lake
  18. Team Star Fighting Crew – North Province (Area One)
  19. Elite Four – South Province (Area Two)
  20. Paldea Champion
  21. Director Clavell – Uva/Naranja Academy
  22. Arven – Poco Path Lighthouse
  23. Cassiopeia – Uva/Naranja Academy
  24. Nemona – Uva/Naranja Academy
  25. Professor Sada/Turo – Area Zero

pokemon scarlet violet gym order level guide

Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet Gym leaders in order

1. Bug Gym Leader Katy – Cortondo

The first stop on a trainers’ journey through Paldea is Cortondo, home of the Bug-type Gym Leader Katy. This Gym is a bit of a pushover because of the low level and the Bug-type’s many common weaknesses.

Katy’s Team:

Pokemon Type Level
Nymph Bug 14
Tarountula Bug 14
Teddiursa Bug (Tera-type) 15

2. Klawf Titan – South Province (Area Three)

Next is Klawf, the Crab Titan Pokemon, which introduces players to how Titan battles work throughout the rest of the story. And once again, this low-level encounter isn’t much to remark on.

Pokemon Type Level
Klawf Rock 16

3. Grass Gym Leader Brassius – Artazon

Artazon’s Gym Leader is yet another that opens its Pokemon up to a world of weaknesses, and it also doesn’t help that Brassius’ Pokemon are only marginally higher level than that of the previous Gym.

Pokemon Type Level
Petilil Grass 16
Smoliv Grass / Normal 16
Sudowoodo Grass (Tera-type) 17

4. Bombirdier Titan – West Province (Area One)

Bombirdier is where battles start to get a little bit tough if players don’t start paying attention to their Pokemon’s levels or type matchups. It’s also easy to stumble upon early if players tread off the beaten path.

Pokemon Type Level
Bombirdier Flying / Dark 19

5. Team Star Leader Giacomo – West Province (Area One)

While heading toward Cascarrafa from the Bombirdier Titan, players will stumble upon the lowest-level Team Star camp. It’s ruled by Team Star’s Dark-type leader Giacomo, and it introduces how Team Star likes to do battle.

Pokemon Type Level
Pawniard Dark 21
Revavaroom Dark 20

6. Electric Gym Leader Iono – Levincia

The high-energy streamer who doubles as a Gym Leader – Iono – is next on the list of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Gym order. While her Electric-type Pokemon’s levels may not match the height of her energy, their type advantages can make an unprepared trainer wish they never joined her Livestream.

Pokemon Type Level
Wattrel Electric / Flying 23
Luxio Electric 23
Bellibolt Electric 23
Mismagius Electric (Tera-type) 24

7. Team Star Leader Mela – East Province (Area One)

Team Star’s Fire-type leader Mela is another trainer who opens themselves up to fundamental type disadvantages. She may be up there in levels, but dousing this trainer with Water-type attacks is a super effective tactic.

Pokemon Type Level
Torkoal Fire 27
Revavroom Fire 26

8. Orthworm Titan – East Province (Area Three)

This Titan encounter can be pretty underwhelming, depending on your choice of starter. Even a low-level Fuecoco evolution can easily take down Orthworm since it’s feeble against Fire-type moves. But checking this one off gives players yet another upgrade for their Legendary bike.

Pokemon Type Level
Orthworm Steel 28

9. Water Gym Leader Kofu – Cascarrafa

Cascarrafa’s Water-type Gym Leader can put a hurting on trainers if they go into this fight unprepared. Veluza alone is enough to cause trouble, but Kofu’s ace, Crabominable, is an absolute powerhouse save for its Tera-type change.

Pokemon Type Level
Veluza Water / Psychic 29
Wugtrio Water 29
Crabominable Water (Tera-type) 30

10. Team Star Leader Atticus – Tagtree Thicket

Atticus is a formidable foe mainly due to his ability to inflict the Poisoned status condition. This can quickly whittle away a Pokemon’s health if the battle is too long, so players will want to be ready to deal with his Poison-type setup.

Pokemon Type Level
Skuntank Poison / Dark 32
Muk Poison 32
Revavroom Steel/Poison 33
Revavroom Poison 32

11. Normal Gym Leader Larry – Medali

Medali’s Gym Leader is the unassuming Normal-type wielder, Larry. Leave your Ghost-types at home for this battle, stock up on Fighting-type moves instead, and Larry will be easy to take down despite the level of his ‘mon.

Pokemon Type Level
Komala Normal 35
Dudunsparce Normal 35
Staraptor Normal (Tera-type) 36

12. Ghost Gym Leader Ryme – Montenevera

For this next Gym, trainers will have to trek deep into Glaseado Mountain to reach the town of Montenevera. Here, Ryme waits to battle trainers with her Pokemon or lyrical prowess. Luckily, Paldea is filled with new and returning Ghost-types that can help even the playing field.

Pokemon Type Level
Mimikyu Ghost / Fairy 41
Banette Ghost 41
Houndstone Ghost 41
Toxtricity (Low Key Form) Ghost (Tera-type) 42

13. Future/Past Donphan Titan – Asado Desert

Here is where players will be introduced to the first Paradox Pokemon, which happens to be a Titan. If you are in Pokemon Violet, you will fight Future Donphan, aka Iron Treads; Scarlet players will face Past Donphan, aka Great Tusk.

Pokemon Type Level
Iron Treads Ground / Steel 44
Great Tusk Ground / Fighting 44

Tulip, one of the gym leaders to battle in Scarlet & Violet

14. Psychic Gym Leader Tulip – Alfornada

Alfornada is a town you can easily wander into early in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, but you won’t want to take on Tulip until much later in your playthrough. Her Psychic-type Pokemon are no joke and are tough to take down, even with a high-level team.

Pokemon Type Level
Farigirag Normal / Psychic 44
Gardevoir Psychic / Fairy 44
Espathra Psychic 44
Florges Psychic (Tera-type) 45

15. Ice Gym Leader Grusha – Glaseado

Players will again need to trek up Glaseado Mountain to take on the final Gym Leader: Grusha. And with a team of powerful Ice-type Pokemon, it makes sense for him to be the final stepping stone before the Elite Four.

Pokemon Type Level
Frosmoth Ice/Bug 47
Beartic Ice 47
Cetitan Ice 47
Altaria Ice (Tera-type) 48

16. Team Star Leader Ortega – North Province (Area Three)

As the snow dissipates in the far northern regions of Paldea, players will find the camp of Team Star’s Fairy-type leader, Ortega. He isn’t the most challenging trainer, but a team of level 50+ Pokemon is no pushover.

Pokemon Type Level
Azumarill Water/Fairy 50
Wigglytuff Normal/Fairy 50
Dachsbun Fairy 51
Revavaroom Fairy 50

17. Dondozo & Tatsugiri Titans – Casseroya Lake

The titanous duo of Dondozo and Tatsugiri is the penultimate challenge for the three main paths of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, and it also concludes the Path of Legends. It fits that a battle this challenging grants the trainer the final Legendary bike upgrade.

Pokemon Type Level
Dondozo Water 55
Tatsugiri Dragon / Water 55

18. Team Star Leader Eri – North Province (Area One)

Eri is all that stands between the trainer and the end-game content. Overcoming this elite Team Star Leader’s team of Fighting-type Pokemon is no small feat, especially considering the Team Star challenge beforehand. It’s a final battle worthy of putting Team Star to rest.

Pokemon Type Level
Toxicroak Poison / Fighting 55
Passimian Fighting 55
Lucario Fighting / Steel 55
Annihilape Fighting / Ghost 55
Revavroom Fighting 56

19. Elite Four Rika, Poppy, Larry & Hassel – South Province (Area 2)

Following a long journey around Paldea, stomping on all eight Gym Leaders, players will find themselves at the foot of the Elite Four. And as is tradition, players will have to take on four powerful trainers back-to-back to prove their strength. Here are the team compositions of each Elite Four member.

Rika:

Pokemon Type Level
Whiscash Water / Ground 57
Camerupt Fire / Ground 57
Donphan Ground 57
Dugtrio Ground 57
Clodsire Ground (Tera-type) 58

Poppy:

Pokemon Type Level
Copperajah Steel 58
Magnezone Electric / Steel 58
Bronzong Steel / Psychic 58
Corviknight Flying / Steel 58
Tinkaton Steel (Tera-type) 59

Larry:

Pokemon Type Level
Tropius Grass / Flying 59
Oricorio Electric / Flying 59
Altaria Dragon / Flying 59
Staraptor Normal / Flying 59
Falmigo Flying (Tera-type) 60

Hassel:

Pokemon Type Level
Noivern Flying / Dragon 60
Haxorus Dragon 60
Dragalge Poison / Dragon 60
Flapple Grass / Dragon 60
Baxcalibur Dragon (Tera-type) 61

20. Paldea Champion Geeta – Pokemon League

After beating the Elite Four, players will have to face the chairwoman of the Paldea Pokémon League: Geeta.

Pokemon Type Level
Espathra Psychic 61
Gogoat Grass 61
Veluza Water / Psychic 61
Avalugg Ice 61
Kingambit Dark / Steel 61
Glimmora Rock (Tera-type) 62

21. Director Clavell – Uva/Naranja Academy

The next hurdle in your journey will be Director Clavell – who has been disguised as Clive throughout the Starfall Street storyline – attempting to take credit for leading Team Star. His team is a mixed bag of typing that can be tricky to deal with without proper counters.

Pokemon Type Level
Oranguru Normal / Psychic 60
Abomasnow Grass / Snow 60
Polteageist Ghost 60
Amoongus Grass / Poison 60
Gyarados Water / Flying 60
Quaquaval (if picked Fuecoco) Water (Tera-type) 61
Skeledirge (if picked Sprigatito) Fire (Tera-type) 61
Meowscarada (if picked Quaxly) Grass (Tera-type) 61

22. Arven – Poco Path Lighthouse

Players will have to take on Arven while wrapping up the Path of Legends storyline. Throughout the story, Arven has helped the player defeat powerful Titan Pokemon to regain his Mabosstiff’s strength, and now it’s on full display in this final battle.

Pokemon Type Level
Greedent Normal 58
Cloyster Water / Ice 59
Scovillain Grass / Fire 60
Toedscruel Ground / Grass 61
Garganacl Rock 62
Mabosstiff Dark (Tera-type) 63

23. Penny/Cassiopeia – Uva/Naranja Academy Courtyard

At the end of the Starfall Street storyline, like the mask removal of a Scooby-Doo villain, Penny reveals she has been Cassiopeia the whole time and challenges the trainer to a battle. Her team consists of six mono-type Eeveelution.

Pokemon Type Level
Umbreon Dark 62
Vaporeon Water 62
Jolteon Electric 62
Flareon Fire 62
Leafeon Grass 62
Sylveon Fairy 63

24. Champion Nemona – Uva/Naranja Academy

Wrapping up the Victory Road storyline requires players to fight their rival Nemona in one final Pokemon battle. Her team is much stronger now than the last time you two fought, so make sure to go in with the right type of advantages to secure victory.

Pokemon Type Level
Lycanroc Rock 65
Goodra Dragon 65
Dudunsparce Normal 65
Orthworm Steel 65
Pawmot Electric / Fighting 65
Quaquaval (if picked Sprigatito) Water (Tera-type) 66
Skeledirge (if picked Quaxly ) Fire (Tera-type) 66
Meowscarada (if picked Fuecoco) Grass (Tera-type) 66

25. Professor Sada & Professor Turo – Area Zero Lab

After completing all three storylines, players will go to Area Zero to rescue Arven’s parents: his mother, Professor Sada, for Scarlet players & his father, Professor Turo, for Violet players. However, in a crazy turn of events, players will have to face off against their very powerful team of paradox Pokemon.

Professor Sada (Scarlet):

Pokemon Type Level
Slither Wing Bug / Fighting 66
Brute Bonnet Grass / Dark 66
Scream Tail Fairy / Psychic 66
Flutter Mane Ghost / Fairy 66
Sandy Shocks Electric / Ground 66
Roaring Moon Dragon / Dark 67

Professor Turo (Violet):

Pokemon Type Level
Iron Moth Fire / Poison 66
Iron Bundle Ice / Water 66
Iron Hands Fighting / Electric 66
Iron Jugulis Dark / Flying 66
Iron Thorns Rock / Electric 66
Iron Valiant Fairy / Fighting 67

That rounds off our best Pokemon Scarlet gym order, and the best Pokemon Violet gym order – so what happens next?

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet All Gym Leader Rematches

After the credits roll and players return to their dorms, Nemona has the brilliant idea to host the Academy Ace tournament. But to participate in the tourney, players must first rematch all eight Paldean Gyms.

Iono's partner Pokemon

These rematches are a lot tougher than the first time around. Each Gym has a team of five level 65 Pokemon, which means you can attempt them in any order. We will list them in the original Gym order:

Bug Gym Leader Katy – Cortondo

Pokemon Type Level
Lokix Bug/Dark 65
Forretress Bug/Steel 65
Heracross Bug/Fighting 65
Spidops Bug 65
Ursaring Bug (Tera Type) 66

Grass Gym Leader Brassius – Artazon

Pokemon Type Level
Lilligant Grass 65
Tsareena Grass 65
Breloom Grass/Fighting 65
Arboliva Grass/Normal 65
Sudowoodo Grass (Tera Type) 66

Electric Gym Leader Iono – Levincia

Pokemon Type Level
Kilowattrel Electric/Flying 65
Luxray Electric 65
Bellibolt Electric 65
Electrode Electric 65
Mismagius Electric (Tera Type) 66

Water Gym Leader Kofu – Cascarrafa

Pokemon Type Level
Veluza Water/Psychic 65
Wugtrio Water 65
Clawitzer Water 65
Pelipper Water/Flying 65
Crabominable Water (Tera Type) 66

Normal Gym Leader Larry – Medali

Pokemon Type Level
Oinkolonge Normal 65
Komala Normal 65
Dudunsparce Normal 65
Braviary Normal/Flying 65
Staraptor Normal (Tera Type) 66

Ghost Gym Leader Ryme – Montenevera

Pokemon Type Level
Mimikyu Ghost/Fairy 65
Banette Ghost 65
Houndstone Ghost 65
Spiritomb Ghost/Dark 65
Toxtricity Ghost (Tera Type) 66

Psychic Gym Leader Tulip – Alfornada

Pokemon Type Level
Farigiraf Normal/Psychic 65
Gallade Psychic/Fighting 65
Espathra Psychic 65
Gardevoir Psychic/Fairy 65
Florges Psychic (Tera Type) 66

Ice Gym Leader Grusha – Glaseado

Pokemon Type Level
Frosmoth Ice/Bug 65
Beartic Ice 65
Cetitan Ice 65
Weavile Dark/Ice 65
Altaria Ice (Tera Type) 66

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Academy Ace Tournament Guide

Now that you’ve re-beaten all eight Gym Leaders, players can participate in the Academy Ace Tournament, where they will partake in four battles against the academy’s staff and some of their friends.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Pokemon League Champion Chairwoman Geeta

The first time players attempt the tournament, they will face the same four trainers in each playthrough. Every time after will be random, but this guide will tackle the four set battles against Arven, Jacq, Dendra, and Geeta.

Academy Ace Arven

Pokemon Type Level
Greedent Normal 67
Cloyster Water/Ice 67
Scovillain Grass/Fire 67
Toedscruel Ground/Grass 67
Garganacl Rock 67
Mabostiff Dark (Tera Type) 68

Academy Ace Jacq

Pokemon Type Level
Arcanine Fire 65
Lurantis Grass 65
Swalot Poison 65
Mudsdale Ground 65
Slowbro Water/Psychic 65
Farigiraf Psychic (Tera Type) 66

Academy Ace Dendra

Pokemon Type Level
Falinks Fighting 65
Tauros (Blaze Breed) Fighting/Fire 65
Tauros (Aqua Breed) Fighting/Water 65
Medicham Fighting/Psychic 65
Hawlucha Fighting/Flying 65
Hariyama Fighting (Tera Type) 66

Academy Ace Geeta

Pokemon Type Level
Espathra Psychic 69
Gogoat Grass 69
Veluza Water/Psychic 69
Avalugg Ice 69
Kingambit Dark/Steel 69
Glimmora Rock (Tera Type) 70

It is worth noting that while this guide only covers the main storyline, both halves of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero are available for players to enjoy new sidequests and catch even more Pokemon.

The first one – The Teal Mask – is set in a new small region called Kitakami, and the second one – The Indigo Disk – takes place at the Blueberry Academy.

That’s everything you need to know about Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s progression. Don’t forget to check out our guides with all the regular and Shiny sandwiches in the game, as well as the trade codes to get you every starter and exclusive Pokemon available.