Gym Leaders
For the most part, the Gym Leader rosters of HeartGold and SoulSilver compared to Gold and Silver remain relatively unchanged, spare for a few tweaks. The teams are listed below.
Gym Leader #1: Falkner
Falkner is the first Johto Gym Leader and specializes in Flying-type Pokemon. He resides in Violet City, and for defeating him you receive the Zephyr Badge, a TM containing Roost, and the ability to use Flash outside of battle. Pidgey was originally level 7 while Pidgeotto was originally level 9.
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| Falkner | Pidgey | Pidgeotto |
| Types: | Normal / Flying | Normal / Flying |
| Levels: | Lv. 9 | Lv. 13 |
| Attacks: | Unknown | Unknown |
Gym Leader #2: Bugsy
Bugsy is the second Johto Gym Leader and uses Bug-type Pokemon at the Azalea City Gym. For defeating him, you receive the Hive Badge and a U-Turn TM. Each of his Pokemon are one level higher than the original games.
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| Bugsy | Metapod | Kakuna | Scyther |
| Types: | Bug | Bug | Bug / Flying |
| Levels: | Lv. 15 | Lv. 15 | Lv. 17 |
Gym Leader #3: Fantina
Fantina specializes in Ghost-type Pokemon and defeating her grants you the Relic Badge, Shadow Claw (TM65), and the ability to use Surf outside of battle. She resides in Hearthome City, and in Platinum, you can challenge her immediately after talking to her in the Contest Hall. Thus, she is now the third Gym Leader, and not the fifth like in Diamond and Pearl. Her team has changed as well, replacing Drifblim and Gengar with Duskull and Haunter (most likely because she is faced earlier in the game, and needs lower-leveled Pokemon). Ironically, although her outfit is designed after Drifblim, she has taken it off her team.
Hearthome Gym has been redesigned in Platinum. It is now pitch black, and wall of the Trainers within the Gym have flashlights. If one catches you in their light, you have to battle them. There are multiple doors inside the Gym, and each door has a symbol on it. Only one door leads to the next room, while the others teleport you back to the entrance. To determine which door is the correct one, you need to search each room for a second symbol and match it up with one of the doors.
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| Fantina | Duskull | Haunter | Mismagius |
| Types: | Ghost | Ghost / Poison | Ghost |
| Levels: | Lv. 24 | Lv. 24 | Lv. 26 |
Gym Leader #4: Maylene
Maylene is the fourth Sinnoh Gym Leader and specializes in Fighting-type Pokemon. She resides in Veilstone City, and defeating her grants you the Cobble Badge, Drain Punch (TM60), and the ability to use Fly outside of battle. Her Pokemon choices have not changed in Platinum.
The Veilstone City Gym is different in Platinum, featuring a mess of exercise equipment. To reach Maylene, you need to swing punching bags into piles of junk to clear a path.
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| Maylene | Meditite | Machoke | Lucario |
| Types: | Fighting / Psychic | Fighting | Fighting / Steel |
| Levels: | Lv. 28 | Lv. 29 | Lv. 32 |
Gym Leader #5: Crasher Wake
Crasher Wake is the fifth Sinnoh Gym Leader and harnesses the power of Water-type Pokemon at his Gym in Pastoria City. By defeating him, you earn the Fen Badge, Brine (TM55), and the ability to use Defog outside of battle. His Gym layout and Pokemon choices have not changed in Platinum.
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| Crasher Wake | Gyarados | Quagsire | Floatzel |
| Types: | Water | Water / Ground | Water |
| Levels: | Lv. 33 | Lv. 34 | Lv. 37 |
Gym Leader #6: Byron
Byron is the sixth Sinnoh Gym Leader and specializes in Steel-type Pokemon. His Gym is found in Canalave City, and by defeating him, you earn the Mine Badge, Flash Cannon (TM91), and the ability to use Strength outside of battle. Byron is the father of Roark, the first Sinnoh Gym Leader who uses Rock-type Pokemon. The Canalave City Gym layout has not changed in Platinum, but Byron has replaced his Bronzor with Magneton.
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| Byron | Magneton | Steelix | Bastiodon |
| Types: | Electric / Steel | Steel / Ground | Rock / Steel |
| Levels: | Lv. 37 | Lv. 38 | Lv. 41 |
Gym Leader #7: Candice
Candice is the seventh Sinnoh Gym Leader and utilizes Ice-type Pokemon. She resides in Snowpoint City and awards players the Icicle Badge, Avalanche (TM72), and the ability to use Rock Climb outside of battle. Like other Platinum Gyms, her’s remains identical to Diamond and Pearl‘s. However, half of her team has changed; she has replaced Snover and Medicham for Pilowswine and Froslass. She also uses one more Pokemon on her team than the six Gym Leaders before her.
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| Candice | Sneasel | Pilowsine | Abomasnow | Froslass |
| Types: | Dark / Ice | Ice / Ground | Grass / Ice | Ice / Ghost |
| Levels: | Lv. 40 | Lv. 40 | Lv. 42 | Lv. 44 |
Gym Leader #8: Volkner
Volkner is the final Sinnoh Gym Leader and harnesses Electric-type Pokemon at the Sunyshore City Gym. By defeating him, you earn the Beacon Badge, Charge Beam (TM57), and the ability to use Waterfall outside of battle. His Gym has not changed since Diamond and Pearl, but he has replaced two members of his previous team for more Electric-types: Ambipom and Octillery for Jolteon and Electivire. He is the only Sinnoh Gym Leader to have a full mono-type team.
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| Volkner | Jolteon | Raichu | Electivire | Luxray |
| Type: | Electric | Electric | Electric | Electric |
| Levels: | Lv. 46 | Lv. 46 | Lv. 50 | Lv. 48 |