Sunyshore City Gym Leader: Volkner

Name: Volkner
Moniker: The Shining, Shocking Star
Region: Sinnoh
Role: Leader of the Sunyshore City Gym and distributor of the Beacon Badge
Type Specialty: Electric


BACKGROUND

Sunyshore City is a marvelous innovation of technology and nature and is effectively the only major city in the entire Japan area that is completely powered by solar energy. This is in and of itself amazing, but what's more amazing is the man behind this energy-collection system, a man that also happens to be the strongest Gym Leader in the entire Sinnoh region. Volkner is among the most experienced of fighters and is an opponent that most trainers can never actually get past, which has more or less made his life a bit boring and pointless in recent years. Up until a few years ago, Volkner had been fairly depressed because no one was proving strong enough to actually earn a badge from him; in his boredom, he constructed elaborate traps and devices within his Gym that proved to be an even bigger deterrent to most trainers, seeing as they could barely find their way around to Volkner much less battle against him. Volkner's unorthodox use of the city's power grid has led to more than a few blackouts in recent years, but few people actually blame him for these incidents because almost everyone is aware of just how boring and tedious his life is these days. Volkner himself is best friends with Flint, a fellow rival and member of the Sinnoh League's Elite Four, and has occasionally thought about challenging the Elite Four in his spare time, though the appearance of the occasional worthy trainer seems to snap him out of this funk. Volkner is a calm man that rarely resorts to violence or any negative solution to problems, but he is nonetheless a powerful fighter that has mastered the use of the Electric-type far beyond what other Gym Leaders have ever managed in their careers. Trainers that even want to see a Beacon Badge in their future had better prepare for the worse; Volkner might not be sporting much in the way of sheer protection against Ground-type assaults, but if you dare to throw a Ground-type into battle, it won't last long against the sheer power of his electrifying teammates.


BATTLE STRATEGIES

Volkner tends to go all-out with sheer offense in every battle and has managed to teach his Pokémon a wide variety of attacks to defend themselves with. Aside from this, though, at least a few of the Pokémon in his team are capable of both defensive and tactical measures in battle, so there is still just enough variety to make battling him a bit more challenging than one would otherwise think. Volkner is unforgiving in battle and will gladly take down any and all opponents with extreme diligence and force, so it is wise not to think that he will ever let up in battle. Ground-type Pokémon can still do wonders against his team, but several of Volkner's Pokémon are already designed to shut down those types of offenses in a hurry, so more advanced tactics will likely be needed to make even a dent in his team. In short, Volkner is not the kind of trainer that you want to face unprepared, and even then, the chances of winning may come down to sheer luck; it all depends on whether or not he is really in the mood to battle.


PRIMARY POKEMON

Electivire: This brute serves as one of the most powerful member of Volkner's team and is certainly not a creature that anyone wants to face without some serious special attacks on their side. Lacking much in the way of special attacks, this brute will generally stick to close-quarters tactics and will strike viciously with its Giga Impact, Brick Break, Low Kick, Thunder Punch, Wild Charge, Bulldoze, Discharge, Wild Charge, Ice Punch, Cross Chop and Fire Punch attacks to deal significant damage against armored and unarmored foes alike, though it can still hit decently hard from afar with Thunder, Flamethrower, Earthquake, Rock Slide and Volt Switch attacks. Aside for the fact that this brute has decent defenses and can use a Protect technique when in a pinch, the Sitrus and Shuca berries it sometimes holds can help it last much longer than it would otherwise in battle as can the Salac berry that takes their place some of the time, plus it can really power up its attacks if it’s holding a Magnet or Life Orb, in turn making Electivire a devastating opponent that should be taken out as quickly as possible in any situation.

Luxray: This beast does not have much in the way of defensive or tactical abilities but is nonetheless a major threat to a wide variety of Pokémon. In close quarters, this beast will primarily rely on its Thunder Wave and Baby-Doll Eyes techniques to weaken and incapacitate the opposition and Electric Terrain technique to power up its Electric-type attacks before attacking with Superpower, Play Rough, Wild Charge, Charge Beam, Thunderbolt, Snarl, Volt Switch, Iron Tail, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang and Fire Fang attacks to deal damage to a wide variety of opponents while additionally relying on a Crunch attack to deal with troublesome Psychic and Ghost-type Pokémon and Protect to bide time in a fight. It might not have much in the way of true power, but considering it can type-match effectively against most types and can keep itself in top condition when holding a Sitrus, Shuca or Liechi berry or even a Focus Sash, it is still an opponent worth knocking out as quickly as possible in battle.

Raichu: This electric mouse might not have much to offer in regards to defense, but attacks like Nuzzle, Charge Beam, Thunderbolt, Volt Switch, Thunder, Focus Blast, Signal Beam, Surf, Grass Knot (potentially powered up by a Grass Gem) and Brick Break can make the rodent surprisingly dangerous in battle. Even the flaws in its attacks are more than made up for with technical skill, as this mouse will generally rely on its Light Screen and Charge techniques to reduce any and all damage received from special attacks before unleashing a Thunder Wave technique to incapacitate the opposition, potentially finishing them off with a Quick Attack for good measure. From there, it can attack at its leisure and effectively make it difficult to counterattack its moves; thankfully, this beast has moderately poor defenses, so it is still quite easy to take down with a good Ground-type attack if its potential held Shuca berry or Choice Scarf can be countered as well.

Jolteon: This creature is not as strong as some of Volkner's other Pokémon but more than makes up for it with its intense Speed stat. In battle, this creature will rely on its Charge Beam, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball and Pin Missile attacks to strike from afar, while up close it will instead rely on its Quick Attack, Iron Tail and Double Kick moves for protection as well as Volt Switch to get out of a bad situation. When not attacking with all of its might, this animal will also rely on its Charm, Reflect, Thunder Wave and Wish techniques to potentially weaken the opposition and keep itself or another future teammate healthy for at least a little while. This creature is unable to inflict much damage with most of its moves since it has relatively poor physical strength, but catching up to it will be the big challenge and can be much more difficult than one would otherwise imagine in many cases, something that is only made more alarming as a result of the Air Balloon and Sitrus berry it often has under its possession as well as a possible Toxic Orb to activate its Quick Feet Ability.

Lanturn: This fish might be limited to water for battle, but that certainly does not mean that it should ever be underestimated in any way. From afar, this fish will rely on its Thunder, Volt Switch, Discharge, Surf, Ice Beam and Signal Beam attacks to deal damage while staying far away from the opposition and aided by a held Expert Belt. Ground-types will likely find this creature to be the most troublesome member of Volkner's team, and considering it has the Volt Absorb Ability, only the powers of a Grass-type will be able to shut it down with any ease.

Rotom (Wash Form): This variation of Rotom is a tricky bugger that can more than use both power and heckling to deal with anything that dares to try and fight it. This creature will rely on its Will-O-Wisp technique to weaken the physical power of opponents before unleashing Discharge, Thunderbolt and Hydro Pump attacks to deal massive damage as well as Volt Switch to get it out of a tough fight. The creature’s Levitate Ability can make it harder to take out quickly, especially if its holding a Choice Scarf for a Speed boost or a Jaboca berry to deter direct contact, so caution is recommended when facing it.

Rotom (Heat Form): This variation of Rotom might not be quite as annoying as Wash Form, but it tends to employ similar strategies to make the most of its time in battle. As with Wash, this creature will rely on its Will-O-Wisp technique to weaken the physical power of its opponent before unleashing potent Thunderbolt and Overheat attacks to overwhelm opponents, further relying on a Volt Switch attack to get it out of tricky situations as quickly as possible. The Sitrus berry it holds might only keep it around a bit longer, but its capacity to stay in place with strong defenses nonetheless makes it worth trying to eliminate quickly.

Magnezone: This sturdy creature can more than make an impact in a fight with is strong defenses and offenses and make itself a threat worth taking note of in a fight. This machine will generally avoid wasting time as it hits the field, attacking from afar with Thunderbolt and Flash Cannon attacks while relying on a Volt Switch attack to get out of messy situations as well as a Body Press attack to deal massive damage to any other heavyweights it has to fight. The fact that it’s holding a Custap berry to compliment its Sturdy Ability and make sure it can at least get in a decent attack before it faints makes it just that much more of a threat, and worth taking note of and quickly eliminating in any fight.

Zapdos: This legendary bird is a powerful fighter to behold and more than worth fearing every time Volkner decides to take it for a spin. This fearsome bird can make great use of powerful Thunderbolt, Heat Wave, Hurricane and Ancient Power attacks to deal damage from afar with a Volt Switch attack for a quick getaway in case it finds itself at a disadvantage. With a Sitrus berry, Life Orb or Choice Scarf at its side, the bird can more than overwhelm others and make it a pain to fight, in turn making the act of bringing it down essential to minimizing the otherwise notable damage it can do if left unchecked.

Pelipper: This bird might not be the best of offensive fighters, but it’s held Damp rock and Drizzle Ability can nonetheless make it a pain to deal with on account of its effects on moves like Thunder. This goes double for its Hurricane attack, complimented by Ice Beam, Hydro Pump and U-turn attacks, the latter to especially get in a teammate that can drop Thunder attacks with ease. This bird is thankfully taken care of with potent Electric-type attacks itself, though, so targeting this weakness can bring it down quickly.

Gyarados: This monstrous fish might not fit the type theme for the majority of Volkner’s team, but it can still prove to be a nightmare to deal with if one is using Ground-type Pokémon. This beast will generally start off battle by using its Dragon Dance technique to increase its physical offensive power and movement speed before lashing out with powerful Ice Fang and Waterfall attacks in close quarters and an Earthquake attack from afar. This beast has quite a bit of power to it, and its held Lum berry can help keep it at least a bit safe from being crippled by a status condition, but its extreme vulnerability to Electric-type attacks can still make it easy to take down with the right offenses.

Swampert: As with his Gyarados, Volknet’s Swampert might not fit his team’s type theme, but it can more than prove to be a hazard for Ground and other Electric-types to deal with. This creature will generally rely on its Earthquake, Waterfall and Ice Punch attacks to make short work oof the above-mentioned types, plus it is armed with a Counter attack to strike back at anything that dares to hit them with a physical attack. Add on the Life Orb that it holds to boost its offensive power, and it renders this beast a fearsome fighter that only Grass-type assaults will be able to quickly take down.


RESERVE POKEMON

Electrode: This fiendish machine is no joke for most and can more than prove to be an issue if not defeated quickly. In battle, this machine will rely on its Torment and Taunt techniques to heckle the opposition as much as possible before lashing out with Electro Ball, Thunder and Signal Beam attacks from afar. This particular individual is not as prone to exploding as other Electrode, but the Electric Gem that it holds still makes it more than just a minor threat, even if it is still doesn't have the defenses needed to survive very long.

Rotom (Fan Form): This Rotom variation might not be as scary as some of the other Pokémon under Volkner's possession, but it is still a decent fighter with a few tricks here and there to make it an interesting opponent. This spirit will usually begin battle by using a Will-O-Wisp technique to cripple the opposition before laying down repeated Hex attacks to deal immense damage. If this is not an option, Rotom can still strike with powerful Discharge and Air Slash attacks to defend itself. If worse comes to worse, though, Rotom can use a combination of Substitute and Pain Spit techniques to heavily damage the opposition and potentially push them over the edge, provided the Colbur berry or King's Rock it holds are enough to deter direct assault. This creature might not be the best out there, but even so, it is an annoying fighter that should be taken out quickly if only to avoid playing its tactical game, a game that it almost always wins in the end.

Zebstrika: This animal may not be as hard-hitting as some of the other Pokémon on Volkner’s team, but it is still capable of trampling those that underestimate it. Without wasting any time on techniques, this beast will start off battle from afar, launching Discharge and Overheat attacks before moving over to its target and finishing it off with Flame Charge and Wild Charge attacks. The Lum berry that this beast holds can help protect it against status effects, but this should not be a real problem, as its defenses are only subpar at best and can easily be dealt with by a strong offensive fighter.

Galvantula: What this bug lacks in pure defense and move variety, it more than makes up for in terms of agility and stealth. Holding an Occa berry for protection, this beast will generally utilize its Sucker Punch attack at the start of battle to deter the opposition’s initial assaults before blasting it with Discharge, Thunder and Bug Buzz attacks from afar. This electrical monster can definitely prove to be a problem when fighting slower opponents, but as long as one can beat it to the punch, it is fairly simple to deal with and not a serious threat most of the time.

Eelektross: This monster eel is renowned for being one of the most powerful Electric-type Pokémon out there, and Volkner’s specimen is no exception. This beast will start battle off by blasting its opponent with a Thunder Wave technique to incapacitate it, leaving it open to Thunderbolt strikes from afar and Crunch attacks in close quarters. If needed, this creature will even utilize an Acid Spray attack to lower the special defenses of a target, increasing the amount of damage it can deal with subsequent assaults from a distance. The fact that this eel is holding a Sitrus berry only makes it more likely that combat will last a bit longer than normal, making both strong offenses and defenses necessary for overcoming it in battle.

Octillery: This beast is rarely ever used in battle as a result of its Water-type nature, but it can still be a bit of a surprise for trainers that are not expecting it. From afar, this beast will rely on its Charge Beam, Bullet Seed, Octazooka and Aurora Beam attacks to deal the most damage in battle while hanging far away from the prying hands of the opposition, utilizing a Focus Energy technique to up its critical hit chance if needed. This beast likely will not last very long, but at the very least it can target a decent array of opponent and make things difficult for them, aided by its held Expert Belt.

Ambipom: This beast is only useful to Volkner as a result of its Thunderbolt attack, but even then it can hold its own against weaker opponents. In battle, this beast will strike for chip damage with its Fake Out attack before rely on its Nasty Plot technique to increase the overall power of its special attacks as well as its Agility technique to increase its Speed before using Baton Pass to give these changes to a teammate, or otherwise striking with its Double Hit and Last Resort attacks. Ambipom is not a huge threat by itself, but unless it is the last Pokémon Volkner has left, it can prove to be a monstrous issue and should be taken out immediately to prevent any other Pokémon from receiving any additional boosts to their stats, even if its held Chople berry can make this a bit difficult.


OVERALL DIFFICULTY: 3/5

Volkner is a powerful opponent and has spent a great deal of time training his Pokémon, a fact more than attested to by his record as a Gym Leader. Volkner's team can handle Ground-types, his Pokemon's biggest weakness, with at least decent ease in many cases, and his Pokemon are fast and sturdy enough to make it very difficult to properly attack with such moves in regards to hitting their target before Volkner’s teammates can get out of the way. Volkner's Pokémon are all among the best of their type and are highly intelligent beasts capable of using many different strategies to take down the opposition, so beating him won't be a simple manner of type advantages. Trainers looking to challenge Volkner had better make sure that they are capable of taking a brutal punishment from a wide variety of types; Volkner might not have the same skill that an Elite Four member has, but considering how long he has been battling, that may only be a matter of time anyway, in turn making it imperative for trainers to take advantage of him now before he becomes something even harder to defeat in battle.


REWARDS FOR DEFEAT

Defeating Volkner will allow trainers to have the Beacon Badge, one of eight badges found within the Sinnoh region. In addition, trainers will receive a TM that contains the Charge Beam attack, a relatively weak attack that is only mildly more powerful than a Thunder Shock attack but has an extremely high chance of raising the Special Attack stat of the user when utilized.

Professor Wormwood