Quick Links
Out of the three storylines players of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet are presented with, the Victory Road path will be the most familiar. This path has the player finding and beating the 8 gyms located around the island of Paldea. With this game’s free-roam structure, these gyms can be completed in any order, but the Cortondo gym is recommended as the first.
In Scarlet & Violet, players must also complete a test before being allowed to battle the gym leader. These tests offer fun mini-games to complete and a few battles to prepare the player for what to expect when facing the gym leader.
Completing The Test: Olive Roll
To begin the test, first head to the gym and talk to the man behind the counter. He will register you as a challenger and tell you to complete the Olive Roll test before you can battle the gym leader. The Olive Roll is located in the southeastern corner of the city. Talking to the attendant will begin the challenge.
Your goal is to kick the giant Olive through the maze and into the basket at the far end. While there is a countdown to the beginning of the challenge, it is not timed. Simply running into the olive will kick it forward. It is best to lightly run into the olive as its oval shape will make it roll in weird and uncontrollable ways. For the most part, this test is simple and mostly a test of patience.
Within the maze, there are two trainers, and by battling them, you can get them to open up shortcuts with no obstacles. These trainers can be used to make some easy money or level up your Pokémon before battling the gym leader. Both of these trainers can also be avoided should you rather kick the olive over the small ramps and take the slightly longer way around the maze.
These trainers only have a single Pokémon, Esmeralda has a Kriketune, and Antonio has a Venonat. Both of these Pokémon are Bug-type and are at Level 13. Should you be at the right level for the gym Leader, these fights will be trivial and can be one-shot with a super effective attack.
Bug Gym Leader Katy
After completing the Olive Roll, return to the gym and if you want to save, do so before talking to the man behind the counter. Talking to him will begin your battle with the Gym Leader, who will use a Bug-type team. It is recommended your Pokémon be around Level 15 for this gym leader.
Nymble – Level 14
Nymble is a fairly weak Bug-Type Pokémon, and even in this gym, it shouldn’t offer much of a challenge. At this level, it is unable to do sufficient damage to your team as long as you’re not a Grass, Dark, or Psychic-Type Pokémon. Use either Fire, Flying, or Rock attacks which, most of the time, will one-shot this Pokémon as long as you’re close to its level.
Tarountula – Level 14
Another relatively weak and low-level Bug-Type Pokémon. Simply continue using whichever matchup worked on the previous Pokémon and rinse and repeat. Super effective moves should work wonders at earning your team simple XP early into your adventure.
Teddiursa – Level 15
Teddiursa is not naturally a bug-type Pokémon, but in its first turn, it will Terastallize into a bug-type for the remainder of the battle. It is best to bring Fire, Flying, and Rock-type Pokémon or moves for this bug-type Teddiursa. Try keeping Grass, Dark, and Psychic-type Pokémon away, as Bug is super effective to them. When selecting your first move, the system will compare your attacks to a Normal-Type Teddiursa. Use an attack that will be super effective against a Bug-Type to hit it hard right after Terastallizing.
Upon beating Katy, the player will be given the TM 021 Pounce by the Gym Leader. This move has a power of 50, an accuracy of 100, and a PP of 20. This is a bug-type attack, and targets hit by it have their speed stat lowered.
