Pokémon: Ranking The 10 Best Gym Leaders
8. Valerie
Valerie is a unique gym leader so far, being the only Fairy type one in Pokémon’s roster. Of course, the typing only debuted in Gen VI, led by Sylveon, and Gen VII didn’t really have gym leaders in the traditional sense. Still, Valerie is the only one for now, and that’s definitely something worth highlighting.
Even if Galar brings a Fairy leader with it though, Valerie will still be a contender for Pokémon’s best gym leaders. She was the first Fairy, for one thing, and that can never be taken away from her. More than that though, nobody quite looks the part like Valerie.
She puts the other PokéManiacs to shame, dressing in a set of fairy wings, styling her hair like antenna with an eccentric dress sense and makeup palette. There’s no mistaking it; she’s the ultimate Fairy trainer.
Her gym is an interesting one too, employing the same warp pads as Sabrina way back in Kanto. The cutesy dollhouse design may well be based on Sabrina’s anime appearance too.
The only thing really letting Valerie down is her team. Only three ‘mons; Mawile, Mr Mime and Sylveon, with only Sylveon really suiting Fairy’s image the way Valerie herself does.