Pokemon Sword & Shield: Ranking Every Gym Leader
9. Kabu
Kabu just is.
He completes the original starter type trio with Nessa & Milo, but he’s by far the least vibrant. He has an old, world weary, stoic sensei vibe to him, and while that works for him personally, it leaves him overshadowed by the other leaders.
Sometimes you need more of a down to earth character to help ground the whole world you’re building. It’s fair enough that Game Freak took that decision with Kabu for the good of Galar, but leaves him stranded in an individual ranking.
His gym trial is inventive, but it’s also short and doesn’t have the grand scale of some others. It suits his personality at least, but Pokémon’s colourful world isn’t exactly built for the strong and silent type. Well, except Red, of course.
His trial sees you wander in three mini patches of grass around him, involving yourself in a double battle with a fellow trainer against a wild Pokémon. It’s a fresh twist on the trainer battles, with points awarded for landing the final blow or catching the Pokémon yourself, but it feels like a Fire gym could offer a lot more.
At least you can catch a Litwick.