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As we approach the release of Pokemon Generation 10, whispers are circulating that the next main series games following Legends: Z-A might take us to a new area inspired by the Greek Cyclades island group. Following Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s pioneering open-world gameplay, it will be intriguing to observe how the island-hopping style of Generation 9’s Pokemon game will incorporate its mechanics. Interestingly, Generation 10 could also reintroduce and expand upon a key element of the franchise that was absent in Scarlet and Violet.

As a devoted gamer, I’ve long lamented about the absence of a Dark-type Gym Leader in the Pokemon series for what felt like an eternity. This void persisted until the groundbreaking introduction of Piers, the first Gym Leader specializing in Dark type, in Gen 8’s Pokemon Sword and Shield. However, it seems that Gen 9’s Pokemon Scarlet and Violet missed a golden opportunity to build on this shift and introduce their own Paldean Dark-type Gym Leader. With the path now clear for more Dark-type representation in the series, I fervently hope that Gen 10 takes note and gives Piers some fellow Dark-type Gym Leaders to train alongside.

Pokemon Deserves Another Dark-Type Gym Leader in Gen 10

The Pokemon Series’ Dark Type Representation Leaves Much to Be Desired

Since its debut in Gen 2, the Dark type has been less frequently used among main characters who specialize in this type. This scarcity might be one reason why the Dark type is known for having the longest wait for a Gym Leader to represent it. So far, notable users of the Dark type in the Pokemon series are limited to:

  • Karen – Elite Four, Gen 2
  • Sidney – Elite Four, Gen 3
  • Grimsley – Elite Four, Gen 5
  • Nanu – Island Kahuna, Gen 7
  • Marnie – Rival/Gym Leader, Gen 8
  • Piers – Gym Leader/Team Yell Leader, Gen 8
  • Giacomo – Team Star Boss, Gen 9

In contrast to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, which skillfully incorporated each of the 18 types into significant boss battles, Giacomo’s role as the games’ Dark-type specialist felt less impressive compared to the battles against Marnie and Piers in Pokemon Sword and Shield. The tradition of Dark-type Elite Four members has long linked this type with that position. However, when it comes to authentic Dark-type Gym Leaders, Gen 8 is the only game to introduce any.

In the Pokemon series, only a few types have fewer primary specialists compared to Dark. These include Normal, Flying, Bug, and Ground.

Pokemon’s First Dark-Type Gym Leader Was a Double-Edged Sword

Despite Piers’ significant role as the first Dark-type Gym Leader being a positive move, his multiple roles within the story of Pokemon Sword and Shield somewhat diminished this important change. While Piers was the leader of the Spikemuth Gym that players had to defeat to earn their 7th badge, he also functioned as an unofficial leader for Team Yell. This is because his gym trainers were the members of Team Yell who aimed to support his sister, Marnie, in her ambition to become the region’s Champion by any means possible. Additionally, Piers was the only Gym Leader in the Galar Region not to use Dynamax in his gym battle, which further reduced his standing as a Gym Leader.

In Pokemon Generation 10, there’s an opportunity to present a genuine Dark-type Gym Leader in a fresh light by featuring one who actively engages in the generation’s unique battle mechanic and fully commits to their role as Gym Leader. If Generation 10 aims to emphasize this character even more, placing them as the final gym challenge before battling the Pokemon League would be an effective way to display the power of the Dark type and enable their specialist to make a lasting impact. Given Piers’ influence as a Dark-type Gym Leader, it would be fitting for Generation 10 to surpass his standard with a new Gym Leader.

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2025-05-21 15:05