Day 29: Cilan, Chili, & Cress
I already mentioned how having the first gym leader being a Rock type leader is a good idea as they have some relation to the three starting types of Pokémon. But do you know what's an even better idea? Having the first gym leader, or gym leaders, specialize in the starting types of Pokémon.
Today we'll be talking about the Triple Trouble from Pokémon Black & White that is Cilan, Chili, & Cress.
Out of all the gym leaders in the series, this is easily the most unique one. Since these three specialize in Grass, Water, and Fire Pokémon, depending on what starter you chose at the beginning of your journey that's the gym leader you're going to fight.
If you chose Snivy, you're going against Chili.
If you chose Oshawott, you're going against Cilan.
And if you chose Tepig, you're going against Cress.
All three gym leaders have two Pokémon. They have a Lillipup with Work Up which can raise both of its attack stats, and Bite, a strong physical move which has a chance of flinching. And then we get to their main Pokémon, the elemental monkies.
Cilan has a Pansage.
Chili has a Pansear.
Cress has a Panpour.
All three monkies have Work Up as well, but they also have moves that will give them same type attack bonus.
Pansage gets Vine Whip.
Pansear gets Incinerate.
Panpour gets Water Gun.
If you're worried that this fight sound challenging, and it kind of is if you're not prepared, don't worry as you can get your own elemental monkey at the Dreamyard to counteract the one you fight in the gym battle.
Choosing Snivy will give you Panpour to fight Chili
Choosing Tepig will give you Pansage to fight Cress
And choosing Oshawott will give you Pansear to fight Cilan.
My strategy when going up against them is this: Have your starter Pokémon be Lv. 13 and keep your elemental monkey at Lv. 10 (You most likely won't be using your elemental monkey in your journey so why waste exp on Pokémon you won't even use?) Use your starter Pokémon to take on the Lillipup, and then have it whittle down Pansage/Panpour/Pansear as much as it can before it's knocked out, then send out your own elemental monkey to finish the job. Very rarely have I seen this plan fail.
After the battle, you are graced with the Trio Badge and you may continue forth with your journey.
This is a fun fight, and it really teaches players about the starting Pokémon types and their strengths/weaknesses. Really Cilan, Chili & Cress are this high up on the list because of how unique their concept is. If Game Freak or the Pokémon Company are reading, please revisit a concept like this for future gym leaders.