Pokemon Gen 10 Can Still Re-Open a Door that Scarlet and…

With Pokemon Gen 10 on the horizon, recent rumors have been floating around suggesting the next mainline games after Legends: Z-A will be taking the series to a new region based on the Greek Cyclades island group. After Pokemon Scarlet and Violet brought the franchise its first true open-world experience, it will be interesting to see how an island-hopping Pokemon game adapts Gen 9 mechanics. However, Gen 10 also has the chance to bring back and build upon one aspect of the franchise that was skipped in Scarlet and Violet.

For the longest time, it was a common complaint that the Pokemon series had never featured a Dark-type Gym Leader. This trend remained in place until Gen 8's Pokemon Sword and Shield introduced Piers as the series' first Gym Leader specializing in the Dark type. However, despite finally breaking the "no Dark-type Gym Leader" saga with Gen 8, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet failed to capitalize on this turning point and feature its own Paldean Dark-type Gym Leader one generation later. Now that the floodgates have been opened for more Dark-type representation in the series, Gen 10 would be wise to give Piers some company among Dark-type Gym Leaders.

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By Justin Skiles

Pokemon Deserves Another Dark-Type Gym Leader in Gen 10

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

After its introduction in Gen 2, the Dark type has gone on to be one of the less utilized types when it comes to major characters who specialize in it. This could be part of the reason why the type has the infamous reputation of going the longest without a Gym Leader to represent it. So far, the list of major Dark-type users in the Pokemon series includes:

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

Although Pokemon Scarlet and Violet did a great job ensuring that each of Pokemon's 18 types were represented by a major boss battle, Giacomo acting as the Dark-type specialist for the games seemed like a step down compared to what was offered between battles with Marnie and Piers in Pokemon Sword and Shield. The previous trend of Dark-type Elite Four members has given the type a close association with that role, but in terms of true Dark-type Gym Leaders, Gen 8 is the only game to feature any.

The only types with fewer major specialists than Dark in the Pokemon series are Normal, Flying, Bug, and Ground.

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

Although the introduction of Piers as the first Dark-type Gym Leader was an important step in the right direction, his dual role within the story of Pokemon Sword and Shield somewhat undermined this important addition. While Piers was the leader of the Spikemuth Gym that players needed to battle to earn their 7th badge, he also acted as the de facto leader of Team Yell, since his gym trainers made up the team's members, who set out to support his sister, Marnie, in her quest to become the region's Champion through any means necessary. To further undercut Piers' prominence as a Gym Leader, he is also the only one in the Galar Region who does not use Dynamax in his gym battle.

Gen 10 has a chance to give a true Dark-type Gym Leader a second chance at a first impression by introducing one who fully participates in the generation's gimmick battle mechanic, and can fully dedicate themselves to their role as Gym Leader. If Pokemon Gen 10 wanted to further put a spotlight on this character, leaving them as the final gym players must challenge before tackling the Pokemon League would be a great way to showcase the strength of the Dark type and allow its specialist to leave a lasting impression. With Piers having set the bar for Dark-type Gym Leaders, the Pokemon series should find a way to clear it with a new Gym Leader in Gen 10.

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