Building the Perfect Flying Type Gym Leader

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Gym Leaders are supposed to be some of the best trainers in the Pokémon world. Sometimes that's true! Only sometimes... The truth is that many gym leaders fail to impress Pokémon fans in performance, and in team. To show you what we're missing out on, today I'm continuing my series where I build a "perfect" gym leader for every type in the game! A team that's not only challenging, but one that represents the type better than their in-game teams could ever hope to.

[@shepskydad]

Thanks for 60,000 subscribers! 🎉💙🐺

[@Kornflaxus]

you earned it

[@Forten3]

Question: is there any double battle gym (Not what type it's but is this in?(

[@kristopherwillis8075]

Congrats 😊

[@kristopherwillis8075]

​@@KornflaxusNice Profile Picture 🔥

[@Your_LocalWizard]

"I hate Falkner" Sure, fair enough "I hate Skarmory" YOU TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW

[@zenebean]

Me petting my giant bird with skin rattling like a big propane grill: shhh don't listen him, you're awesome

[@palatonian9618]

Skarmory is dope af

[@nimbusws2566]

I was wondering which of the two was going to flying type and which was going to steel haha

[@emmettrussell6644]

YOU GET THE POINT!

[@F14thunderhawk]

@@zenebean Corviknight is cool, but its also just strictly worse Skarmory in basically every way. Skarm is a Kitchen Cupboard that has come to murder you in the form of a Vulture and it refuses to die, like a vulture. Corviknight is just a Crow with 2 pauldrons from Wow and a Muffler pretending to be a breastplate. the only thing that made it better then Skarm was the Gmax move

[@TheAzulmagia]

*Falkner:* ~breathes~ *Shepsky:* I've had enough of this dude.

[@Hayao0569]

I’d love to see someone turn this into some type of gauntlet for us to go through at the end of the series.

[@J.Blazer]

That rom would be so fun

[@lukkiskeiwalker]

As someone who works on his own Pokémon Fangame right now I now feel obligated to do exactly this!

[@nikatnite21]

That's what I did for my friends. I made my own gym leader teams and made a competition to see who can become champion. ( Tho I only did 5 teams cz that's a lot to do 8 for just me 😩)

[@Vidiri]

​@@lukkiskeiwalker Have you watched Pokémon Origins? It shows that the gym leaders do have their own full teams, but limit the amount of Pokémon they use on their team to challenge you according to the amount of gym badges you have. I'm not sure if this means they pick that amount of Pokémon from their main team, or if they have an entirely separate team depending on how many badges their opponent has. I suppose it could simply differ between gym leaders and their personal style though, with many more options and variations on how the gym leaders handle this sort of thing. That being said, with that idea in mind it wouldn't be too far fetched to suggest that most gym leaders have their own "real" team they use outside of the gym, or even just when faced as the last gym leader. Of course an entirely different route could be approached than this, but I hope this comment inspires you further (also if you haven't watched that show yet, it's 1 season and features Red as the protagonist, existing in a separate canon or time to the main anime that features Ash. It's also incredible)

[@lukkiskeiwalker]

@@Vidiri I already saw that scene and liked it a lot. In my personal game there will be a little bit of team management if you fight certain gym leaders later if you can skip them. Don’t know it yet. For this game I would rather have the same approach as the starter comment . A type gauntlet made out of the team ShepskyDad created for this serie. Still, there‘s a lot to do extra. How can you choose your team? How will leveling and items work? Is there multiple battles or is it just one giant gauntlet and if you beat all 18 in a row you won? Will there be secret bosses(Yes there will)?

[@lilianz-on9gb]

For the ghost type gym leader, I think that it would be really cool to play around their dying mechanics, like destiny bond, curse etc.. Like focusing on the tricky aspect of the type

[@ginger_beast6175]

That’d be a little hard to balance since you’d be killing your own team members, but I actually really like that idea.

[@dvillines26]

PP wrecking with Spite, Grudge, and Pressure, lol. is it a good strategy? probably not, but the flavor! the flavor! one of the funniest concepts would be a team built on setting up Houndstone or Basculegion with Last Respects. you got Grudge and Destiny Bond strats going on. again, is it good? probably not. but the flavor tho!

[@lilianz-on9gb]

@@ginger_beast6175 yeah but yknow, it just feels like a ghost type thing to do Plus ghost type has one of the lowest hp stat in the game Like if my mimikyu can set up trick room then destiny bond on my opponent, I call that a OHKO Ghost type style 👍

[@lilianz-on9gb]

@@dvillines26 yeah i thought about using last respect in my ghost type team but eeeeee idk i juste think its a little bit too op for a gym leader like cmon thats too much of a bs strat too feel good Idk if you get me, like i totally agree that the most important aspect is the flavor one, but Last respect is just kinda too much for me for a gym leader

[@anonymousfog501]

PERISH SONG

[@JesseNightingale]

I always forget Larry was forced to be a flying type elite four member xD

[@antoniopriego5660]

My man is such a talented trainer that has mastered two different types just because his boss told him to do it

[@starguardianburningbright]

i love the Oricorio twist! brings me back to when i used Oricorio in my first Sun playthrough, switching forms every island, and it made each island feel different even with the same team.

[@Cameytoe]

This video is propaganda for TEAM SKY

[@nifan9065]

Shis Mike isn't supposed to know that (he will want to be the gim leader and have raguza)

[@georgspielberger9780]

TEAM SKY!🦅

[@mattyorshin]

Go TEAM SKY

[@brandonhiatt2546]

Team Sky!!! Ca-Caw!!!!! Edit: I will use the thunder wave on the togekiss with an air slash because "your opponent will never move (evil laugh, cough cough) sorry I'm feeling a bit mean today".

[@l-x-10]

TEAM SKY

[@MercuryA2000]

One thing that popped into my head is that flying feels like a fitting type for double battles. I would say triple since they have a unique gimmick there, but triple battles got deleted. But yea, tailwind, a few good spread moves, and the chance for them to use coverage earthquake feels really fitting

[@spook4429]

What was the gimmick?

[@MercuryA2000]

@@spook4429 In triple battles flying type moves on one side could target pokemon on the far side. Pulse and aura moves could do it as well, but there's not nearly as many of those as there are flying type attacks.

[@sandile377]

Falkner better take notes lmao

[@BooperDooper15]

11:32 You could also do an Acrobatics-Flying Gem set because Flying Gem is used, and THEN Acrobatics checks if you have an item, AND it activates Unburden.

[@cringeylol4078]

Sadly gems don’t exist anymore (besides normal)

[@philiphunt-bull5817]

​@@cringeylol4078 He uses moves that don't exist anymore, so he might be willing to use items that don't exist

[@yukiizura]

13:53 actually made me laugh my ass off because i was sitting here saying "why no thunder wave or water pulse" 💀💀💀 LOVED how the final two members are different depending on your team. We need to bring that mechanic back!

[@Salemwaaa]

“I hate Skarmory” _YOU WILL START TO CLENCH YOUR CHEST IN PAIN_

[@emmettrussell6644]

YOU GET ME!

[@lvl5Vaporeon]

Look out for those sneaky pebbles!

[@specs.weedle]

I sure hope no one left any ghastly granite around here

[@DeliciousJames]

Me after the 6th bird pun: Give it a roost, Shep

[@manabound]

Flying type was absolutely my favorite team I played with during our mono type tournament. So much versatility

[@Vidiri]

I LOVE the idea that the Flying Type Gym Leader has a team that's always "one step ahead" of you, switching their last two Pokémon "on the fly" depending on the team you've showcased against the trainers leading up to them. They don't have precognition like a Psychic Gym Leader might, but they should certainly be observant enough to have the time to prepare for your challenge. They've been "watching from above" and know what you're capable of before you ever meet them face to face.

[@northstarpokeshipper2148]

So the Psychic Oricorio team is if XY Ash embraced his reputation as a flying trainer.

[@mihai1997]

Elite Four Larry be like Also...... TEAM SKY!!!!

[@mihai1997]

If this battle is a double battle and Oricorio is on the field when the enemy or ally use a "Dance" move then it will use the move immediately. This includes all moves with the "Dance" in it's name, except Rain Dance, and Aqua Step and Clangorous Soul.

[@ChiknTV]

@@mihai1997 rain dance would be good nonetheless, because noivern has hurricane

[@mihai1997]

I guess that's fair.

[@underbossgamingdunce7018]

Skarmory enjoyed: "So you have chosen violence?"

[@BryceRogers_]

Wow. This really took a surprisingly innovative turn. This is one of the best videos I have seen about theoretical pokemon trainers. I really love the last two pokemon and the fact that they vary depending on the last form of Oricorio. We need more of this in Pokemon. The penultimate pokemon pairings were incredible too. 10/10

[@josephschubert6561]

The gimmick with the 5th and 6th pokemon in this team is really cool!

[@ArielAnemoiAsuraism]

all the puns, goddamn

[@milubrine1101]

My men keep up the good work i love this series, wanna see more, thank you!

[@oshawottmain7608]

Ooh! Ooh!🤚 Do Fighting or Rock next! Pretty please!

[@arthurmarcelino9838]

PLEASE, i beg you to do psychic type next. It's a shame that a type that was the strongest in the earlier generations... is a "glorified normal type" in today's generation. (Quote by "WolfeyVGC")

[@lukeandre3473]

I think this series is really evolving, in terms of creativity and uniqueness with pokemon choices. As well as innovation with different battle mechanics. I love the idea of a gym team dependent on the players party cause it adds more depth and difficulty to a game where making things more difficult is easier said than done

[@hexagonal7499]

I’m sad but also happy that hawlucha didn’t get flying gem, it would’ve been kinda nuts if hawlucha came out and just one shot someone with that insane damage.

[@KobaRau00]

top tier series honestly. cant wait for fire!

[@selder_7]

An interesting type to make a gym for when there’s no pure flying type you can really have and somewhat viable options for every dual type but a lot of the useful ones have 4x weaknesses

[@Vairrion]

Honestly would love if someone turned these into actual teams for a game. Having to actually think about swapping and out playing a trainer is significantly more fun. It’s one of the things I’ve really enjoyed about rival fights in pokerogue is how much actually thinking I have to do beyond mashes stab move attack

[@Salem_Galaxia]

I absolutely love the idea of adaptive teams, it's amazing! I'd have loved to see Altaria, since it's always more of a bird than a dragon to me - But i can see why it wouldn't get the spot. Love the team design anyways!

[@tommykelly7272]

I love how you conceptualized this type! I started running a Flying Type team in Violet comprised of: Kilowattrel, tropius, skarmory, Minior, my shiny Dotrio, and Noiverrn. I imagine my Flying Type gym leader to be a Nepo Baby who spends his time mastering his Aerial Silk technique. He’d def make the joke about having “friends in high places.”

[@KimJongPhil]

Jokes on you, puns are rhe source of my power! BEHOLD MY OMNIPOTENT POWER AND FEAR ME MORTALS!

[@GodofGoblins]

I would argue U turn makes more sense to fit the vibe of the trainer. If we want to go with the more carefree approach, then a fleeting pokemon that comes and goes kinda makes sense. One moment its there, the next it isn't. Just flows with the breeze

[@wojteklenartowicz8436]

I really like how you bring up the pokemon categories before their names. It's really unique for these types of videos and gives the whole thing more depth. Great stuff

[@keybladeboy]

Me, getting ready to rip this team off for a monotype team on Showdown: Write that down, WRITE THAT DOWN! (seriously flying is my favorite type, I am so down to clown with this shit off the bat)

[@maximyss6422]

a lot more puns in this one thank you dog father

[@Faded_gaming_yt]

Can't wait for stellar type

[@talinah7720]

I love the idea of the adaptive gym team being the flying type leader! Super creative idea, especially with the oricorio!

[@ricardoj376]

1:45 You say it as if any of those puns were terrible.

[@notanotaku1101]

They're good puns, which inherently mean they are bad puns. Such is the enigma of the Pun Paradox

[@oshawottmain7608]

I really like your Flying Type choices. This is a No-Denyin', High-Flyin' team! Personally my Flying team would have a Pidgeot (because it's iconic) and a Dragonite, because it is also iconic and you cant go wrong with a Pseudo-Legendary that knows a Steel-Type move. I also would have given Togekiss Tri Attack, to boost status effect chances with Serene Grace, just to really trip up the opponent.

[@FennecFables]

Been really enjoying this series! As ive been doing stuff with the tabletop rpg it's been giving me some fun ideas to incorporate 🎉

[@ZekeZer0]

a video about a flying gym without using skyla as a clickbait thumbnail. respect honestly.

[@MrCyberGal]

Like the Oricorio gimmick, but not too much the other Pokemon also changing. I'd probably just use Kilowattrel for Volt Absorb.

[@doc_witch]

Let’s go flying types!!!! I always run a mono flying type team in my games, and I’ve made a lot of fun teams using them. I think my favorite set is a Hawlucha with a red herb and Sky Attack! No one ever expects it lol

[@TobiasAdin]

This video took me to new heights. Flighty thoughts and jokes aside: I liked this video. I love Oricorio, and I like how you turned its different types into a Gym Leader strategy. Videos like this are always fun. I look forward to future videos!

[@Tuskor130]

0:54 I never actually saw the episode with Falkner in it, why does he only have one eyeball and the Tyler1 Headset Dent

[@user-AADZ]

The gimmick with the second to last team member and Oricorio is so creative!

[@ThePhoenixQueen1124]

I LOVE that you used Oricorio!!! I never see this pokemon much and it is one of my favorites (especially the Baille style) I can't wait to see what you cook up for my favorite type, fairy!

[@JumboGeronimo]

Love this series excellent video as always. Can't wait to see your fighting type gym leader video!

[@flareblitz198]

"I hate Skarmory" Steven Stone, Winona, and several fans are now 4 feet away from your location, all with Body-Pressing Skarmories

[@CrimpyPlate]

Really good work on this one! I've enjoyed this series so far. Personally, I'm really looking forward to the fire and electric teams. Also, i was really happy to see Hisuian Braviary on this team. Such a cool design, and an absolutely gorgeous shiny form

[@specs.weedle]

2:23 There's a reason Talonflame can learn Rain Dance. Just look at that drip 14:37 yeah thanks I really needed those Desolation flashbacks

[@doc_witch]

14:37 NO WAY I LOVE LOVE LOVE ORICORIO!!!!! BEST CHOICE HANDS DOWN 10/10 GREATEST FLYING TYPE EVER I LOVE IT!!!!!

[@haggis0257]

I kinda of like Falkner. I think because of the manga. His focus on trying to live up to his missing father, his drive to protect the town, and he turned skyarmory feathers into boomerangs that he could attach pokeballs to.

[@Minimon10-q7x]

I’m glad you started using the puns in the teams now.

[@pikanonymous512]

Flying is the best type, and I think you hit on it well enough. The true essence of flying types are their adaptability and diversity, which you displayed uniquely and concisely. The only difference would be me adding in Gliscor... but you needed it for the Ground team I suppose

[@chenjamin4061]

highlight of my day is seeing this during my lunch break :)

[@ChadLePettis]

Just want to say, I absolutely love this series and look forward to each new entry. It’s thought out, creative, and extremely well produced. Also, PLEASE DO DARK TYPE SOON

[@lilianz-on9gb]

For the flying type, I had an idea about focusing a bit more on the tailwind effect, kinda like you did with the weather condition For me, flying is a speedster type hold back by its mediocre offensive stats that he must balance with strong but risky moves (air slash, hurricane, brave bird..) I think flying type really shine on the 'keeping momentum' aspect, and that this is the primary trait that need to be highlighted. Personally, I would have made a team composed of Kilowattrel, Xatu, Skarmory, Gliscor, Talonflame and Noivern Kilowattrel would be the usual lead, setting up tailwind while activating its Wind Charge ability, boosting either a powerful Thunder or Volt Switch to avoid menace/ let another pokemon time to benefit from tailwind Xatu is only here for hasard control with Magic bounce + defog for safety, paired with future sight to keep this focus on momentum control I choose skarmory over Corviknight solely because I think corviknight fit best in Steel type team, but it would be kinda the same build to guarantee a safe switch Gliscor check that electric weakness + allow to hit electric, rock and steel type Talonflame for me is the most essential flying type, like its THE flying type : high speed, mediocre offense, strong moves, good momentum control I would run a Gale wings + Heavy duty boots because it just screams flying type gym leader, with another pair of Defog + Tailwind, which could make use of that gale wings priority in late game if the opponent somehow outspeed the team. So talonflame could be used to force back your tempo on the opponent Finally choice specs Noivern with hurricane boomburst dracometeor and flamethrower to deal biiig damage whenever it comes on the field, plus if under tailwind it can just outspeed and OHKO almost anything (like if the opponent tries to set up speed and go for a sweep, priority tailwind + specs Noivern would definitely counter him) I think this team does a good job at representing the flying type : high speed, lots of maneuvrability, mediocre offense compensated by double edged move etc. Anyway I love your vid, I love your approach on pokemon and on these extremelly specifics aspects of the game which are too often forgotten such as type identity 👍 I litteraly made a team for every type and cant wait between each of your videos to compare them lmao So anyway even if our team differs a lot your videos are fire cant wait for the next one 🙏 kiss on ur dog

[@blufftroutformerlycyclone_6970]

I can already tell this is gonna be good just based on the Opening

[@TSUNGFX]

I only ever watch videos that pertain to my earth typings. But the quality of these videos are so high quality, idc what typing it is, I’ll watch! Keep it up !!!!

[@Voice_Verse_9000]

Dude just like to say thank you for the gym leader videos because they have been helping me out with a Pokémon fanfic I have been working on for a while. Keep it up 👍

[@ivanbluecool]

My guess. Gliscor poison orb poison heal. Drifloom. Corvinknight talonflame. Togikiss and salamance

[@JetpackLiamG]

Ghost and Steel are my favorite types so I can't wait for those videos!

[@noahlayne4634]

As the biggest Oricorio supporter, I’m glad to see the bird get some action on the definitive bird team 🙌

[@rats0155]

Me: uses earthquake. Volcarona: "Jokes on you, I'm into that shit".

[@KanderUdon]

“Do you fly” “Are you a bird” Fezendipiti: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@Nethaura]

Bro really looked up 'puns involving birds' and put them ALL in the script 😭

[@specs.weedle]

I was kinda expecting an inevitable joke about a certain genus of seabird with a really funny name when he mentioned that the hypothetical flying gym leader would be female Did you know that there are 6 known species of Booby?

[@beckhampang191]

I like how each Oriocorio is paired with another pokemon whos second stab is one of Oricorio's stabs

[@gabrielalves303]

concept for a video: mascot of each type i.e. tornadus is pretty much the flying type incarnate, aggron is like the most steel type of all the steels, etc

[@baylithe]

When you finish the series I'd love to see you put together your team that has to beat each gym!

[@josephway806]

When you get through all types you should do a tournament to see which team comes out on top. (Best of 3, random placements on the bracket, single or double battle format)

[@crimsonlilyfairy]

so since halloween is coming up, ghost type gym'll be next, right?

[@philiphunt-bull5817]

You now NEED to put Air Balloon Rotom Fan on the electric team, its so iconic.

[@randmcnally6542]

I don't even know half these pokemon but I still enjoy the videos

[@sushirabit5624]

I got unreasonably excited when I saw this video pop up

[@rg6637]

Excellent series and great work man! Looking forward to the rest of the videos

[@sveipr]

This was 19 minutes of Falkner catching strays lmao

[@ginger_beast6175]

LONG LIVE TEAM SKY!!!

[@andrewdorsey2008]

Love the list! Kind of surprised that talonflame with gale wings didn’t get tailwind for priority speed control to hit hard and fast though.

[@anirudhs8531]

Love the team, both kilowattrel and togekiss are sm of my favourite mons

[@insanityworks4ussu4skrowyt34]

15:33 I personally don't like the idea of NPC characters that don't have a direct connection to Arceus in some way using the Plates as held items, but it's also not a big deal in this case(and basically any other case) since they're basically just a rarer version of the type boosting items(in this case: Magnet for Zap, Charcoal for Flame, Twisted Spoon for Mind, and Spell Tag for Spooky) when not used by Arceus, so I can always just handwave/headcanon them to be the regular type boosters.

[@loljackpot101]

I found this series litterally yesterday and now I cant wait for the dark video :3 Not sure if you'll use it but I think umbreon is a great opening one

[@johnnymelt56]

4:12 in addition to the stat ranks, I would love to see the actual base stats too, and the base stat total, thanks!

[@keltzy]

I live for this series.

[@lucaswatts2141]

Noivern got the mike tyson opening with them heavy hitters

[@Jelotan]

A fun victory lap or shorts series would be scaling these teams down to be earlier gym leaders

[@Mira-The-Nerd]

I love the Falkner slander 😂 he rlly should have used Johto flyers

[@professionalprofessor9033]

5:51 to 6:00 Me (bug being one of my favorite types next to Normal, Grass, and Fairy) who is relating to these segment: “Dang I guess I am a bug type person

[@Jamaha5]

I love the team a heck of a lot. But I would say I think a flying gym team would/should have 1 Mon whose signature move is Brave Bird. Staraptor, Talonflame, etc would always put fear into a young trainers heart if it spammed that at their team

[@tannerwhitacre7493]

Can’t wait till you do Ground, my favorite type. I have a team in mind, so I’m curious on who you chose.

[@Slazaryn]

man the falkner hate went crazy at the start... I gotta have a soft spot coz Soulsilver was my first game and thus he was my first gym fight :D

[@Francis...]

I remember using Togekiss in Platinum with Silver Wind, Ancient Power, and Ominous Wind cause they all give an omniboost. Lol.

[@simonfsson817]

Heckin love this series!

[@addchannelname2052]

I'd probably always have a killawatral, a couple corvisquires, a lead and a corvinight

[@BryceRogers_]

TBF, Janine was a better gym leader than her father. She didn't get the role through nepotism. She was just simply the best trainer in the town of Fuchsia once Koga moved up to the E4

[@rodolfomendez99]

I like the 4 different teams and adding more to a gym leader by adapting to challengers

[@sammyguy9131]

i’m watching the flying type team while there’s a tornado warning for my area 😭😭 milton is scary let’s hope my house doesn’t fly away