5th Gen I have returned - with a question about training in B/W

[Neil Peart]

I remember leaving here over a year ago after some tension (and selling my DS) - but I have just now purchased a new one and Pokemon Black, along with a guide.

In this guide, it recommends that my Pokes should be level 17 before taking on the Striaton Gym.

Do I really have to grind on level 2-7 Pokemon to get my team to level 17 to be successful at a gym where the highest level Pokemon I'll be facing is 14? This of course hinges on the credibility of the Official Pokemon B/W Strategy Guide.

 

[Ho-Oh]

Not really, since if you grab a Pansage/Pansear/Panpour from the Dreamyard, and have your starter by around 14 or so, you should be able to defeat at least the first Pokemon, and use your monkey to take on the second Pokemon (even though yours is level 12, you still generally can win easily).

These are the recommended levels anyway - people can win without necessarily raising their Pokemon to those levels, but it just makes your gameplay a lot easier. It's up to you and the Pokemon in your team, though definitely your chances of winning are significantly lowered if you face the gym leader with a level 7 Pokemon. Either way, good luck, if you aim for around the level of the gym leader's highest Pokemon you should be fine. :) If not, spend a little more time levelling up and you should be able to win.

Next time this goes in Quick Questions by the way.