Unique gym gimmicks

[Squirtkipfan01]

We all know gyms, tests for trainers to overcome that specialize in a specific type. But what unique gym gimmicks do you think could be done, rather than one type specializing? Maybe instead of type, a gym could specialize in a stat. Like a speedy gym that have trainers with particularly fast pokemon. Or maybe a gym that specializes on a theme like a beast gym, with trainers having pokemon particularly beast-like(tyranitar, ryhperior, most dragons, etc)

 

[Sweet Serenity]

Why do the gyms need a gimmick? Why can't the gym leaders just be like Blue, where the leaders have a well-rounded team that won't get wrecked by a single type? To add variety, they can specialize in different strategies. The farther you go, the leaders could have more advanced teams. For example, gym leaders can have a Trick Room team filled with slow Pokémon, Rain team with Pokémon that have abilities that activate in Rain such as Swift Swim, Harsh Sunlight team in the same vein as a Rain team, Snow team, teams that specialize in Terrain, and so on. I like your idea of having them specialize in stats too. I wouldn't mind facing a hyper offensive team full of sweepers or bulky attackers that are otherwise slow, but hit hard and defend well. I also wouldn't mind facing a team that specializes in stalling as well and wearing you down. The whole gyms having monotypes is just so played out to me. Also, give them held items too. It wouldn't hurt.

 

[Devalue]

Might be hard to design gyms for some gimmicks, aesthetically-speaking. How would you distinguish a Sun gym from just a Grass gym, or a Rain gym from a Water gym? What kind of environment would these Pokemon prefer?

Needs to make sense without relying on game knowledge, also. Cannot explicitly have a "High Defense Gym" because what does that mean to someone like Ash? What Pokemon would qualify without knowing any stats?

Likely sticks all of these gyms in late, also. Creates gyms with new players in mind. Barely grasps type matchups. May also know them, but be at a complete loss as to what type, say, Pancham, is without being told what to expect. Provides something to latch onto. Feels free to be more varied with rival teams because of constant rematches.

With those things in mind:

Magician Gym

• Description: Relies on tricks and misdirection to win.
• Pokemon: Banette, Meowscarada, Hypno, Mismagius, Zoroark, Delphox, Klefki
• Moves: Substitute, Hypnosis, Phantom Force, Trick

Dancer Gym

• Description: Uses dance moves.
• Pokemon: Oricorio, Lilligant, Ludicolo, Bellossom, Spinda, Hitmontop, Kirlia, Vivillon, Quaquaval
• Moves: Teeter Dance, Petal Dance, Swords Dance, Quiver Dance

Soccer Gym

• Description: Lots of kicking moves, plus a goalie. Technically not soccer, but "Pokesportball" or something. (Could likely swing a Water Polo version too, albeit with different Pokemon.)
• Pokemon: Hitmonlee, Blaziken, Lokix, Tsareena, Cinderace, Machamp (goalie), Chesnaught (goalie), Grapploct (goalie), Greninja (goalie)
• Moves: Mega Kick, Jump Kick, Blaze Kick, Axe Kick, Spiky Shield, Mat Block

Band Gym

• Description: Lots of sound-based Pokemon and moves. Practically did this twice already with Roxie and Piers. Must have some answer for Soundproof and Throat Chop, of course.
• Pokemon: Toxtricity, Rillaboom, Kricketune, Primarina, Chatot, Wigglytuff, Chimecho, Exploud, Kommo-O, Noivern, Audino, Altaria...
• Moves: Hyper Voice, Boomburst, Metal Sound, Sing, Perish Song

Museum Gym

• Description: Fossils, art-based Pokemon, and valuable item Pokemon.
• Pokemon: Any fossil Pokemon, Smeargle, Grafaiai, Polteageist, Gimmighoul, and maybe Sigilyph
• Moves: Ancient Power, Sketch, maybe some (ancient) Curses

 

[Squirtkipfan01]

Might be hard to design gyms for some gimmicks, aesthetically-speaking. How would you distinguish a Sun gym from just a Grass gym, or a Rain gym from a Water gym? What kind of environment would these Pokemon prefer?

Needs to make sense without relying on game knowledge, also. Cannot explicitly have a "High Defense Gym" because what does that mean to someone like Ash? What Pokemon would qualify without knowing any stats?

Likely sticks all of these gyms in late, also. Creates gyms with new players in mind. Barely grasps type matchups. May also know them, but be at a complete loss as to what type, say, Pancham, is without being told what to expect. Provides something to latch onto. Feels free to be more varied with rival teams because of constant rematches.

With those things in mind:

Magician Gym

• Description: Relies on tricks and misdirection to win.
• Pokemon: Banette, Meowscarada, Hypno, Mismagius, Zoroark, Delphox, Klefki
• Moves: Substitute, Hypnosis, Phantom Force, Trick

Dancer Gym

• Description: Uses dance moves.
• Pokemon: Oricorio, Lilligant, Ludicolo, Bellossom, Spinda, Hitmontop, Kirlia, Vivillon, Quaquaval
• Moves: Teeter Dance, Petal Dance, Swords Dance, Quiver Dance

Soccer Gym

• Description: Lots of kicking moves, plus a goalie. Technically not soccer, but "Pokesportball" or something. (Could likely swing a Water Polo version too, albeit with different Pokemon.)
• Pokemon: Hitmonlee, Blaziken, Lokix, Tsareena, Cinderace, Machamp (goalie), Chesnaught (goalie), Grapploct (goalie), Greninja (goalie)
• Moves: Mega Kick, Jump Kick, Blaze Kick, Axe Kick, Spiky Shield, Mat Block

Band Gym

• Description: Lots of sound-based Pokemon and moves. Practically did this twice already with Roxie and Piers. Must have some answer for Soundproof and Throat Chop, of course.
• Pokemon: Toxtricity, Rillaboom, Kricketune, Primarina, Chatot, Wigglytuff, Chimecho, Exploud, Kommo-O, Noivern, Audino, Altaria...
• Moves: Hyper Voice, Boomburst, Metal Sound, Sing, Perish Song

Museum Gym

• Description: Fossils, art-based Pokemon, and valuable item Pokemon.
• Pokemon: Any fossil Pokemon, Smeargle, Grafaiai, Polteageist, Gimmighoul, and maybe Sigilyph
• Moves: Ancient Power, Sketch, maybe some (ancient) Curses

Well obviously the move between game to anime would be borderline impossible but i think of the game before the show. I also do dig ALL your ideas, very creative!

 

[Corveone]

Kawaii 😍
Basically Whitney without being a "Normal" type leader.
Trainers in this gym use Cute Pokémon only, and battle strategies that work around this theme. Expect:
-Fairies, Eeveelutions, Pikaclones, and anything else that's considered cute.
-Infatuation and other gender-based mechanics.
Gym rule: The love atmosphere makes Healing moves heal more HP and boosts the damage of Light-based moves.

Toxic as Twitter
Basically Koga, but not so Poison-type centered. Expect:
-Double Team/Minimize, Confusion, Poison, Paralysis and all that lovely stuff that can prevent players from attacking or landing hits...
-Defensive Pokémon which obviously work better with all this RNG Muk.
Gym rule: Trainer items temporarily banned so that players cannot just cheese out of these situations by spamming Full Restores.

Item management
Specializes in strategies that mess around with your and your opponent's items. Expect:
-Knock Off, Fling, and harmful items being passed to the player via Trick/Switcheroo.
-Strategies related to item usage such as Unburden, Acrobatics, Harvest, etc.

One-punch Mon
Specializes in using brute power Pokémon and strategies that allow hitting as hard as possible. Expect:
-Attack/Special Attack boosts, and Pokémon with Abilities that allow them dealing extra damage.
-Moves with insane power, such as recoil-moves, Hyper Beam, Power Herb Sky Attack/Solar Beam, etc.

Nintendon't Switch
Specializes in forcing players to switch, while punishing them for doing so. Expect:
-Entry hazards, plus Pokémon that can force switching through Roar/Whirlwind or moves like Yawn.
-Pokémon with moves that do damage while switching, since the opponent may potentially switch often as well.
-Team with good defensive synergies, making it hard to sweep them by exploiting common weaknesses.
Gym rule: 'Switch' Battle style not allowed in this gym. Must play on Set.

Old School test
This gym is filled with a weird gas that applies a grayscale filter and permanently adds these effects: All Abilities and items won't work, and all Dark, Fairy, and Steel type Pokémon become Normal (or lose their type if dual)
Expect:
-Psychic Pokémon and other types that can take advantage with the removed types.
-Yes, expect a Slaking.

 

[Sweet Serenity]

Kawaii 😍
Basically Whitney without being a "Normal" type leader.
Trainers in this gym use Cute Pokémon only, and battle strategies that work around this theme. Expect:
-Fairies, Eeveelutions, Pikaclones, and anything else that's considered cute.
-Infatuation and other gender-based mechanics.
Gym rule: The love atmosphere makes Healing moves heal more HP and boosts the damage of Light-based moves.

Toxic as Twitter
Basically Koga, but not so Poison-type centered. Expect:
-Double Team/Minimize, Confusion, Poison, Paralysis and all that lovely stuff that can prevent players from attacking or landing hits...
-Defensive Pokémon which obviously work better with all this RNG Muk.
Gym rule: Trainer items temporarily banned so that players cannot just cheese out of these situations by spamming Full Restores.

Item management
Specializes in strategies that mess around with your and your opponent's items. Expect:
-Knock Off, Fling, and harmful items being passed to the player via Trick/Switcheroo.
-Strategies related to item usage such as Unburden, Acrobatics, Harvest, etc.

One-punch Mon
Specializes in using brute power Pokémon and strategies that allow hitting as hard as possible. Expect:
-Attack/Special Attack boosts, and Pokémon with Abilities that allow them dealing extra damage.
-Moves with insane power, such as recoil-moves, Hyper Beam, Power Herb Sky Attack/Solar Beam, etc.

Nintendon't Switch
Specializes in forcing players to switch, while punishing them for doing so. Expect:
-Entry hazards, plus Pokémon that can force switching through Roar/Whirlwind or moves like Yawn.
-Pokémon with moves that do damage while switching, since the opponent may potentially switch often as well.
-Team with good defensive synergies, making it hard to sweep them by exploiting common weaknesses.
Gym rule: 'Switch' Battle style not allowed in this gym. Must play on Set.

Old School test
This gym is filled with a weird gas that applies a grayscale filter and permanently adds these effects: All Abilities and items won't work, and all Dark, Fairy, and Steel type Pokémon become Normal (or lose their type if dual)
Expect:
-Psychic Pokémon and other types that can take advantage with the removed types.
-Yes, expect a Slaking.

I swear, you come up with some the best stuff here.

 

[Squirtkipfan01]

Kawaii 😍
Basically Whitney without being a "Normal" type leader.
Trainers in this gym use Cute Pokémon only, and battle strategies that work around this theme. Expect:
-Fairies, Eeveelutions, Pikaclones, and anything else that's considered cute.
-Infatuation and other gender-based mechanics.
Gym rule: The love atmosphere makes Healing moves heal more HP and boosts the damage of Light-based moves.

Toxic as Twitter
Basically Koga, but not so Poison-type centered. Expect:
-Double Team/Minimize, Confusion, Poison, Paralysis and all that lovely stuff that can prevent players from attacking or landing hits...
-Defensive Pokémon which obviously work better with all this RNG Muk.
Gym rule: Trainer items temporarily banned so that players cannot just cheese out of these situations by spamming Full Restores.

Item management
Specializes in strategies that mess around with your and your opponent's items. Expect:
-Knock Off, Fling, and harmful items being passed to the player via Trick/Switcheroo.
-Strategies related to item usage such as Unburden, Acrobatics, Harvest, etc.

One-punch Mon
Specializes in using brute power Pokémon and strategies that allow hitting as hard as possible. Expect:
-Attack/Special Attack boosts, and Pokémon with Abilities that allow them dealing extra damage.
-Moves with insane power, such as recoil-moves, Hyper Beam, Power Herb Sky Attack/Solar Beam, etc.

Nintendon't Switch
Specializes in forcing players to switch, while punishing them for doing so. Expect:
-Entry hazards, plus Pokémon that can force switching through Roar/Whirlwind or moves like Yawn.
-Pokémon with moves that do damage while switching, since the opponent may potentially switch often as well.
-Team with good defensive synergies, making it hard to sweep them by exploiting common weaknesses.
Gym rule: 'Switch' Battle style not allowed in this gym. Must play on Set.

Old School test
This gym is filled with a weird gas that applies a grayscale filter and permanently adds these effects: All Abilities and items won't work, and all Dark, Fairy, and Steel type Pokémon become Normal (or lose their type if dual)
Expect:
-Psychic Pokémon and other types that can take advantage with the removed types.
-Yes, expect a Slaking.

I unironically want this. Probably only in the realm of fangames but still "toxic as twitter" is such a great name