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Type vs. Theme Gyms

D-ManBlue
D-ManBlue Member Posts: 383 ✭✭✭
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edited May 2025 in Pokémon Square #1

So, I've seen some people online who are tired of seeing Gyms be Type-themed and would rather see them just be themed in general. Personally, I like type-themed Gyms but am open to the idea of Gyms just being themed. What are your thoughts on the matter?

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  • TheJeffers
    TheJeffers Member Posts: 2,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The main problem with typed gyms is that they are too easy and predictable. Other than the occasional curve balls of dual typings that resist typical weaknesses or special abilities that mix things up, for the most part you can just train up a Pokémon of the right type advantage and brute force it.

    There are other factors as well such as the exp. share making maintaining or changing teams too easy, gym leaders generally being limited to only two-four Pokémon, the now forced "shift" battle style telegraphing the next Pokémon and allowing you to compensate by pre-emptively changing Pokémon and poor AI. The new non-linear gym progression in SV, lacking level scaling, has forced gyms to generally hover around the same lower levels to accommodate clearing gyms in different orders.

    But the former issue would be mitigated by not restricting teams to a single type. It would make the whole thing more challenging and encourage more varied teams and strategic approaches.

  • Elberta
    Elberta Member Posts: 91 ✭✭✭
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    Type gyms should be used for the first few gyms of a region, and the theme-typed gyms should be used for the last few gyms of the region to prove more of a challenge than just bring Pokemon of a certain type that is super effective against the gym leader.

  • Kieraste
    Kieraste Member Posts: 76 ✭✭
    25 Likes 10 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper

    I want both

    like COME ON it is so easy to do themed gyms

    1 make the first three gyms type gyms. Introduce players to advantages and disadvantages and the like. Subtly hint at later gyms being more complex via trainer dialogue and make the gym leaders talk during battle like they did with that battle restaurant in Pokémon X if they can avoid optional trainers

    2 two trainer fights with your partner/partners (Y’know, Gary/Shauna blah blah) to introduce you to the idea of themed battles. Teams based around weather maybe, or around a specific ability

    3 Boom. Theme gyms. It’s that easy

  • UnderKat19
    UnderKat19 Member Posts: 4
    First Comment Photogenic

    Im a big advocator for themed gyms, typed gyms have been done for the past 25 years and some change would be nice

  • D-ManBlue
    D-ManBlue Member Posts: 383 ✭✭✭
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    @Wryl_909 One idea I had is that the gyms could be type themed but gym leaders could also have a secondary theme that dictates what other kinds of Pokemon they use

  • RiqMoran
    RiqMoran Member Posts: 231 ✭✭✭
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    I think it would be great to do away with gyms revolving around type. Hear me out.

    If a gym has a type, you go in leading with a member of your party that counters it and then sweep. Dual typings can throw a wrench in the equation, but for the most part it's not very engaging. Youre forced to lean on 1 member of your party.

    If gyms revolved around a theme instead of being tied to a type, then that opens the door for more possibilities. It becomes less likely that you have to lean on only 1 member of your party because your opponents dont use teams sharing a type.

    That said, I havent really thought about potential "themes" so in practice I'm not sure it would yield more diverse teams to go up against. That would depend on the creativity of the people designing the games.

  • D-ManBlue
    D-ManBlue Member Posts: 383 ✭✭✭
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    @RiqMoran I think realism could play into the equation as well- hard to really trust a Trainer's skill when you know you could easily counter them with a single Pokemon

  • puplover1118
    puplover1118 Member Posts: 534 ✭✭✭
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    I have to say that themed gyms might ironically blend into each other. I have to agree with @Wryl_909 and @D-ManBlue when they suggest having gyms with a main typing but with other Pokémon that contribute to the type/theme of the gym. The Paldean gym leaders are a good example of this. Brassius using Sudowoodo and Iono using Mismagius are some that come to mind.