Hello, trainer! Welcome to the first of many Pokémon X & Y guides written by the world famous Pokémon research: Professor Neckbeard!
Me and my neckbeard will walk you through everything you need to know about Kalos and its many inhabitants, trainers and Pokémon alike.
You will find the first gym leader of the game in the Santalune City Gym. Viola is a bug-type trainer with two tough, mixed type Pokémon. Her gym is half photography studio, half spider web.
Before you enter the gym, you are going to want to make sure your team is equipped to fight bug-types and dual bug-types. You will also want to stock up on potions and maybe an antidote or two.
Know Your Enemy
According to Bulbapedia, mono bugs are weak to fire, flying, and rock. That means if you started off with Fennekin, you will be good against mono bugs; Fletchling, Pidgey, and Pansear are all great options for pure bug-type enemies. They also only deal half-damage to fighting, fire, flying, ghost, poison, steel, and fairy types.
They are strong against dark, grass, and psychic Pokémon. Furthermore, they are resistant to fighting, grass, and ground. This means that if you chose Chespin, you will want to find someone else to use in this battle.
Dual-type bugs will be discussed on an individual basis in the next section.
Bug-types check-in, but they don’t check-out
When you enter the main battle area of the gym, you will notice you are stuck in aforementioned web. Follow the water droplets to navigate your way to Viola.
On the way to Viola, there are three other bug-type trainers. Youngster David, Youngster Zachary, and Lass Charlotte. The first two are optional battles and the last one is mandatory in order to fight the gym leader.
In order to get as much experience as possible, take on both of the Youngsters. They will get you a level or two.
Youngster David
Ledyba (lvl. 10)
- Supersonic
- Tackle
- Weaknesses: flying, fire, electric, ice, and especially rock
Youngster Zachary
Spewpa
- Harden
- Tackle
- Weaknesses: fire and flying
Lass Charlotte
Kakuna
- Harden
- Poison sting
- Weaknesses: flying, rock, fire, or ice
Combee
- Gust
- Weaknesses: flying, fire, electric, ice, and especially rock
Viola
After sending Surskit to the hospital, Vivillon will do its best to ruin your day. This is yet another bug/flying type. However, unlike the other ones you have faced so far, Vivillon’s moveset poses a threat: it uses harden, infestation, and tackle. Infestation is a new move and PokéDB says it will trap you and deal 1/16 of your health for 4 or 5 turns.
Surskit (lvl. 10)
- Bubble
- Water Sport
- Quick Attack
- Weaknesses: flying
- Potion
Vivillon
- Harden
- Infestation
- Tackle
- Weaknesses: flying, fire, electric, ice, and especially rock
Due to how deadly the combination of infestation and harden can be, make sure you are using potions when need be. It will take some time to whittle its health down, but you should be able to beat Vivillon and claim your Bug Badge as well as TM83 Infestation.
Need more help with your game? I’ve got you covered with Professor Neckbeard’s Pokemon X Y Walkthrough.
