Pokemon: Every Main Electric-Type Trainer, Ranked

The Electric type is one of the most powerful in all of Pokemon. It hits most other types for at least neutral damage, hits the most common type (Water) for Super Effective damage, and only has a single weakness: Ground. Having at least an Electric-type move on your team is a necessity, as long as you can get rid of Ground types.

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Because of this, it only makes sense that Electric-type trainers are some of the most interesting in all of Pokemon, ranging from mechanical masterminds to soldiers and even models! So given that list, let’s take a look at which Electric-type trainers are the best. The answer may shock you.

7

Lt. Surge

Originally referred to as “The Lightning American,” Lt. Surge is a soldier who went to war and had his life saved by his Electric-type Pokemon. This all raises a lot of questions. There was an actual war? How did his Pokemon save his life? And America exists in Pokemon? All that being said, Lt. Surge is a trainer who likes to hit fast and hard.

For having one of the most intense backstories in all of Pokemon, Lt. Surge is actually one of the easiest trainers to beat. This is mainly because his Electric Gym is built right next to Diglett Cave, meaning you are guaranteed to have a Ground-type Pokemon that will more than likely be faster than Surge’s entire team. So while he’s a fascinating character, Lt. Surge isn’t the most capable trainer.

6

Wattson

Wattson is a jovial old man who doesn’t just run the Mauville Gym, but the entire city itself. He founded Mauville City and has tried multiple times to expand it. However, when he learned that these projects were hurting the environment and Pokemon that lived there, he stopped immediately.

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Wattson’s teams are filled with mostly fast Electric types and Magneton. However, they only really know Electric and Normal-type attacks, even when you get into later rematches. This gives two common answers to defeating him: the Mudkip line or the Geodude line. Mudkip is the best starter option for the Hoenn region, and Geodude are in pretty much every cave. Wattson may be kind, but his team is a pushover.

5

Clemont

The Gym Leaders from Pokemon X and Y are some of the easiest in the series. Not only do they not take advantage of Mega Evolutions, the main gimmick of Generation 6, but they only have a max of three Pokemon on their team. All that being said, because Clemont is an Electric-type trainer, he’s able to use this to his advantage.

While every other typing has a bunch of weaknesses, Clemont only has to worry about Ground types. Emolga is immune to these attacks because it’s part Flying type, Magneton will live at least one hit because of its Sturdy ability, and his ace Helioptile knows Grass Knot. Yes, these Pokemon would be better supported if they each had full movesets, but it’s nice to see that some thought was put into this team.

4

Sophocles

A Trial Captain in the Alola region, Sophocles from Sun & Moon is surprisingly strong for someone so young. While most of the other Captains have fairly weak teams of only a few Pokemon, Sophocles has a team of high leveled Electric types trained to challenge you after you’ve become champion.

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Even though Sophocles’ team is well-trained and strong, it also has a glaring weakness to Ground-type attacks. Three of his Pokemon have a four times weakness, and no members of his team have any moves to hit Ground types for Super Effective damage. The closest thing to an answer he has is his Vikavolt with Levitate, but that can easily be beaten with a Rock-type move, which most Ground Pokemon can learn. So while Sophocles may have one of the highest leveled teams, it can be easily handled.

3

Elesa

A fan favorite from the Unova region, Elesa is a model who drastically changes her appearance between Black & White and their sequels. However, her outfit isn’t the only thing to change — her team gets a lot stronger, especially in Challenge Mode.

Elesa’s teams are all built around Volt Switch and switching in and out between teammates. While this was interesting in the first games, it could be completely walled by a Ground type, even though her two Emolga were immune to their attacks. This would be solved in her Black 2 & White 2 Challenge Mode team by adding a Joltik that took neutral damage from Ground attacks and knows the Grass-type move Energy Ball. Now Elesa’s team wasn’t just tougher, but one of the hardest Gyms to face in Unova.

2

Iono

Since her debut, Iono has been a polarizing figure from Scarlet & Violet (pun absolutely intended). A well-known streamer and influencer in Paldea, fans either find her hilarious or the most irritating character in a Pokemon game. There’s one thing those naysayers can’t deny, though: Iono is a really tough trainer.

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In her initial Gym battle, Iono more than covers her Ground weakness with the Flying-type Wattrel and a Bellibolt that knows Water Gun. On top of this, her ace Misdreavus has the Levitate ability. This means that when it Terastallizes into the Electric-type, it has no weaknesses. This gets even tougher with her rematch team when she gets an Electrode that knows Magnet Rise and a Luxray that knows Ice Fang. Iono may be a comical character, but her team is no joke.

1

Volkner

via.Bulbapedia

While every other trainer on this list is relatively loud and brash, Volkner is quiet and moody. This is because he hasn’t received any worthy Gym challengers in a long time. And after you convince him to battle you, it’s easy to understand why. Volkner is genuinely one of the toughest trainers in all of Sinnoh and he won’t take it easy on you.

Volkner’s team is awesome, especially in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Not only does most of his team have answers to Ground types, but he has members of his team that aren’t Electric types to make things even more difficult. However, Volkner is at his most threatening when you rematch him. Every Pokemon is between levels 66 and 75, and his team is built around Rain. Volkner has one of the best teams in the entire Pokemon franchise, so it only makes sense that he is the best Electric-type trainer of all time.

NEXT: Pokemon: Every Fire-Type Trainer, Ranked