Best Gym Leader Battle Theme?

[NovaBrunswick]

Gym Leaders could be considered the bosses of the Pokémon games - we all have to fight them on our way to becoming the Champion. Appropriately, the battles come with orchestral music that fits the drama and adrenaline of the scene. As with every generation, the Gym Leader battle theme has changed each time.

Which is your favourite version of the Gym Leader theme? (You can choose more than one.)

Here's my favourites:

• Johto - This theme carries a lot of nostalgia - and annoying moments trying to beat Whitney, Morty and Clair. That Miltank...
• Hoenn - Another nostalgic one. Trumpets, anyone?
• Unova - The clashing drums at the beginning gets you into full battle mode. The best part of it is when the Gym Leader is down to their last Pokémon, and it ups the pace as you're nearing your victory... or the Gym Leader uses another potion.

And my least favourites:

• Sinnoh - Too repetitive; it never changes the beat or melody. I do like the sort of Hoenn-ish vibe from the trumpets, though.
• Kalos - I barely remember this one. I don't think it changes much musically either.

(Since Alola doesn't have Gym Leaders, I haven't included it in this poll.)

 

[WishIhadaManafi5]

Really love a lot of the music from Kanto and Johto.

The theme for Red/champion theme/Lance's theme

really good cover of that theme

champion theme from R, B and Y

Love the themes in general in R, B and Y.

all of them

And love the themes in Gold/Silver and Crystal

Gym Leader themes

Just really good music to keep you in the battles themselves. So well done. The pacing and the drama in the themes stand out.

The themes in later games are ok, but just aren't nearly as memorable to me for some reason.

Continued in a second post.

 

[WishIhadaManafi5]

Closest I've found have been the battle themes from Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald versions.

There's some drama and passion in the themes here and it was nice to see again.

 

[Erron Black]

Hoenn hands down. It's super catchy, immediately starts out strong, never dwindles down for too long, and is just really epic in general.

Kanto, Johto, and Sinnoh are also the E4 themes which in my book gives them less points since they're less unique. Kanto's is good, but the other two are pretty bland imo.

Kalos takes WAY too long to get to the good part just like it's E4 theme. You'll more than likely already have beat the leader before it gets to the good bits.

Unova is just not memorable to me. I can't even recall what it sounds like.

 

[Ignition]

Sinnoh, Unova (mainly the last Pokèmon theme), & Kalos. Each for a different reason:
Sinnoh’s is nostalgic and the first ~10 seconds where it plays with the Vs *insert Gym Leader* screen only makes that more nostalgic. Feels elegant yet fierce

Unova gives the sense of a powerful yet familiar threat. The main piece is pretty meh IMO but the final Pokèmon music feels like you’re at the climax of your match.

Kalos is definitely my favorite though. Feels upbeat and it’s the only one I can listen to in multiple loops without it getting repetitive. Too bad the Leaders who have this theme don’t match the vibe

Kanto is kind of cool but because it’s a classic. Johto and Hoenn are so dull. I do like B2W2’s PWT remix of Johto much more though

 

[NovaBrunswick]

Kanto is kind of cool but because it’s a classic. Johto and Hoenn are so dull.

I don't really remember Kanto's, but it does play in G/S/C and HG/SS when you're fighting the Kanto Gym Leaders as a nice nostalgic touch.

The main piece is pretty meh IMO but the final Pokèmon music feels like you’re at the climax of your match.

I wonder why Game Freak didn't keep the 'Gym Leader is at last Pokémon' music for future generations? It served as a good sign that you were edging closer to victory.

 

[Ignition]

I wonder why Game Freak didn't keep the 'Gym Leader is at last Pokémon' music for future generations? It served as a good sign that you were edging closer to victory.

Maybe to keep it as an unique attribute of Gen V like the Low Health theme music

 

[NovaBrunswick]

Maybe to keep it as an unique attribute of Gen V like the Low Health theme music

It's pretty annoying when your Pokémon goes down to red health when the 'Gym Leader's last stand' music is playing, and it gets replaced with the Low Health music while you scramble around for that potion.

 

[Yureishi]

I have to say my favourite's the Johto one. It has an endearing, powerful yet simple feeling and the nostalgia value I hold for Gen. II just conquers my heart.

 

[Akkipeddi]

Unova for me. I loved the intense way the theme starts and it's really catchy as well.

 

[NovaBrunswick]

Unova for me. I loved the intense way the theme starts and it's really catchy as well.

The beginning kind of reminds me of a sports tournament starting, like a boxing or wrestling match.

 

[KyogreThunder]

I really like the Hoenn one, although I've never been a fan of its PWT remix. I also love the Unova one, especially the beginning. Overall, my ranking is: Hoenn>Unova>Kanto>Johto>Sinnoh>Kalos (don't like the last one at all).

 

[LadyTriox]

Kalos is my favorite (due to korrina's successor battle theme being based off it <3)