Main Walkthrough

Recommended Level: 43+

Recommended Pokémon Types: Dark, Ghost, Bug, Steel

In theory one of the earliest Pokémon Gyms that you can reach in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Alfornada Gym is realistically one of the last you will tackle. Found to the west of Mesagoza, the town of Alfornada is a much higher-level gym than you can handle when first starting out, and even reaching the town without getting trampled is a challenge. Until your team is around level 40 you shouldn't give much thought to Alfornada.

Alfornada is located in the southwest of Paldea. Unlike most of the towns in the game, which are fairly accessible, Alfornada is located on a lonely plateau that's isolated away on the edges of South Province (Area Four) and West Province (Area One). Unless your mount can climb walls you'll need to go through Alfornada Cavern, a cave highway from West Province (Area One) to reach Alfornada, and if you've just entered that area your Pokémon probably won't be anywhere near strong enough to survive the trip. You'll find the cave to the south of West Province (Area One)'s southern Pokémon Center.

Alfornada is pretty small, but there's still stuff to find. Have a look around before challenging the gym.

  • Right beside the Pokémon Center is a low-rise building with a smoke stack on its top. Behind it is TM 098 Skill Swap.
  • There are two homes on the south side of town. On the left side of these buildings you'll find TM 092 Imprison.
  • There's a line of warehouses to the south of the Pokémon Gym. At the south end of the last warehouse before leaving town you'll find TM 103 Substitute. On the opposite end of the warehouses, near the street, you'll find a Nugget.
  • Behind the Pokémon Gym you'll find TM 064 Bulk Up. Next to the Pokémon Gym is a fine brick stairway leading up to the battle court. Climb towards the top and you'll find TM 158 Focus Blast on your right shortly before you reach the top. (And as far as I can tell, you cannot reach the top of the big arched structure standing over the battle court. I tried for a while with climbing and gliding.)
  • In roughly the center of town, in the middle of a bunch of low-rise buildings, you'll find a square. Also here is a Light Clay.
That's all for Alfornada. Head to the gym to begin the Gym Challenge.


Gym Challenge

Register at the Pokémon Gym, then head outside. There's a park beside the Pokémon Gym where you'll meet Dendra, the Battle Studies teacher from the Academy. She's conducting Emotional Spectrum Practice, which boils down to matching the emotion she's expressing by pressing the corresponding button on the Switch. Watch for the emotion at the top of the screen, then press the button that matches the emotion based on the legend in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Simple, right? Well, you also need to battle. This is a late-game gym, after all. Two ESP sessions, two battles.

Gym Trainer Emily
  • Gothorita, level 43
  • Kirlia, level 43
Reward: 6,020 P

Gothorita is a Psychic-type that will use Hypnosis to put your Pokémon to sleep. Annoying, but not a big deal. Kirlia is a Psychic- and Fairy-type that's less annoying but a bit more powerful. Ghost-type moves can handle both, or Dark-type for Gothorita and Steel-type for Kirlia. Not a big deal.

Gym Trainer Rafael
  • Grumpig, level 43
  • Indeedee, level 43
  • Medicham, level 43
Reward: 6,020 P

Grumpig is a Psychic-type that can hit you with Psyshock and Power Gem, as well as Rest to restore its health. Indeedee is a Psychic- and Normal-type knows Psychic, but doesn't hit all that hard. Medicham is a Psychic- and Fighting-type that uses High Jump Kick, which can be a surprise to Dark-types. Dark-type Pokémon are good against the first two, but Medicham will take one down. Swap in a Flying-type move for Medicham.

All done. Heal your team, then head into the Pokémon Center to begin the final battle.


Gym Leader Tulip
  • Farigirag, level 44
  • Gardevoir, level 44
  • Espathra, level 44
  • Florges, level 45
Reward: 8,100 P, TM 120 Psychic

Paldea's Psychic-type expert, Tulip will give yo a good fight. Her team consists primarily of the 'pink' spectrum of Pokémon, with one exception, and you'll be seeing a lot of Psychic- and Fairy-type moves. Prepare accordingly, and be ready for Tulip to counter your Psychic-type killers.
  • Farigiraf is a Normal- and Psychic-type Pokémon. It will use Reflect to set up higher defenses for its team, as well as use Crunch and Zen Headbutt. Dark- or Bug-type Pokémon are ideal, and a Steel-type will take very little damage.
  • Gardevoir is a Psychic- and Fairy-type Pokémon that can hit quite hard using Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, and the surprise Energy Ball. Poison-, Ghost, and Steel-type moves are all effective, though a Poison-type Pokémon will probably get decimated. Be careful not to use status ailments on Gardevoir or its Synchronize Ability will throw them right back at you.
  • Espathra is a pure Psychic-type Pokémon that knows Psychic, Quick Attack, and Shadow Ball. A Dark-type will take it down. Don't raise your stats during this phase of the fight or Espathra will copy the stat boost with its Opportunist Ability.
  • Florges is a Fairy-type Pokémon, though it will turn into a Psychic-type when Terastallized. It knows Psychic, Moonblast, and Petal Blizzard, all of which will hit really hard, particularly Psychic. A speedy Ghost- or Steel-type Pokémon will help you weather the storm and defeat Florges.

Defeating Tulip will earn you another Gym Badge, as well as a powerful new TM. If this was your fifth gym win you will be able to catch Pokémon up to level 55 without any trouble. One more left? Maybe?

Main Walkthrough