Our guide to the Gym Leaders of Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire including their Pokémon, their movesets and levels and the best counters.

Sidney


Type: Dark
Prize: $4900
Suggested Pokemon: Machamp/Machoke, Hariyama, Ninetales
Mightyena
Mightyena @ None
Level 46
Ability: Intimidate
- Crunch
- Sand-attack
- Take Down
- Roar
Cacturne
Cacturne @ None
Level 46
Ability: Sand Veil
- Faint Attack
- Needle Arm
- Cotton Spore
- Leech Seed
Shiftry
Shiftry @ None
Level 48
Ability: Chlorophyll
- Fake Out
- Extrasensory
- Double Team
- Swagger
Sharpedo
Sharpedo @ None
Level 48
Ability: Rough Skin
- Crunch
- Surf
- Slash
- Swagger
Absol
Absol @ Sitrus Berry
Level 49
Ability: Pressure
- Snatch
- Swords Dance
- Slash
- Aerial Ace

Hariyama won't have many problems here and can successfully take everyone of Sidney's Pokemon out, but will run into trouble with Absol's Aerial Ace and Shiftry's Extrasensory, so bring along Ninetales to torch the Grass/Dark-types and save energy on Hariyama for Absol. You'll need him later. Of course, it doesn't really matter if you brought Revives with you.

Phoebe


Type: Ghost
Prize: $5100
Suggested Pokemon: Sharpedo
Dusclops
Dusclops @ None
Level 48
Ability: Pressure
- Curse
- Confuse Ray
- Shadow Punch
- Future Sight
Banette
Banette @ None
Level 49
Ability: Insomnia
- Spite
- Will-o-Wisp
- Shadow Ball
- Faint Attack
Banette
Banette @ None
Level 49
Ability: Insomnia
- Skill Swap
- Toxic
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
Sableye
Sableye (F) @ None
Level 50
Ability: Keen Eye
- Attract
- Faint Attack
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
Dusclops
Dusclops @ Sitrus Berry
Level 51
Ability: Pressure
- Earthquake
- Confuse Ray
- Shadow Ball
- Ice Beam

Phoebe's team can be taken down by a strong and fast Dark-type, Sharpedo being the best candidate. Since Banette are frail and Dusclops can't take Super effective hits, you'll really only have to worry about Sableye, and she won't be much of a problem, considering she's pretty frail too. Crunch everyone and move onto the next room.

Glacia


Type: Ice
Prize: $5300
Suggested Pokemon: Hariyama, Ninetales
Glalie
Glalie @ None
Level 50
Ability: Inner Focus
- Crunch
- Hail
- Light Screen
- Ice Beam
Glalie
Glalie @ None
Level 52
Ability: Inner Focus
- Shadow Ball
- Hail
- Crunch
- Ice Beam
Sealeo
Sealeo @ None
Level 50
Ability: Thick Fat
- Surf
- Hail
- Body Slam
- Ice Ball
Sealeo
Sealeo (F) @ None
Level 52
Ability: Thick Fat
- Dive
- Hail
- Attract
- Blizzard
Walrein
Walrein @ None
Level 53
Ability: Thick Fat
- Blizzard
- Sheer Cold
- Body Slam
- Surf

Hariyama won't have many troubles here, considering none of Glacia's Pokemon know Psychic- or Flying-type moves. Ninetales can be used to stall on those Glalies and save up PP.

Drake


Type: Dragon
Prize: $5500
Suggested Pokemon: Walrein
Shelgon
Shelgon @ None
Level 52
Ability: Rock Head
- Dragon Claw
- Crunch
- Protect
- Rock Tomb
Altaria
Altaria @ None
Level 54
Ability: Natural Cure
- Dragon Breath
- Take Down
- Dragon Dance
- Refresh
Flygon
Flygon @ None
Level 53
Ability: Levitate
- Dragonbreath
- Crunch
- Sand-attack
- Flamethrower
Flygon
Flygon @ None
Level 53
Ability: Levitate
- Dig
- Fly
- Dragonbreath
- Sandstorm
Salamence
Salamence @ Sitrus Berry
Level 55
Ability: Intimidate
- Dragon Claw
- Fly
- Crunch
- Flamethrower

Drake's pretty challenging, so save before you face him. Walrein is bulky and can take a lot of hit and considering none of his Pokemon have super-effective attacks against it (except Shelgon's Rock Tomb), you shouldn't have that much of a problem with his team. Use Hail and Blizzard, but also use Ice Beam to save PP, unless you have Ethers or Elixirs.

Steven

Steven
Type: Steel and Rock
Prize: $11600
Suggested Pokemon: Sharpedo, Hariyama, Ninetales
Skarmory
Skarmory @ None
Level 57
Ability: Keen Eye
- Spikes
- Toxic
- Steel Wing
- Aerial Ace
Cradily
Cradily @ None
Level 56
Ability: Suction Cups
- Confuse Ray
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Ancientpower
Claydol
Claydol @ None
Level 55
Ability: Levitate
- Earthquake
- Ancientpower
- Reflect
- Light Screen
Armaldo
Armaldo @ None
Level 56
Ability: Battle Armor
- Water Pulse
- Slash
- Aerial Ace
- Ancientpower
Aggron
Aggron @ None
Level 56
Ability: Sturdy
- Earthquake
- Thunder
- Solarbeam
- Dragon Claw
Metagross
Metagross @ None
Level 58
Ability: Clear Body
- Earthquake
- Psychic
- Meteor Mash
- Hyper Beam

Steven is actually pretty easy (he's incredible easy if you have a Blaziken), but requires tactic. Aggron, Claydol and Armaldo can be taken out by both Sharpedo or Hariyama. Ninetales can take out Skarmory but may have trouble with Metagross, so use Overheat to blast Metagross away for good. Cradily can be taken out by Hariyama.