How to Beat the Pixelmon Gyms and Elite Four: Teams and Counters (2026)

Short answer: On Complex Pixelmon (pixel.mc-complex.com), each of the 18 gyms is built around one type, so bring Pokémon that hit that type super effectively. After all 18 badges, the Elite Four (/e4) is the real test: Aron, Grimsley, Bertha, Lance and the Champion each use one of several random competitive teams with Mega Evolutions, legendaries and Z-Crystals, and you can't use legendaries yourself. Below is what to bring to every gym, every Elite Four team, the biggest threats on each and how to build a team that wins.

What to bring to every Pixelmon gym​

Each Complex Pixelmon gym is built around one type, and you beat them in this order. Bring Pokémon that hit the gym's type super effectively. For warps, badges and rewards, see Pixelmon Gyms on Complex.
Tip: you can use up to 3 revive items per gym battle, and every gym stays open after you beat it, so you can rematch for more rewards.

Elite Four rules​

• No legendary Pokémon on your team, and Destiny Bond is banned. The Elite Four can still use legendaries and Ultra Beasts against you.
• Item Clause: no two of your Pokémon can hold the same item.
• Sleep, OHKO and Species Clauses apply.
• Your party is healed before each battle, so you don't need to restock between members.
• Each member has a set of random teams. You won't know which one you get until the battle starts, so build a team that can handle all of them.
• 18-hour cooldown per battle, starting when the battle begins, so a loss means an 18-hour wait for that member.

Aron (Elite Four 1)​

Rewards: First win $20,000, every win $10,000
Style: Three of his five teams are weather teams: harsh sun (Torkoal, Mega Charizard Y), sand (Hippowdon) or rain (Pelipper with Mega Swampert).
Biggest threats:

• Dragapult holds a Ghostium Z and uses Dragon Dance and Substitute in team 1.
• Heatran opens with a Choice Scarf Eruption in sun, which is strongest at full HP.
• Mega Kangaskhan hits twice with every attack (Parental Bond), and Mega Blastoise uses Shell Smash.
• Gengar and Dragapult in team 4 and 5 carry Choice Specs, so their first hit is very strong.

Aron can use any of these 5 teams:
Team 1
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Team 5

Grimsley (Elite Four 2)​

Rewards: First win $35,000, every win $15,000
Style: Fast, hard-hitting teams with several setup sweepers.
Biggest threats:

• Azumarill holds a Normalium Z: Z-Belly Drum restores its HP before Belly Drum takes half, so it sits at maximum Attack with half its HP, then Aqua Jet moves first.
• Mega Salamence uses Dragon Dance with Aerilate Return, and Mega Blastoise uses Shell Smash.
• Shuckle sets Sticky Web and Stealth Rock in team 5. Bring Defog or Rapid Spin.
• Magnezone traps Steel types (Magnet Pull), and Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain stops you from inflicting status on grounded Pokémon.

Grimsley can use any of these 5 teams:
Team 1
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Team 5

Bertha (Elite Four 3)​

Rewards: First win $45,000, every win $20,000
Style: Her team 3 is a full stall team, and the others mix strong attackers with bulky support.
Biggest threats:

• Team 3 (Quagsire, Skarmory, Toxapex, Clefable, Mega Sableye, Chansey) walls you and wins with poison. Quagsire and Clefable ignore your stat boosts (Unaware), so bring strong attackers with Knock Off instead of setup moves. Mega Sableye bounces Taunt back.
• Mega Sableye bounces your Stealth Rock, Toxic and other status moves back at you (Magic Bounce).
• Mega Gengar traps any Pokémon that isn't a Ghost type (Shadow Tag). U-turn and Volt Switch still get you out.
• Urshifu's Surging Strikes always lands a critical hit and its moves hit through Protect (Unseen Fist).

Bertha can use any of these 5 teams:
Team 1
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Team 5

Lance (Elite Four 4)​

Rewards: First win $50,000, every win $25,000
Style: The strongest regular member: every team has a Mega Evolution, and most add legendaries or Ultra Beasts.
Biggest threats:

• Galarian Darmanitan and Victini hold a Choice Scarf, so they outspeed most of your team and hit extremely hard with Gorilla Tactics and V-create.
• Heatran in team 2 traps you with Magma Storm and holds an Air Balloon against Ground moves.
• Volcarona uses Quiver Dance, Suicune uses Calm Mind with Rest, and Mega Mawile uses Swords Dance with Sucker Punch.
• Quagsire and Clefable ignore your stat boosts (Unaware), and Kartana holds a Normalium Z in team 3.

Lance can use any of these 5 teams:
Team 1
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Team 5

The Champion​

Rewards: First win $50,000, an Ultra Beast Spin, a Lunar Crate Key, a Shiny Legendary Plushy Spin and the Gym Champion tag; every win $25,000 with a 1% chance at the Fiery Crown particle
Style: Four possible teams built like real competitive teams, each with a Mega Evolution.
Biggest threats:

• Tapu Lele sets Psychic Terrain and fires Choice Specs Psyshock, and Psychic Terrain stops priority moves from hitting the Champion's grounded Pokémon.
• Victini in team 4 holds a Normalium Z: Z-Celebrate raises all its stats, then Stored Power hits harder with every boost.
• Mega Garchomp uses Swords Dance with Outrage, Earthquake and Stone Edge, and Mega Scizor uses Bullet Punch priority.
• Galarian Zapdos and Buzzwole hold a Choice Scarf. Galarian Zapdos gets stronger if you lower its stats (Defiant).

The Champion can use any of these 4 teams:
Team 1
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4

How to build a team for the Elite Four​

• Cover the common threats. Dragapult, Ash-Greninja, Toxapex, Corviknight, Ferrothorn, Cinderace, Heatran and Landorus show up on several teams. Make sure you have answers to them.
• Bring a hazard remover. Many teams set Stealth Rock, Spikes or Sticky Web. Defog, Rapid Spin or Heavy-Duty Boots save a lot of HP.
• Have a plan for setup sweepers. Shell Smash, Dragon Dance, Quiver Dance, Belly Drum and Calm Mind users appear on most members. Haze, Roar, Whirlwind or a strong priority move stops them.
• Bring a wallbreaker for stall teams. Bertha's team 3 is built to wall you, and the Unaware Pokémon (Quagsire and Clefable) on Bertha and Lance's teams ignore your stat boosts. A strong attacker with Knock Off breaks through.
• Max out your team first. Aron, Grimsley, Bertha and Lance use level 100 Pokémon with full competitive spreads. Train your team to level 100 with good natures, IVs and EVs before you start.

Pixelmon gyms and Elite Four FAQ​

What order are the Pixelmon gyms in on Complex?​

How do I unlock the Pixelmon Elite Four?​

Can I use legendaries against the Elite Four?​

Does the Elite Four always use the same team?​

How often can I battle the Elite Four?​