Gym Leader Fanatics

Kanto Gym Leader Facts! (Erika)

Erika(in the games): "Hello. Lovely weather, isn't it? It's so pleasant. ...Oh dear... I must have dozed off. Welcome. My name is Erika. I am the Leader of Celadon Gym. I teach the art of flower arranging. My Pokémon are of the Grass-type. Oh, I'm sorry, I had no idea that you wished to challenge me. Very well, but I shall not lose."— Erika, Pokémon Red, Blue, LeafGreen, and FireRed.

Erika serves as the Gym Leader at the Celadon City Gym. She specializes in using Grass-type Pokémon, and holds the Rainbow Badge for the trainers that manage to defeat her. She dresses in elegant furisode kimonos and seems to represent traditional Japanese beauty.

Personality

Erika like her style suggests displays a modest, elegant and somewhat shy attitude towards the player. She shows no ill-will about being defeated and cares deeply towards her Pokémon. Outside of battle she is perhaps rather lazy as she can be seen sleeping inside her gym.

Biography

Erika's Gym is filled with grass, flowers and other plants, and additionally, all of the Gym members are female. The player must use Cut in order to reach Erika in the Gym's center.

Upon defeating her, Erika rewards the player with the Rainbow Badge along with TM21 (Mega Drain), in the Generation I games. In the Generation II and III games, she gives out TM19 (Giga Drain).

Erika(in the Adventures manga)

Erika first told Red to catch an Eevee before he could challenge her at her gym.

After catching Eevee he challenged Erika and lost. Even though he did, Erika saw potential in Red and gave him the Rainbow Badge. She fought against the mind controlled Pokémon that was aiming for all of the badges, and just like the other gym leaders, her badge was also taken. She fought against Pryce during the competition that is a battle of two regions namely Kanto and Johto. Though she lost to Pryce.

Appearance

Erika is identical in appearance to her game counterpart.

Personality

Erika has a kind personality, as she teams up with the rest of the Gym Leaders to combat the rising threat of Team Rocket, and later the Elite Four. She has also shown herself to be cruel, particularly against a unique Eevee whom Red had rescued; however, this was just a facade to test Red's allegiance.

Biography

Red, Green & Blue arc

Erika first appears upon the Cycling Road, whereupon she apologizes to Red for her Tangela knocking him over. She steps out of the royal procession, as Red is held back by her followers. Red asks Erika whether she is the Gym Leader of Celadon City, to which she confirms this. Erika is surprised at his request but states that she only challenges worthwhile opponents. Before her bodyguards can seize Red, Erika accepts his challenge, much to their surprise. However, Erika explains that he needs to first prove his worth before their battle, by catching an Eevee for her. Later, when Erika is practicing at the archery range, she is approached by one of her followers. She asks Erika whether her actions are justified, prompting Erika to release Petal Dance at her.

Erika berates her follower for letting her guard down as a Drowzee slumps to the ground unconscious. She thinks to herself that Eevee must be found as soon as possible. Later, Erika appears behind Red, proclaiming that he has passed her test. Red accuses Erika of sending him out to find her mutated Eevee, to which she asks him whether he still wishes to battle. Erika comments that they each have 3 Pokémon, telling her Tangela to attack. It wraps around his Saur's bulb, hurling it across the room.

As Red switches his Saur for Poli, Erika is surprised that he switched Pokémon so early into their battle. Erika follows suit, swapping out with Bellsprout, as Poli uses Double Slap, defeating Erika's Bellsprout with ease. However, Erika manages to defeat Poli by using Mimic. Erika summons her Vileplume, which prompts Red to use Pika. She attacks swiftly with Petal Dance, but Pika is able to deflect the blades with ease. Erika comments that he has saved the best for last, telling her Vileplume to use Swords Dance. Erika asks where his previous arrogance went, informing him that Eevee will be put down.

Red is outraged by this, as Erika informs him that, should he open its Poké Ball, Eevee will most certainly die. As Pika releases a Substitute of itself, Erika comments that his efforts will be in vain. However, Erika is surprised when Pika guards the Poké Ball instead of attacking her directly, and commends their kindness. Erika picks up Pika, and pushes a lever on the machine. She turns to face Red, informing him that Eevee has been restored to full health. Erika reveals that this Eevee was a test subject for Team Rocket and that they need the strengths that a Trainer like him possesses in order to defeat them. Red agrees, stating that he will do whatever he can to help them, prompting Erika to give him the Rainbow Badge.

Yellow arc

Later, Erika fights against the swarms of Shellder and Cloyster released by Lorelei at Celadon City. However, she realizes that Lance is merely using these Pokémon to prevent the Gym Leaders from reaching Cerise Island. However, Erika is taken off guard by one of the Shellder, which makes off with her Badge, using it for the Amplification Device on the island.

Erika(in the anime)

She was first seen as a manager at a perfume shop. Due to an insult of the perfume from Ash, Erika banned him from the shop. When Ash and co. made their way to the local Gym, they found out that Erika was also the Gym Leader, where she banned him there too. Erika later decided to battle him. She had to under Pokémon League rules. Their match was cut short, however, when Team Rocket decided to set fire to the Gym. After the ordeal, Erika rewarded Ash with a Rainbow Badge for his actions.

(Information provided by the Pokemon Wiki)