Pokémon Shield: Ice Gym Leader Melony’s Team, Ranked

Gym Leader Melony is the sixth Gym Leader in the Galar League of Pokémon Sword and Shield and rewards the player with the ice badge if defeated. She is unique to Pokémon Shield with Pokémon Sword featuring her son Goldy instead. Defeating her allows the player to catch wild Pokémon up to level 50 while being able to command Pokémon up to level 80.

The player is called to face Melony three different times in total: once in the default Gym battle in Circhester Stadium, once in the champion tournament in Wyndon Stadium, and once in the Galar Star Tournament also in Wyndon Stadium. Throughout all three battles, Melony uses a total of 5 unique ice-type Pokémon with some of them being exclusively ice type, while some having ice as their secondary type. It is important to note that none of her Pokémon in any of the battles hold any items.

5 Frosmoth

The first and also weakest Pokémon that Melony sends out in both the Gym battle and the champion tournament is the ice and bug-type Frosmoth. It comes with the strong ability of Shield Dust, which allows it to be unaffected by additional effects of damaging moves (like burn, paralysis, etc.).

Despite the seemingly useful ability, it is considered by most as the weakest Pokémon on Melony’s team, primarily due to its types. Since it is both Ice and Bug, and since both of them are two times more vulnerable to fire, it is a total of four times more vulnerable to any fire-type attack. Having a strong fire-type Pokémon, especially with a STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) which makes its fire attacks do even more damage, will almost always defeat Frosmoth in one shot. Thus, Frosmoth usually doesn’t get the chance to use its ability and dies in one hit. It is considered the weakest of Melony’s Pokémon.

4 Eiscue

Eiscue is Melony’s third option in the Gym and the champion tournament. It is a pure ice-type Pokémon that is equipped with the ability of Ice Face. Ice Face allows Eiscue to fully absorb one physical attack by changing forms. This ability, which could easily trick someone who is not attentive to detail, is the main reason why it is better than Frostmoth. It packs two weak ice-type moves, Rest, and Surf.

Even if the player has a fire-type Pokemon, Surf is not a big threat since Eiscue is relatively slow and the player will usually attack first. As long as the player uses special moves and does not fall for its ability, a fire Pokémon can usually defeat it within the first turn without even giving it a chance to do anything.

3 Darmanitan

Galarian Standard Mode Darmanitan is a Pokémon used by Melony in all three battles. Its ability, Zen Mode, is similar to Eiscue in that it can also switch forms and turn into Galarian Zen Mode Darmanitan if it is below half health at the end of a turn.

In its standard form, it is a pure ice-type Pokémon, while in its Zen form, it becomes ice and fire. The main aspect that makes it better than Eiscue is the latter form which can make it more resistant to fire-type attacks. Especially in the champion and Galar star tournaments, where Darmanitan gains the ground move ‘Earthquake’ and the rock move ‘Stone Edge,’ which both are super effective against fire-type pokemon, it is a threat to be reckoned with.

2 Mr. Rime

Mr. Rime, which is directly influenced by the well-known Mr. Mime, is used by Melony in all three battles. Its ability of Screen Cleaner is weak during gym and tournament battles. Its strength comes in its type since it is both an ice and psychic type.

Combined with the fact that it is equipped with Psychic, one of the best psychic-type moves, Mr. Rime can be a serious threat. On top of that, ice Pokémon are weak to fighting type Pokémon, while psychic moves are the best way to deal with fighting-type Pokémon. Its great strength, combined with the power to defeat one of the only types that counters ice Pokémon makes it one of Melony’s most powerful Pokémon.

1 Lapras

Lapras is Melony’s favorite Pokémon and she makes sure to use it in all three battles in its Dynamax form. Lapras has the ability of Shell Armor, which makes it immune to any possible critical strikes. This ability is always active, and thus makes it much more durant than other Pokémon.

However, its strength is primarily due to its type. As an ice and water-type Pokémon it can, similar to Mr. Rime, counter one of the counter types of ice Pokémon: Fire. With moves like Surf and Hydro Pump, and its extra damage from STAB, it would be unwise to fight Lapras with a fire-type Pokémon. Instead, it is recommended to switch to a strong electric-type, like Toxtricity, in order to have a chance. Lapras will gain extra strength since Melony will always upgrade it to its Dynamax form, thus making it the best Pokémon on her team.

About The Author

Harry Mourtzanakis
(79 Articles Published)

Harry Mourtzanakis is a List Writer for Screen Rant focused on gaming content. He has been playing games since 2010 and is passionate to share the aspects he likes and dislikes about games through writing. Harry’s love for games began primarily through Civilization V. More than a decade later, although still faithful to the Civilization series with the latest Civ VI game, he enjoys numerous other games. He likes trying as many games as possible ranging from shooters like Rainbow Six Siege and MMORPGs like Guild Wars 2 to hardcore single player games like Dark Souls 3. His favorite game is the more unique competitive sports game, Rocket League. When he isn’t playing or writing about games, Harry is fond of exploring philosophy through the subfields of ethics and political philosophy.

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