Erika (2024)

Welcome. My name is Erika. I am the Gym Leader of the Celadon City Gym. I am a student of the art of flower arranging. My Pokémon are all of the Grass type. ...Oh, I'm sorry. Did you perhaps wish to challenge me? Very well... but I shall not lose.

Erika, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!

Erika is a character that was introduced in Generation I. She serves as the Gym Leader of the Celadon City Gym. Erika specializes in using Grass-type Pokémon, and awards the Rainbow Badge to Trainers that manage to defeat her.

Appearance[]

Erika is a slender young woman with pale skin and short black hair with cut bangs. Unlike most Gym Leaders, her eye color changes depending on the game she appears in.

Clothing-wise, Erika wears an extremely modest and conservative outfit; in fact, her outfit is among the most conservative of all the female Gym Leaders, with almost her entire body (save for her ankles, neck, face, and hands) being hidden beneath her clothes. The outfit consists of an elegant kimono with an obi (sash), a hairband, Japanese sandals called zōri, and traditional Japanese socks called tabi. However, like with every character that appears in multiple games, what Erika's outfit exactly looks like changes, though the crux of it is the same.

Additionally, while Erika changes her clothes and has been shown wearing casual outfits in the anime, she can never be seen wearing anything else other than her normal outfit in the games.

Personality[]

Erika, like her style suggests, displays a modest, elegant, and somewhat shy attitude towards the player. Erika is a graceful loser, she shows no ill-will about being defeated and cares deeply towards her Pokémon. She also has a habit of falling asleep in her Gym, but this is most likely because of being around Grass-type Pokémon.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, however, Erika appears to have a habit of spreading damaging gossip about the other Gym Leaders, especially Clair.

Etymology[]

The name Erika originates from "Erica", a genus of flowers, following her usage of Grass-type Pokémon and the common naming theme involving plants among most Gym Leaders.

Biography[]

Games[]

Red, Green and Blue[]

Erika's Gym is filled with grass, flowers and other plants. Additionally, everyone in the Gym is female. The player must use Cut in order to reach Erika in the Gym's center.

Upon defeating her in the Generation I games, Erika rewards the player with the Rainbow Badge, along with TM21 (Mega Drain).

Yellow[]

Her role in Yellow is the same as it is in Red, Green and Blue.

Gold and Silver[]

Crystal[]

Her role in Crystal is the same as it is in Gold and Silver.

FireRed and LeafGreen[]

Her role in FireRed and LeafGreen is the same as it is in Red, Green and Blu and Yellow.

HeartGold and SoulSilver[]

Her role in HeartGold and SoulSilver is the same as it is in Gold and Silver and Crystal.

Other appearances[]

Quotes[]

Celadon Gym - Erika

• Favorite kind of Pokémon?

"I would never collect Pokémon if they were unattractive."

Celadon Mansion - Pokémon Journal

• 'There's a rumor...'

"Rumor has it that if you peek into Celadon Gym, you can often see Erika snoozing."

Message from Erika

• From: Erika
• To: [Player]

"I am so glad that there are strong Trainers like you.

That awareness alone inspires and motivates me to try harder.

Please visit me again.

Zzz..."

Sprites[]

Pokémon[]

Red and Blue[]

Victreebel		Tangela		Vileplume
Lv. 29	-	Lv. 24	-	Lv. 29	-
Wrap		Bind		PoisonPowder
PoisonPowder		Constrict		Mega Drain
Razor Leaf		-		Sleep Powder
Sleep Powder		-		Petal Dance

Yellow[]

Tangela		Weepinbell		Gloom
Lv. 30	-	Lv. 32	-	Lv. 32	-
Bind		Wrap		Acid
Mega Drain		Stun Spore		Petal Dance
Vine Whip		Sleep Powder		Stun Spore
Constrict		Razor Leaf		Sleep Powder

Gold, Silver and Crystal[]

Tangela		Victreebel		Jumpluff		Bellossom
Lv. 42	♀	Lv. 46	♀	Lv. 41	♀	Lv. 46	♀
Vine Whip		Sunny Day		Mega Drain		Sunny Day
Bind		Synthesis		Leech Seed		Synthesis
Giga Drain		Acid		Cotton Spore		Petal Dance
Sleep Powder		Razor Leaf		Giga Drain		Solar Beam

FireRed and LeafGreen[]

Victreebel		Tangela		Vileplume
Lv. 29	♀	Lv. 24	♀	Lv. 29	♀
Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll
Acid		PoisonPowder		Acid
PoisonPowder		Constrict		Giga Drain
Stun Spore		Ingrain		Sleep Powder
Giga Drain		Giga Drain		Stun Spore

HeartGold and SoulSilver[]

• Gym Battle

• Rematch

Jumpluff		Tangela		Victreebel		Bellossom
Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 52	♀	Lv. 56	♀	Lv. 54	♀
Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll
Item: Sitrus Berry
Leech Seed		AncientPower		Sunny Day		Sunny Day
U-Turn		Wring Out		Grass Knot		Synthesis
Giga Drain		Giga Drain		Leaf Storm		Giga Drain
Sunny Day		Sleep Powder		Razor Leaf		Solar Beam

Shiftry		Jumpluff		Victreebel		Bellossom		Roserade		Tangrowth
Lv. 54	♀	Lv. 53	♀	Lv. 56	♀	Lv. 56	♀	Lv. 55	♀	Lv. 60	♀
Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Natural Cure		Ability: Chlorophyll
Item: None		Item: None		Item: Kelpsy Berry		Item: None		Item: None		Item: None
Leaf Storm		U-Turn		Natural Gift		Sunny Day		Weather Ball		Swords Dance
Sucker Punch		Memento		Sludge Bomb		Solar Beam		Energy Ball		Power Whip
Sunny Day		Sleep Powder		Leaf Storm		Giga Drain		Sludge Bomb		Rock Slide
Explosion		Giga Drain		Leaf Blade		Attract		Stun Spore		Earthquake

Black 2 and White 2[]

• Grass-type Tournament

• Kanto Gym Leader Tournament/World Leaders Tournament

• Download Tournament (Challenge the Champion, Lance!)

Vileplume		Venusaur		Cradily		Exeggutor		Tangrowth		Abomasnow
Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀
Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Overgrow		Ability: Suction Cups		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Snow Warning
Item: Black Sludge		Item: Expert Belt		Item: Leftovers		Item: Tanga Berry		Item: Power Herb		Item: Focus Sash
Drain Punch		Leaf Storm		Stone Edge		Psychic		Solar Beam		Blizzard
Swords Dance		Power Whip		Recover		Psyshock		Ancientpower		Leech Seed
Synthesis		Earthquake		Seed Bomb		Leaf Storm		Focus Blast		Protect
Sleep Powder		Outrage		Curse		Ancientpower		Synthesis		Sheer Cold

Vileplume		Venusaur		Victreebel		Exeggutor		Tangrowth		Bellossom
Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀
Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Overgrow		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll		Ability: Chlorophyll
Item: Grass Gem		Item: Sitrus Berry		Item: Salac Berry		Item: Tanga Berry		Item: Liechi Berry		Item: Fighting Gem
Petal Dance		Petal Dance		Leaf Blade		Solar Beam		Power Whip		Leaf Blade
Sleep Powder		Toxic		Sucker Punch		Psyshock		Earthquake		Drain Punch
Moonlight		Light Screen		Swords Dance		Hypnosis		Rock Slide		Swords Dance
Sunny Day		Synthesis		Reflect		Sunny Day		Swords Dance		Sunny Day

Whimsicott		Lilligant		Vileplume
Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀
Ability: Prankster		Ability: Own Tempo		Ability: Chlorophyll
Item: Mental Herb		Item: Occa Berry		Item: Power Herb
Taunt		Teeter Dance		Solar Beam
Tailwind		Quiver Dance		Toxic
Giga Drain		Petal Dance		Venoshock
Substitute		Attract		Synthesis

Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee![]

• Gym battle

• Rematch

Tangela		Weepinbell		Vileplume
Lv. 33	♀	Lv. 33	♀	Lv. 34	♀
Item: None		Item: None		Item: None
Mega Drain		Mega Drain		Mega Drain
Sleep Powder		Poison Jab		Moonblast
Bind		—		—
—		—		—

Tangela		Parasect		Victreebel		Exeggutor		Vileplume
Lv. 56	♀	Lv. 56	♀	Lv. 56	♀	Lv. 56	♀	Lv. 57	♀
Item: None		Item: None		Item: None		Item: None		Item: None
Mega Drain		Spore		Power Whip		Psychic		Moonblast
Sludge Bomb		Leech Life		Poison Jab		Sludge Bomb		Sludge Bomb
Reflect		Brick Break		Reflect		Solar Beam		Petal Dance
Power Whip		Solar Beam		Swords Dance		Hyper Beam		Stun Spore

Stadium[]

• Round 1

• Round 2

Vileplume		Victreebel		Tangela		Gloom		Weepinbell		Exeggcute
Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-
Acid		Sleep Powder		Bind		Acid		Wrap		Hypnosis
Absorb		Acid		Stun Spore		Sleep Powder		Stun Spore		Leech Seed
Solar Beam		Razor Leaf		Double-Edge		Petal Dance		Mega Drain		Toxic
Body Slam		Cut		Mega Drain		Mega Drain		Razor Leaf		Psychic

Vileplume		Clefable		Tangela		Dewgong		Victreebel		Exeggutor
Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-	Lv. 50	-
Stun Spore		Thunderbolt		Bind		Blizzard		Wrap		Hypnosis
Petal Dance		Psychic		Toxic		Rest		Mega Drain		Explosion
Body Slam		Ice Beam		Double-Edge		Body Slam		Razor Leaf		Psychic
Mega Drain		Body Slam		Mega Drain		Surf		Toxic		Mega Drain

Stadium 2[]

• Round 1

• Round 2

Bellossom		Chansey		Tangela		Vaporeon		Venusaur		Jumpluff
Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀
Item: Focus Band		Item: Lucky Punch		Item: Quick Claw		Item: Scope Lens		Item: PRZCureBerry		Item: None
Sleep Powder		Sing		Sleep Powder		Surf		Sleep Powder		Sleep Powder
Return		Psychic		Slam		Rest		Cut		Leech Seed
Moonlight		Blizzard		Solar Beam		Sleep Talk		Leech Seed		Return
Giga Drain		Softboiled		Giga Drain		Bite		Razor Leaf		Solar Beam

Bellossom		Exeggutor		Marowak		Ninetales		Mantine		Blissey
Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀	Lv. 50	♀
Item: Quick Claw		Item: Focus Band		Item: Thick Club		Item: Bright Powder		Item: Mint Berry		Item: Miracle Berry
Return		Sleep Powder		Bonemerang		Flamethrower		Rest		Sing
Razor Leaf		Psychic		Rest		Body Slam		Surf		Light Screen
Stun Spore		Giga Drain		Snore		Hypnosis		Ice Beam		Reflect
Sleep Powder		Stun Spore		Belly Drum		Iron Tail		Sleep Talk		Psychic

Trivia[]

• In the first release of Pokémon Gold's Japanese rom, the player could see Erika's Tangela at a level higher than 100.
• Erika's official art and game sprites show her having black hair, but the art in Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium 2 and the anime show her to have blue hair.
• In the anime, Erika was the second Gym Leader to have a story of how she came to be and have a younger version of herself. The first was Sabrina, also from Kanto. Another one was Clay of the Driftveil Gym.
• In HeartGold and SoulSilver, all of Erika's Pokémon have the Chlorophyll ability (aside from Roserade, which has Natural Cure) when rematching her.
• Erika's name is the same in both English and Japanese. This makes her one of the few characters to have the same name in both languages, the others being Iris and Cheren.
• In Red and Blue, Erika's kimono is draped over her left side. This was changed in Yellow so it drapes over her right side. This is due to the Japanese tradition to drape the kimono over the left side for a burial, and is considered bad luck if worn otherwise. Based on how the sprite looks, it is possible that she was initially going to be a ghost type specialist.

Gallery[]