How to Defeat Gym Leader Byron

Master the Canalave City Gym battle against Byron in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Learn Byron's Pokemon, their weaknesses, and the best strategies to earn the Mine Badge.

Alright, let's get you ready to take on Byron, the Canalave City Gym Leader! He's got a tough Steel-type team, but with the right Pokémon and a solid strategy, you'll have that Mine Badge in no time. Don't worry, I'll walk you through it.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Bronzor (Level 36) - Weak to Fire, Ghost, Dark. Can use Flash Cannon, Confuse Ray, Sandstorm, Trick Room.
• Steelix (Level 36) - Weak to Water, Fire, Fighting, Ground. Can use Gyro Ball, Earthquake, Sandstorm, Thunder Fang. Has Sturdy ability.
• Bastiodon (Level 39) - Weak to Fighting, Ground (x4 damage), Water. Can use Stone Edge, Flash Cannon, Thunderbolt, Iron Defense. Has Sturdy ability and Sitrus Berry.

Strategy:

• Bronzor: This is your warm-up. It's not fully evolved and can be a bit annoying with moves like Confuse Ray to disorient you or Trick Room to mess with speed. Fire, Ghost, or Dark-types are your best bet here. Avoid Ground-types because Bronzor might have Levitate.
• Steelix: This guy hits hard with Earthquake and Gyro Ball. Watch out for its Sturdy ability, meaning it won't go down in one hit. Water-types are great here, despite the Thunder Fang threat. Fire-types will struggle against Earthquake, and most Fighting and Ground-types will have a tough time with its massive Defense stat.
• Bastiodon: This is Byron's ace, and it's a tank! It has the Sturdy ability and a Sitrus Berry to heal itself. The absolute best types to use against Bastiodon are Fighting and Ground, as they deal quadruple damage. Water-types are also a solid choice.

After the fight:

Once you've managed to defeat Byron, you'll earn the Mine Badge! This badge allows you to use the HM Strength outside of battle, which is super important for navigating the Sinnoh region. Plus, traded Pokémon up to Level 70 will now obey you. You'll also get the TM91 Flash Cannon as a reward.

To leave the gym, just step on the yellow-lined platform to Byron's right and follow the other platforms around the room. When you step outside, your rival will tell you to head to the Canalave Library. You'll meet Professor Rowan there for a little study session, and then your next objective will be to visit Lake Valor. You can reach it by going south from Veilstone City or east from Pastoria City.