If Gym Heroes introduced the idea of Trainer-owned Pokémon, Gym Challenge was where that idea reached its toughest opponents.
Completing the Gym Leader story
Released in 2000 as a follow-up to Gym Heroes, Gym Challenge finished the roster of Kanto Gym Leaders with cards belonging to Trainers like Sabrina, Koga and Blaine, alongside Pokémon tied to Giovanni, the head of Team Rocket.
A satisfying conclusion
By tying Giovanni's cards into the set, Gym Challenge connected back to the villain storyline introduced in the Team Rocket expansion, giving the early Pokémon TCG era a sense of closure before the game moved on to a new region entirely with the Neo sets.
Frequently asked questions
How does Gym Challenge relate to Gym Heroes?
Gym Challenge, released in 2000, is the second half of the Gym Leader duology, covering the remaining Kanto Gym Leaders that weren't featured in Gym Heroes earlier that year.
Which Trainers were featured in Gym Challenge?
The set included Pokémon owned by later Kanto Gym Leaders such as Sabrina, Koga and Blaine, as well as cards tied to Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket.
Why do players consider Gym Challenge a fitting finale to the Gym era?
It wrapped up the storyline started in Gym Heroes and Team Rocket, giving the game's early villain arc a proper conclusion through its Giovanni-themed cards.