How to Defeat Gym Leader Maylene

Struggling with Maylene in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl? Get the best strategies, type matchups, and tips to earn the Cobble Badge and TM60 Drain Punch.

Alright, let's get you ready to take on Maylene, the third Gym Leader you'll face in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl! She's all about Fighting-types, but she's got a couple of tricks up her sleeve, so pay attention.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Meditite (Level 27, Fighting/Psychic): Weak to Flying, Psychic, Fairy. Be wary of Light Screen.
• Machoke (Level 27, Fighting): Weak to Flying, Psychic, Fairy. Hits hard offensively.
• Lucario (Level 30, Fighting/Steel): Weak to Fire, Ground, Fighting. Watch out for Drain Punch and its healing.

Phases:

1. Meditite: Maylene starts with Meditite. It's a dual Psychic-type, so Flying, Psychic, or Fairy-types are your best bet here. Keep an eye out for its Light Screen, which significantly weakens special attacks for a whopping 8 turns thanks to its Light Clay. If you're relying on special attackers, this can really throw a wrench in your plans.
2. Machoke: Next up is Machoke, a pure Fighting-type. It's a heavy hitter, so try to take it down quickly. Your Psychic or Flying-type Pokémon should still be effective here. Maylene has two Hyper Potions, and ideally, she'll waste them on Meditite so they're gone by the time Machoke shows up.
3. Lucario: Maylene's ace is Lucario, a tough Fighting/Steel-type. If you picked Chimchar as your starter, your Fire-type moves will be super effective here. The biggest threat is Lucario's Drain Punch, which not only deals damage but also heals Lucario significantly. This can make the fight a real grind.

Strategy:

• Against Meditite, lead with a strong Flying, Psychic, or Fairy-type. If you have a Pokémon that knows Disable, try to use it on Meditite's Light Screen to prevent it from weakening your special attacks.
• For Machoke, continue using your super-effective types. Focus on dealing damage quickly before it can unleash its powerful attacks.
• For Lucario, if you have a Psychic-type that knows Disable, use it on Drain Punch. This will prevent Lucario from healing itself, making the fight much more manageable. Alternatively, leading with a Pokémon that has the Intimidate ability can lower Lucario's Attack stat, making its hits less damaging. Applying a status condition like Paralysis can also help control Lucario.

• Upon defeating Maylene, you'll earn the Cobble Badge, which allows you to use the move Fly outside of battle.
• You'll also receive her Stickers and multiple copies of TM 60, which teaches the move Drain Punch.

After the battle, head back to Veilstone City. Dawn/Lucas will be waiting for you near the northern warehouse, needing help with some Team Galactic grunts.