Pokemon Shield’s Circhester gym: Guide to beating Melony

For Pokémon Shield players, the sixth gym challenge pits you against the ice-type user, Melony.

If you’re playing Pokémon Sword, you’ll go up against the rock-type specialist, Gordie, instead.

There are a lot of Pokémon that you encounter prior to Circhester that will give you a type advantage against Melony, but if you’re still having trouble, check out our guide below.

Circhester gym challenge

In Melody’s gym, you’ll have to walk around on icy ground, careful not to break through and fall into a hole. You’ll be given a tool that’ll help you feel out the area. The harder your controller vibrates, the closer you are to finding another pitfall. You’ll have to battle trainers along the way, and once you get through the snowy maze, you’ll take on Melony.

Melony’s Pokémon

Game Freak, The Pokémon Company/Nintendo via Polygon

Melony uses four ice-type Pokémon that are weak against a ton of different things. She Gigantamaxes her Lapras once she tosses it out.

1. Frosmoth, level 40, bug/ice
2. Darmanitan, level 40, ice
3. Eiscue, level 41, ice
4. Lapras, level 42, water/ice

Recommended counters against Melony

Melony’s team is weak against fighting-, fire-, rock-, and steel-type moves. The only Pokémon here that might give you some trouble is Lapras, since its water-typing might throw your fire-type Pokémon into a world of pain.

Here are some good Pokémon to catch and evolve for this gym, as well as the easiest places to find them:

• Stufful, normal/fighting
  Found on Route 5 and East Lake Axewell in the Wild Area
• Tyrogue, fighting
  Found on Route 3 and Rolling Fields in the Wild Area
• Vulpix, fire-type
  Found on Route 3 and Wild Area in sunny weather
• Meowth, steel
  Found on Route 4

Circhester gym rewards

After beating Melony, you’ll get TM27, Icy Wind, an ice gym uniform to wear outside of gym challenges, and the ability to catch Pokémon up to level 50.