|desc={{p|Slaking}} debuted in ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]'', where it was staying in [[Norman]]'s greenhouse with the rest of his Pokémon. It later battled [[Ash's Grovyle]] in {{Ash}}'s [[Gym]] battle against Norman, but was ultimately defeated.}}
|desc={{p|Slaking}} debuted in ''[[AG069|Love, Petalburg Style!]]'', where it was staying in [[Norman]]'s greenhouse with the rest of his Pokémon. It later battled [[Ash's Grovyle]] in {{Ash}}'s [[Gym]] battle against Norman, but was ultimately defeated.}}
==In the manga==
[[File:Petalburg Gym Adventures.png|thumb|left|250px|Petalburg Gym in Pokémon Adventures]]
[[File:Petalburg Gym PMRS.png|thumb|200px|Petalburg Gym in Pokémon Pocket Monsters]]
===In the Pokémon Adventures manga===
The Petalburg Gym appeared in ''[[PS184|Distracting Dustox]]'', where {{adv|Ruby}}'s mother called [[Norman]] to inform him that their son had run away from home. Hearing this, Norman decided to find his son himself.
===In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga===
The Petalburg Gym appeared in ''[[PMRS04|There's Someone More Important Than Clefairy?!]]''. {{PPM|Red}} and {{TP|Red|Clefairy}} visited it after seeing a {{i|Poké Ball}} flying out of there, and found Norman, who was feeling down due to his {{badge|Balance}} having gotten stuck inside his {{p|Slakoth}}. Clefairy managed to retrieve it, but then refused to return it to Norman, much to his anger.
Petalburg City Pokémon Gym Leader: Norman
A man in pursuit of power!
Petalburg City Pokémon Gym Leader: Norman
A man in pursuit of power!
Between the entrance and Gym Leader Norman are a series of rooms, each containing a Trainer. In order to access these rooms, all of the first four Badges must be obtained first; otherwise, the doors will be locked. The Trainers have special methods of battling, as displayed on the doors leading to their rooms. They include the One-Hit KO Room, Accuracy Room, Attack Room, Defense Room, Speed Room, Recovery Room and either Zero Reduction RoomRSORAS or Confusion RoomE. Once three rooms in a row are completed, they can access the Gym Leader Room with Norman. In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, all seven Trainers in their respective rooms use items in the battle, whereas in Pokémon Emerald, the strategy of these Trainers is dependent on the moves of their Pokémon.
When defeated, Norman will give the player the Balance Badge as well as TM42 (Facade)RSE or TM67 (Retaliate)ORAS as a reward. Also, in Pokémon Emerald, Wally's father will then enter Norman's room and lead the player to Wally's house.
After the player enters the Hall of Fame, the Gym's guide disappears, and Norman appears at the first room of the Gym like he did earlier in the game. In Pokémon Emerald, Norman will return to the furthest room back if he is ready to rebattle the player.
Trainers with a PokéNav by their names will be registered in the Trainer's Eyes or Match Call function after the first battle, and may have a rematch with the player with higher-level Pokémon.
Trainers with a PokéNav by their names will be registered in the Trainer's Eyes or Match Call function after the first battle, and may have a rematch with the player with higher-level Pokémon.
Trainers with a PokéNav by their names will be registered in the Trainer's Eyes or Match Call function after the first battle, and may have a rematch with the player with higher-level Pokémon.
The Petalburg Gym first appeared in There's no Place Like Hoenn, where Ash and May reached the facility, with Ash intending to battle Norman and win his first Hoenn LeagueBadge. However, when Norman learned that Ash only had Pikachu with him, he declined the Gym battle, as challengers needed three Pokémon to have an official battle. He did agree to an unofficial battle, which Ash lost. It was also at the Petalburg Gym where Ash first met May's younger brother Max, who joined him and May on their journey.
In addition to housing the battlefield, the Gym is also home to Norman, his family, and the Gym assistant Kenny. A greenhouse is also on the Gym's property. The various Normal-type Pokémon at the Gym are housed in the greenhouse when they're not battling. May also left her Beautifly and Skitty at the Gym before heading to the Kantoregion in The Right Place and the Right Mime.
It is Max's dream to one day succeed his father as Gym Leader, and he approaches this goal through learning battling strategies.
In Love, Petalburg Style!, May, Max, Brock, and Kenny saw Vigoroth hanging from a brunch at a place where Norman keeps his Pokémon. It then hugged Max. Team Rocket also planned to steal it for Giovanni, along with Slakoth and Slaking. When Ash arrived at the greenhouse, Vigoroth fell onto him. Ash was happy to see Vigoroth again.
In Balance of Power, Vigoroth was the second Pokémon used by Norman in his official Gym battle with Ash. It initially managed to easily dodge Torkoal's Overheat, and knocked out Torkoal with Scratch. After this, it had an intense battle with Pikachu. Norman ordered Vigoroth to use Scratch, but was surprised when Ash told Pikachu to take the hit. Vigoroth's Scratch attack hit home, but the powerful Pokémon was suddenly paralyzed by Pikachu's StaticAbility. Seizing the opportunity, Pikachu attacked with Iron Tail, knocking Vigoroth out. However, Pikachu wasted all of his energy, and was also knocked out in the process.
Norman's Slakoth first appeared in Love, Petalburg Style!, in a greenhouse where Norman keeps his Pokémon. It appeared again in Balance of Power!, during Norman's battle with Ash. The match started with Norman's Slakoth against Ash's Pikachu. Utilizing Pikachu's speed, Ash ordered Pikachu to use Quick Attack. Slakoth dodged this and counterattacked with Shadow Ball. Jumping out of the way, Pikachu attacked with Iron Tail but missed once again as Slakoth leaned out of the way. Dazed, Pikachu was unable to dodge Slakoth's Hidden Power, and was blasted across the arena.
As Pikachu recovered from Hidden Power, Ash realized that he needed to change his strategy. He decided to try Electric attacks and ordered Pikachu to attack with Thunderbolt. However, Slakoth dodged this attack as well, and responded with Blizzard. The incredible cold kept Pikachu from retaliating, so Ash recalled him and sent out Torkoal instead. Torkoal used Flamethrower, which easily blasted through Slakoth's Blizzard and scored a direct hit, knocking Slakoth out.
The Petalburg Gym appeared in Distracting Dustox, where Ruby's mother called Norman to inform him that their son had run away from home. Hearing this, Norman decided to find his son himself.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
The Petalburg Gym appeared in There's Someone More Important Than Clefairy?!. Red and Clefairy visited it after seeing a Poké Ball flying out of there, and found Norman, who was feeling down due to his Balance Badge having gotten stuck inside his Slakoth. Clefairy managed to retrieve it, but then refused to return it to Norman, much to his anger.
Trivia
The Petalburg Gym is similar to Kanto's Viridian Gym, in the sense that it was the first Gym the player can reach, but cannot be challenged until the player has collected a certain amount of Badges.
Due to the structure of the Gym, the Petalburg Gym is the only Gym in Pokémon Emerald where the player cannot face a pair of Trainers in a Double Battle.
