Piers

Piers ネズ Nezu
Artwork from Sword and Shield
Gender	Male
Eye color	Green
Hair color	Black and white
Hometown	Spikemuth
Region	Galar
Relatives	Marnie (younger sister)
Trainer class	Gym Leader, Pokémon Trainer
Generation	VIII
Games	Sword and Shield, Masters EX
Leader of	Spikemuth Gym
Badge	Dark Badge
Specializes in	Dark types
Member of	Team Yell
Rank	Captain
Game animation debut	Assistant
English voice actor	Edward Bosco (Pokémon: Twilight Wings) Aleks Le (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor	Kishō Taniyama (Pokémon: Twilight Wings, Masters EX)

Piers (Japanese: ネズ Nezu) is the Gym Leader of Spikemuth and the captain of Team Yell. He specializes in Dark-type Pokémon. He gives the Dark Badge to Trainers who defeat him. During the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, he retires from his position as a Gym Leader and passes the title on to his little sister, Marnie.

In the core series games

Piers is the seventh Gym Leader Galarian Trainers face in their Gym Challenge. He is well known for writing songs and singing as he regularly does so in Spikemuth. More often he tends to reveal his strategy to his opponents, yet he has the strength and skills to win regardless. Spikemuth is the only Gym in Galar not built over a Power Spot; previously, Rose had asked Piers to relocate his Gym to a faraway Power Spot, but Piers refused and opted to be the only Gym Leader not to use Dynamax. As a result, the town is rarely visited by fans, which Piers blames himself for letting his home fall into obscurity and dilapidation. He has been desperately trying to support the town with his Dark-type Pokémon but often gets frustrated with the limits of his strength.

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Piers is the only Gym Leader absent from the Gym Challenge's opening ceremony in Motostoke. He makes his first appearance once the player clears the Spikemuth Gym Challenge, where it is revealed that the Team Yell Grunts are actually Spikemuth Gym Trainers in disguise, and that their leader is Piers. After the player defeats Piers, Marnie approaches him for her turn at the Gym Challenge. Their conversation reveals that Piers had previously planned to stand down as Gym Leader after the Champion Cup ended and pass down the role to his little sister. However, Marnie refused the offer, stating that she could not be a Gym Leader if she succeeds in becoming Champion.

After the player defeats Marnie in the Champion Cup Semifinals in Wyndon, Piers rededicates Team Yell to cheering on the player instead. He and Team Yell assist the player and Hop in accessing Rose Tower by helping them find the Macro Cosmos's League staff hiding the monorail key needed to reach the tower.

Piers plays a vital role in helping to stop the Dynamax Pokémon created by Sordward and Shielbert. Having now stepped down as a Gym Leader following the Champion Cup's conclusion, he accompanies the player and Hop to all the stadiums in Galar to help their Gym Leaders defeat the Dynamax Pokémon. After the player captures Zacian^Sw/Zamazenta^Sh, Piers gives them his rare League Card and returns to Spikemuth, where he can be found giving a concert to the members of Team Yell. He can also appear as an opponent in the player's Champion tournaments despite no longer being a Gym Leader.

League Cards

This is a transcript of the back of Piers's League Cards in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Normal League Card

"Spikemuth lacks a Power Spot that would allow Pokémon to Dynamax, and thus not many fans come to visit the town. Piers feels responsible for allowing his town to fall into obscurity and dilapidation. Once in battle, Piers tends to get riled up and will often reveal his strategy early on, but he has the strength and skill to triumph regardless. However, his true passions are singing and song writing, and his talents in these fields are well-known. As such, he currently hopes that his younger sister will take over as Gym Leader."

Rare League Card

"Here are some words from Piers when he first became the Gym Leader of Spikemuth. "Uh... ... ... The name's Piers. It's too bad we can't Dynamax our Pokémon in Spikemuth, but you could say we have a more authentic style of Pokémon battles. And I plan on showin' that off. And well... I have a younger sister, and she's got way more talent than me. But until she's old enough to become Gym Leader, I'll keep rockin' with my crew and make sure Spikemuth stays lively!""

Pokémon

Piers keeps his Pokémon in Dusk Balls.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Gym battle

Gym Leader Piers Spikemuth Sword and Shield Reward: 7,360

Types: Dark Fighting Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Scrafty♂ Lv.44 Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Sand Attack Ground Status   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Dark Psychic Ability: Contrary Held item: None Malamar♂ Lv.45 Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Foul Play Dark Physical   --       Psycho Cut Psychic Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Poison Dark Ability: Aftermath Held item: None Skuntank♂ Lv.45 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Snarl Dark Special   --       Types: Dark Normal Ability: Reckless Held item: None Obstagoon♂ Lv.46 Obstruct Dark Status   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Counter Fighting Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --

Max Raid Battle partner

Piers uses this Pokémon in the Max Raid Battles in Turffield, Hulbury, and Motostoke Stadiums.

Pokémon Trainer Piers Galar Sword and Shield Reward: N/A
Types: Dark Normal Ability: Reckless Held item: None Obstagoon♂ Lv.62 Cross Chop Fighting Physical   --       Snarl Dark Special   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --

Champion tournaments

Pokémon Trainer Piers Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: 9,920/11,840

Types: Dark Fighting Ability: Moxie Held item: None Scrafty♂ Lv.60/72 Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Sand Attack Ground Status   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Dark Psychic Ability: Contrary Held item: None Malamar♂ Lv.60/72 Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Foul Play Dark Physical   --       Psycho Cut Psychic Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Poison Dark Ability: Aftermath Held item: None Skuntank♂ Lv.61/73 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Snarl Dark Special   --       Types: Electric Poison Ability: Punk Rock Held item: None Toxtricity♂ Lv.61/73 Overdrive Electric Special   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Taunt Dark Status   --       Venom Drench Poison Status   --       Types: Dark Normal Ability: Reckless Held item: None Obstagoon♂ Lv.62/74 Obstruct Dark Status   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Counter Fighting Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --

Galarian Star Tournament

Pokémon Trainer Piers Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: 11,840

Types: Poison Dark Ability: Aftermath Held item: None Skuntank♂ Lv.73 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Snarl Dark Special   --       Types: Electric Poison Ability: Punk Rock Held item: None Toxtricity♂ Lv.73 Overdrive Electric Special   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Taunt Dark Status   --       Venom Drench Poison Status   --       Types: Dark Normal Ability: Reckless Held item: None Obstagoon♂ Lv.74 Obstruct Dark Status   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Counter Fighting Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --

Caught for someone else

		Morpeko ♀
		When Marnie was five, Piers caught this Morpeko as a present to his little sister, which eventually became her starter Pokémon. According to her League Card, Marnie's Morpeko helped her become less of a crybaby and more cheerful and outgoing.
Debut	Pokémon Sword and Shield

In spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Piers (Masters)

Artwork

Sprites

Icon from the Galarian Star Tournament menu

League Cards

Piers's League Card in Sword and Shield	Piers's rare League Card in Sword and Shield

Quotes

Main article: Piers/Quotes

In the anime

Piers in Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Pokémon: Twilight Wings

In Assistant, Piers was walking on the streets of Wyndon.

In Sky, Piers refused to take part in an interview about Leon in Wyndon. Later, he, Marnie, and her Morpeko watched the battle between Leon and Raihan on her phone in Spikemuth.

In The Gathering of Stars, Piers was seen with the rock band Maximizers onstage. He was later seen at Wyndon Stadium, walking out onto the field for the tournament's opening ceremony.

GOTCHA!

Piers briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the TCG

Full Art print of Piers

Main article: Piers (Darkness Ablaze 165)

Piers was introduced as a Supporter card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English Sword & Shield Series (the Japanese Sword & Shield Era). It was first released in the Japanese Infinity Zone expansion before debuting in English in the Darkness Ablaze expansion, with an illustration based on the take artwork of the character. It was also released as a Full Art card and Secret card in both expansions, with an illustration by kirisAki. Piers allows the player to search their deck for an Energy card and a Darkness-type Pokémon card, reveal them, and put them into their hand. The player then shuffles their deck.

Trivia

• Piers's uniform number is "061", which can be read in Japanese as goroawase for 悪い warui, meaning "bad".
• Piers and Marnie are the first Gym Leaders who specialize in Dark-type Pokémon.
• Piers's battle music contains remixed parts from N's final battle theme from Pokémon Black and White and the Team Rocket Hideout theme.
• Piers's Obstagoon has maximum EVs invested in both Defense and Special Defense.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	ネズ Nezu	From 杜松 nezu (temple juniper)
English	Piers	From the genus Juniperus and possibly pierce
German	Nezz	Similar to his Japanese name
Spanish	Nerio	From enebro (juniper) and possibly negro (black)
French	Peterson	From peteron (common juniper)
Italian	Ginepro	From ginepro (juniper) and possibly nero (black)
Korean	두송 Dusong	From 두송 (杜松) dusong (temple juniper)
Chinese (Mandarin)	聶梓 / 聂梓 Nièzǐ	From the transcription of his Japanese name and possibly 梓 zǐ (catalpa)
Chinese (Cantonese)	聶梓 Nihpjí
Brazilian Portuguese	Pietro	From junípero (juniper) and possibly preto (black)

Related articles

• Images on the Bulbagarden Archives

References

Team Yell Captain: Piers (Masters) Lower members: Team Yell Grunts Spikemuth Gym Trainers Related: Marnie (Masters) Locations: Spikemuth

Villainous team leaders Team Rocket/Team Rainbow Rocket* Giovanni Team Magma Maxie Team Aqua Archie Team Galactic Cyrus Team Plasma N/Colress/Ghetsis Team Flare Lysandre Team Skull Guzma Team Yell Piers Team Rocket* Madame Boss/Giovanni Go-Rock Squad Gordor Team Dim Sun Blake Hall Team Debonairs Kincaid Pokémon Pinchers Societea Team Rocket* Giovanni/Masked Man Team Snagem Gonzap Cipher Evice/Greevil Phobos Battalion Baron Phobos Team Great Rocket Biruritchi Team Rocket* Giovanni Great Gavel Fraud Dark Legion Dark Rust  Team Kings  Meja

Gym Leaders of the Galar region
Turffield Stadium Milo	Hulbury Stadium Nessa	Motostoke Stadium Kabu	Stow-on-Side Stadium Bea Allister
Ballonlea Stadium Opal Bede	Circhester Stadium Gordie Melony	Spikemuth Gym Piers Marnie	Hammerlocke Stadium Raihan

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.