Draft:Kanto Badges

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The eight Kanto badges

In Kanto, the Indigo League's eight Gyms give out badges which can qualify Trainers for the right to challenge the Elite Four. In some media outside of the games, it has been shown that there are more than eight badges and Gyms in Kanto.

List of badges

Identifiable badges

This list shows the eight known badges in the Kanto region and where they can be acquired.

Boulder Badge
Cascade Badge
Thunder Badge
Rainbow Badge
Soul Badge
Marsh Badge
Volcano Badge
Earth Badge

Unidentified badges

Some media depict a number of badges beyond the eight from the games.

  • Pokémon the Series
    • The Battle Of The Badge: Gary shows that he has collected ten badges, only three of which are recognizable (the Cascade, Rainbow, and Boulder Badges).
    • Mystery at the Lighthouse: a collage of badges, many unknown, are shown in the background while the narrator talks about the two badges Ash has earned so far at the beginning of the episode.
    • Bad To The Bone: when Jessie compares her badges (stolen from Otoshi) to another Trainer's, her badges include three unrecognizable badges, while the other Trainer's badges are all unrecognizable.
  • The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Days of Gloom and Glory: when having his badges checked, Ash is shown to have eight badges, some of which do not match any of the standard badges or are slightly different. Reasonably matchable badges are Boulder, Cascade, and Earth; possibly similar ones are Soul, Marsh, and Volcano; this leaves at least two (the sixth and eighth) of unknown origin.
  • Gary with 10 badges in The Battle Of The Badge
    Gary with 10 badges in The Battle Of The Badge
  • Badges from Mystery at the Lighthouse
    Badges from Mystery at the Lighthouse
  • Badges in Days of Gloom and Glory
    Badges in Days of Gloom and Glory
  • Badges belonging to Otoshi in Bad To The Bone
    Badges belonging to Otoshi in Bad To The Bone
  • Badges belonging to a Trainer in Bad To The Bone
    Badges belonging to a Trainer in Bad To The Bone

In the core series

The Kanto badges can be acquired in two sets of core series games.

In the Kanto games, the Boulder and Cascade badges can only be acquired first and second (respectively) and the Earth Badge must be acquired last, but the remaining badges can be acquired in any order, except for the Volcano Badge which requires the Soul Badge (and Surf). Earning a badge may increase the level of Pokémon that will obey the player (the default cap is lv. 10 with no badges). In the Generation I and III games, it may also allow a field move to be used outside of battle and boost a stat by 12.5% (which does not apply to Link Battles). In Let's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!, it also unlocks new items in the Poké Mart. These properties are detailed in the sections below.

In the Johto games, the Kanto badges can be earned after becoming Champion and traveling to Kanto aboard the S.S. Aqua, and they can generally be acquired in any order (with the exception of the Earth Badge in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver). In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, earning a Kanto badge grants a 12.5% boost to a type corresponding to the Gym's dominant type (or Ground-type for the Earth Badge). This boost does not apply to Link Battles. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Earth Badge also allows a field move to be used outside of battle.

Boulder Badge

Kanto-based games

RBY FRLG PE
Obedience cap Lv. 10 (no change) Lv. 10 (no change) Lv. 20
Boost Attack Attack —
Move Flash (HM05) Flash (HM05) —
Poké Mart — — Great Ball, Escape Rope, Repel, battle items

In Kanto-based games, the Boulder Badge is the first badge the player can acquire. It is given by Brock, the leader of the Pewter Gym, after defeating him.

A couple of conditions in the game also change after obtaining the Boulder Badge. The character that previously blocked the east exit from Pewter City will no longer prevent the player from advancing. Also, in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, the rival, Blue, will no longer appear for the optional battle on Route 22.

Johto-based games

GSC
Boost Rock

In Johto-based games, most of the Kanto badges can be acquired in any order after becoming Champion, including the Boulder Badge. It is given by Brock, the leader of the Pewter Gym, after defeating him.

Cascade Badge

Kanto-based games

RBY FRLG PE
Obedience cap Lv. 30 Lv. 30 Lv. 30
Boost —
Move Cut (HM01) Cut (HM01) —
Poké Mart — — Super Potion, Lure

In Kanto-based games, the Cascade Badge cannot be acquired until after the Boulder Badge has been acquired, since the player cannot leave Pewter City until they have defeated Brock. It is given by Misty, the leader of the Cerulean Gym, after defeating her.

Johto-based games

GSC
Boost Water

In Johto-based games, most of the Kanto badges can be acquired in any order after becoming Champion, including the Cascade Badge. It is given by Misty, the leader of the Cerulean Gym, after defeating her; however, Misty is initially not present at the Gym, she must be found at the cape on Route 25 before she will return.

Thunder Badge

Kanto-based games

RBY FRLG PE
Obedience cap If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 3rd: Lv. 40, if 4th: Lv. 50, if 5th: Lv. 60, if 6th: Lv. 70, if 7th: Lv. 80
Boost Defense Speed —
Move Fly (HM02) Fly (HM02) —
Poké Mart — — If 3rd: Full Heal, Revive, Super Repel
If 4th: Ultra Ball, Hyper Potion, Super Lure
If 5th: Max Repel
If 6th: Max Potion, Max Lure

In Kanto-based games, the Thunder Badge cannot be acquired until after the Cascade Badge has been acquired, since Cut is required to access the Vermillion Gym. It is given by Lt. Surge, the leader of the Vermilion Gym, after defeating him.

Johto-based games

GSC
Boost Electric

In Johto-based games, most of the Kanto badges can be acquired in any order after becoming Champion, including the Thunder Badge. It is given by Lt. Surge, the leader of the Vermilion Gym, after defeating him.

Rainbow Badge

Kanto-based games

RBY FRLG PE
Obedience cap If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 3rd: Lv. 40, if 4th: Lv. 50, if 5th: Lv. 60, if 6th: Lv. 70, if 7th: Lv. 80
Boost —
Move Strength (HM04) Strength (HM04) —
Poké Mart — — If 3rd: Full Heal, Revive, Super Repel
If 4th: Ultra Ball, Hyper Potion, Super Lure
If 5th: Max Repel
If 6th: Max Potion, Max Lure

In Kanto-based games, the Rainbow Badge cannot be acquired until after the Cascade Badge has been acquired, since Cut is required to advance east of Cerulean City (to Lavender Town, which leads to Celadon City). It is given by Erika, the leader of the Celadon Gym, after defeating her.

Johto-based games

GSC
Boost Grass

In Johto-based games, most of the Kanto badges can be acquired in any order after becoming Champion, including the Rainbow Badge. It is given by Erika, the leader of the Celadon Gym, after defeating her.

Soul Badge

Kanto-based games

RBY FRLG PE
Obedience cap If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 3rd: Lv. 40, if 4th: Lv. 50, if 5th: Lv. 60, if 6th: Lv. 70, if 7th: Lv. 80
Boost Speed Defense —
Move Surf (HM03) Surf (HM03) —
Poké Mart — — If 3rd: Full Heal, Revive, Super Repel
If 4th: Ultra Ball, Hyper Potion, Super Lure
If 5th: Max Repel
If 6th: Max Potion, Max Lure

In Kanto-based games, the Soul Badge cannot be acquired until after the Cascade Badge has been acquired, since Cut is required to reach Lavender Town (where the Poké Flute can be found that will wake a sleeping Snorlax that blocks further progress) and thereafter Fuchsia City. It is given by Koga, the leader of the Fuchsia Gym, after defeating him.

Johto-based games

GSC
Boost Psychic

In Johto-based games, most of the Kanto badges can be acquired in any order after becoming Champion, including the Soul Badge. It is given by Janine, the new leader of the Fuchsia Gym, after defeating her.

Marsh Badge

Kanto-based games

RBY FRLG PE
Obedience cap If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 3rd: Lv. 40, if 4th: Lv. 50, if 5th: Lv. 60, if 6th: Lv. 70, if 7th: Lv. 80
Boost —
Move Rock Smash (HM06) —
Poké Mart — — If 3rd: Full Heal, Revive, Super Repel
If 4th: Ultra Ball, Hyper Potion, Super Lure
If 5th: Max Repel
If 6th: Max Potion, Max Lure

In Kanto-based games, the Marsh Badge cannot be acquired until after the Cascade Badge has been acquired, since Cut is required to reach Celadon City (where a drink can be found to distract the gate guards) and thereafter Saffron City. It is given by Sabrina, the leader of the Saffron Gym, after defeating her.

Johto-based games

GSC
Boost Poison

In Johto-based games, most of the Kanto badges can be acquired in any order after becoming Champion, including the Marsh Badge. It is given by Sabrina, the leader of the Saffron Gym, after defeating her.

Volcano Badge

Kanto-based games

RBY FRLG PE
Obedience cap If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 4th: Lv. 50, if 6th: Lv. 70 If 3rd: Lv. 40, if 4th: Lv. 50, if 5th: Lv. 60, if 6th: Lv. 70, if 7th: Lv. 80
Boost Special Special Attack, Special Defense —
Move Waterfall (HM07) —
Poké Mart — — If 3rd: Full Heal, Revive, Super Repel
If 4th: Ultra Ball, Hyper Potion, Super Lure
If 5th: Max Repel
If 6th: Max Potion, Max Lure

In Kanto-based games, the Volcano Badge cannot be acquired until after the Soul Badge has been acquired, since Surf is required to reach Cinnabar Island. It is given by Blaine, the leader of the Cinnabar Gym, after defeating him.

Johto-based games

GSC
Boost Fire

In Johto-based games, most of the Kanto badges can be acquired in any order after becoming Champion, including the Volcano Badge. It is given by Blaine, the leader of the Cinnabar Gym (located at the Seafoam Islands after the original Gym was destroyed), after defeating him.

Earth Badge

Kanto-based games

RBY FRLG PE
Obedience cap Lv. 100 Lv. 100 Lv. 100
Boost —
Move —
Poké Mart — — Full Restore

In Kanto-based games, the Earth Badge cannot be acquired until all the other badges have been acquired. It is given by Giovanni, the leader of the Viridian Gym, after defeating him.

After obtaining the Earth Badge, the player can also access Victory Road and Indigo Plateau to challenge the Elite Four.

Johto-based games

GSC HGSS
Boost Ground —
Move — Rock Climb (HM08)

In Johto-based games, most of the Kanto badges can be acquired in any order after becoming Champion; for the Earth Badge, this depends on the games being played. In all Johto-based games, the new Gym Leader, Blue, is initially absent from the Gym and can instead be found on Cinnabar Island. In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, he will return to the Gym once the player talks to him; but in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, he will remain on the island until the player has acquired the other seven Kanto badges and then speaks to him.

In other games

Pokémon Puzzle League

In Pokémon Puzzle League, the player can earn all of the Kanto badges by defeating the Gym Leaders throughout the tournament.

In animation

Pokémon the Series

Badges earned

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Briefly explain how Ash earned badges (by winning in battle or otherwise)

Ash Ketchum obtained all eight badges in Pokémon the Series.

Gary Oak obtained ten Gym badges throughout the series. Gary was never directly seen earning a badge, but he showed them off in The Battle of the Badge before challenging the Viridian Gym. Professor Oak also mentioned that Gary had five badges as of Primeape Goes Bananas.

  • Cascade Badge: possibly prior to The Water Flowers of Cerulean City
  • Rainbow Badge: possibly prior to Primeape Goes Bananas
  • Boulder Badge: prior to The Battle of the Badge
  • Seven unknown badges: prior to The Battle of the Badge (3-5 of them prior to Primeape Goes Bananas)

Two other Trainers from Pallet Town are occasionally mentioned, such as in Primeape Goes Bananas, where Oak refers to them as Ash's rivals and that they (along with Gary) have five badges. Earlier, in The Water Flowers of Cerulean City, Daisy, Violet, and Lily also mentioned that they were beaten by three Pallet Town Trainers.

Two Trainers in Bad To The Bone are also shown to have earned several Kanto badges. The main of these, Otoshi, is the episode's character of the day, and his badges are shown inconsistently. After losing to Ash, a flashback shows him earning the Thunder, Soul, Marsh, and Volcano Badges, which match the designs of Ash's badges; but when Jessie later shows off the box of Otoshi's stolen badges, there are three badges that look similar to the Soul, Marsh, and Volcano Badges but slightly different (while the Thunder Badge appears consistent)

  • Otoshi
    • Boulder Badge
    • Possibly the Cascade Badge (like the Soul, Marsh, and Volcano Badges, its shape is moderately different than Ash's, but it was never seen in a flashback)
    • Thunder Badge
    • Soul Badge
    • Marsh Badge
    • Volcano Badge
    • Two unrecognizable badges
  • Unknown Trainer (seen when Jessie compares her badges—stolen from Otoshi—to his)
    • Eight unrecognizable badges

Participants in the Indigo Plateau Conference may also have earned at least eight badges in Kanto, though there are also other ways to qualify for the competition.

Alternative badge givers

Misty's sisters, Lily, Daisy, and Violet, are also leaders of the Cerulean Gym in the series and mention giving out badges to Trainers who have defeated them, even offering one to Ash in The Water Flowers of Cerulean City without a battle.

In The Battle Of The Badge, Giovanni is the Gym Leader of the Viridian Gym and defeats Gary Oak as a challenger, but after that, he puts Jessie, James, and Meowth in charge, including being able to give out the Earth Badge, so that he can attend to business. When Ash challenges and defeats them, they initially refuse to give him the badge, but when they're sent blasting off, they drop the Earth Badge and Ash claims it.

Several other characters are shown to lead known Gyms for a time, but they are not seen giving out badges.

Pokémon Origins

In Pokémon Origins, both Red and Blue earn all eight Kanto badges.

  • Red is shown earning his badges throughout the series.
    • Boulder Badge: File 1: Red
    • Cascade Badge: File 2: Cubone
    • Thunder Badge: File 2: Cubone
    • Rainbow Badge: File 3: Giovanni
    • Soul Badge: File 3: Giovanni
    • Marsh Badge: File 3: Giovanni
    • Volcano Badge: File 3: Giovanni
    • Earth Badge: File 3: Giovanni
  • Blue earned all eight badges at least prior to File 4: Charizard, where he is shown as the Champion, but he showed off six badges in File 3: Giovanni when Red arrived at Viridian City (the Boulder and Cascade Badges may simply have not been visible).

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

In Pokémon Adventures, Red earns or acquires seven badges throughout the first arc. In A Little Kadabra'll Do It, he puts all seven badges in Team Rocket's Pokémon Badge Energy Amplifier, but in the process of defeating Team Rocket, the machine is not seen again and no mention is made of him recovering his badges. He later faces and defeats Giovanni in Long Live the Nidoqueen?!, but he does not appear to obtain the Earth Badge.

  • Boulder Badge: Onix Is On!, won by defeating Brock
  • Cascade Badge: Suddenly Starmie, received before he and Misty separated, presumably during or after their training together
  • Rainbow Badge: Meanwhile...Vileplume!, granted by Erika after Red proved his determination and compassion
  • Volcano Badge: uncertain, but Red meets Blaine in Holy Moltres and the end of that volume (after the following chapter) states that Red has four badges (and later, in A Little Kadabra'll Do It, he recalls a moment when Blaine handed him the badge)
  • Thunder Badge: Zap! Zap! Zapdos!, taken after defeating Lt. Surge
  • Soul Badge: The Art of Articuno, received from Blue after he and Red defeat Koga
  • Marsh Badge: A Little Kadabra'll Do It, received from Green in trade for a Moon Stone

Blue is only known to have acquired a couple of badges.

  • Boulder Badge: Onix Is On!, won by defeating Brock (off-screen)
  • Soul Badge: The Art of Articuno, picked up after he and Red defeat Koga, then given to Red

Green also acquires a few badges, often by stealing them. In The Jynx Jinx, she "returns" fakes of the badges she stole from Red, only to later use them to properly activate the Pokémon Badge Energy Amplifier. No mention is made of the machine or badges being recovered afterward.

  • Boulder Badge: Wartortle Wars, stolen from Red
  • Cascade Badge: Wartortle Wars, stolen from Red
  • Marsh Badge: A Little Kadabra'll Do It, stolen from Sabrina after confusing her, then traded to Red

The criteria for participation in the Indigo League Tournament are unclear, but gathering eight badges is a rare feat, as noted in Playful Porygon2 when Silver presents eight (stolen) Johto badges to gain entry.

In Onix Is On!, Blue also mentions that the Boulder Badge raises the attack power of a Trainer's Pokémon. Furthermore, in The Art of Articuno, Koga reveals that all the badges have a secret power to raise a Pokémon's abilities. They also convey a degree of control over Pokémon, with Koga able to control Articuno with the power of four badges. Team Rocket also created a Pokémon Badge Energy Amplifier that fuses Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres using seven badges (all but the Earth Badge).

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Ash Ketchum is seen to have all eight badges in Days of Gloom and Glory when a woman checks his badges for the Indigo Plateau Conference, only two of which he was seen to earn.

  • Boulder Badge: Play Misty For Me, won by defeating Brock
  • Cascade Badge: Play Misty For Me, won by recovering his hat
  • Thunder Badge: prior to Days of Gloom and Glory
  • Rainbow Badge: prior to Days of Gloom and Glory
  • Soul Badge: prior to Days of Gloom and Glory
  • Marsh Badge: prior to Days of Gloom and Glory
  • Volcano Badge: prior to Days of Gloom and Glory
  • Earth Badge: prior to Days of Gloom and Glory

Participants in the Indigo Plateau Conference (which include Gary and Ritchie) may also have earned at least eight badges in Kanto, though there are also other ways to qualify for the competition.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, in The Legendary Moltres Appears!!, Red is able to pass through the Pokémon League gates, so he presumably has all eight badges, but he is only explicitly seen acquiring two badges. Furthermore, while Red meets and defeats Lt. Surge (in Great Success in the Mountains or the Seas!?), Erika (in Big Struggle with the Powerful Opponent Venusaur!!), and Sabrina (in The Life-or-Death Magic Duel!!), there is no indication that they are actually Gym Leaders. Of the remaining Gym Leaders, Red is not explicitly seen obtaining a badge from Koga (in Save The Chansey!) or Giovanni (in Get The Last Badge!!), but since he was explicitly brought to Giovanni's Gym to obtain the final badge to pass the reception gate, he presumably earned it; and when Red battled Misty (in Obtain the Moon Stone!!), it was explicitly over a Moon Stone and no badge was mentioned.

Participants in the Indigo Plateau Conference (which include Green and Blue) may also have earned at least eight badges in Kanto. Green was not seen to earn a badge, but he was seen to lose to Brock early in the series.

Pokémon Zensho

In Pokémon Zensho, Satoshi gathers badges across the series, mostly by defeating the Gym Leaders.

  • Boulder Badge: PZ02
  • Cascade Badge: PZ03
  • Thunder Badge: PZ04
  • Rainbow Badge: PZ05, specially granted by Erika for his instinct to help people without thought to his loss
  • Soul Badge: PZ06
  • Marsh Badge: PZ07, gifted by Sabrina because she believes in his strength and that she would lose
  • Volcano Badge: PZ08
  • Earth Badge: PZ09

Since Shigeru became Champion, he presumably gathered all eight badges as well, but the only mention of his battles is in PZ07 when Sabrina recalls her loss to him.

Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure

In Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure, the Earth Badge is the only Kanto badge Jō is seen to earn, by defeating Blue in JBA6, but when Blue hands over the badge, he remarks that it's Jō's last, implying that he's already earned Kanto's other badges.

In the TCG

The Kanto badges were part of the Pokémon League Rewards in the 1999-2000 and 2006-2007 cycles.

The following list shows cards that mention or feature Kanto badges in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Gym Badge
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion 		Rarity # Japanese
Expansion 		Rarity #
Brock T Gym Heroes Rare Holo 15/132 Nivi City Gym    
Gym Heroes Rare 98/132 Leaders' Stadium Rare  
Erika T Gym Heroes Rare Holo 16/132 Tamamushi City Gym    
Gym Heroes Rare 100/132 Leaders' Stadium Rare  
Lt. Surge T Gym Heroes Rare Holo 17/132 Kuchiba City Gym    
Gym Heroes Rare 101/132 Leaders' Stadium Rare  
Misty T Gym Heroes Rare Holo 18/132 Hanada City Gym    
Gym Heroes Rare 102/132 Leaders' Stadium Rare  
Blaine T Gym Challenge Rare Holo 17/132 Guren Town Gym    
Gym Challenge Rare 100/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare  
Giovanni T Gym Challenge Rare Holo 18/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare Holo  
Gym Challenge Rare 104/132      
Koga T Gym Challenge Rare Holo 19/132      
Gym Challenge Rare 106/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare  
Sabrina T Gym Challenge Rare Holo 20/132 Yamabuki City Gym    
Gym Challenge Rare 110/132 Challenge from the Darkness Rare  
Gym Badge I XY Black Star Promos   XY203 XY-P Promotional cards    
XY Black Star Promos   XY204 XY-P Promotional cards    
XY Black Star Promos   XY205 XY-P Promotional cards    
XY Black Star Promos   XY206 XY-P Promotional cards    
XY Black Star Promos   XY207 XY-P Promotional cards    
XY Black Star Promos   XY208 XY-P Promotional cards    
XY Black Star Promos   XY209 XY-P Promotional cards    
XY Black Star Promos   XY210 XY-P Promotional cards    
 

Gallery

Below are depictions of the standard Gym badges in different media.

Trivia

  • The Kanto badges are the only Gym badges that can be obtained post-game.
  • The Kanto badges are obtainable in 11 cores series games, the most out of any Gym badges.

In other languages

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Other languages for all eight badges

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