If you’re working through the Victory Road path to the Pokémon League in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, then one of your first stops should be at the Bug-type gym in Cortondo led by Katy. Unlike previous games, you are actually not required to take on the gym battles in a particular order.
However, it’s still a good idea to know what to expect as you don’t want to make the mistake of challenging a gym that your Pokémon aren’t strong enough to contend with. With this Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Cortondo Bug-type gym guide, you’ll be able to ensure victory as you prepare to face Katy and secure her gym badge.
In this article, you will learn:
- What kind of test you’ll face at the Cortondo gym
- Details on every Pokémon that Katy will use in battle
- Strategies to make sure you’re able to defeat her
- What team you’ll face in the Katy rematch
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Cortondo Bug-type gym guide
If you’re looking to start your Victory Road path towards the Pokémon League, the best way to do that is to head west from Mesagoza into South Province (Area Two). Follow the road further west, and you should soon arrive in Cortondo where the lowest level gym leader will be found.
Cortondo features a Bug-type gym led by Katy, and you can only secure the Bug Badge for your Pokémon League quest by beating her. You’ll also get the opportunity for a rematch against Katy much later in your Pokémon Scarlet & Violet journey, and that battle will feature significantly stronger Pokémon.
Cortondo gym test
Fortunately, things aren’t too complicated as you take on your first gym test. Unlike past games, there is a separate puzzle or test that must be completed before you can enter the gym and challenge Katy for the Bug Badge.
In this case, you’ll be rolling an olive through a large maze. Simply run into the olive to make it roll, but there is a trick to speed things up. If you ride Koraidon or Miraidon, you can try to push the olive up and over walls to get it to the destination much quicker than if you do the test entirely on foot.
How to beat Katy for the Bug Badge
Once you’ve completed the gym test, it’ll be time to step up to Katy and engage in battle for the Bug Badge. Here are the Pokémon you’ll be up against:
- Nymble (Level 14)
- Bug-type
- Ability: Swarm
- Moves: Struggle Bug, Double Kick
- Tarountula (Level 14)
- Bug-type
- Ability: Insomnia
- Moves: Bug Bite, Assurance
- Teddiursa (Level 15)
- Normal-type
- Tera Type: Bug
- Ability: Pickup
- Moves: Fury Cutter, Fury Swipes
Keeping in mind the level of Katy’s Pokémon, it’s best to have at least one Pokémon with a type advantage in your party at Level 15 or higher before you challenge the Cortondo gym. Bug-type Pokémon are weak against Fire-, Flying-, and Rock-type moves.
Players who start with Fuecoco will be in luck, but others will need to catch a Pokémon in the wild that has moves using one of those three types. Fletchling, Starly, and Nacli are all good choices that are found in South Province (Area Two).
In addition to the Bug Badge, you’ll be awarded with TM 21, which can be used to teach Pounce to one of your Pokémon. If this is your first gym badge, victory will also mean you have control over all Pokémon up to Level 25.
How to defeat Katy in your gym leader rematch
After you’ve completed the main story in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, things will progress toward the Academy Ace Tournament. As part of the setup for that event, you’ll be challenged to journey across Paldea for a rematch against each gym leader you faced through Victory Road.
Unlike the first time around, all of the gym leader rematches are at the same level. This means there’s no difference when it comes to which gym leader rematch you decide to do first.
Here are the Pokémon you’ll face in the Cortondo gym rematch against Katy:
- Lokix (Level 65)
- Bug- and Dark-type
- Ability: Swarm
- Moves: Axe Kick, Sucker Punch, Lunge, Bounce
- Forretress (Level 65)
- Bug- and Steel-type
- Ability: Sturdy
- Moves: Bug Bite, Gyro Ball, Curse, Stone Edge
- Spidops (Level 65)
- Bug-type
- Ability: Insomnia
- Moves: Skitter Smack, Throat Chop, Brick Break, Silk Trap
- Heracross (Level 65)
- Bug- and Fighting-type
- Ability: Swarm
- Moves: Megahorn, Close Combat, Stone Edge, Night Slash
- Ursaring (Level 66)
- Normal-type
- Tera Type: Bug
- Ability: Guts
- Moves: Fury Cutter, High Horsepower, Play Rough, Crunch
Ursaring is the Pokémon that Katy will Terastallize in your rematch, so keep that in mind when deciding how to utilize Terrastalization in your strategy. Having a powerful Fire-type is going to be most useful as it could sweep the entire gym, but keep in mind that moves like Stone Edge and High Horsepower may be super-effective against your Fire-type Pokémon.
You should now have everything you need to take on Katy both times in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. While she may not be the most challenging gym leader the first time around, Katy is going to pull out all the stops in your rematch to prove she’s truly the master of Bug-type Pokémon.
Also check out: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet new regional forms
