Pokémon Gyms can be found in many towns and cities in the Pokémon world. Although the internal organizations of Pokémon Gyms may vary, the majority specialize in one certain type of Pokémon and all are manned by a Gym Leader ( ジムリーダー, Jimu Rīdā), a formidable Trainer that acts as a boss. Pokémon Gyms ( ポケモンジム, Pokémon Jimu) are buildings situated throughout the Pokémon world, where Pokémon Trainers can train or compete to qualify for Pokémon League competitions. The number of Pokémon increases with each game generation, starting from 151 in the first generation to 898 as of Sword and Shield, though in Sword and Shield, some of the Pokemon from older generations cannot be caught.
Afterward, the game remains virtually open-ended, with the ultimate goal of the player being to obtain at least one member of each of the different species of Pokémon, thus completing the Pokédex. Many games also have facilities dedicated to battling, such as the Battle Frontier and the Battle Maison. However, Master Balls cannot be used to catch Pokemon already owned by a trainer, as this trainer would hit the ball back, thus wasting the ball.Ĭompleting the main storyline opens up other features in the games this is primarily done by allowing passage into otherwise inaccessible places. If the player doesn't want the battle to take long, Master Balls can be used because Master Balls are the ultimate type of Poke Ball, capable of catching any Pokémon with zero failure. Once the player completes the goal of conquering all 8 Gyms (or all Trials) or if the player's Pokémon are strong enough, the player then learns more about the legend of the region and can open the opportunity to summon, battle and catch the mascot Legendary Pokémon at a certain location.
The trend of Gyms continues in Sword and Shield. Upon completion of a Trial, the player receives a Z-Crystal, which grants a Pokémon access to an extremely powerful move called a Z-Move. Gyms are absent in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, being replaced by trials which serve a similar purpose. Victory against them grants the player a Gym Badge after collecting eight Gym Badges, the player may challenge the region's Elite Four and Champion. Periodically, a town will contain a Pokémon Gym, which houses a powerful Trainer known as a Gym Leader. Poké Marts are shops where players can buy items with the money they win during battles certain cities may have specialized shops, like a pharmacy or a department store. Before X and Y, this is also where players can link up with other game cartridges or cards to battle or trade with other players.
At a Pokémon Center, the player can have their Pokémon healed for free and access the PC, where players can organize their collection of Pokémon, store and withdraw items and have their Pokédex rated.
Various facilities can be found throughout the Pokémon world such as Pokémon Centers, Poké Marts and in Pokémon Sun and Moon, some trial locations and Gyms. These organizations include Team Rocket, Neo Team Rocket, Team Aqua and Team Magma, Team Galactic, Team Plasma, Neo Team Plasma, Team Flare, Team Skull, the Aether Foundation, the Ultra Recon Squad, Team Rainbow Rocket, Team Yell and Macro Cosmos.
A major subplot of each game is to defeat a criminal organization, whose intents are usually trying to take over the world through the misuse of Pokémon. By traveling around the world, catching and evolving Pokémon and defeating other Trainers in battle, the player increases the size and strength of their Pokémon collection.