Although the concept of Gyms and Gym Battles has been done away with, in favour of the Island Trials, each trial is led by a Trial Captain, all of whom specialise in a specific type but it was often questioned why they specialised in a type. However, you are actually able to battle with each of the Trial Captains through the game. Some will be with their Island Trial, others will be after it.

Trial Captain #1 - Ilima

Trial Captain: Ilima
Location: Hau'oli City
Specialty: Normal-type

Details:
Ilima is actually a Trial Captain that you battle twice. First time you battle him, it will be for him to see if you are ready for his trial. His Smeargle has a different move depending upon which Starter Pokémon you picked.

Captain Ilima YungoosSmeargle
Battle Type

Items
Level 9Level 10


Attacks:
Tackle
Pursuit
Leer
Attacks:
Ember
Tackle

Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Rowlet Chosen
Captain Ilima YungoosSmeargle
Battle Type

Items
Level 9Level 10


Attacks:
Tackle
Pursuit
Leer
Attacks:
Water Gun
Tackle

Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Litten Chosen
Captain Ilima YungoosSmeargle
Battle Type

Items
Level 9Level 10


Attacks:
Tackle
Pursuit
Leer
Attacks:
Leafage
Tackle

Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Popplio Chosen

Trial Captain: Ilima
Location: Hau'oli City
Specialty: Normal-type

Details:
The second time you battle Ilima is slightly after the completion of the trial. Go to his house in the Hau'oli City and he will welcome you into his room and mention how he has been working on a new battling strategy and asks if you will join him in a battle. If you accept, he'll take you to the Trainer School for the battle.

Captain Ilima GumshoosSmeargle
Battle Type

Items
Level 15Level 14


Attacks:
Tackle
Pursuit
Leer
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Ember
Water Gun
Leafage
Hold Item:

Normalium Z
Hold Item:
No Item
Trial Captain #2 - Lana

Trial Captain: Lana
Location: Konikoni City
Specialty: Water-type

Details:
After defeating her trial, if you go to her house in Konikoni City and go to the back room. In there, you will find Lana's sisters who ask for you to play with them. Defeat them in battle and Lana will come in. Her sisters will ask for you to battle her in order to show who is the strongest trainer.

Captain Lana ChinchouShellderAraquanid
Battle Type

Items
Level 26Level 26Level 27



Attacks:
Electro Ball
Bubble Beam
Thunder Wave
Attacks:
Supersonic
Icicle Spear
Water Gun
Attacks:
Bubble Beam
Bug Bite
Bite
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:

Waterium Z
Trial Captain #3 - Kiawe

Trial Captain: Kiawe
Location: Paniola Town, Royal Avenue - Sun Only
Specialty: Fire-type

Details:
At night, after you have beaten the Akala Grand Trial, you can go to Kiawe's house in Paniola Town. Go upstairs and you will find Kiawe in his room doing some training for his fire dancing. He says that he has to practice in it, like Pokémon battles and the note that the time has passed and he needs to go to the Thrifty Megamart. Follow him there and you will see him get let go from his job and his ex-boss hoping his dreams come true one day. Kiawe then spots you and challenges you in order to lift his spirits.

Captain Kiawe GrowlitheFletchinderMarowak
Battle Type

Items
Level 26Level 26Level 27



Attacks:
Bite
Fire Fang

Attacks:
Ember
Quick Attack
Peck
Attacks:
Flame Wheel
Hex
Bonemerang
Will-O-Wisp
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Trial Captain #4 - Mallow

Trial Captain: Mallow
Location: Konikoni City - Lush Jungle - Moon Only
Specialty: Grass-type

Details:
In the day in Moon, after you have beaten the Akala Grand Trial, go to Mallow's room in the top floor of the restaurant in Konikoni City. She will ask you why you're there and the responses are to battle. She will suggest going to Lush Jungle for a teasure hunt. She says to look for the Wimpod and then she'll battle you. After that, her brother will mention that he needed her to do some shopping for him, but asks you to tell her to bring Wimpod home. Meet her in Lush Jungle and she'll battle you

Captain Mallow PhantumpShiinoticSteenee
Battle Type

Items
Level 26Level 26Level 27



Attacks:
Leech Seed
Feint Attack
Confuse Ray
Astonish
Attacks:
Ingrain
Mega Drain
Sleep Powder
Astonish
Attacks:
Teeter Dance
Magical Leaf
Double Slap
Rapid Spin
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Trial Captain #5 - Sophocles

Trial Captain: Sophocles
Location: Pokémon League
Specialty: Electric-type

Details:
Sophocles, when you complete his trial, says right away that he wants to battle you. However, this will require a lot of waiting as the only time you can battle Sophocles is when he comes as a challenger to your position as Champion of the Pokémon League.

Captain Sophocles TogedemaruMagnezoneElectivireVikavoltGolem
Battle Type

Items
Level 61Level 61Level 61Level 61Level 61





Attacks:
Electric Terrain
Zing Zap
Spiky Shield
Fell Stinger
Attacks:
Flash Cannon
Discharge
Tri Attack
Reflect
Attacks:
Thunder Punch
Giga Impact
Fire Punch
Quick Attack
Attacks:
Bug Buzz
Thunderbolt
Air Slash
Guillotine
Attacks:
Stone Edge
Steamroller
Thunder Punch
Heavy Slam
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Trial Captain #6 - Acerola

Trial Captain: Acerola
Location: Pokémon League
Specialty: Ghost-type

Details:
The sixth Trial Captain is one that you will definitely battle through your play. Acerola becomes a member of the Elite Four and so has got multiple instances of battle against her.

Elite Four Acerola SableyeDrifblimDhelmiseFroslassPalossand
Battle Type

Items
Level 54Level 54Level 54Level 54Level 55





Attacks:
Shadow Claw
Zen Headbutt
Confuse Ray
Fake Out
Attacks:
Ominous Wind
Focus Energy
Amnesia
Baton Pass
Attacks:
Slam
Shadow Ball
Energy Ball
Whirlpool
Attacks:
Blizzard
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Ice Shard
Attacks:
Shadow Ball
Earth Power
Giga Drain
Iron Defense
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:

Ghostium Z
Elite Four Acerola SableyeDrifblimDhelmiseFroslassPalossand
Battle Type

Items
Level 63Level 63Level 63Level 63Level 63





Attacks:
Shadow Claw
Zen Headbutt
Brick Break
Fake Out
Attacks:
Shadow Ball
Thunderbolt
Psychic
Will-O-Wisp
Attacks:
Phantom Force
Heavy Slam
Earthquake
Brutal Swing
Attacks:
Blizzard
Shadow Ball
Thunderbolt
Ice Shard
Attacks:
Shadow Ball
Earth Power
Sludge Bomb
Giga Drain
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:

Ghostium Z
Trial Captain #7 - Mina

Trial Captain: Mina
Location: Route 8
Specialty: Fairy-type

Details:
You don't actually meet Mina until you're about to do the final trial, which she has nothing to do with. She instead decides to create a trial, but you don't see it. You first battle her during the Ultra Beast story line where she brings information to Looker and Anabel and battles you to make sure the information is safe.

Captain Mina KlefkiGranbullShiinoticWigglytuffRibombee
Battle Type

Items
Level 61Level 61Level 61Level 61Level 61





Attacks:
Dazzling Gleam
Flash Cannon
Light Screen
Reflect
Attacks:
Crunch
Play Rough
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Attacks:
Spore
Moonblast
Dream Eater
Giga Drain
Attacks:
Dazzling Gleam
Hyper Voice
Flamethrower
Ice Beam
Attacks:
Pollen Puff
Dazzling Gleam
Psychic
Energy Ball
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item

Trial Captain: Mina
Location: Poni Gauntlet
Specialty: Fairy-type

Details:
You can face Mina for a second time in Poni Gauntlet. After requesting you defeat all the trainers as part of her faux-trial, she will finally battle you again herself, with a similar team to before. She will give you a Bottle Cap for defeating her.

Captain Mina KlefkiGranbullShiinoticWigglytuffRibombee
Battle Type

Items
Level 61Level 61Level 61Level 61Level 61





Attacks:
Dazzling Gleam
Flash Cannon
Light Screen
Reflect
Attacks:
Crunch
Play Rough
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Attacks:
Spore
Moonblast
Dream Eater
Giga Drain
Attacks:
Dazzling Gleam
Hyper Voice
Flamethrower
Ice Beam
Attacks:
Pollen Puff
Dazzling Gleam
Psychic
Energy Ball
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:
No Item
Hold Item:

Fairium Z