Quick Guide:
- Challenge the Fallshore City Gym
- Obtain Permission to Use HM04 Strength
- Obtain HM02 Fly
- Reach the Thundercap Mountain Entrance
Fallshore Gym – Fall Badge

Fallshore Gym is a Normal-type Gym, which means under normal circumstances, Fighting-type moves would work really well here.
However, as the Gym Guide tells you, these are not normal circumstances.
All the trainers in the Gym including the leader will challenge you under Inverse Battle rules.
This means that what normally would be super-effective is now not very effective, and vice versa.
For Normal-types this is a problem because Normal-type moves are not super-effective against any type, so using a Normal-type move against a Normal-type Pokémon would just result in normal move damage even under reverse rules.
It’s advisable to just have a team of non-Fighting-type Pokémon with strong moves of any type except Fighting.
Gym Trainers | |
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Beauty Lauren | |
Glameow Normal (Lv.31) |
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Sawsbuck Normal/Flying (Lv.31) |
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Herdier Normal (Lv.32) |
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Picnicker Caitlin | |
Swablu Normal/Flying (Lv.32) |
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Beauty Lori | |
Sentret Normal (Lv.31) |
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Furret Normal (Lv.32) |
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Beauty Alessia | |
Lillipup Normal (Lv.31) |
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Stufful Normal/Fighting (Lv.31) |
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Dunsparce Normal (Lv.31) |
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Beauty Tamia | |
Minccino Normal/Flying (Lv.31) |
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Cinccino Normal (Lv.32) |
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Youngster Yasu | |
Bibarel Normal/Water (Lv.31) |
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Watchog Normal (Lv.32) |
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Gumshoos Normal (Lv.32) |
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Painter Monet | |
Smeargle Normal (Lv.32) |
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Optimal Gym Path

There are three rooms that can be accessed via Lapras waterfall. The optimal route can be confusing, so please take note of the map above.
If you’re having trouble understanding the instructions below, then look at the map above and here’s what to do: follow the red line until it turns into the blue line, then follow the blue line.
Gym Puzzle (Step-by-Step)

Drop down the hole next to the Guide and you’ll be in the first section of the Gym.
There are three lily pad paths leading north – take the middle one.

Fight Picknicker Caitlin, and you’ll have the choice of two more paths.
Both lead to a Lapras and the level above. Take the right one for now.

The Lapras will take you up the waterfall to the second level of the Gym, and you’ll land on a lily pad path.

When you arrive on the top level, follow the lily pad trail all the way to Mel’s secretary Beauty Tamia, who is on an island in the middle of the pond area.

After beating Beauty Tamia, the path you need to take is the left trail.
However, there is a gap in it that you can’t cross at the moment.
To fix this, ride the Lapras north of this island up the waterfall to Beauty Alessia. The Lapras will then move to fix the gap in the lily pads.
You then need to head east across the bridge and down the stairs.

Follow the linear path along – it will take you south and then west to the other Lapras.

Take the other Lapras down to the lower level, then retrace your steps past Picnicker Caitlin to the Lapras on the right hand side of the chamber again.
Follow the path back until you’re on the island with Beauty Tamia again.

Now the path is clear for you to follow the lily pads north and east behind the raised island to the Lapras on the right hand side of this level.

Take this Lapras to the top level of the Gym.

The Gym Leader is waiting for you, and this is likely going to be a challenging battle.
Fallshore Gym Leader – Mel

Mel has an extremely strong lineup of Pokémon, and it’s recommended to face him only if your team is above Lv. 35.
Gym Leader Mel | |
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Helioptile Electric/Normal (Lv.33) |
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Miltank Normal (Lv.33) |
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Lopunny Normal (Lv.34) |
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Strong moves with a Power over 80 are your best bet here, so make sure your team has a wide selection of those.

Mel concedes defeat and gives you the Fall Badge and TM42 Facade.
After You Win
Once you collect your winnings, head on outside where Mel will pull you aside – he isn’t done with you yet.

Mel has heard of the Shadow presence around Epidimy Town and Thundercap Mountain and wants to flush them out.
To make it easier to help him, he gives you a very important gift – the Fly HM.

HM02 Fly will basically unlock fast travel in Borrius, and in this game you’re not limited to towns – you can fly between other points of interest as well.
Like the other HMs, you don’t need to actually teach a Pokémon the move – if your Pokémon can learn Fly, the option to use Fly will pop up in the Pokémon’s context menu on the status screen.
HM04 Strength Backtracking (Optional)

You should have already acquired HM04 Strength in Epidimy Town – if not, speak to the Black Belt in the house near the southwest exit to Route 11.
There are a few important items you can use Strength to access right now, if you want to backtrack. Here’s a complete list of items you might want to get:
Mega Trainer Yale | |
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Exeggutor Grass/Psychic (Lv.33) |
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Gigalith Rock (Lv.34) |
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Gastrodon Water/Ground (Lv.33) |
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Alolan Graveler Rock/Electric (Lv.33) |
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Camerupt (Mega) Fire/Ground (Lv.34) |
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Advancing the Story
Once you’re done, head back to Epidimy Town and walk over to the Thundercap Mountain entrance to find Mel.

Mel doesn’t mess around, smashing the Grunt guarding the entrance away with his Miltank.
Head on inside.

Thundercap Mountain awaits – five levels of trainers and wild Pokémon.
Hopefully, you can reach Zapdos in time.
