Drayden

Drayden (Japanese: シャガ Shaga) is the eighth and final Gym Leader in the Pokémon Black version only. His gym is in Opelucid City in the Unova region. Drayden specializes in -Type Pokémon. He will award the player the Legend Badge if the player defeats him. He is also the mayor of Opelucid City. However, in White, he allows Iris to battle you in his place for the Legend Badge.

In the anime
Drayden made his first unofficial appearance in a flashback of Iris in BW036: Iris and Excadrill Against the Dragon Buster!. He congratulated Iris for her victory and gladly accepted a challenge from her. (Iris having said: "The next battle's our 100th win and it would be awesome to win against a Dragon Master at the same time.")

However, he appeared to be a very formidable opponent winning in just one move. Drayden and The Elder exchanged a knowing look, implying he was the one who asked The Elder to give Axew to Iris when she starts her journey.

Pokémon Black and White Versions 2
Normal=
 * Gym Battle

Challenge=


 * Second Battle (World Tournament)

Trivia

 * His Japanese Leader title is スパルタン　メイヤー / Suparutan Meiyaa. "Spartan Mayor."
 * Drayden slightly resembles Reshiram, while Iris resembles Zekrom.
 * Drayden is Iris' mentor and he plans to let her run the Gym when he retires (in White).
 * His name slightly resembles the word dragon.
 * He offers to teach Draco Meteor to the player after the Elite Four have been defeated the first time in White.
 * Drayden and Iris use the same teams but have differences in gender and the ability of their Druddigon. Drayden has an all-male team with a Rough Skin Druddigon, while Iris has an all-female team with a Sheer Force Druddigon.
 * In Pokemon Black and White, Iris and Drayden's Haxorus was underleveled as Fraxure does not evolve until Level 48. This was changed in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, with Drayden's Haxorus matching the exact level it needs to evolve from a Fraxure.
 * He does not battle Ash as the eighth and final Gym Leader of Unova in the anime, as his gym is closed.
 * He is the oldest final Gym Leader yet being older than Kanto's Giovanni and Blue, Johto's Clair, Hoenn's Juan and Sinnoh's Volkner.
 * Before it was revealed that Drayden was Iris' mentor, some fans believed that he was her father.