Gaiien Region: Tier 2 Gym Leader: Hawthorn

Name: Alex "Hawthorn" Wong
Location: Verdure Town
Awards: Seed Badge
Affinity: Grass-type
Age: 29
Hometown: Celadon City, Kanto
Hobbies: Violin, Bingewatching Poke-Netflix

Verdure Town is a touristy mountain town popular for its lush scenery, crystal-clear lakes, hot springs, hiking, skiing, and other attractions. Hawthorn has cultivated a reputation for elegance in personal style as well as battling. In his late teens he placed high in various Kantonian and Johtonian tournaments and was considered a trainer to watch, but opted for a slower-paced lifestyle after completing university. At Tier 2, Hawthorn uses various local grass-type pokemon and also depends on rotating out foreign pokemon traded to him from his contacts back in Celadon City.

Hawthorn somewhat controversially has guardianship over two Thornlem/Akanthamaton specimens and uses the higher-leveled one in S-Tier battles. He occasionally uses the lower-leveled one in Tier 2 battles, which has drawn significant complaint: while the Thornlem's level is in bounds, it is still a powerful pokemon and only challengers with a fire-type can make much headway.

Pokemon Roster (Tier 2): Yulerein, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Leafeon, Galvallama, Mooskeg, Gloom, Weepinbell
Pokemon Roster (S-Tier): Serperior, Thornlem, Borfang, Junglid, Torterra, Cradily, Shiftry, Bellossom