Summary
Wattson is the Gym Leader of Mauville City and a specialist in Electric-type Pokémon. Defeating him rewards the trainer with the Dynamo Badge. His English name originates from the unit "watt," while his Japanese name likely references Nikola Tesla. An elderly man who is almost always seen smiling, Wattson runs a gym filled with electrical doors and trainers. Each door is opened by stepping on a corresponding switch, and his puzzle is considered quite simple, especially when compared to the subsequent Gym Leader, Flannery. Upon his defeat, he gives the player TM34: Shockwave, an electric attack known for its reliability. In the Pokémon anime, Wattson enjoys telling jokes and often subjects visitors, including gym challengers, to a roller coaster ride that ends in a confrontation with a mechanical Raikou. Ash surprisingly defeats him easily using only his Pikachu, which is notable since Electric-type moves are typically not very effective against other Electric types. The reason for this effectiveness is revealed to be that Pikachu’s electric attacks were temporarily supercharged when he destroyed the mechanical Raikou, allowing him to overwhelm Wattson’s team. Dejected after the loss, Wattson considers retiring from his post as Gym Leader but regains his fighting spirit after helping to defeat Team Rocket. Ash, wishing for a fair rematch, attempts to return the Dynamo Badge, but Wattson insists he keep it, acknowledging that he too needs to continue training. This training proves successful, as the two meet again later in the series for a rematch where Wattson’s Manectric defeats Ash’s Torkoa.
