New Hearth Gym

[Professor Ironwood]

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New Hearth Gym : Paradise Badge
Gym Leader : Marcus Wales : Water Pokemon Specialist
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The New Hearth Gym is actually found out on the water, built on pillars about halfway between the shore and the ocean shelf drop-off point. With a glass ceiling and reinforced plexiglass flooring, it certainly makes an impression - you can see Pokemon swimming through the water below (the gym is built so that, at mid-tide, it is just barely submerged - you'll find yourself staring at the water's surface instead of its contents at low tide and there are a few feet of water covering the walls at high tide).

Understandably, the bridge that connects the gym to the mainland is built high enough to stay dry at high tide - there's a stairwell on the inside that leads down to the plexiglass floor. The bridge maintains the design aesthetic of the gym itself, though. Aside from the steel rails and support frame, it's made entirely out of reinforced plexiglass. At a distance, the gym and the bridge both shine, especially during sunrise and sunset.

The gym itself is flat. There are no obstructions, no cover to take advantage of, not even a desk or something. However, Marcus isn't always sitting around in his beautiful gym - sometimes you'll have to track him down in the city if you want to battle him.

The gym is about 80 feet by 80 feet - large enough to house all but the largest of Pokemon, and certainly plenty of room for an explosive battle.

Those who defeat Marcus win the Paradise Badge, an emerald and saphire-colored badge in the shape of a starburst. Aside from signifying the trainer's victory over Marcus, it is required to activate the Surf HM. In addition to the badge, trainers will receive the Surf HM, and £1200.

New Hearth is technically classified as a part of the North-East circuit, and therefore doesn't get you any closer to being allowed on the S.S. Northspear. However, with Surf, you wouldn't even need the Northspear anyway...