How Strong Is Olivia Pokémon As An In-Game Trainer?

I have a soft spot for Olivia — she’s that solid, no-nonsense late-game trainer who feels like a real test of whether you paid attention to type matchups. In 'Pokémon Sun and Moon' she’s the Kahuna of Akala Island and her roster is built around Rock types, which means bulky Pokémon, slow-but-hard-hitting moves, and a tendency to shrug off physical attacks. In practice she’s not unbeatable, but she’s a proper gatekeeper: if you come in with underleveled or badly-typed teammates, she will chew you up and spit you out.

From a tactical point of view, Olivia’s biggest strengths are high defenses and moves that punish switch-ins — think Rock-type STABs, hazard support, and sometimes coverage that surprises players who expect only blunt-force hits. Her weakness is also obvious: Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground and Steel answers make her life miserable. I’ve beaten her more times by bringing a bulky Water type that can take a Rock Slide and dish out super-effective STABs, or by using a fast Grass or Fighting Pokémon to pressure her before she sets up.

If you’re replaying 'Pokémon Sun and Moon' or tackling rematches in later playthroughs, don’t be cavalier. Prepare for a defense-first team, pack a status move or two (to avoid being worn down by repeated hits), and keep an eye on hazards — losing half your team to constant Rock damage is a lot more common than you’d think. I usually smile when I see her sprite because that means I finally get to use my favorite Water-type sweepers properly.

Honestly, Olivia feels like a classic mid-to-late game boss who’s designed to make you swap out comfort picks. As the Akala Kahuna in 'Pokémon Sun and Moon', she leans heavily into rock-solid defenses and grinding, consistent damage. I lost my first run because I brought too many frail glass cannons; since then I always prepare a reliable Ground or Water switch to blunt her hits.

She isn’t top-tier for competitive play — most of her Pokémon are tailored to story difficulty rather than tournament viability — but in-game she’s efficient. Expect slow, sturdy Pokémon that resist common types and hit back hard with Rock STABs and maybe hazards. That means using move coverage, bringing a faster counter, or simply out-leveling her team. One neat trick I use: stall a bit with healing items and let her struggle against my passive defenders while chipping away with status or resistances. It feels satisfying to dismantle her setup slowly, like peeling layers off an onion, and it rewards patience more than flashy plays.

Late-night grinding taught me to respect Olivia. She’s the Kahuna who makes you rethink your battle plan: rock-heavy, defensive, and annoyingly steady. I beat her most reliably by leading with a fast Water or Grass that hits her core weaknesses and keeping a hazard clearer in reserve. Her moves hit hard but aren’t magically clever — they just punish sloppy typing and poor planning. If you go in prepared with super-effective hits and a plan to handle hazards, she’s more of a fun checkpoint than a wall.