Drayden 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 Dragon-type Pokémon. He will award the player character the Legend Badge if the player character defeats him. He is also the mayor of Opelucid City. However, in White, he allows Iris to battle the player character in his place for the Legend Badge.
Appearance
Drayden is a slightly old, but a tall and muscular, respected figure. Drayden has white hair and a beard, which, notably enough, covers his mouth and resembles a toothy lower jaw of a reptile. Drayden wears a white shirt with rolled sleeves. He also wears gray pants, which are attached by two purple suspenders (with two shoulder pads with spikes), as well as some black shoes. In addition, Drayden wears some black gloves and a green gem etched onto the collar of his shirt, with two green strings.
Personality
Without saying much, Drayden always appears disgruntled and angry. He's a hard-driven trainer, ambitious and above all else very wise. His bold appearance may suggest that he prefers to be in charge, rather it being a gym leader or training his Pokémon. Drayden displays the strong, experienced nature of an aging work boss.
Etymology
The name Drayden comes from "dragon" and "den", referring to a dragon's den.
His Japanese name, Shaga, comes from 釈迦 (shaka, Gautama Buddha, as the Dragon type is often connected with mythology and mysticism) or 社会 (shakai, society, as he's the mayor of Opelucid City). It could also come from "shaga", another name for the fringed iris flower.
Biography
Black and White
Black 2 and White 2
Other appearances
Sprites
Pokémon
Black and White
 Fraxure 
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 Druddigon
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 Haxorus
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| Lv. 41 | ♂ | Lv. 41 | ♂ | Lv. 43 | ♂
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| Ability: Rivalry | Ability: Rough Skin | Ability: Mold Breaker
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| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None
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| Dragon Dance | Chip Away | Dragon Dance | |||||
| Dragon Rage | Revenge | Slash | |||||
| Dragon Tail | Dragon Tail | Dragon Tail | |||||
| Assurance | Night Slash | Assurance | |||||
Black 2 and White 2
Gym Battle
Druddigon
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 Flygon 
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Haxorus
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| Lv. 46 | ♂ | Lv. 46 | ♂ | Lv. 48 | ♂
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| Ability: Rough Skin | Ability: Levitate | Ability: Mold Breaker
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| Item: None | Item: None | Item: Sitrus Berry
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| Crunch | Earth Power | Dragon Dance | |||||
| Revenge | Crunch | Assurance | |||||
| Dragon Tail | Dragon Tail | Dragon Tail | |||||
| Slash | Rock Slide | Slash | |||||
World Tournament
Trivia
- Drayden slightly resembles Reshiram, while Iris resembles Zekrom.
- Drayden is Iris' mentor and he plans to let her run the Gym when he retires (only in Black).
- 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 Pokémon Black and White, Iris and Drayden's Haxorus was underleveled, as Fraxure does not evolve until Level 48. This was changed in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, with Drayden's Haxorus matching the exact level it needs to evolve from a Fraxure.
- Drayden is Drayton's grandfather.
| Locations · Pokédex | |
| Gym Leaders | |
| Elite Four and Pokémon Champion | |
| Subway Bosses | |
| Others | |
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| Unova |
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| Kalos | |||||||
| Galar | |||||||
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