Wulfric: The Last Icy Barrier Before the Kalos League
1125 words | Reading time: 5 minutes
He's the last obstacle before the Kalos League. Wulfric runs the Snowbelle City Gym, awards the Iceberg Badge and defends the Ice type in eighth position, a slot the series had never given to that specialty. Behind the jovial Gym Leader, the games slip in a locket, a family and a movie hero.
Contents
- Kalos's Eighth Gym, and the Last
- A Locket, a Family and a Movie Hero
- Two Battles Against Ash in the XY Series
- The Manga, an Island and a Look-Alike
- Wulfric at a Glance
- Frequently Asked Questions
Kalos's Eighth Gym, and the Last
Snowbelle City closes out the region's Gym circuit. Wulfric is the eighth and final Gym Leader of the circuit, and the Iceberg Badge he awards is the one that opens the door to the League.
His specialty, the Ice type, makes him a design anomaly. He's the only Ice-type Gym Leader in the series who isn't seventh in line, and the only one whose city isn't in the north of his region: Kalos breaks two well-established habits in one go.
The character isn't limited to his Gym, either, since he also serves as a Marquis of the Battle Chateau. He also has his own way of approving what he sees, a phrase he's fond of repeating: "That's good, that's real good!"
A Locket, a Family and a Movie Hero
A TV show devoted to Gyms spreads a rumor about him: the locket he wears supposedly holds a picture of his favorite Pokémon. The reality is far more domestic, since it's a photo of his family — a wife and two children.
That attachment has become his official calling card. The mobile game presents him as a Gym Leader devoted both to his Ice-type Pokémon and to his family; he's there from launch day, dressed as in Pokémon X and Y, and paired with an Avalugg.
The same profile gives him a moviegoer's hobby. He's said to have been a Brycen-Man fan ever since a film about that hero made him cry in the theater, an anecdote we owe to that same TV presenter. That's about all the series reveals of his private life.
Two Battles Against Ash in the XY Series
His first anime appearance is a show of strength. He beats Ash using only two Pokémon, with his Avalugg single-handedly knocking out all three opponents thanks to its Ice Body Ability.
The rematch plays out differently. Ash comes back a few episodes later and wins, even though the Gym Leader's Abomasnow has Mega Evolution and the type advantage on its side. The Iceberg Badge changes hands, and with it access to the Kalos League.
Wulfric doesn't vanish once the test is over: he returns later in the same series to stand up to Lysandre. So he's one of the Gym Leaders the series takes out of their Gym to weave into the main plot.
❄️ The cold has its own shelf too: see the section Pokémon figures.
The Manga, an Island and a Look-Alike
The manga adaptation gives him a team role. He first appears alongside Ramos, then heads to Geosenge Town riding his Avalugg, together with the other Gym Leaders and the kids from Vaniville Town.
Once there, the episode turns into a joint defense: alongside Valerie, Ramos, Grant and Y, he holds back the ultimate weapon until it explodes. It's one of the rare moments where he's seen in action somewhere other than behind his examiner's desk.
His Japanese name, Urup, points to a very real island. Another Ice-type Trainer, Gaeric, looks a lot like him and bears a Japanese name built on the same plant family, the Scrophulariaceae: the Japanese name of Gaeric, Hamarenge, evokes another name for Lagotis glauca, while Urup is the island where the plant was found. No link between the two characters has ever been confirmed, though.
Wulfric at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Gym | Snowbelle City, eighth and last Gym of the Kalos League |
| Badge awarded | Iceberg Badge |
| Specialty | Ice type |
| Confirmed Pokémon | Avalugg, Cryogonal and Abomasnow in the games; five Bergmite on top of that in the anime |
| Other role | Marquis of the Battle Chateau |
| Family | A wife and two children |
| Name origin | Urup Island |
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Where is Wulfric's Gym and which Badge does he give?
In Snowbelle City, in the Kalos region. It's the eighth and final Gym on the circuit, and it awards the Iceberg Badge, the one that grants access to the League. -
Why does Wulfric stand out among Ice-type Gym Leaders?
Because he's the only one who isn't the seventh Gym Leader you face, and the only one whose city isn't in the north of his region. Both of the series' usual conventions go out the window with him. -
Which Pokémon are clearly attributed to Wulfric?
Avalugg, Cryogonal and Abomasnow in the games, to which the anime adds five Bergmite. Avalugg single-handedly takes out Ash's team thanks to its Ice Body Ability, and Abomasnow gets to Mega Evolve in the rematch. -
What's really inside Wulfric's locket?
A photo of his family. A TV show about Gyms claimed he kept a picture of his favorite Pokémon in it, but it's actually his wife and two children. -
Does Wulfric win his battle against Ash in the anime?
The first one, yes, and without breaking a sweat, using only two Pokémon. He loses the second despite Mega Evolution and the type advantage, and then hands the Iceberg Badge to his opponent.
In short
Wulfric closes out the Kalos circuit with the regularity of a metronome: an Ice type, a Badge and the League right behind him. The series grants him the rare luxury of a clean win over Ash before his defeat, and the games give him what few Gym Leaders have — a family life, a movie that moved him and a locket that doesn't hold what you'd think. A final examiner far warmer than his specialty.