ITT we're going to give a Gym Leader, E4 Member, Champion, or Rival a new Ace mon to replace their original one. Preferably something that equally or even better encapsulates the themes and personality of the trainer, but either wasn't in the Dex of the game they were in or didn't even exist yet. I'll start.

>Lance
>New Ace: Salamence
>Color scheme is similar to Lance's iconic cloak and cape
>Matches the brutality of Dragon types better than the otherwise softer and cuddlier Dragonite. Fits the Draconian silhouette more as well.
>The running joke of Lance actually being a Flying type Master is referenced through Bagon's only desire in life being to evolve and fly.
>Reinforces the rarity and mystique of the Dragon type as well as that of the E4/Champion. The strongest trainer of a region using a mon not otherwise native to the land, as well as alluding to Lance's traveling and influence he's gotten from other regions, like Galar with his uniform.


>Roark
>New Ace: Coalossal
>Works and runs the Oreburgh Coalmine, the main attraction and source of income of Oreburgh city.
>Gives him an offensive edge over his father's type, Steel, who he both looks up to and wishes to surpass.
>Secondary Fire typing has some potential thematic qualities. It could allude to the passing of the torch Byron does to his son. Or the fact that Roark has a lot of "fuel" left to burn as one of the region's most junior Gym leaders.
>Still keeps the fossil and mining theme he previously had with Cranidos since coal is a fossil fuel.