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Kanto field journalPokémon FireRed / LeafGreenGUIDES

FireRed & LeafGreen Walkthrough: Kanto and the Sevii Islands

The whole adventure in 16 parts, from Pallet Town to the Champion and on through the Sevii Islands post-game. Each part links to the location pages for wild Pokémon, trainers and items.

Edition: the original Game Boy Advance Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (English, 2004). Red/Blue/Yellow and Let’s Go differ.

Parts
16
Badges
8
Elite Four
4 + Champion
Starters
Bulbasaur · Charmander · Squirtle

Part 1 Pallet Town to Viridian City

Pallet Town Route 1 Viridian City Route 22

You start in Pallet Town, take your first Pokémon from Professor Oak and walk the short road north to Viridian City. A parcel errand sends you back to the lab, where Oak rewards you with the Pokédex and a handful of Poké Balls. By the end you can use the Poké Mart and travel on to Route 2.

  1. Leave your house and walk toward the tall grass north of Pallet Town, where Oak stops you and leads you into his lab.
  2. Choose Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle from Oak's table; your rival then takes the starter that is strong against yours.
  3. Win the first rival battle in the lab (both starters are level 5), then walk north onto Route 1.
  4. Catch a Pidgey or a Rattata on Route 1, the only two wild species there, so you have a second party member.
  5. Enter Viridian City's Poké Mart, where the clerk gives you Oak's Parcel to deliver back to Pallet Town.
  6. Return to Oak's lab to hand over the parcel and receive the Pokédex and five Poké Balls.
  7. Visit the rival's house next door, where his sister gives you the Town Map.
  8. Back in Viridian City, the old man who was blocking the road now demonstrates how to catch a Pokémon and gives you the Teachy TV.
  9. Optional: walk west onto Route 22 to catch a Mankey or Spearow, which also triggers a first rematch with your rival (his Pidgey and starter are both level 9).
  10. Heal at the Pokémon Center, stock up on Poké Balls and Potions, and take Route 2 north.

Worth catching: Pidgey Rattata Mankey Spearow

The optional Route 22 rival is the hardest early fight, so reach about level 10 and carry a few Potions before you take it on.

Part 2 Viridian Forest and Brock

Route 2 Viridian Forest Pewter City

Route 2 leads to Viridian Forest, a maze of tall grass filled with Bug Catchers and Bug-type Pokémon. Pewter City lies on the far side, home to a small museum and the Rock-type Gym Leader Brock. Beating him earns the Boulder Badge and your first TM.

  1. Buy Poké Balls, Potions and Antidotes in Viridian City, then follow Route 2 north to the Viridian Forest gate.
  2. Pick up the Poké Ball, Antidote and Potions lying on the forest paths, and check for a hidden Potion and a hidden Antidote.
  3. Defeat the Bug Catchers along the way; their Weedle, Caterpie and Kakuna can poison you, so keep Antidotes handy.
  4. Watch the grass for a Pikachu, which appears about 5% of the time in both versions.
  5. Leave through the north gate and continue along Route 2 into Pewter City, then heal and buy Escape Ropes and Repels.
  6. The Pewter Museum charges a small entry fee, and its Old Amber needs Cut, which you will not have until the S.S. Anne.
  7. In the Gym, beat Camper Liam (Geodude and Sandshrew, levels 10 and 11) to reach Brock.
  8. Brock fields Geodude (level 12) and Onix (level 14); winning gives the Boulder Badge and TM39 Rock Tomb.
  9. After the battle, one of Oak's aides stops you in town and delivers the Running Shoes from home.
Brock
Brock · Rock · Boulder Badge
GeodudeGeodude Lv. 12RockGroundOnixOnix Lv. 14RockGround

Worth catching: Pikachu Caterpie Weedle Pidgey

Water and Grass moves wreck both of Brock's Pokémon, and if you chose Charmander a Fighting-type Mankey from Route 22 makes the fight much easier.

Part 3 Mt. Moon and Cerulean City

Route 3 Route 4 Mt. Moon Cerulean City

Route 3 is a long run of trainers that ends at the Pokémon Center beside Mt. Moon. The cave is a web of ladders with Team Rocket Grunts, a fossil to choose and plenty of free items, and its far exit follows Route 4 into Cerulean City.

  1. Stock up in Pewter, then follow Route 3 east and beat the Bug Catchers, Youngsters and Lasses on the way.
  2. Route 3's grass holds Jigglypuff, Mankey and Spearow, plus Nidoran: the male is common in FireRed and the female is common in LeafGreen.
  3. Heal at the Route 4 Pokémon Center, where a salesman offers a level 5 Magikarp.
  4. Inside Mt. Moon, take the TM09 Bullet Seed, Potion and Paralyze Heal on the first floor and beat the trainers there.
  5. Work down the ladders to the lower floors, collecting the Star Piece, TM46 Thief, Revive and Antidote and defeating the four Team Rocket Grunts (levels 11 to 13).
  6. The first floor also hides a Rare Candy, an Escape Rope and a Moon Stone in item balls, and the Moon Stone evolves Clefairy.
  7. Super Nerd Miguel guards the fossils on the lowest floor; after beating him you may take either the Dome Fossil or the Helix Fossil, but not both.
  8. Exit onto the east side of Route 4, where an item ball holds TM05 Roar; the grass has Ekans in FireRed and Sandshrew in LeafGreen.
  9. Walk on into Cerulean City and rest at the Pokémon Center before the next stretch.

Worth catching: Jigglypuff Clefairy Geodude Paras Sandshrew

Heal before Super Nerd Miguel's three level 12 Pokémon (Grimer, Voltorb and Koffing), the toughest fight in the cave, and keep Antidotes and Paralyze Heals for the long walk.

Part 4 Nugget Bridge, Bill and Misty

Cerulean City Route 24 Route 25

Cerulean City holds the Water-type Gym of Misty and a few small side events. North of town, Nugget Bridge and Route 25 lead to Bill's Sea Cottage, where helping him earns the S.S. Ticket you need to travel on.

  1. Once you hold the S.S. Ticket, the policeman outside the burgled house steps aside; go through the house and beat the Team Rocket Grunt (Machop and Drowzee, level 17) in the back yard to get TM28 Dig back.
  2. Optional: collect the Powder Jar from a house, and note the old man who trades his Jynx for a Poliwhirl.
  3. Take on Swimmer Luis and Picnicker Diana in the Gym, then challenge Misty.
  4. Misty uses Staryu (level 18) and Starmie (level 21); winning gives the Cascade Badge and TM03 Water Pulse.
  5. Walking north out of town triggers a rival battle (Pidgeotto, Abra, Rattata and his unevolved starter at level 18), after which he hands you the Fame Checker.
  6. Cross Nugget Bridge on Route 24 and beat the trainers; the last one gives you a Nugget and then reveals himself as a Team Rocket Grunt (Ekans and Zubat, level 15).
  7. Route 24 and Route 25 have Abra in the grass, with Oddish in FireRed and Bellsprout in LeafGreen, and Route 25 has an item ball with TM43 Secret Power.
  8. Follow Route 25 east to Bill's Sea Cottage and help him out of his teleporter accident to receive the S.S. Ticket.
  9. Return to Cerulean City; the roadblocks south of town open once you hold the S.S. Ticket.
Misty
Misty · Water · Cascade Badge
StaryuStaryu Lv. 18WaterStarmieStarmie Lv. 21WaterPsychic

Worth catching: Abra Oddish Bellsprout Pidgey Caterpie

Grass and Electric moves hit both of Misty's Pokémon hard, and her level 21 Starmie, which can heal with Recover, is the one to focus on.

Part 5 Vermilion City, S.S. Anne and Lt. Surge

Route 5 Route 6 Vermilion City S.S. Anne

Routes 5 and 6 run south from Cerulean to the harbor town of Vermilion City. Your ticket gets you onto the S.S. Anne, where you meet your rival again and earn HM01 Cut. With Cut you can reach Lt. Surge's Electric-type Gym.

  1. Leave Cerulean to the south along Routes 5 and 6, battling the trainers and catching Meowth plus Oddish in FireRed or Bellsprout in LeafGreen.
  2. In Vermilion City, the Pokémon Fan Club chairman gives you a Bike Voucher, which you can trade for a Bicycle at Cerulean's Bike Shop.
  3. A girl in one house will trade her Farfetch'd for a Spearow, and a fishing guru in another gives you the Old Rod.
  4. Board the S.S. Anne with your ticket and pick up TM31 Brick Break, Stardust, an X Attack, TM44 Rest, an Ether and a Super Potion, plus a hidden Hyper Potion in a trash can.
  5. Beat the sailors, gentlemen and fishermen on each deck, then meet your rival in the second-floor corridor (Pidgeotto, Raticate, Kadabra and his starter's evolution).
  6. Visit the seasick captain in his office to receive HM01 Cut, and finish exploring before you leave, because the ship sails afterward.
  7. Teach Cut to a Pokémon and cut the small tree beside the Vermilion Gym.
  8. Find the two hidden switches in the Gym's trash cans to open the electric door, then beat Engineer Baily, Sailor Dwayne and Gentleman Tucker.
  9. Lt. Surge uses Voltorb (level 21), Pikachu (level 18) and Raichu (level 24); winning gives the Thunder Badge and TM34 Shock Wave.
Lt. Surge

Worth catching: Meowth Oddish Bellsprout Pidgey

Every one of Lt. Surge's Pokémon is Electric, so Ground-types such as Geodude or Sandshrew are immune to them and make the fight easy.

Part 6 Rock Tunnel, Lavender Town and Celadon City

Route 11 Diglett’s Cave Route 9 Route 10 Rock Tunnel Lavender Town Route 8 Underground Path Route 7 Celadon City

This part takes you east to Rock Tunnel and Lavender Town, then back west through the Underground Path to Celadon City. There are several optional detours that reward you for catching Pokémon. In Celadon you find the Grass-type Gym and the Game Corner you will need in the next part.

  1. Optional detour: head east from Vermilion along Route 11, where the east gate has a Nidoran-line trade (Nidorino for Nidorina in FireRed, the reverse in LeafGreen) and an Oak aide who gives the Itemfinder if you have caught 30 species.
  2. Diglett's Cave links Route 11 to the east side of Route 2, where another aide gives HM05 Flash once you have caught 10 species.
  3. With Cut you can now enter the Pewter Museum's staff area and receive Old Amber.
  4. Return to Cerulean City, cut the tree on its east side, and walk Route 9, picking up TM40 Aerial Ace.
  5. On Route 10, the Pokémon Center aide gives an Everstone when you have caught 20 species.
  6. Cross Rock Tunnel, which is dark without Flash and full of Hikers and Picnickers.
  7. Reach Lavender Town, buy Great Balls and Revives at the Mart, and leave the Pokémon Tower for later.
  8. Continue to Route 8 (Growlithe in FireRed, Vulpix in LeafGreen) and take the Underground Path west to Route 7, since the Saffron gates are closed to you.
  9. In Celadon, get Tea from the woman in the condominiums, an Eevee from the roof room, the Coin Case from the restaurant man, and anything you want from the Department Store.
  10. Cut the tree inside the Celadon Gym, beat the Grass trainers and defeat Erika to win the Rainbow Badge and TM19 Giga Drain.
Erika

Worth catching: Diglett Growlithe Vulpix Machop Voltorb

Erika's level 29 Vileplume can put you to sleep with Sleep Powder and her Victreebel can paralyze you with Stun Spore, so carry Awakenings and Parlyz Heals and hit them with Fire, Flying, Ice or Psychic moves.

Part 7 Rocket Hideout

Celadon City Rocket Hideout

Team Rocket runs a secret base beneath the Celadon Game Corner. You work down four floors of grunts and spinner tiles to reach Giovanni, who leaves behind the Silph Scope. The Game Corner's prize counter is also worth a visit on the way out.

  1. Make sure you have the Coin Case from the Celadon restaurant, and buy or find coins in the Game Corner.
  2. Beat the Rocket Grunt (Raticate and Zubat, level 20) standing by the poster at the back, then press the hidden switch to open the stairway down.
  3. On B1F, collect the Escape Rope and Hyper Potion and defeat the grunts with their Raticate, Grimer and Koffing teams.
  4. On B2F, pick up the X Speed, Moon Stone, TM12 Taunt and Super Potion, then continue through the spinner-tile mazes.
  5. On B3F, take the Rare Candy, TM21 Frustration and BlackGlasses, and look for a hidden Nugget.
  6. On B4F, beat the grunts and collect the Lift Key, which you need to operate the elevator.
  7. Face Giovanni (Onix level 25, Rhyhorn level 24 and Kangaskhan level 29) to receive the Silph Scope.
  8. Back in the Game Corner, the Prize Corner sells Abra, Clefairy, Dratini and Porygon in both versions, plus Scyther in FireRed or Pinsir in LeafGreen.
  9. Keep the Silph Scope for Lavender's Pokémon Tower, which is your next stop.

Worth catching: Abra Clefairy Dratini Porygon Scyther

Giovanni's Onix and Rhyhorn are both Rock/Ground, so Water and Grass moves do four times damage to each of them; bring a Pokémon that knows one of those moves.

Part 8 Pokémon Tower

Lavender Town Pokémon Tower

With the Silph Scope in hand, you climb Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower to deal with a restless ghost and a Rocket ambush. At the top you rescue Mr. Fuji, who thanks you with the Poké Flute. That key item will wake the sleeping Snorlax that blocks the road south.

  1. Return to Lavender Town, heal up, and enter the Pokémon Tower.
  2. Wild Gastly, Cubone and the occasional Haunter live on the tower floors, and the Silph Scope lets you see ghosts you could not identify before.
  3. Your rival waits on the second floor with Pidgeotto, Kadabra, two of Growlithe, Exeggcute and Gyarados (which two depends on your starter) and the next stage of his starter.
  4. Look for the Escape Rope on 3F, the Elixir, Awakening and Great Ball on 4F, the Nugget and Cleanse Tag on 5F, and the Rare Candy and X Accuracy on 6F.
  5. On 6F, the Silph Scope reveals the ghost as a Marowak (level 30), which you must beat to go any higher.
  6. On 7F, defeat the three Team Rocket Grunts holding Mr. Fuji captive, and look for a hidden Soothe Bell.
  7. Mr. Fuji takes you back to his house, the Volunteer Pokémon House, and gives you the Poké Flute.
  8. Use the Poké Flute on the sleeping Snorlax when you reach it on Route 12 or Route 16.

Worth catching: Gastly Haunter Cubone

Electric attacks handle Pidgeotto and (if he has one) Gyarados in the rival fight on 2F; his Exeggcute, if he has one, is weak to Fire, Flying, Poison and Bug moves, and his Growlithe to Water, Ground and Rock.

Part 9 Snorlax, Fuchsia City and Koga

Route 12 Route 13 Route 14 Route 15 Fuchsia City Safari Zone

The Poké Flute clears the way south from Lavender Town to Fuchsia City along a string of busy routes. Fuchsia is home to the Safari Zone, where you collect both Surf and Strength, and to Koga's Poison-type Gym.

  1. Take the Poké Flute to Route 12 and wake the level 30 Snorlax, then beat it (or catch it) to open the road south.
  2. Route 12's Fishing House gives you the Super Rod, and the upper floor of the route's north gate gives you TM27 Return.
  3. Fight through the Bird Keepers, Bikers and Beauties on Routes 13, 14 and 15, where the grass holds Venonat, Pidgeotto and Ditto.
  4. Oddish and Gloom appear in FireRed on these routes, while Bellsprout and Weepinbell appear in LeafGreen.
  5. In Fuchsia City, heal at the Pokémon Center, find the Good Rod in one house and a hidden Max Revive in town.
  6. Pay the entry fee for the Safari Zone, where you throw Safari Balls under a limited step count and can fish with the Super Rod for Dratini.
  7. Grab the Gold Teeth in the West area, find the Secret House for HM03 Surf, and take the teeth to the Warden's house for HM04 Strength.
  8. The Safari Zone has Scyther in FireRed and Pinsir in LeafGreen, as well as Kangaskhan, Tauros and Chansey in the tall grass.
  9. In the Fuchsia Gym, work around the invisible walls and beat the Jugglers and Tamers.
  10. Koga fields two Koffing, a Muk and a Weezing; winning gives the Soul Badge and TM06 Toxic.
Koga

Worth catching: Kangaskhan Tauros Chansey Dratini Scyther

Koga's Koffing can use Selfdestruct and his team relies on Toxic, so lead with a Pokémon you can spare; Psychic moves work on all four, while Ground moves only hit Muk because Koffing and Weezing have Levitate.

Part 10 Silph Co. and Sabrina

Route 18 Route 17 Route 16 Saffron City Silph Co.

The Cycling Road carries you from Fuchsia back toward Celadon, past one more sleeping Snorlax. Saffron City lets you in once the guards get their Tea, and its Silph Co. building is under Team Rocket control. Clearing it opens Sabrina's Psychic-type Gym.

  1. Leave Fuchsia along Route 18 and onto Route 17, the Cycling Road, which requires the Bicycle from Cerulean's Bike Shop; otherwise walk back via Lavender.
  2. Route 17 hides a Rare Candy, Full Restore, Max Revive, Max Elixir and PP Up, and its Bikers and Cue Balls are tougher than earlier trainers.
  3. On Route 16, wake the level 30 Snorlax with the Poké Flute, and look in the house there for HM02 Fly (the north gate's second floor gives an Amulet Coin once you have caught 40 species).
  4. Pass through Celadon and Route 7, where the gate guard takes your Tea and lets you into Saffron City.
  5. In the Fighting Dojo, beat the master and choose either Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan (level 25), and visit Mr. Psychic's house for TM29 Psychic.
  6. Enter Silph Co., use the warp panels to cross floors, and pick up the Card Key on 5F to open locked doors.
  7. Your rival waits on 7F with Pidgeot, Alakazam, two of Growlithe, Exeggcute and Gyarados (depending on your starter) and the final form of his starter at level 40.
  8. On 11F, beat Giovanni (Nidorino, Kangaskhan, Rhyhorn and Nidoqueen, levels 35 to 41), and the Silph president rewards you with a Master Ball.
  9. Once Giovanni is gone, a Silph employee on 7F gives you a level 25 Lapras.
  10. Sabrina fields Kadabra, Mr. Mime, Venomoth and Alakazam; winning gives the Marsh Badge and TM04 Calm Mind.
Sabrina

Worth catching: Doduo Fearow Snorlax

Sabrina's level 43 Alakazam can boost itself with Calm Mind and heal with Recover, so bring strong physical attackers and Bug, Ghost or Dark moves, and knock it out quickly.

Part 11 Cinnabar Island and Blaine

Route 19 Route 20 Seafoam Islands Cinnabar Island Pokémon Mansion

A Surf trip down Routes 19 and 20 takes you through the Seafoam Islands, where Articuno waits. Cinnabar Island has the fossil lab, the abandoned Pokémon Mansion and Blaine's Fire-type Gym, which stays locked until you find the Secret Key.

  1. Fly to Fuchsia, surf south onto Route 19, and beat the many Swimmers.
  2. On Route 20 east of the Seafoam Islands, pick up the hidden Stardust and fight more Swimmers.
  3. Enter the Seafoam Islands and use Strength to push boulders into holes, which stops the currents on the lower floors and lets you surf through.
  4. Look for the Water Stones (one on B1F, one hidden on B4F), the Revive, Big Pearl, Ultra Ball and a hidden Nugget, and fight the level 50 Articuno on B4F if you want it.
  5. Leave to the west on Route 20 and surf on to Cinnabar Island.
  6. In the Pokémon Lab, trade a Dome Fossil, Helix Fossil or Old Amber for a level 5 Kabuto, Omanyte or Aerodactyl, and consider the lab's three trades (Raichu for Electrode, Venonat for Tangela, Ponyta for Seel).
  7. Explore the Pokémon Mansion, using the statue switches to open doors, to find the Secret Key on B1F, plus TM14 Blizzard, TM22 SolarBeam and a Full Restore.
  8. The Mansion's wild Pokémon include Growlithe in FireRed or Vulpix in LeafGreen, Koffing (common in FireRed) and Grimer (common in LeafGreen), and Ditto on B1F.
  9. Use the Secret Key on the Gym door, answer the quiz questions or beat the trainers behind each door, then face Blaine.
  10. Blaine fields Growlithe, Ponyta, Rapidash and Arcanine; winning gives the Volcano Badge and TM38 Fire Blast.
Blaine

Worth catching: Articuno Seel Growlithe Vulpix Ditto

Blaine's Arcanine (level 47) is his best Pokémon, so use Water or Rock attacks and carry Burn Heals for his Fire Blasts.

Part 12 One to Three Island with Bill and Celio

One Island Treasure Beach Kindle Road Mt. Ember Two Island Cape Brink Three Island Bond Bridge Berry Forest Three Isle Port

After the Volcano Badge, Bill invites you to the Sevii Islands to help his friend Celio with the Network Machine. You deliver a Meteorite to Two Island, rescue a missing girl on Three Island and sail back to Kanto. The Ruby quest in Mt. Ember has to wait until after the Hall of Fame, but Moltres is already waiting at the summit.

  1. After you win the Volcano Badge, Bill finds you in Cinnabar and takes you by Seagallop to One Island.
  2. At the One Island Pokémon Center, Bill asks you to deliver a Meteorite to Two Island, and Celio gives you a Tri-Pass and an extra Town Map page.
  3. The Pokémon Storage System is offline during this trip and only comes back once you reach Three Isle Port.
  4. Optional: look for items on Treasure Beach and beat Swimmer Amara, then take Kindle Road, where Ember Spa gives you HM06 Rock Smash.
  5. Mt. Ember has Moltres at the summit, but the Ruby cave stays sealed until the post-game Ruby quest.
  6. Sail to Two Island and enter the Game Corner, where you learn that the owner's daughter Lostelle has gone missing.
  7. On Three Island, beat the bikers and Cue Ball Paxton (Weezing and Muk, level 39) who have taken over the town.
  8. Cross Bond Bridge to Berry Forest and find Lostelle, which triggers a wild level 30 Hypno battle; afterward she thanks you with an Iapapa Berry and heads home.
  9. Three Isle Port, where the ferry docks south of Three Island, is where your Storage System comes back online; its patch of Dunsparce grass on the east side cannot be reached until you have the National Pokédex.
  10. Back at the Two Island Game Corner, the owner takes the Meteorite and gives you a Moon Stone, then return to One Island to meet Bill and Celio and ride the ferry back to Cinnabar.

Worth catching: Moltres Ponyta Magmar Tangela

If you try for Moltres, use Rock moves (four times damage) and put it to sleep before throwing Ultra Balls; Magmar in the Mt. Ember grass is a LeafGreen exclusive.

Part 13 Giovanni and the Route 22 Rival

Route 21 Pallet Town Power Plant Viridian City Route 22

Your last badge is in Viridian City, where the long-missing Gym Leader turns out to be Team Rocket's boss. After beating Giovanni you meet your rival one more time on Route 22 before the road to the Pokémon League. The Power Plant is an optional stop for the third legendary bird.

  1. Surf north from Cinnabar along Route 21, where wild Tangela fill the grass, until you reach Pallet Town.
  2. Optional: Fly to Route 10 and surf to the Power Plant for Zapdos (level 50), TM25 Thunder, TM17 Protect, two Thunderstones, a Max Potion and an Elixir.
  3. Some item balls in the Power Plant are actually Electrode (level 34), and FireRed players can also find Electabuzz in the grass.
  4. Go to Viridian City, where the Gym is open now that you hold the first seven badges.
  5. Beat the Black Belts and Cooltrainers in the Gym, using the spinner tiles to reach Giovanni.
  6. Giovanni fields Rhyhorn, Dugtrio, Nidoqueen, Nidoking and a second Rhyhorn at level 50; winning gives the Earth Badge and TM26 Earthquake.
  7. A Macho Brace is hidden where Giovanni stood, which you can find with the Itemfinder.
  8. Walk west onto Route 22, where the rival challenges you with Pidgeot and Alakazam at level 47, three Pokémon at level 45 (including Rhyhorn) and his starter's final form at level 53.
  9. Pass the Route 22 gate, where a guard confirms your Boulder Badge, and heal before continuing to Route 23.
Giovanni

Worth catching: Zapdos Electabuzz Magneton Tangela Pikachu

Water and Ice moves hit most of Giovanni's team hard, and Flying-types are immune to his Earthquakes.

Part 14 Victory Road, the Elite Four and the Champion

Route 23 Victory Road Indigo Plateau

Route 23's guards check all eight badges before you can enter Victory Road. Past the cave lies the Indigo Plateau, where you must beat four Elite Four members and then your rival in a row with no chance to visit a Pokémon Center. Winning puts you in the Hall of Fame and finishes the main story.

  1. On Route 23, a series of guards check your badges one by one, so make sure you hold all eight.
  2. In Victory Road, use Strength to push the boulders onto the floor switches that open the way forward.
  3. Collect the Rare Candy and TM02 Dragon Claw on 1F, TM37 Sandstorm and TM07 Hail on 2F, and TM50 Overheat and a Max Revive on 3F.
  4. Beat the Cooltrainers, Jugglers and Cool Couple Ray and Tyra (Nidoqueen and Nidoking, level 45) along the way.
  5. At the Indigo Plateau, stock up on Full Restores, Max Potions, Revives and Full Heals, because you cannot heal at a Center between battles.
  6. Lorelei uses Water and Ice Pokémon from level 51 to 54, ending with Lapras.
  7. Bruno uses Rock and Fighting Pokémon from level 51 to 56, ending with Machamp.
  8. Agatha uses Ghost and Poison Pokémon from level 53 to 58, ending with Gengar.
  9. Lance uses mostly Dragon-types from level 54 to 60, opening with Gyarados and finishing with Dragonite.
  10. Your rival is the Champion, with Pidgeot, Alakazam and Rhydon plus three Pokémon based on your starter, ending with its final form at level 63.

Worth catching: Onix Machoke Marowak Primeape Golbat

Lance's Dragonite is four times weak to Ice and his Gyarados four times weak to Electric, so pack coverage for both before the fourth battle.

Part 15 Sevii Islands Four to Seven

One Island Mt. Ember Four Island Icefall Cave Five Island Water Labyrinth Resort Gorgeous Lost Cave Five Isle Meadow Memorial Pillar Six Island Water Path Ruin Valley Dotted Hole Green Path Pattern Bush Outcast Island

After the Hall of Fame, Celio asks for two gems to finish his Network Machine, and the National Pokédex opens the way to the outer Sevii Islands. You fetch the Ruby from Mt. Ember, then chase the Sapphire through Team Rocket's Warehouse on Five Island. Delivering it connects the machine to the Hoenn games.

  1. After the credits, show Professor Oak at least 60 caught Pokémon (having visited One Island) to receive the National Pokédex.
  2. Celio then asks for a Ruby; beat the two Team Rocket Grunts outside Mt. Ember and enter the newly opened cave.
  3. Descend the Ruby Path to B3F to collect the Ruby, then return it to Celio and trade your Tri-Pass for the Rainbow Pass.
  4. On Four Island, Icefall Cave holds HM07 Waterfall, a Full Restore, a NeverMeltIce, and a Team Rocket Grunt (Zubat, Zubat and Golbat, level 38) at the back.
  5. On Five Island, visit Resort Gorgeous, the Water Labyrinth (where an old man gives you a Togepi egg if your lead Pokémon is very friendly), Lost Cave and Memorial Pillar (TM42 Facade).
  6. On Six Island, use Cut on the Braille wall in Ruin Valley to open the Dotted Hole, and head down to the Sapphire room.
  7. A thief steals the Sapphire and blurts out the password for the Rocket Warehouse on Five Island.
  8. At Five Isle Meadow, beat the Team Rocket Grunts guarding the door, then enter the Warehouse and defeat the Admins and Scientist Gideon to recover the Sapphire.
  9. Give the Sapphire to Celio; his Network Machine connects to Hoenn, the guard leaves Cerulean Cave, and a roaming legendary beast starts wandering Kanto.
  10. Pattern Bush on Six Island has Heracross in both versions, and Icefall Cave has Sneasel in LeafGreen or Delibird in FireRed.

Worth catching: Lapras Swinub Heracross Natu Yanma

The Warehouse Admins use mostly Poison teams with a level 55 Houndoom mixed in, and Gideon relies on Electric Pokémon, so bring Full Restores and a Ground-type for Gideon.

Part 16 Post-Game Extras

Cerulean Cave Seven Island Sevault Canyon Tanoby Ruins Altering Cave

Once Celio's machine is working, Kanto holds several extra challenges. Cerulean Cave is open and Mewtwo awaits at its bottom, a legendary beast roams the routes, and Seven Island hides the Tanoby Ruins. Altering Cave on Six Island has a single wild species, Zubat.

  1. After you give the Sapphire to Celio, the guard at Cerulean Cave leaves and you can enter it from Cerulean City.
  2. Explore Cerulean Cave's three floors, which have wild Pokémon up to level 67 and items such as two Full Restores and a Max Revive.
  3. At the bottom of Cerulean Cave you can find Mewtwo (level 70), and you will need Surf to cross the underground water on the way.
  4. A legendary beast roams Kanto at level 50: Entei if you started with Bulbasaur, Suicune with Charmander, or Raikou with Squirtle.
  5. On Seven Island, go through Sevault Canyon (Larvitar and Phanpy in the grass, and Skarmory in FireRed) and solve the puzzle in the Tanoby Key chamber.
  6. Tanoby Ruins then opens with seven chambers of wild Unown at level 25, where each chamber has its own letters (for example Monean has A and ?, while Viapois has Z and !).
  7. Altering Cave on Six Island, reached from Outcast Island, only has Zubat in a normal game; its other Pokémon sets needed a Mystery Gift event that was never distributed.
  8. If you skipped them earlier, the three legendary birds are still waiting: Articuno in Seafoam Islands, Zapdos in the Power Plant and Moltres on Mt. Ember.

Worth catching: Mewtwo Unown Larvitar Skarmory

Save your Master Ball from Silph Co. for Mewtwo, because its level 70 and high stats make it very hard to catch with Ultra Balls alone.

FAQ

What is the Gym order in FireRed and LeafGreen?

Brock (Pewter City), Misty (Cerulean City), Lt. Surge (Vermilion City), Erika (Celadon City), Koga (Fuchsia City), Sabrina (Saffron City), Blaine (Cinnabar Island), Giovanni (Viridian City).

Which starter should I pick?

Bulbasaur makes the first two Gyms easiest; Squirtle is solid all game; Charmander struggles early against Brock and Misty but is strong later. The rival always takes the starter that beats yours.

When can you go to the Sevii Islands?

One to Three Island open after the Volcano Badge from Blaine; Four to Seven Island open after the Hall of Fame, once you have the National Pokédex and bring Celio the Ruby.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Bulbapedia and the game data. Wild Pokémon and encounter chances for both versions, items, trainers, gifts, trades and shops come from the pret/pokefirered decompilation (pret/pokefirered 037335f4c7). Maps and sprites © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, archived from the Bulbagarden Archives; the region maps are drawn from the game’s own map graphics (listed on the image gallery).