⚙ GLOBAL RULES
A
EXP only to your final six. Charizard, Gyarados, Nidoking, Jolteon, Snorlax, Lapras.
B
Repels in all dungeon areas. Mt Moon, Rock Tunnel, Pokémon Tower, Silph Co, Mansion, Victory Road.
C
Rare Candies are for level sync. Use before bosses — not randomly.
D
Only 1 delayed evolution. Hold Nidorino until Thrash at Lv 22. Everything else evolves immediately.
E
HM slots: Fly → Charizard · Surf → Lapras (and Gyarados) · Strength → Snorlax · Cut → HM slave only.
F
Repels need a high-level lead. Repels only suppress wild encounters if your lead's level is ≥ the local wild Pokémon. Swapping to a low-level mon for switch-training (e.g. Magikarp early, Snorlax late) disables Repels entirely. Restore a high-level lead before entering any dungeon.
Level Targets (sanity checks)
Brock14
Misty21
Surge24
Erika29
Sabrina43
Blaine47
Giovanni50
Elite Four55~
00
TEAM ROSTER — CATCH & LEVEL GUIDE
▼
🔥 CHARMANDER → CHARMELEON → CHARIZARD
- Obtain: Starter — pick at Lv 5 in Pallet Town
- Lv 7 → learns Ember (first real attacking move)
- Lv 13 → learns Metal Claw (too late for Brock — do not plan around this)
- Lv 16 → evolves to Charmeleon. Evolve immediately.
- Lv 36 → evolves to Charizard. Learns Wing Attack at evolution — replace it immediately with Fly (HM02, Route 16 girl, S10).
TM Plan — Charizard
- S07 SS Anne → TM31 Brick Break — teach to Charmeleon. This is the only copy in the game. Do NOT give to Nidoking.
- S10 Celadon Game Corner → TM35 Flamethrower — replaces Ember on Charmeleon
- S20 Victory Road → TM02 Dragon Claw — fills final slot on Charizard
💧 MAGIKARP → GYARADOS
- Obtain: Buy Magikarp for ₽500 from salesman inside the Route 4 Pokémon Center
- Lv 1–14: only knows Splash — useless in battle, just switch-train it
- Lv 15 → learns Tackle (first usable move)
- Lv 20 → evolves to Gyarados. Automatically learns Bite at evolution.
- Lv 25 → learns Dragon Rage (always deals exactly 40 damage — good filler for now)
- Lv 30 → learns Leer — useless. Do NOT let it overwrite Bite or Tackle.
Switch-training Magikarp: send it out first each fight, immediately swap. It earns half XP without taking a hit. Takes roughly 10–15 trainer fights to hit Lv 20.
TM Plan — Gyarados
- S14 Fuchsia → HM03 Surf — primary Water STAB, replaces Tackle
- S17 One Island (after Blaine) → TM27 Return — from a man on Kindle Road. Replaces Dragon Rage. Power scales with happiness (max 102 BP). Teach as soon as you land on One Island.
☠ NIDORAN♂ → NIDORINO → NIDOKING
- Obtain: Route 3 (east of Pewter City, after Brock) — good encounter rate. Do NOT try Route 22 — Nidoran♂ is rare there. Box Mankey after Brock and catch Nidoran♂ here instead.
- Lv 12 → learns Double Kick (Fighting — useful for Normal types)
- Lv 16 → evolves to Nidorino. Evolve immediately — nothing worth waiting for.
- Nidorino Lv 22 → learns Thrash — WAIT for this before using the Moon Stone.
- After Thrash at Lv 22 → use Moon Stone → Nidoking. Nidoking learns no new moves by level-up.
TM Plan — Nidoking
- S08 Cerulean → TM28 Dig — strong Ground coverage, teach to Nidorino immediately
- S11 Rocket Hideout B2F → TM36 Sludge Bomb — Poison STAB, replaces Leer or weakest filler
- S18 Viridian Gym area → TM26 Earthquake — replaces Dig when obtained (stronger, no charge turn)
⚡ EEVEE → JOLTEON
- Obtain: Celadon Mansion back entrance, top floor — free Eevee around Lv 25
- Eevee already knows Quick Attack by the time you collect it (learned at Lv 17)
- Use Thunder Stone immediately — no Eevee moves are worth waiting for.
- Jolteon Lv 33 → learns Thunder Wave (paralysis — strong utility in boss fights and catching)
- Jolteon Lv 41 → learns Pin Missile (Bug-type, multi-hit — coverage vs Psychic types)
TM Plan — Jolteon
- S10 Celadon Game Corner → TM24 Thunderbolt — teach immediately on evolving
😴 SNORLAX
- Obtain: Route 12 south of Lavender Town — Lv 30. Requires Poké Flute (from Lavender Tower) and Silph Scope (from Rocket Hideout). Use Ultra Balls.
- Check moveset on capture — it will have some combination of Normal-type attacks and Amnesia at Lv 30
- Lv 33 → learns Rest (heals all HP and cures status — core move, keep forever)
- Lv 35 → learns Amnesia (doubles Sp. Def — stall powerhouse with Rest)
- Body Slam Move Tutor — available on One Island after Blaine (S17). 85 BP Normal with 30% paralysis chance. Replaces whatever Normal filler Snorlax has.
TM Plan — Snorlax
- S15 Silph Co → TM30 Shadow Ball — Dark/Ghost coverage, teach immediately when obtained. Leave one slot open for this until S15.
- HM04 Strength — utility slot filler until Body Slam replaces it on One Island
🧊 LAPRAS
- Obtain: Silph Co 7F (S15) — given for free after defeating Team Rocket boss. Around Lv 25.
- Lapras joins with Water Gun and some status/filler moves — replace these immediately.
- Lv 28 → learns Body Slam — keep, good Normal-type physical attack
- Lv 31 → learns Confuse Ray — keep, strong utility in tough fights
- Lv 37 → learns Perish Song — skip, do NOT let it overwrite Confuse Ray
Lapras joins underlevelled relative to your team. Prioritise XP on it through Silph Co trainers and Cycling Road before the gyms.
TM Plan — Lapras
- S10 Celadon Game Corner (buy & hold) → TM13 Ice Beam — teach immediately when Lapras joins in S15
- S15 Saffron City free → TM29 Psychic — from man in west house, fill 4th slot
- S14 Fuchsia → HM03 Surf — teach to both Lapras and Gyarados
00B
LEVEL-UP MOVE REFERENCE — ALL SIX
▼
Quick-lookup timeline for every Pokémon. ★ EVOLVE rows show the exact level (and required move) before triggering evolution. KEEP = never delete this move. SKIP = decline/replace immediately.
🔥 CHARMANDER → CHARMELEON → CHARIZARD
| LVL | MOVE / EVENT | ACTION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch, Growl | Filler early on |
| 7 | Ember | KEEP until TM35 Flamethrower (S10) |
| 13 | Metal Claw | Filler — too late for Brock |
| 16 | ★ EVOLVE → Charmeleon | Immediately — no delay needed |
| 20 | Smokescreen | SKIP — decline or replace filler |
| 23 | Scary Face | SKIP |
| S10 | TM35 Flamethrower | KEEP — replaces Ember. Celadon Game Corner. |
| 33 | Flamethrower (natural) | Already have TM version — decline |
| 36 | ★ EVOLVE → Charizard — learns Wing Attack | Replace Wing Attack with HM02 Fly immediately |
| 44 | Slash | Optional — replace Scratch/Metal Claw filler if still there |
| S07 | TM31 Brick Break | KEEP — SS Anne. Only 1 copy, Charizard only. |
| S20 | TM02 Dragon Claw | KEEP — Victory Road. Fills final slot. |
Final moveset: Flamethrower · Fly · Brick Break · Dragon Claw
💧 MAGIKARP → GYARADOS
| LVL | MOVE / EVENT | ACTION |
|---|---|---|
| 1–14 | Splash | Switch-train — Magikarp does nothing in battle |
| 15 | Tackle | Filler until Surf |
| 20 | ★ EVOLVE → Gyarados — learns Bite | KEEP Bite — Dark type coverage |
| 25 | Dragon Rage | Keep temporarily — always deals 40 damage. Replace with Return at S17. |
| 30 | Leer | SKIP — do NOT overwrite Bite or Dragon Rage |
| 35 | Twister | SKIP |
| S14 | HM03 Surf | KEEP — replaces Tackle. Fuchsia City. |
| S17 | TM27 Return | KEEP — replaces Dragon Rage. Kindle Road, One Island. Up to 102 BP at max happiness. |
| 40 | Bite (natural relearn) | Already have it — decline |
Final moveset: Surf · Return · Bite · Thrash
☠ NIDORAN♂ → NIDORINO → NIDOKING
| LVL | MOVE / EVENT | ACTION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leer, Tackle | Filler |
| 9 | Poison Sting | Minor STAB — keep as filler for now |
| 12 | Double Kick | KEEP — Fighting coverage, multi-hit |
| 16 | ★ EVOLVE → Nidorino | Evolve immediately |
| S08 | TM28 Dig | KEEP — Ground coverage. Cerulean rival defeat reward. |
| 20 | Horn Attack | SKIP — weak Normal move, no value |
| 22 ⚠ | Thrash | WAIT FOR THIS before Moon Stone. 120 BP — Nidoking's best physical move. |
| 22+ | ★ Use Moon Stone → Nidoking | After Thrash is learned. Nidoking learns NO more moves by level-up. |
| S11 | TM36 Sludge Bomb | KEEP — Poison STAB. Rocket Hideout B2F. |
| S18 | TM26 Earthquake | KEEP — replaces Dig. Viridian Gym area. 100 BP, no charge turn. |
Final moveset: Earthquake · Sludge Bomb · Thrash · Dig (until EQ)
⚡ EEVEE → JOLTEON
| LVL | MOVE / EVENT | ACTION |
|---|---|---|
| ~25 | Obtained in Celadon Mansion — already knows Quick Attack (Lv 17 move) | KEEP Quick Attack — priority move |
| NOW | ★ Use Thunder Stone → Jolteon | Immediately on obtaining Eevee — no Eevee moves worth waiting for |
| S10 | TM24 Thunderbolt | KEEP — teach immediately on evolving. Celadon Game Corner. |
| 29 | Sand-Attack | SKIP |
| 33 | Thunder Wave | KEEP — Paralysis utility, strong in boss fights and catching |
| 37 | Agility | Optional filler slot if needed, otherwise skip |
| 41 | Pin Missile | KEEP — Bug type, multi-hit, coverage vs Psychic types |
Final moveset: Thunderbolt · Quick Attack · Thunder Wave · Pin Missile
😴 SNORLAX
| LVL | MOVE / EVENT | ACTION |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Caught on Route 12 — has Tackle, Headbutt, and/or Yawn at capture | Filler for now. Leave a slot open for Shadow Ball. |
| S13 | 💎 Leftovers (hidden item) | Give to Snorlax immediately — restores HP each turn, synergises with Rest/Amnesia stall |
| S13 | HM04 Strength | Utility slot — replaces filler. Hold until Body Slam at S17. |
| 33 | Rest | KEEP FOREVER — heals all HP, cures status. Core of Snorlax's stall kit. |
| 35 | Amnesia | KEEP FOREVER — doubles Sp. Def. Paired with Rest, Snorlax becomes nearly unkillable. |
| S15 | TM30 Shadow Ball | KEEP — Dark/Ghost coverage. Silph Co. Teach immediately. |
| 40 | Body Slam (natural) | Natural learn — but the Move Tutor version comes first |
| S17 | Body Slam (Move Tutor) | KEEP — 85 BP, 30% paralysis. One Island. Replaces Strength. |
Final moveset: Body Slam · Shadow Ball · Rest · Amnesia
🧊 LAPRAS
| LVL | MOVE / EVENT | ACTION |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Obtained at Silph Co 7F — has Water Gun, Growl, Sing filler | Replace filler immediately with TM13 Ice Beam (bought at Celadon in S10, hold for now) |
| S15 | TM13 Ice Beam + TM29 Psychic | KEEP both — teach on joining. Ice Beam from Celadon (buy in S10). Psychic from west house man in Saffron. |
| 28 | Body Slam | KEEP — 85 BP Normal STAB, 30% paralysis |
| 31 | Confuse Ray | KEEP — strong utility. Good for boss fights and catching legendaries. |
| 37 | Perish Song | SKIP — do NOT let it overwrite Confuse Ray or Body Slam |
| 40 | Ice Beam (natural) | Already have TM version — decline |
| S14 | HM03 Surf | KEEP — teach at Fuchsia. Replaces Water Gun or filler. |
Final moveset: Surf · Ice Beam · Confuse Ray · Psychic
01
PALLET → VIRIDIAN
▼
Goal
Charmander to Lv 7 for Ember. Mankey to Lv 11 for Karate Chop + Low Kick.
Catch
- Route 22: Mankey — common spawn. Your Brock slave only — box it immediately after Brock.
- Optional: Route 1 Pidgey or junk mon for Cut HM slave
Viridian Mart Buy
Targets Leaving Area
Charmander9–10
Mankey11
Key Moves
- Charmander: Ember at Lv 7
- Mankey: Low Kick (Lv 9) + Karate Chop (Lv 11) — both Fighting type, both super effective vs Rock. Lv 11 is the minimum before entering Pewter.
02
VIRIDIAN FOREST
▼
- Fight the 3 optional trainers for safe XP.
- If Mankey isn't Lv 11 yet, grind wild encounters here or on Route 22 before moving on — you want Karate Chop before Brock.
- No move changes needed here.
03
PEWTER CITY + BROCK
▼
Pewter Mart Buy
BROCK
Lead Mankey
Mankey → Karate Chop / Low Kick on Geodude
Mankey → Karate Chop / Low Kick on Onix
Note: Charmander learns Metal Claw at Lv 13 — it's not available yet. Mankey is the entire plan here.
After Brock
- Box Mankey — its job is done. Head to Route 3 to catch Nidoran♂.
Target After Brock
Charmander14–15
04
ROUTE 3 → MT MOON
▼
Catch — Route 3
- Nidoran♂ — Route 3 has good encounter rates. This is your permanent team member. Catch as early as possible here.
- Box Mankey in the PC once Nidoran is caught.
Nidoran♂ Level Milestones
- Lv 12 → learns Double Kick (Fighting — useful vs Normal types)
- Lv 16 → evolves to Nidorino. Evolve immediately.
- Nidorino Lv 22 → learns Thrash — hold the Moon Stone until after this
Train
- Nidoran to Lv 16 → evolve to Nidorino
- Charmeleon hits Lv 13 around here → learns Metal Claw. Keep it for now as a Steel-type coverage option until Brick Break arrives in S07.
Pickups
- Moon Stone — SAVE IT (use after Surge)
- Escape Rope
💎 Hidden Items
- Rare Candy — 1F, near the southeast corner of the floor. Use Itemfinder.
⚠ Do NOT use Moon Stone yet. Hold until Nidorino reaches Lv 22 and learns Thrash. Using it before then means Nidoking never gets Thrash.
05
ROUTE 4 → CERULEAN ARRIVAL
▼
Obtain
- Magikarp — buy from Pokémon Center salesman
- Rare Candy — hidden behind the robbed house (SAVE)
💎 Hidden Items
- Rare Candy — Cerulean City, in the backyard behind the Gym Badge man's house (the house south of the Gym). One step south and three west of the northeast corner of the yard.
Targets (entering Nugget Bridge)
Charmeleon18–20
Nidorino18–20
Magikarpswitch-train ↑
06
NUGGET BRIDGE + MISTY
▼
Goal: Get Magikarp to Lv 20 and evolve into Gyarados before Misty.
Targets Before Misty
Charmeleon20
Magikarp20 → Gyarados
Nidorino20
Gyarados at Evolution (Lv 20)
- Automatically learns Bite on evolution — your main attacking move for now
- Lv 25 → learns Dragon Rage (always 40 damage — keep until you get Return from One Island)
- Lv 30 → learns Leer — do NOT let this overwrite Bite
MISTY
Lead Gyarados
Gyarados → Bite Staryu
Gyarados → Bite Starmie
If confused: Full Heal, keep Biting
Rival (Pre-Misty)
- Nidorino vs Normal types (Double Kick)
- Charmeleon vs Grass starter
- Gyarados Bite vs Kadabra-type threats
07
SS ANNE + VERMILION
▼
Vermilion Mart Buy
Bike Voucher — don't skip this. Visit the Pokémon Fan Club in Vermilion (north side of the city, near the pier). Listen to the chairman talk about his Rapidash and he hands you a free Bike Voucher. Redeem it at the Bike Shop in Cerulean City on your way back north. The Bicycle makes VS Seeker grinding and general traversal significantly faster for the rest of the game.
SS Anne is a level sync dungeon. Fight all trainers to hit your exit targets.
Exit SS Anne Targets
Charmeleon24
Gyarados21–22
Nidorino22 (Thrash)
Move Teaching
- TM31 Brick Break → Charmeleon. This is the only copy of TM31 in the game — do NOT teach it to Nidorino/Nidoking. Charizard needs it to hit Rock types that resist Fire and Flying.
- HM Cut → temporary HM slave only, not your core team
RIVAL (SS ANNE)
Lead Gyarados
Gyarados → Bite Pidgeotto
Gyarados → Bite Raticate
Gyarados → Bite Kadabra
Charmeleon → Ember Ivysaur
08
CERULEAN DIG TM → LT. SURGE
▼
Obtain + Teach
- TM Dig from Cerulean (Rocket/robbed house questline) → teach to Nidorino
LT. SURGE
Lead Nidorino
Dig spam — underground for one turn, then hits hard
After Surge — EVOLVE NOW
- Use Moon Stone → Nidoking
Nidoking Moves at This Stage
Brick Break went to Charmeleon in S07. Nidoking's power slots come online later: Sludge Bomb in S11 (Rocket Hideout B2F) and Earthquake in S18 (Viridian Gym area).
09
ROUTE 9 → ROCK TUNNEL → LAVENDER
▼
- Fight Hikers for good XP — skip filler trainers if rushing
- Route 9 Rare Candy — pick up, SAVE
💎 Hidden Items
- Rare Candy — Route 9, in the tall grass near the east end of the route. Use Itemfinder.
- Ether — also Route 9 in the grass. Not critical but free PP restoration.
XP Priority in Rock Tunnel
Targets Leaving Rock Tunnel
Charmeleon~28
Gyarados~25
Nidoking~26
10
CELADON POWER SPIKE ⚡
▼
THE BIG ONE. Do these steps in order before anything else in Celadon.
Step 1 — Get Eevee
- Celadon Mansion (back entrance, top floor) → pick up Eevee
Step 2 — Dept Store Full Buy
Step 3 — Evolve Eevee
- Use Thunder Stone immediately → Jolteon
Step 4 — Get HM Fly
HM02 Fly location: Exit Celadon west through the Cycling Road gate, then head north on Route 16. A girl inside the gatehouse gives you HM02 Fly for free. Teach it to Charizard after evolution.
Step 5 — Rocket Hideout (Section 11)
Game Corner TM Priority (after Hideout)
- Flamethrower → Charmeleon line
- Thunderbolt → Jolteon
- Ice Beam → buy and HOLD for Lapras
Move Updates
- Charmeleon: Flamethrower replaces Ember
- Jolteon: Thunderbolt main move, keep Quick Attack
- Jolteon Lv 33 → learns Thunder Wave automatically — keep it
- Jolteon Lv 41 → learns Pin Missile automatically — keep it (Bug coverage for Psychic types)
ERIKA
Lead Charizard / Charmeleon
Flamethrower sweep — nothing on her team survives
Charmeleon evolves at Lv 36 → Charizard. Evolve immediately — don't delay.
💎 Hidden Items
- PP Up — Celadon City, on the east side of the city overworld. Use Itemfinder near the back of the Game Corner building.
11
ROCKET HIDEOUT
▼
⚠ Must be done before Lavender Tower. The ghost Marowak on Floor 5 cannot be revealed or fought without the Silph Scope from this dungeon.
How to Enter
- Enter the Celadon Game Corner (the casino building)
- Interact with the poster on the back wall → reveals hidden staircase to B1F
- Fight your way down to B4F where Giovanni waits
Must-Grab — B2F
- TM36 Sludge Bomb — lying on the floor on B2F. Pick this up now. It fills Nidoking's moveset at the end of the game, replacing Rock Slide which is post-game only in FireRed.
GIOVANNI (ROCKET HIDEOUT)
Lead Nidoking
Dig / Thrash through his Ground and Poison types
Gyarados Bite for anything that gives trouble
Reward
- Receive Silph Scope — now you can reveal and fight the ghost Marowak in Pokémon Tower
- Head to Lavender Town (Section 12)
💎 Hidden Items
- PP Up — B1F, in the bottom-right plant of the group of six pots on the first basement floor.
- Rare Candy — B3F, in the northwest corner of the spin tile maze.
- Nugget — B3F, also in the northwest area. Sell it for ₽5,000.
12
LAVENDER TOWER + RIVAL
▼
Rival Plan
- Gyarados Bite → Kadabra
- Charizard Flamethrower → Grass starter
💎 Hidden Items
- Rare Candy — 6F, in the west area of the floor. Use Itemfinder. SAVE it.
- Soothe Bell — 7F, hidden item on the top floor after rescuing Mr Fuji. Boosts happiness gain — give to Gyarados immediately so Return builds power faster.
After freeing Mr Fuji at the top: receive the Poké Flute. Use it to wake Snorlax on Route 12.
13
ROUTE 12 — SNORLAX
▼
Catch
- Wake with Poké Flute → Snorlax (permanent)
- Use your stocked Ultra Balls from Celadon. Inflict Sleep or Paralysis first to help.
Immediate Teaching
- HM Strength → Snorlax (utility + filler until Body Slam)
Leave a moveslot empty for Shadow Ball — you'll get TM30 in Silph Co (Section 15) and teach it there.
Snorlax Level Milestones
- Lv 33 → learns Rest automatically — keep this forever
- Lv 35 → learns Amnesia automatically — keep this (pairs with Rest)
- One Island after Blaine (S17) → Body Slam Move Tutor — replaces Strength
Snorlax Moveset Goal (endgame)
💎 Hidden Items
- Leftovers — stand on the exact tile where Snorlax was sleeping, use Itemfinder. Restores a small amount of HP each turn — give to Snorlax immediately to enhance the Rest + Amnesia stall.
- Rare Candy — southwest corner of Route 12, in a rectangle of grass patches. Itemfinder helps.
14
FUCHSIA + SAFARI ZONE
▼
Fuchsia Mart Buy
Safari Zone — Get
- HM Surf
- Gold Teeth → trade to Warden for HM Strength
Teach
- Surf can go on Gyarados temporarily — final Surf user is Lapras (but Gyarados keeps its own copy — see Section 15)
- Strength → Snorlax (if not already taught)
KOGA
Lead Charizard
Flamethrower everything
Poisoned? Full Heal. Accuracy drops annoying? Pivot to Snorlax Strength.
💎 Hidden Items
- Max Revive — Fuchsia City, behind the Safari Zone Warden's house in the southeast corner. Walk through the Fishing Guru's brother's house to access. One of only a handful in the game.
- PP Up — Route 13, near the southern hedge in the fence opening southwest of Picnicker Gwen. Grab on the way to/from Fuchsia.
15
SAFFRON + SILPH CO (LAPRAS JOIN)
▼
Saffron Mart Buy
Free TM29 Psychic: Before entering Silph Co, explore Saffron City. A man in a house in the west part of town gives you TM29 Psychic for free — no strings attached. This is the easiest TM in the game to walk past. Teach it to Lapras in the last moveslot.
Silph Co
- Use Max Repel throughout
- 7F: receive Lapras from the employee (permanent)
- Teach Surf → Lapras immediately (replace Water Gun)
- Teach saved Ice Beam → Lapras immediately (replace filler)
- Teach TM29 Psychic → Lapras (replace Sing or Mist)
- 3F: pick up TM30 Shadow Ball → teach to Snorlax now
Lapras Level Milestones (coming soon)
- Lv 28 → learns Body Slam — keep it
- Lv 31 → learns Confuse Ray — keep it (replaces Growl or status filler)
- Lv 37 → learns Perish Song — skip, do NOT let it overwrite Confuse Ray
💎 Hidden Items
- PP Up — Silph Co, found on one of the floors. Use Itemfinder throughout.
- Calcium, HP Up, Iron, Carbos, Protein — all hidden in Silph Co on various floors. Not essential but free stat boosts — use on Charizard or Jolteon.
SABRINA
Lead Snorlax
Shadow Ball spam — Dark type is super effective vs Psychic
Heal once if needed, keep spamming
16
CYCLING ROAD XP ZONE
▼
Use VS Seeker on Cycling Road trainers.
VS Seeker recharges after exactly 100 steps — not time-based. Walk back and forth on the road between uses. With a Bicycle this is fast. Don't wait around doing nothing.
All EXP Goes To
Nidoking and Snorlax are already solid. These three are your late-game carries that need the most catching up.
💎 Hidden Items — Route 17 is the best hidden item stretch in the game
- Rare Candy — middle of the right bike path, east of the third sign from the north.
- PP Up — middle of the left bike path, directly west of the second sign from the north.
- Full Restore — left of the northernmost sign, next to the water.
- Max Revive — south end of Route 17. One of only a few in the game.
- Max Elixir — also on Route 17. Save it for the Elite Four.
The Itemfinder is almost mandatory here — all five items are hidden in grass or on the path. Walk slowly, use it frequently, check all 8 surrounding tiles when it beeps.
17
CINNABAR + POKÉMON MANSION + BLAINE
▼
Cinnabar Mart Buy
Mansion Route
- Max Repel through the whole thing
- Grab the Secret Key (needed for Blaine's gym door)
- Escape Rope out immediately after
💎 Hidden Items
- Rare Candy — 3F, just beyond the collapsing walls. Use Itemfinder.
- Elixir — 4F. Save for Elite Four PP management.
- Moon Stone — 1F hidden. Not useful to us but grab and sell.
BLAINE
Lead Lapras
Surf sweep — Water crushes all of Blaine's Fire types
After Blaine — One Island (Tri Pass)
After beating Blaine you receive the Tri Pass. Use it to travel to One Island immediately — two important pickups here before continuing.
- TM27 Return — from a man on Kindle Road on One Island. Teach to Gyarados (replaces Dragon Rage). Power scales with happiness — keep Gyarados healthy and it will hit very hard.
- Body Slam Move Tutor — also on One Island. Teach to Snorlax (replaces Headbutt or Strength). 85 BP with 30% paralysis chance.
18
VIRIDIAN GYM + GIOVANNI
▼
Teach Now
- TM26 Earthquake → Nidoking (replaces Dig — stronger and no charge turn)
- Sludge Bomb should already be taught (S11). If not, teach now from TM36.
Nidoking Final Moveset
Keep Dig in the 4th slot if Earthquake isn't available yet — it still deals Ground-type damage with the charge turn as a bonus of being underground.
GIOVANNI (GYM)
Lead Lapras
Surf through everything
Anything stubborn → Nidoking Earthquake cleanup
19
ROUTE 22 — FINAL RIVAL
▼
Matchup Plan
- Pidgeot → Jolteon Thunderbolt
- Alakazam → Snorlax Shadow Ball
- Rhydon → Lapras Surf
- Gyarados → Jolteon Thunderbolt
- Grass starter → Charizard Flamethrower
- Arcanine → Lapras Surf
20
VICTORY ROAD + FINAL RARE CANDIES
▼
💎 Hidden Items
- Rare Candy — Victory Road 1F, in the northwest area. SAVE it.
- Full Restore ×2 — one in Victory Road 1F, one on Route 23 just before the entrance. Both are hidden.
- Ultra Ball ×2 — Victory Road 1F and Route 23. Free catch balls if you want them.
- Max Ether — Route 23. Good E4 PP reserve.
- Max Elixir — Route 23. SAVE for Elite Four — restores 10 PP to all moves.
Final Move Teaching Checklist
- Dragon Claw → Charizard (replace filler)
- Confirm Ice Beam on Lapras
- Confirm Thunderbolt on Jolteon
- Confirm Shadow Ball on Snorlax
- Confirm Sludge Bomb on Nidoking
E4 Entry Level Targets
Charizard55
Lapras53–55
Jolteon52–54
Nidoking50+
Gyarados50+
Snorlax48–50
PP plan for the E4: Flamethrower, Surf, Thunderbolt, and Ice Beam are all 15 PP. You fight five trainers back-to-back with no Pokémon Centre. Use Elixirs on Lapras and Jolteon after Bruno (room 2), before entering Agatha's room. Do not let your main sweepers run dry during the Champion fight.
21
FINAL SHOPPING (SAFFRON)
▼
Skip Hyper Potions — Full Restores cure status AND restore HP in one item. Always the better buy.
22
FINAL MOVESETS
▼
🔥 CHARIZARD
Flamethrower
Fly
Brick Break
Dragon Claw
💧 GYARADOS
Surf
Return
Bite
Thrash
☠ NIDOKING
Earthquake
Sludge Bomb
Thrash
Dig
⚡ JOLTEON
Thunderbolt
Thunder Wave
Quick Attack
Pin Missile
😴 SNORLAX
Body Slam
Shadow Ball
Rest
Amnesia
🧊 LAPRAS
Surf
Ice Beam
Confuse Ray
Psychic
23
⚔ ELITE FOUR QUICK SHEET
▼
LORELEI
AllJolteon TB
Confused? Full Heal → keep going
BRUNO
HitmonsCharizard FT
Onix ×2Lapras Surf
★ Use Elixir on Lapras + Jolteon here
AGATHA
All GhostsSnorlax SB
Poisoned? Full Heal once
LANCE
DragonairsLapras IB
DragoniteLapras IB
AerodactylLapras Surf
GyaradosJolteon TB
Champion
CHAMPION RIVAL
Pidgeot → Jolteon Thunderbolt
Alakazam → Snorlax Shadow Ball
Rhydon → Lapras Surf
Gyarados → Jolteon Thunderbolt
Arcanine → Lapras Surf
Grass starter → Charizard Flamethrower
Heal rule: Always heal to full before Rival fights, Gym Leaders, Giovanni, and each Elite Four room.