Pokémon Red and Blue: Route 4

This small hint of Route 4 features a Pokémon Center for you to heal up in.

Talk to the portly man inside the Center for a unique opportunity. He is willing to sell you a Magikarp for P500.

Magikarp and Gyarados - Recommended
Magikarp sucks. It's stats are poor, with the exception of its 90 base Speed. It might be worth your money to get it this early, because for a while it only knows the move Splash, which does absolutely nothing. Magikarp is a pure Water-type. You get it at level 5 and it is not until level 15 that it learns Tackle, which it does not have the Attack stat to get much use out of.
However, if you raise your Magikarp all the way to level 20, it evolves into the almighty Gyarados, a fearsome (not-actually-a-)dragon with an Attack stat to match and great Special too. With this great power comes the responsibility of having a Flying subtype, which brings a 4x weakness to Electricity to the table; however, Gyarados can make good use of everything from Blizzard to Thunderbolt to Hydro Pump to Hyper Beam. It even learns the latter two by level up!

Competitively, it is checked by it's Electric weakness, but in single player, a Gyarados is a scarcely stoppable destructive force that will make your game much easier.

After you've made your decision, exit the center and enter Mt. Moon.

Enter Mt. Moon

Pokémon Red and Blue: Route 3

Due to the amount of trainers on this route, they have been numbered for easy reference.

Trainer 1 is a Lass who uses two Pidgey at level 9.

Trainer 2 is a Bug Catcher who uses a Caterpie, a Weedle and another Caterpie, at level 10.

Trainer 3 is a Youngster, who uses a Rattata and an Ekans. Ekans knows a move called Wrap. Wrap exhibits another broken feature of this game. Wrap lasts for two to five turns and prevents you from attacking therebetween. This is called a trapping move. If one Pokémon is faster than the Pokémon it is facing and uses a 100% accurate trapping move. The enemy Pokémon will not be able to attack until the Pokémon runs out of PP for the move. Your Pokémon are probably faster than Ekans, though, so this is little to worry about.

Trainer 4 is a Bug Catcher, who uses a Weedle, Kakuna, Caterpie and Metapod, at level 9.

Trainer 5 is a Youngster who uses a single Spearow at level 14. This is a job for Pikachu's advantageous Electric moves, or for Pidgey or Squirtle's bulk.

Trainer 6 is a Lass, who uses a Rattata and a Nidoran♂, at level 10.

Trainer 7 is a Bug Catcher, who uses a Caterpie and a Metapod, at level 11.

Trainer 8 is a Lass, who uses a single Jigglypuff. Jigglypuff knows a move called Sing. This move, while inaccurate, can put you to sleep for one to seven turns. Jigglypuff's Pound attack probably isn't powerful enough to take you out in your sleep, but beware.

There is one new Pokémon to catch on this route.

	Pidgey	Normal/Flying	L6-8	45%
	Spearow	Normal/Flying	L5-8	45%
	Jigglypuff	Normal	L3-7	10%

Jigglypuff and Wigglytuff - Acceptable

Jigglypuff has crap defenses, but a pile of HP. It's HP is the sixth highest of all Pokémon in the game, as an unevolved Pokémon. It is a pure Normal-type, and it's movepool encompasses the versatility that comes from being a Normal-type.

It evolves into Wigglytuff with the use of an item called a Moon Stone, which will be available very soon. Wigglytuff's HP is the third highest of all Pokémon in the game.

Competitive experts recommend another Normal-type better, but Wigglytuff is a little more resilient, and can reciprocate its opponent's attacks with Counter. In a single player game, it makes a good shield for beginning players to have.

That's all there is to do on this route, so when you're done, head north onto Route 4.

Advance to Route 4

Pokémon Red and Blue: Pewter City Gym

Welcome to the first of the eight gyms of the Indigo League, Pewter City Gym.

You can avoid the gym trainer by walking on either side of him; however, experience is always valuable to collect. He is a Jr. Trainer♂ who uses a Diglett and a Sandshrew at level 11. They are impervious to Pikachu's Electric attacks and their Normal-type attacks can do a lot of damage.

After defeating the gym trainer, step forward and face Brock.

Leader Brock		Pewter City Gym		2 Pokémon		P1386
		Geodude		Rock/Ground		L12
Tackle	Normal	Defense Curl	Normal
		Onix		Rock/Ground		L14
Tackle	Normal	Screech	Normal	Bide	Normal	Bind	Normal

If you have access to Bulbasaur's Vine Whip, Squirtle's Bubble or Butterfree's Confusion, then this is an easy battle. Even so, beware of Onix's Bide, which will deal double the damage it received over two turns. This can take out one of your Pokémon if you're not paying attention.

If you don't have any of these moves, then spam your most powerful attack and heal when you are low on health.

Upon defeat, Brock will award you with the BoulderBadge. He will also give you TM34, which contains Bide. Don't be hasty about using this on one of your Pokémon, because you only get one TM34 in the entire game.

When you're done celebrating, exit the gym and head east onto Route 3.

Advance to Route 3

Pokémon Red and Blue: Pewter City

There is little to do in Pewter City beside healing up at the Pokémon Center. The Poké Mart does contain one new item.

• Poké Balls - P200, it's always a good idea to stock up on these.
• Antidotes - P150
• Awakenings - P250, these will heal the Sleep status ailment. It would not be a bad idea to pick up one or two.
• Burn Heals - P250
• Parlyz Heals - P200
• Potions - P300
• Escape Ropes - P550, these items can be used outside of battle and will return you to the doorstep of the last Pokémon Center you used. Their best use is when you are deep in a cave with low health. Note that they are frequently found inside such caves for free.

If you want to brush up on your history, head into the Pewter Museum of Science, to the north; however, this is not required for anything and costs P50.

When you're finished exploring. Enter the gym.

Enter Pewter City Gym

Pokémon Red and Blue: Route 2 II

The Pokémon here are the same as those in the southwest section of Route 2.

Catch Pokémon if you like, then head north into Pewter City.

Advance to Pewter City

Pokémon Red and Blue: Viridian Forest

Welcome to Viridian Forest, technically the first dungeon of the game. To avoid confusion, the items of this area are lettered, and the trainers are numbered. You enter the forest from the south. If you examine the bottom left side of the tree marked A, you will find a free Antidote. You may encounter these wild Pokémon as you enter the grass on your way to point B.

	Caterpie	Bug	L3	L3-5	5%	45%
	Metapod	Bug	L4	L4-6	5%	40%
	Weedle	Bug/Poison	L3-5	L3	45%	5%
	Kakuna	Bug/Poison	L4-6	L4	40%	5%
	Pikachu	Electric	L3-5		5%

Caterpie, Metapod and Butterfree - Not Recommended

Caterpie is a pure Bug-type. It specializes in HP and Speed; however all of its stats are poor. It experiences a jump in Defense when it evolves into Metapod at the extremely convenient level of 7. Its specialization shifts to the Special stat when it evolves into Butterfree starting at level 10; however, with this comes a 4x weakness to Rock-type moves.

Butterfree is not a good Pokémon. The only advantage it has in this game is that it learns a couple Psychic moves by leveling up. However, its stats are poor and its Bug and Flying-type moves are worse.

The only reason to catch a Caterpie is because it is by far the easiest way to score three points in the Pokédex. Please note: If you catch a Metapod, the only move it will know is Harden, which raises its Defense. In order for it to be able to fend for itself, you must catch a Caterpie, which will know Tackle.

Butterfree is a waste of your one Psychic TM, and almost all enemy Pokémon can take it out in one or two hits. The only advantage to having one is that it learns the dismally inaccurate sleeping move Sleep Powder, and the similar paralysis move Stun Spore.

Weedle, Kakuna and Beedrill - Not Recommended

Weedle is very similar to Caterpie. Its double-edged advantage is that it carries a Poison subtype, which does not change. This gives it a weakness to the almighty Psychic type, but an advantage against the very common Bug and Grass-types. It evolves into the defensive Kakuna at level 7, and into the physical Beedrill at level 10.

Beedrill isn't a good Pokémon either, but it gains Twineedle, the only decent Bug-type move in the game, at the early level of 20.

Like Caterpie, Weedle is an easy three points in the Pokédex, but a Kakuna caught as such will only know Harden.

Beedrill is an acceptable finisher alongside a good team of five, but if you don't care about the Pokédex, don't go for it.

Pikachu and Raichu - Recommended

Say hello to the mascot of the Pokémon series. Pikachu's base Speed is 90, which is good for an unevolved Pokémon. When it evolves into Raichu with the use of a ThunderStone (mid-game) its evolved stats aren't great. Its Speed stat increases to 100 and its Attack and Special become 90. It learns the powerful Thunder by level up, and gains the practical Thunderbolt by TM.
If you're lucky enough to have a Nintendo 64, a copy of Pokémon Stadium and a Super Game Boy, a play-through of Stadium will allow you to trade a Pikachu into your game that knows the essential move Surf. This will allow Pikachu to defeat Rock and Ground-types which otherwise wall it.

Competitively, Raichu's only saving grace is Surf, but in a single player adventure, Pikachu is a great Pokémon to have.

After making the long trek to point B, you are rewarded with a Poké Ball. Collecting this earlier would prevent you from being able to get the five free Poké Balls from Professor Oak.

Trainer 1 can be avoided by sneaking through the grass in front of him, but he's good for some experience. He is a Bug Catcher who uses a Weedle and a Caterpie, both at level 6. If you've done the recommended training, this should be an easy fight, but beware! Weedle's Poison Sting may poison you. In this case, either use the Antidote you found in the tree or make your way back the Pokémon Center quickly, as the poisoned Pokémon's HP will deplete every few steps.

Trainer 2 is a Bug Catcher who uses a Weedle, a Kakuna, then another Weedle, at level 7. Poison is likely here, but an Antidote can be found, conveniently, at point C.

Follow the winding trail to point D for a free Potion.

Position yourself so that you and trainer 3 are looking at the same spot. Examine it to find yet another free Potion. Trainer 3 is the only Bug Catcher you are required to battle. He uses a single level 9 Weedle.

Head north and exit the forest onto the northwest section of Route 2.

Advance to Route 2

Pokémon Red and Blue: Route 2

Route 2 is a very short thoroughfare at this point in the game and this segment of the route has only a single patch of grass.

	Caterpie	Bug	L3-5	0%	15%
	Weedle	Bug/Poison	L3-5	15%	0%
	Pidgey	Normal/Flying	L3-5	45%
	Rattata	Normal	L2-5	40%

Either Caterpie or Weedle can be caught early here, but they and their evolutions will be described where they can both be caught in both games in the next section.

Enter the north building and enter Viridian Forest.

Enter Viridian Forest

Pokémon Red and Blue: Route 22 II

Following Route 22 to the west will take you to the Pokémon League HQ Front Gate, through which you cannot pass with getting your first gym badge, but there are some Pokémon available for capture here.

Spearow and Fearow - Recommended
Spearow is a Flying-type as aggressive as its anime debut. It has a strong Attack stat and high Speed. Its Defense is not poor either. It evolves into the long-beaked Fearow at level 20. Even if you don't plan to use a Spearow, I recommend catching one for an exclusive in-game trade later, which is helpful for completing your Pokédex.

Spearow, unlike Pidgey, learns Drill Peck. As I explained in the Pidgey review, Drill Peck is the most powerful and efficient Flying move in the game. Also, as an attacker, it makes even better use of Hyper Beam and Double-Edge than Pidgey does. Personally, there is another Flying-type that I recommend more than Spearow, but it is a very good choice.

Nidoran♀, Nidorina and Nidoqueen - Acceptable

Nidoran♀ is a defensive Poison-type. She can be hard to raise if you catch her now, but she evolves early and easily. She evolves into Nidorina at level 16, and again into Nidoqueen with the use of a Moon Stone. She gains a Ground subtype as a Nidoqueen, and, with it, an immunity to Electricity. Her Defense is her highest stat, but none of her stats are bad.
The moves she learns by leveling up are poor, but she can use a variety of TMs including Toxic. Her diversity is completed when she evolves into Nidoqueen and gains the all-powerful Earthquake.She is fairly outdone by her counterpart Nidoking, who learns better moves by level up and has higher attacking stats.

Nidoran♂, Nidorino and Nidoking - Recommended

Nidoran♂ is an offensive Poison-type. As he evolves, he is another Pokémon fully capable of beating the game all by himself. He evolves into Nidorino at level 16, and again into Nidoking with the use of a Moon Stone. Like his counterpart, he gains a Ground subtype as a Nidoking.

At level 8, he learns Horn Attack, which, with 65 base power, is a lesser, but earlier Hyper Fang. As a Nidorino, at level 50, he learns Horn Drill, which has a dismal 30% accuracy and only works if the opposing Pokémon is slower than he is, but if it hits, is will knock out the opponent's Pokémon in a single hit. Please note that when you evolve most Pokémon by evolution stone, they do not learn any more moves by level up.

Nidoking has great Attack and good Special, but is weak to competitive staples Earthquake, Blizzard and Psychic. On the other hand, he can use all of those moves and more, including Surf, Thunder, Body Slam and Rock Slide.

Red Version players can save time by catching two Nidoran♂s and trading one of them for a Nidoran♀ later in the game. The trade is available in Blue Version as well, but Nidoran♀ is more common anyway.

When you're done, go back to Viridian City and head north onto Route 2.

Advance to Route 2

Pokémon Red and Blue: Viridian City II

Now that your ability to get free stuff is no longer in jeopardy, I will go over the Pokémon Mart stock in Viridian City. You can buy:

• Poké Balls - P200, I recommend stocking up on these, because many Pokémon can be caught in the next few areas.
• Antidotes - P100, these will heal the Poison status ailment; however, many of them can be found for free.
• Burn Heal - P250, these will heal the Burn status ailment, but you will not encounter this ailment for quite some time, at which point better items will be available.
• Parlyz Heal - P200, these will heal the Paralysis status ailment, but you won't encounter this for a while either.

After restocking, head back to Route 22 to catch some more Pokémon.

Proceed to Route 22

Advance to Route 2

Pokémon Red and Blue: Route 1 II

Now that you are equipped with Poké Balls, you can catch Pidgey and Rattata on this route.

Pidgey, Pidgeotto and Pidgeot - Acceptable
Pidgey is a sturdy Flying-type. It has an advantage against the third gym; however, it does not learn a Flying-type move until level 31. If you're playing with a full team of six, this can be very late. Likely well past the third gym; however, it becomes all the sturdier when it evolves into Pidgeotto at level 18 and again into Pidgeot at level 36.
As discussed on Route 22, it learns Sand-Attack very early at level 5. This makes the opponents moves much less likely to hit, which is such a handicap that similar moves have been banned from the competitive scene. It is also noteworthy that it gains STAB from Normal-type moves like Quick Attack, Take Down and Double-Edge. Like most Flying-types, it can also learn Fly, a two turn Flying-type move that can be had before the third gym.
It can be outclassed by other Flying-types, including Spearow, who learn a move called Drill Peck, which is the most powerful single-turn Flying-type attack in this generation. Sky Attack is a two turn move with 140 base power, giving it an effective power of 70 per turn, although on the first turn it is completely vulnerable. Fly is a two turn move with 70 base power, on the first turn it can only be hit by Swift; however, it has an effective power of only 35 per turn. Drill Peck is 80 power, every turn, no strings attached, and Pidgey does not get it.

To be fair, like most Normal-types, Hyper Beam can be devastating, and, in the first generation, it does not have to recharge if it defeats the opposing Pokémon. Pidgeot also gets the versatile Mirror Move (at the excessive level of 54, mind you) which reiterates the opponents last Water, Grass, Electric, Ice, Psychic or Dragon move.

Rattata and Raticate - Recommended
Rattata and Raticate have not aged well, but in these games, they are very well rounded Pokémon. The Normal-type was bested only by the all-powerful Psychic type in generation 1. Rattata is a strong attacker and becomes more so when it evolves into Raticate at the early level of 20. Also, at the one badge level of 14, Rattata learns a move called Hyper Fang. With 80 base power, Hyper Fang can sweep through the beginning of the game.
The other move that makes these Pokémon unique is Super Fang. Super Fang cuts the opponent's HP in half. This is powerful, because it disregards Attack and Defense entirely. This allows Raticate to devastate competitive staples like Starmie. Super Fang also almost guarantees getting double the value out of Hyper Beam by negating the recharge. Also, in a single player game, Raticate can get good use out of other essentials like Body Slam and Double-Edge.

After catching Pokémon, continue on to Viridian City again.

Proceed to Viridian City

Advance to Route 2