Pokémon Red and Blue: Cerulean City Gym

The gym is laid out as a pool with a walkway for you to get across. The first gym trainer approaches you from the water. He is a Swimmer who uses a Horsea and a Shellder, at level 16. Shellder is very defensive and knows Withdraw, which can make it more so.

After defeating him, head north, toward the gym leader, you will be approached by another trainer. She is a Jr. Trainer♀, who uses a single Goldeen at level 19. It knows the Flying-type move Peck, along with Tail Whip and Supersonic.

After defeating her, talk to Misty.

Leader Misty		Cerulean City Gym		2 Pokémon		P2079
		Staryu		Water		L18
Tackle	Normal	Water Gun	Water
		Starmie		Water/Psychic		L21
Tackle	Normal	Water Gun	Water	Harden	Normal	BubbleBeam	Water

Staryu is an easy defeat at the hands of Bulbasaur, Pikachu or Rattata. Misty's strategy is to use an X Defend to boost Starmie's Defense, while it destroys you with BubbleBeam, which has a chance to confuse even if it doesn't knock out your Pokémon. Hit it with a Leer to cancel this out, then destroy it with Vine Whip, ThunderShock, Hyper Fang or Mega Punch.

Upon defeat, Misty will award you with the CascadeBadge. She will also give you TM11 which contains BubbleBeam. There is only one in the game, so use it only on your very best Water-type.

When you're done, exit the gym and head north onto Route 24. If you already traversed the northern routes, then go through the house in the northeast part of town toward Route 5.

Advance to Route 24

Advance to Route 5

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: Pallet Town

You appear in the middle of your own bedroom. Walk over to the PC in the corner and use it to withdraw the Potion stored inside. Then, head downstairs.

Your mom says that Professor Oak is looking for you, so head outside.

Head north, past the houses and into the grass. Professor Oak appears and tells you that it's not safe to walk in tall grass without Pokémon. You follow him into his lab, where he explains that he is going to give you and your rival a Pokémon. You get first pick, so choose between Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle.

Bulbasaur, Ivysaur and Venusaur - Highly Recommended

Bulbasaur is the easiest Pokémon to start with in Red and Blue. It has an advantage against the first three gyms of the game, and it learns good status moves, even before it evolves into Ivysaur at level 16. It evolves again, into Venusaur, earlier than the other starters at level 32.

Due to a programming error in the games, a combination of the moves Toxic and Leech Seed will allow Leech Seed's HP recovery to increase every turn. Also, in this generation, critical hits are determined by speed. So, when Bulbasaur is fully-evolved, an increased critical hit move like Razor Leaf will land a critical hit almost every time.

In a single player adventure, Bulbasaur will do just fine without Toxic, but the addition makes it a more potent threat. However, Poison-types are fairly common in this game, so leave room for a Normal-type move like Body Slam.

Bulbasaur is by far the easiest Pokémon to start with in this game, and a powerful competitive force in RBY.

Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard - Acceptable
Charmander is the most difficult choice of the three. It is at a disadvantage to the first two gyms and the last one. It evolves into Charmeleon at level 16, but when it evolves into Charizard at level 36, it gains a 4x weakness to Rock-type moves.
Nevertheless, Fire Blast is always good to have in your arsenal. However, be warned, CHARIZARD CANNOT FLY! It learns no Flying-type moves whatsoever in the original games.

Rock-types are not as prevalent in a single player game as they are in the competitive spectrum, so anything goes really, but be warned, Charmander is a rocky road to choose.

Squirtle, Wartortle and Blastoise - Recommended

Squirtle is the sturdiest of the three choices. It is a great choice for people who have played Pokémon before, but maybe haven't played the originals. My personal favorite of the three, Squirtle evolves into Wartortle at level 16, and again into Blastoise at level 36.

Like many Water-types, Squirtle is always a good standby to pack Ice moves, like Blizzard or Ice Beam, as well as the classic Body Slam, making it a decent mixed attacker. Keep in mind that those moves are exclusive, and only certain Pokémon learn them by level up, so spend your TMs wisely.

As a sturdy and versatile Pokémon, Blastoise can conquest the game all by itself, with a little help from HM slaves, while this is not recommended for beginning players, it goes to show that Blastoise can be a good fit for anyone.

After choosing your starter and perhaps nicknaming it, you are free to exit the lab.

But wait! Blue wants to test out his new Pokémon against yours!

Rival Blue		Professor Oak's Lab		1 Pokémon	P175
If you chose Bulbasaur...
		Charmander		Fire	L5
Scratch	Normal	Growl	Normal
If you chose Charmander...
		Squirtle		Water	L5
Tackle	Normal	Tail Whip	Normal
If you chose Squirtle...
		Bulbasaur		Grass/Poison	L5
Tackle	Normal	Growl	Normal

The basic strategy to this battle is: use Tackle or Scratch over and over again. If your HP is running low, use the Potion you picked up earlier. In most cases, this will win you the battle. earning you enough experience to grow to level 6. However, if you lose this battle you are unable to try again.

Now you are free to exit the lab and head north onto Route 1.

Advance to Route 1