Welcome, aspiring Pokémon trainers, to the world of Kanto! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the classic adventures of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. Whether you’re stepping into this world for the first time or revisiting a cherished childhood memory, this guide will provide you with a detailed walkthrough to complete the game, invaluable tips and tricks to gain an edge, and a look at some of the most famous cheats and glitches that have become legendary in their own right.
Version Differences: Choose Your Path
While the core journey through Kanto remains the same across all three versions, there are some key distinctions to be aware of:
- Pokémon Red and Blue: These are the original paired versions. The primary difference lies in the availability of certain Pokémon, encouraging trading between players to complete their Pokédex.
- Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition: This version was released later and features several changes inspired by the popular Pokémon anime. You begin your journey with a Pikachu that follows you outside of its Poké Ball. You will also have the opportunity to acquire all three original starter Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle) throughout your adventure. Some trainer rosters and Pokémon locations are also slightly different.
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The Journey Through Kanto: A Complete Walkthrough
Your quest to become a Pokémon League Champion will take you across the diverse region of Kanto. Here’s a step-by-step guide to navigate the main story:
Part 1: The Beginning – Pallet Town to Pewter City
Route 1 & Viridian City: Battle wild Pokémon on Route 1 to gain some early experience. In Viridian City, you’ll visit the Pokémon Center and Poké Mart. Be sure to pick up Oak’s Parcel and deliver it back to him to receive your Pokédex.
Route 2 & Viridian Forest: Head north through Route 2 to reach Viridian Forest. This is a great place to catch Bug-type Pokémon and your first Pikachu in Red and Blue.
Pewter City Gym: Your first major challenge is the Pewter City Gym Leader, Brock. He specializes in Rock-type Pokémon.
Red/Blue Tip: If you chose Bulbasaur or Squirtle, their Grass and Water-type moves, respectively, will be super effective. If you chose Charmander, it’s wise to catch a Mankey on Route 22 (in Yellow) or a Nidoran that can learn Double Kick.
Yellow Tip: Your Pikachu’s Electric attacks won’t be effective. Catch a Mankey on Route 22 for an easier battle.
Part 2: Water and Wonders – Cerulean City and Beyond
Route 3 & Mt. Moon: Travel east from Pewter City through Route 3 to reach Mt. Moon. Inside this cave, you’ll battle numerous trainers, the notorious Team Rocket for the first time, and find one of two valuable fossils: the Dome Fossil (Kabuto) or the Helix Fossil (Omanyte).
Cerulean City Gym: Your next challenge is Misty, the Cerulean City Gym Leader, who uses Water-type Pokémon.
Red/Blue Tip: Bulbasaur will have a significant advantage here. If you have Pikachu, its Electric attacks will be super effective.
Yellow Tip: Your starting Pikachu is perfect for this gym. You can also receive a Bulbasaur from a girl in a house in Cerulean City if your Pikachu is happy with you.
Nugget Bridge & Bill’s House: Head north of Cerulean to test your skills on Nugget Bridge against a gauntlet of trainers. Continue east to find Bill, who you’ll help return to his human form. As a reward, he’ll give you the S.S. Ticket.
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Part 3: A Tale of Two Cities – Vermilion and Celadon
Vermilion City & S.S. Anne: In Vermilion City, you’ll find the Pokémon Fan Club and board the S.S. Anne with your ticket. On the ship, you’ll battle many trainers, including your rival, and obtain the HM for Cut.
Vermilion City Gym: The third Gym Leader is the electrifying Lt. Surge. His specialty is Electric-type Pokémon. You’ll need to solve a puzzle involving finding two switches in trash cans to reach him.
Tip: Ground-type Pokémon like Diglett or Sandshrew are immune to Electric attacks and will make this fight much easier. You can find Diglett in the nearby Diglett’s Cave.
Rock Tunnel & Lavender Town: Head east from Cerulean to enter the dark Rock Tunnel (you’ll need the HM Flash, which can be obtained on Route 2 after passing through Diglett’s Cave). Emerge on the other side and you’ll arrive in the eerie Lavender Town, home to the Pokémon Tower.
Celadon City: This bustling metropolis has a large department store where you can buy various items, including powerful TMs and evolution stones. You’ll also encounter Team Rocket in their secret hideout beneath the Game Corner.
Celadon City Gym: The fourth Gym Leader, Erika, uses Grass-type Pokémon.
Tip: Fire, Bug, and Flying-type Pokémon will be your best friends in this gym. If you chose Charmander, this is its time to shine.
Part 4: Psychic Surprises and Ninja Tricks – Saffron and Fuchsia
- Saffron City: This city is initially blocked off but can be accessed after giving the guards a drink from the Celadon Department Store. Here, you’ll need to liberate the Silph Co. building from Team Rocket, where you’ll receive the Master Ball.
- Saffron City Gym: The fifth Gym Leader is the powerful Psychic-type user, Sabrina.
- Tip: In Generation I, Psychic-types have only one weakness: Bug-type moves. Jolteon’s Pin Missile or any strong physical attacker can also be effective.
- Fuchsia City & Safari Zone: Travel south to reach Fuchsia City, home to the Safari Zone. Here, you can catch a wide variety of rare Pokémon. You’ll also find the Secret House at the back of the Safari Zone to obtain the HM for Surf.
- Fuchsia City Gym: The sixth Gym Leader is Koga, a master of Poison-type Pokémon.
- Tip: Psychic and Ground-type Pokémon are excellent choices for this gym battle.
Part 5: Fire and Ice – Cinnabar Island and the Seafoam Islands
- Cinnabar Island: Surf south from Pallet Town or Fuchsia City to reach Cinnabar Island. Here, you’ll find the Pokémon Lab where you can revive your fossil and the burned-out Pokémon Mansion, where you’ll find the Secret Key to the gym.
- Cinnabar Island Gym: The seventh Gym Leader, Blaine, is a user of Fire-type Pokémon.
- Tip: Water, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon will douse Blaine’s fiery team with ease.
- Seafoam Islands: For those seeking a legendary encounter, the Seafoam Islands are home to the powerful Ice/Flying-type Pokémon, Articuno. You’ll need a Pokémon with Strength to navigate the puzzles within.
Part 6: The Road to Victory – Viridian City Gym and the Indigo Plateau
- Viridian City Gym: With seven badges in hand, you can now challenge the final Gym Leader in Viridian City, the mysterious Giovanni, who specializes in Ground-type Pokémon.
- Tip: Water, Grass, and Ice-type moves will be super effective.
- Victory Road: Your path to the Pokémon League takes you through Victory Road, a challenging cave filled with powerful trainers and wild Pokémon. You’ll need Pokémon that know Strength and Surf.
- The Indigo Plateau: At the end of Victory Road lies the Indigo Plateau, the final challenge. Here you will face the Elite Four and the current Pokémon League Champion. Be sure to stock up on healing items before you begin.
- Lorelei: Specializes in Ice-type Pokémon. (Weaknesses: Fire, Electric, Rock, Fighting)
- Bruno: Specializes in Fighting-type Pokémon. (Weaknesses: Flying, Psychic)
- Agatha: Specializes in Ghost-type Pokémon. (Weaknesses: Psychic, Ghost)
- Lance: The master of Dragon-type Pokémon. (Weaknesses: Ice, Dragon)
- Your Rival: The final battle for the title of Champion! Their team will vary depending on your starter Pokémon.
Congratulations! You are the new Pokémon League Champion! But your journey isn’t over yet. You can now try to complete your Pokédex, which involves catching all 150 Pokémon. And for the ultimate challenge, head back to Cerulean City and enter the Unknown Dungeon to face the most powerful Pokémon in the game: Mewtwo.
Pro Tips for Aspiring Masters
- Save Often: This is a classic for a reason. Save your game frequently, especially before important battles or when entering a new area.
- Type Matchups are Key: Understanding Pokémon types and their strengths and weaknesses is fundamental to success in battle. A super-effective move will deal double damage.
- Status Effects are Your Friend: Moves that inflict status conditions like Sleep, Paralysis, and Poison can turn the tide of a difficult battle.
- Diversify Your Team: Don’t rely on just one or two powerful Pokémon. A balanced team with a variety of types will be able to handle any situation.
- Explore Everywhere: Talk to everyone and explore every nook and cranny. You’ll find helpful items, TMs, and valuable information.
- The Power of HMs: Hidden Machines (HMs) are essential for progressing through the game. Unlike TMs, they can be used an unlimited number of times. It’s a good idea to have a dedicated “HM slave” Pokémon to learn these moves so your main battling Pokémon don’t have to sacrifice a move slot.
- Money Management: Buy essentials like Poké Balls and Potions, but be mindful of your spending. Winning trainer battles is the primary way to earn money.
Legendary Cheats and Glitches
The original Pokémon games are famous for their glitches, some of which have become iconic. Use these at your own risk, as they can sometimes cause unintended side effects.
- The MissingNo. Glitch (Red and Blue only): This is arguably the most famous glitch in Pokémon history. By following a specific sequence of events involving the Old Man in Viridian City and surfing along the coast of Cinnabar Island, you can encounter a glitched Pokémon named MissingNo. Encountering it can duplicate the sixth item in your bag.
- Warning: Catching MissingNo. can corrupt your Hall of Fame data and cause graphical glitches. The item duplication effect is generally considered safe.
- The Mew Glitch: This glitch allows you to catch the mythical Pokémon Mew without attending a special event. It involves manipulating trainer battles and using the Fly or Teleport moves at a precise moment. The process is intricate but well-documented online with specific trainer combinations.
- Item Duplication (Alternative Method): A safer way to duplicate items involves trading. As a trade is about to complete, one player turns off their console at a specific time. If done correctly, both players will have the traded Pokémon and the held item. This method requires precise timing and carries a small risk of data corruption if done incorrectly.
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