Gym Leaders
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Brock, Pewter City Gym Leader: Specialty in Rock type Pokemon, lieutenants use Ground/Rock
types
Ground and Rock types are vulnerable to Water and Grass type attacks such as Squirtle's Bubble
and Bulbasaur's Vine Whip. On the other hand, they pretty much shrug off electric attacks such
as Pikachu's Thundershock and normal attacks like Pidgey's Gust and Rattata's Tackle. If you
don't have Bulbasaur or Squirtle, take your Caterpie and raise it to level 14. It will evolve twice
and become a Butterfree with Confusion, a Psychic attack that will cause normal damage to
Brock.
Brock uses a level 12 Geodude and a level 14 Onix. Bulbasaur should be at level 13 before
facing Brock; Squirtle at level 12; Butterfree at level 14; and Charmander at level 15. When you
win, you get the Boulderbadge, which combines with the HM 05 to let you teach and use Flash,
and the TM 34 Bide. Bide lets you take damage over the course of two or three turns then pay it
back double.
If you have trouble with Brock, remember to stick with your starting Pokemon. Charmander may
need to be at level 16 and use Ember despite the fact that it's not very effective. Squirtle at level
11 with Bubble and Bulbasaur at 13 with Vine Whip are your best bets.
Misty, Cerulean City Gym Leader: Specialty in Water type Pokemon
Water types fall before Grass and Electric powers. Bulbasaur (which may have evolved into
Ivysaur) or Pikachu are your best bets. Squirtle/Wartortle won't be extremely effective, and
Charmander/Charmeleon is at a distinct disadvantage in this battle. If all else fails, use your
Pidgeotto (if you have one, which you should.)
Misty uses a level 18 Staryu and a level 21 Starmie. Ivysaur should be at level 19; Pikachu
should be at level 20. When you win, you get the Cascadebadge, which combines with the HM
01 to let you teach and use Cut any time. It also lets you control ALL Pokemon up to level 30.
You also get the TM 11 Bubblebeam. Bubblebeam is a powerful water attack that is useful early
on.
If you can't seem to beat Misty, use either Ivysaur's Vine Whip or Pikachu's Thundershock. You
can train your Pokemon west of the city. Charmeleon will get beaten easily, and it will be a long
battle with Wartortle.
Lt. Surge, Vermilion City Gym Leader: Specialty in Electric type Pokemon.
Lt. Surge is paranoid (by my standards) and has locked himself behind a security system. Beat
the three lieutenants, then leave, heal, and come back. Check the trash cans until you find a
switch; the second switch that opens the security doors is in a can adjacent to the first can. If you
like, you can play it safe by saving before you try for the second switch. Note that if you don't get
the second switch on the first try, the first switch is reset AND it will be in another can, giving
you all the more reason to save.
Electric types have the advantage over water types like Wartortle and flying types like Pidgeotto.
They don't do so well against Grass types like Ivysaur, but the best type to use is a Rock/Ground
type. Geodude (or Graveler, if you have it) fit the bill nicely in this scenario. Fire types like
Charmeleon have no advantage or disadvantage against Electric types.
Lt. Surge uses a level 21 Voltorb, a level 18 Pikachu, and a level 24 Raichu. Geodude should be
at level 20, Graveler at level 25 (the level at which it evolves,) Wartortle at level 28 (which is too
high anyway,) Ivysaur at level 24, and Charmeleon at level 26. When you win, you get the
Thunderbadge, which gives you a power boost. You also get the TM 24 Thunderbolt, the
ultimate in thunder attacks. Teach it to your Pikachu.
If you're having problems with Surge, remember that ground types are your best bet. If you have
Geodude, level it to about 20 and use it. If you don't have Geodude, you aren't in position to
catch one easily. Head east and catch Diglett (or, if you REALLY want to beat up on Surge, a
Dugtrio) and get Dig (lv. 19), then use that to pound Surge.
Erika, Celadon City Gym Leader: Specialty in Grass type Pokemon.
Erika has a horde of trainers in front of her. When you reach the line of 4 trainers, she is second
from the left. Remember that you must talk to her; she will not engage you directly.
Grass types control Rock, Ground, Electric, and Water types, but they are at the mercy of Fire
types like Charmeleon. They are also weak against flying types like Pidgeotto.
Erika has a level 29 Victreebel, a level 24 Tangela, and a level 29 Vileplume at her command.
Charmeleon should be at level 27, Wartortle at level 29, Pidgeotto at level 28, Graveler at level
29, and Pikachu at level 29 using normal type attacks. When you win, you get the Rainbowbadge
which makes your Pokemon unquestionably obey you up to level 50 as well as the TM 21, Mega
Drain, which does some MAJOR draining of HP. Useful attack to have.
Should you have trouble with Erika, head west from Celadon and use Cut to get the HM 02 Fly,
then teach it to Pidgeotto. Fly is dominant against Erika's Pokemon. If you don't have either
Pidgeotto or Charmeleon (shame, shame,) you can catch Vulpix or Growlithe (depending on
your version) east of the city. When all else fails, Wartortle and Pikachu should go normal type
attacks.
Sabrina, Saffron City Gym Leader: Specialty in Psychic type Pokemon
Sabrina is guarded by a maze of warp tiles. Make it easy on yourself. The correct warp in any
given room is the one directly above or below the one you came in from. Sabrina is quite
powerful, so you should probably fight all of the trainers preceding her to gain valuable combat
experience.
Psychic types have an advantage over Poison types. Bug and Ghost attacks are known to work
best against them. However, Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar are Ghost/POISON hybrids and they'll
get murdered. Avoid using Ivysaur/Venusaur for this battle since it also has Poison
characteristics.
Sabrina controls a level 38 Kadabra, a level 37 Mr. Mime, a level 38 Venomoth, and a level 43
Alakazam. The Pokemon you intend to use for this battle should be around level 46 to do well.
When you win, you get the Marshbadge, which makes your Pokemon obey you without question
up to level 70. You also get the TM 46, Psywave, the most powerful Psychic attack. Teach it to
your Kadabra/Alakazam/Gastly/Haunter.
Sabrina is the "squeeze" stage of the game, so I don't blame you if you're having trouble. Ghost
attacks may be super effective against Psychic types, but the three ghosts are all ghost/poison
types, and since Psychic is super effective against Poison, you'll get pounded unless you're at
level 49-52. Your strongest Pokemon is probably best. If you got Jolteon, its Pin Missile works
well. Avoid using Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan.
Koga, Fuschia City Gym Leader: Specialty in Poison type Pokemon
Koga has a troop of ninjas guarding him. He also has a maze of invisible walls. Look closely,
though, and they can be seen.
Poison types don't do too well against other Poison types. They also can't get much off of ground
types. Your best bet is either a ground type like Graveler, Golem, Sandshrew, Sandslash, Diglett,
or Dugtrio, or a Psychic type like Kadabra or Alakazam. Here's a good place to try out that new
Psywave of yours.
Koga owns a level 37 Koffing, a level 39 Muk, another level 37 Koffing, and a level 43
Weezing. (Hmm, his Pokemon's levels can do no better than Sabrina? Ouch.) Kadabra or
Alakazam can win easily at level 40. Ground type users, it's your call, but I'd recommend level
44. Upon your victory, you get the Soulbadge, which provides a boost in your defensive strength.
It also lets you use Surf anytime. You also get the TM 06 Toxic. Toxic is a Poison attack that
poisons your enemy in such a fashion that the damage it does increases each turn.
If you have problems with Koga, use a ground type like Golem or Dugtrio. Psychic is super
effective as well. You should have some Antidotes and the Poke Flute for this battle to cure
poison and sleep.
Blaine, Cinnabar Island Gym Leader: Specialty in Fire type Pokemon
A lot of the doors won't open. You can either talk to the trainers to engage them, or go to the
little machines behind them and press A to initiate a trivia game. It's pretty easy to do. If you
answer correctly, you won't have to fight. If you're wrong, you'll go into combat.
A good Water Pokemon is your ally in this place, and you should have enough of them to last a
loooong while after the trek through the Seafoam Islands. Raise your favorite one and get ready
to face Blaine. Fire types also eat it before Rock and Ground types. Omanyte and Kabuto are
good choices.
Blaine has a level 42 Growlithe, a level 40 Ponyta, a level 42 Rapidash, and a level 47 Arcanine.
Any water Pokemon with a level of about 52 is more than a match for Blaine. When you win,
you get the Volcanobadge, which boosts your Special attack powers. You also get the TM 38
Fire Blast, the #1 fire attack. Save it to use on Moltres if you get him.
If you have problems beating Blaine, teach your best Seafoam-caught Pokemon Surf and kick
Blaine where it hurts. Staryu and Starmie have the advantage of using Recover to replenish HP
which makes them the prime candidates if you don't have Blastoise or Gyarados.
Giovanni, Viridian City Gym Leader: Specialty in Ground/Poison/Rock type Pokemon
Giovanni's gym itself is almost a dungeon. Just navigate it and eventually you'll reach the big guy
in the top left corner.
Giovanni will fall easily to a Psychic or Water type. Avoid Fire and Electric powers in this fight.
Giovanni (hey, four sentences starting with Giovanni! Am I good or what?) uses a level 45
Rhyhorn, a level 42 Dugtrio, a level 43 Nidoqueen, a level 45 Nidoking, and a level 50 Rhydon.
Crush them like the bugs that they are with a level 55+ Water or Psychic Pokemon. Upon your
victory, you get the final badge, the Earthbadge, which makes ALL Pokemon obey you! You also
get the TM 27, Fissure, which defeats an opponent in one attack.
Remember, if you're having trouble, Giovanni uses Ground and Poison types. Alakazam will
pound the Poison types into the ground and his high Special means that he shouldn't have much
trouble with the other Pokemon either. Water or Grass also works well and you should have an
abundance of those Pokemon. Venusaur, Victreebel, and Vileplume (is there something about
the letter V and Grass types? Hmmm...) are all Grass/Poison hybrids which means they defend
well against other Poison types. Avoid Tangela in this combat.
SPECIAL: ELITE FOUR COVERAGE
As a bonus, I have taken the liberty of covering the Elite Four. Here we go! Your best strategy is
to have one good Electric type, one good Flying type, one good Water type with at least one good
Ice type move, one good Psychic type, one good Fire type, and one good Grass type.
Lorelei, First of the Elite Four: Specializes in Ice type moves
Lorelei's Ice type moves are usually used by her Water Pokemon. Your Electric type should be at
level 63 and ready to handle a level 54 Dewgong, a level 53 Cloyster, a level 54 Slowbro, a level
56 Jynx, and a level 56 Lapras. When you win, you get to move on to Bruno.
Bruno, Second of the Elite Four: Specializes in Fighting type Pokemon
Bruno is a Fighting type trainer, but he also has two Onix to round out his squad. Put your Water
type in the lead to start the battle, switch to your Flying type for Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, go
back to the Water type for his second Onix, and switch again to your Flying type for Machamp.
Your Water and Flying type should be at level 66 and ready to handle a level 53 Onix, a level 55
Hitmonchan, a level 55 Hitmonlee, a level 56 Onix, and a level 58 Machamp. When you win,
you get to face Agatha.
Agatha, Third of the Elite Four: Specializes in Ghost and Poison type Pokemon
Agatha trains Poison types, which means that a good Psychic type is your friend in this battle. It
should be at level 68 and it should be ready to face a level 56 Gengar, a level 56 Golbat, a level
55 Haunter, a level 58 Arbok, and a level 60 Gengar. Upon your victory, you can move on to
Lance the Dragon Trainer.
Lance, Leader of the Elite Four: Specializes in Dragon type Pokemon
Dragon types fall before Ice moves, but they can defend well against Fire, Water, Grass, and
Electric powers. If your Water type knows an Ice move (which it should, you were warned),
that's the one to use. Your water type should be at least level 66 and should be ready to face a
level 58 Gyarados, a level 56 Dragonair, another level 56 Dragonair, a level 60 Aerodactyl, and a
level 62 Dragonite. When all is said and done, he proclaims you the Pokemon League
Champion...
Or, he would have, but your rival got there first. You must best him in combat if you are to win.
This will be the greatest test of your preparedness. Good luck.
YOUR RIVAL: THE MOMENT YOU'VE TRAINED FOR
Your rival uses a balance of Pokemon. Be ready to go. Your Water type should be in the lead.
Hopefully, he has at least 2 PP left in his Ice attack. If not, Water attacks will suffice.
Your rival (I will call him Gary) will always lead off with a level 61 Pidgeot (use Ice attacks), a
level 59 Alakazam (use your strongest Pokemon), and a level 61 Rhydon (use Water attacks).
The second half of his team is determined by the Pokemon he chose at the beginning of the
game.
If Gary chose Bulbasaur, you will fight a level 61 Gyarados (use Electric powers), a level 63
Arcanine (use Water attacks), and a level 65 Venusaur (use Flying or Ice attacks.)
If Gary chose Squirtle, you will fight a level 61 Arcanine (use Water attacks), a level 63
Exeggutor (use Ice or Flying attacks, but refrain from Psychic attacks), and a level 65 Blastoise
(use Electric attacks.)
If Gary chose Charizard, you will fight a level 61 Exeggutor (use Ice or Flying, but not Psychic),
a level 63 Gyarados (use Electric attacks), and a level 65 Charizard (use Electric or Ice attacks.)
WHEW! When you win, you get to see the end. Your six Pokemon are put in the Hall of Fame.
All that's left is... CATCH EM ALL!
Good luck!
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