This the starting place of the game. Your mom will tell you that Prof. Oak

wants you. Try to leave the town and Prof. Oak will come get you.

He leads you to his lab, where you will be able to choose your first

Pokemon. There are Bulbasaur, a plant-type Pokémon; Charmander, a fire-type

Pokémon; and Squirtle, and water-type Pokémon. Your rival, Gary, will pick

up another Pokémon which is stronger. When you try to leave, Gary will

challenge you to a Pokémon duel. Beating it will give you a nice boost in

experience(It will raise a level too), and $175, making your money total

$3175 now. Your first pokemon will be level 5 to start with, so if you keep

it strong, it will be a very good asset.

Go back to your house. On the PC, you can withdraw a Potion from your

hard drive. Your mom will, starting now, give free rests to you andyour Pokemon.

Route 1

This leads north to Viridian city. You'll encounter Pidgeys and Ratattas.

Defeat some for experience and try to raise at lease two levels for yourPokemon.

A boy on the way explains that he is a Poke Mart worker at Viridian City,

and he will give you a free Potion as a sample. What a nice guy.

Viridian City

Talk to the Shop clerk and then head back to Pallet Town with the Parcel.

Give it to Prof. Oak and he will give you and Gary each a Pokédex, which is

an electronic encyclopedia. He will tell you of his dream to complete

the pokedex (by capturing/having captured all pokemon in the game) to you.

Gary will act arrogant and walk off, but you can get a Town Map from his

sister, contrary to what he said. Go back to the city.

The gym's doors are locked, and they won't unlock for a very long time

until you've beaten the other 7 trainers in the game. Buy some Poke Balls

and talk to the old man to learn how to capture Pokemon. A boy will talk

about caterpillar Pokemon.

If you go west towards the Pokemon HQ, you will fight Gary. He captured

another Pokemon. After you fight him, he will tell you you need Badges to

go through. Around here, you can also pick up a few Nidorans.

Route 2

Pick up a Pidgey and/or a Ratatta. You can get higher-level ones in the

future, but if you train hard they will grow stronger better than the

higher-leveled ones. You can also get Caterpies and Weedles.

Viridian Forest

On your way through Viridian Forest, you should pick up a Pikachu (!!), a

Caterpie, and a Weedle. Don't get Kakunas and Metapods, since Caterpie and

Weedle will evolve into one eventually. There are a few easy trainers in

the forest, they are Bug-catchers and use bugs, so fire works very well on

them. The first has a pair of caterpillars at Lv. 6 (Caterpie/Weedle). The

second has 2 Lv. 7 Weedles and a Lv. 7 Kakuna. The final trainer has a

Lv. 9 Weedle.

There is a Poke Ball, Anidote (comes in handy from the Weedles), and

a Potion in the forest. Makes nice additions to your arsenal.

By the way, the Pikachu is a VERY good asset because its only weakness

is against ground Pokemon, and it is my favorite Pokemon anyway :-)

Pewter City (Boulderbadge)

The Gym here starts out with a JR. Trainer with a Lv. 11 Diglett and

Lv. 11 Sandshrew. You probably never met these two, but a good hint is

that Diglett will be strong against your Pikachu, so use water on it. Water

also works well on the Sandshrew. Plant does too.

Brock, the Gym Leader has a Lv .12 Geodude and a Lv. 14 Onix, 2 Rock-type

Pokémon. Water works very well on these. Be careful for the Onix's BIND

(a multiple-hit move in which your pokemon is immobile during it) and BIDE,

a move where it absorbs damage for some turns and returns it double. When

it does BIDE, I suggest either beating it very quickly or do non-damaging

attacks like TAIL WHIP or GROWL, so you are debilitating him without

taking damage. If you defeat him, Brock will congraulate you and give you

BIDE, TM 34. I suggest giving it to a pokemon with high hit points,

and it is best used against pokemon with high defense and high offense,

because the damage done doesn't care about the enemy's defense at all.

You can look around the museum, but the $50 it costs is unreasonable,

since you can't get anything there except looking at fossils of

Aerodactyl and Kabutops, two extinct pokemon which you might get later.

Route 3

This leads east from Pewter City to Mt.Moon. Get a Spearow if you want.

But it is very crucial for a collector to pick up a Jigglypuff, since this

is the only place you'll see it. There are also many trainers along the

way for money and experience. I suggest you to train the Pikachu and your

original Pokemon strongly.

You will meet two new kinds of trainers: Youngster and Lass. The former

likes pokemon such as Rattatas, the latter likes "cute" pokemon like

Clefairies and Jigglypuffs.

Mt. Moon

Heal up at the Poke Center. A man will sell a Lv.5 Magikarp to you. It

seems weak but will evolve into the powerful Gyarados at Lv.20. See if it

is worth the $500 he wants. Don't worry if you don't get it, though, since

you can get it later by fishing for it.

Time to walk into the cave! You will meet two new kinds of trainers

(again). Super Nerds who likes nerd stuff like Voltorbs or Magnemites,

and Hikers with rock pokemon like Geodude. There are also many pokemons

in the cave, Zubat (beaten by Pikachu easily) and Geodude (weak against

water) are more common than Paras and Clefairies (who are indigenous to

this place).

After walking in, take a left and you'll get TM12, which contains

WATER GUN. Going up will yield a Potion and a Bug-catcher. Now, you can go

east futher into the cave with a few trainers loafing around. Going south

at the fork will let you take a Potion, a Rare Candy (automatic Level

Increase), and an Escape Rope (Lets you go to the last Poke Center).

Under the first stairwell, there is a Rocket (gang members with a variety

of good pokemon), along with a HP-UP that increases a pokemon's HEALTH

permanently. Keep on going, past a Lass with a pair of Lv. 11 plant

pokemon (Bellsprout/Oddish), and go into the second staircase.

Another Rocket is here, guarding TM01 (MEGA PUNCH). You will also find

an Ether hidden in a solitary rock. Going up, left, and finally to

a staircase guarded by a Hiker. Above him is the first piece of the Moon

Stone, so don't forget to get that. Enter the staircase anf fight 3

Rockets in a row and finally a Super Nerd with a Grimer, a Voltorb, and

a Koffing.

Here you can get one of two fossils. You can choose the Helix Fossil or

the Dome Fossil. The Helix Fossil will become Omanyte and the Dome Fossil

will become Kabuto when you take them to the Pokemon Laboratory on Cinnabar

Island.

Route 4

Out already? After you cross the last ledge, you are stuck and can not

go back. So take the TM04 on the way first.

Cerulean City (Cascadebadge)

The Gym here is owned by Misty, who has a Staryu and Starmie. Pikachu can

make short work of both of them if you trained it well. (Lv. 20 or 21

recommanded) But watch out for Starmie's BUBBLEBEAM, a strong water attack

that does a lot of damage and may reduce speed. Go ahead and beat her and

get the BUBBLEBEAM TM.

Go north and fight Gary again. He now has a Lv. 18 Pideotto, a Lv. 15

Abra, a Lv. 15 Rattata, and whatever he started with. On the way you will

fight 5 trainers in a row for a prize, only to find out that it was a plan

by TEAM ROCKET to recruit new members. You'll refuse the ROCKET's order

and fight him, getting a Nugget (useless object, sell it for $5000) if

you win. Go east here, through Route 25. You will get the S.S. Anne Ticket

from Bill after a few more trainers. Getting back in, Bill will share

information about Eevee and its evolutions.

You can trade a Poliwhirl for Jynx here. The Jynx can only be gotten this

way. Polywhirls evolve from Poliwags and will be very easy to get in the future.

A guy will tell you the badge's uses. Behind his house is a hidden rarecandy.

You can get Bellsprouts (BLUE) / Oddish (RED) and Abras here. (Route 24

and (Route 25) The Abra is unique to this city, so get one. Authough I

usually get two because one could be traded away later for a Mr. Mime.

Abra only has the TELEPORT move, but when it evolves at Lv.16 to a Kadabra,

it will get more attacks. It is also a good "utility" pokemon because

Teleport can run away from battles and return you to the last Poke Center.

After that, go to the house previously blocked by a policeman. Fight the

ROCKET and he will give you the TM 28. (an excellent TM because it is very

powerful and is useful against electric pokemon as well.) Onward south,

there is a Pokémon Daycare Center. The man there will care for one

Pokémon and raise its level while you are gone for $100 * (1 + no. of

levels it gains). At the end of the road, there is a big building which is

a gate house for Saffron City. At this point, the guard will not let you

through. The smaller building is the entrance of underground passage to

Vermilion City. You can trade a Nidoran (m) for a Nidoran (f) here.

Route 11

Don't forget to get the exclusive Drowzee here. It is one of the first,

and one of the best psychic pokemon.

On the way, you can also get Meowth (BLUE). The only places to capture him

are by Cerulean, Vermillion, Celadon, or Lavender. His PAY DAY attack will

give you money in battle. And no, this is not necessarily the TEAM ROCKET

Meowth... :-)

Vermilion City (Thunderbadge)

Here you can get the Bike Voucher by visiting the Pokémon Fan Club. It

will let you get the bike in Cerulean City for free. (like you are ever

going to get $1000000...) There is also an old man who will give you an

Old Rod, which could fish for Magikarps only. A third thing is that a boy

will trade a Far'Fetched for a Spearow. After that, go to S.S. Anne

to the south.

You can get on the boat with the S.S. Ticket. On the boat, there are many

trainers and items. You'll find your first Great Ball here. Gary will be

here (again) with a different appearence. After you beat him you

can talk to the captain. He will give you HM 01 (cut) after you help him

through his seasickness. Then boat will take off when you exit.

The HM is very important. It will now let you do things you couldn't do

before, like going back to Pallet Town, or getting Old Amber in the back

door to Pewter City's museum.

The Diglett's cave to the east has some high-level Digletts and Dugtrios.

If you get them they will help you a lot for the boss. Now, teach HM 01 to

a Plant-type Pokemon. The move is even good in battle sometimes!

Go to the southwest of the city, CUT a bush, and go to the Gym. The leader

there has a electric lock door. You have to find one switch, and another

switch which is always BESIDE it. Defeat Lt. Surge, the gym leader, who has

a Voltorb, a Pikachu(!!) and a Raichu(!!!). Digletts and Dugtrios can

defeat them easily, as well as anyone you gave your DIG technique to. Talk

to him afterwards to get TM 24, which contains THUNDERBOLT, a powerful

version of THUNDERSHOCK.

One of the Prof. Oaks' aids is also in a building to the east. He will

give you the Itemfinder if you have more than 30 Pokemon. This item finds

items... duh. But not too important really. By him is a guy who will

trade a Nidorino for your Nidorina.

After this, go into the Diglett's cave again. It will lead you near

Pewter city and you can do things you couldn't do before. A person will

trade a Mr. Mime for an Abra. So if you have a spare one, trade it. (This

is the only way to get a Mr. Mime) You can also get HM 05 (flash) from one

of Prof. Oak's aides if you caught more than 10 Pokemon. Then go back and

up to Cerulean City. From there go east into the Rock Tunnel.

Rock Tunnel

It is very dark inside, you need a Pokemon equipped with HM 05. Pick up

an Onix and a Machop here if you want. It is quite long and there

are quite a few Pokemaniacs and Miners in there. Luckily, a Poke Center

is right by the entrance to get you started up.

Lavender Town

In the northeast section of the town there is a big building, Pokemon

Tower. But you can't do much there now.

There is, however, a man who will

"rate" and rename your Pokemon.

You'll hear a lot of stories. Mainly about a Cubone who lost his mother,

a kind Mr.Fuji's disappearence, and the ghosts in the Pokemon Tower.

To the south are many fisherman eager for battle. Let them have their

fun. This is a good chance to train electric and plant pokemons. That

includes Pikachu (!!).

Route 8

Near the city, the BLUE players will find Meowths, Sandshrews, and

Vulpixs, while the RED ones will find Glowlithes, Ekans, and Mankeys. After

some collecting, go west through the tunnel to Celadon City after

you pick up a Vulpix. (BLUE)

Celadon City (Rainbowbadge)

Celadon is the biggest city in the whole game. You can get an Eevee from a

back entrance to the Game Freak, Inc. building. You can buy stones from the