Kanto walkthrough

Spoilers ahead

This page walks through the whole Kanto story in order, including every battle and puzzle solution. Battle teams and gym puzzle solutions are folded: open one only when you need it.

Kanto is PBO’s fourth region. You arrive in Pallet Town as a seasoned Champion, but Kanto deliberately holds your old team back: you start again with a new starter, eight new Gyms, Team Rocket and a rival called Gary.

Pallet TownSailor Marcus brings you to Pallet Town from Lilycove City, and takes you back whenever you like.Wild Pokémon here

At a glance

• Starts: Pallet Town, by ship from Lilycove City
• Needs: the Hoenn Champion title and the Skies Beyond Hoenn quests (see Before you go)
• Starter: Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle, in Professor Oak’s Lab
• Rival: Gary. Villains: Team Rocket
• Badges: 8, from Brock in Pewter City to Giovanni in Viridian City
• Ends: as Kanto Champion at the Indigo Plateau, then more to do

Each section below follows the game’s Main Story quests (shown in the Quest Tracker) in the order they appear. Team lists open when you click them and come straight from the game’s data. For the movesets, abilities and held items of the Gym Leaders and Elite Four, and for Gym Leader rebattles, see Gyms, Elite Four and Champions.

Before you go

Getting here

Kanto opens after you become Hoenn Champion and finish the Skies Beyond Hoenn quests that start with Steven at the Mossdeep Space Center. At the end, Sailor Marcus at the port in Lilycove City sails you to Pallet Town. The steps are in the Hoenn walkthrough.

The same sailor in Pallet Town takes you back to Lilycove whenever you like.

Kanto’s rules

Until you beat the Kanto Elite Four:

• Pokémon you caught in other regions fight at level 1 in Kanto’s wild and trainer battles. Pokémon caught in Kanto fight at their real level.
• Rare Candy cannot be used while you are in Kanto, and cannot be used on Kanto Pokémon anywhere.
• Pokémon chests cannot be opened while you are in Kanto.
• Pokémon caught in Kanto do not gain EXP outside Kanto.
• No Region Changer moves Pokémon into Kanto.

In practice

Keep your Kanto starter in front and catch a new team as you go. Your old Pokémon become useful again once you are Kanto Champion.

HMs

The HMs you already carry work in Kanto, with Kanto’s own badge requirements. Keep them in your Bag and use them as in the other regions (see the FAQ):

HM	Works in Kanto when
Rock Smash	You have 1 Kanto badge
Cut	You have 2 Kanto badges and the S.S. Anne captain has given you permission
Surf, Strength	You have 5 Kanto badges
Rock Climb	You have 7 Kanto badges
Waterfall	You have 8 Kanto badges

Teleporters

Kanto’s teleporter NPCs open new destinations as you earn Kanto badges:

Destination	Available with
Pallet Town, Spring Valley, Crew Wars Lobby	From the start
Viridian City, Pewter City	1 badge
Mt. Moon Square, Cerulean City, Route 5	2 badges
Vermilion City	3 badges
Lavender Town, Celadon City	4 badges
Fuchsia City	5 badges
Saffron City	6 badges
Cinnabar Island	7 badges
Dark City	After Mr. Fuji on Pokémon Tower 1F asks for your help (Shadows of Destruction)
Fennel Valley	After you first defeat Regidrago (Echoes of the Unknown)
Elite Four Lobby	After you become Kanto Champion

Gyms go in order

Each leader only battles you once you hold the badges from the gyms before, so take them in order. Each Gym Leader gives prize money, a TM and a few Blaze Coins. All eight are listed in Every Kanto gym at a glance.

After you beat the Kanto Elite Four, the Cerulean, Vermilion, Fuchsia and Cinnabar Gyms get a teleporter that takes you straight to the leader, so rebattles skip the puzzles.

Pallet Town and your Kanto starter

Professor Oak's LabStep up to the starter table to choose your starter.

Viridian City MartThe Store Boy has Oak's Parcel.

Gary's HouseDaisy lives in Gary's house.

Where to go: Pallet Town, Professor Oak’s Lab, then the Poké Mart in Viridian City.

1. Meet Professor Oak. When you try to leave Pallet Town to the north, Professor Oak stops you: Pokémon all over Kanto are behaving strangely, and he wants your help. Go to his Lab.

2. Choose your starter. Step up to the starter table (the cushions in front of it) to open the starter window and choose Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle. If your party is full, put a Pokémon in the PC first.

3. Agree to help. When you try to leave, Gary walks in and picks the starter that beats yours. Talk to Professor Oak again and agree to help: he asks you to fetch a parcel from the Poké Mart in Viridian City.

4. Battle Gary. On your way out of town, Gary challenges you with his starter (level 3). You cannot leave Pallet Town until you have battled him.

   Gary (Pallet Town)3 teams, depending on your starter

   If you chose Bulbasaur

   • CharmanderLv. 3

   If you chose Charmander

   • SquirtleLv. 3

   If you chose Squirtle

   • BulbasaurLv. 3

5. Collect the parcel. Go north to Viridian City: the Store Boy in the Poké Mart hands you Oak's Parcel. Viridian Gym is locked; in Kanto it is the eighth Gym.

6. Deliver it. Take the parcel to Oak. He gives you Storage Boxx5 (untradable), each adding a PC box, and asks you to visit Daisy.

7. Get the Kanto Map. Daisy lives in Gary’s house next to the Lab. She gives you the Kanto Map.

Choose Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle in Professor Oak's Lab.

Worth catching:

Where	Pokémon
Route 1	Shinx, Rufflet
Route 2	Nidoran♀, and Shelmet or Karrablast
Route 22, west of Viridian	Cubone, Paldean Wooper

Next: Route 2 north of Viridian City leads into Viridian Forest.

Viridian Forest and Pewter City: Gym 1, Brock (Rock)

Viridian ForestPart of Viridian Forest: paths and tall grass between the trees, with trainers waiting along the way.Wild Pokémon here

Where to go: Route 2, Viridian Forest and Pewter City.

Go north through Viridian Forest to Pewter City. In the forest, Emma asks you to find her brother and his friends, who are hiding among the trees: that is the Buzzing Hide & Seek side quest. An Aroma Lady in the forest heals your team.

A trainer called Ash also challenges you in the forest. Beat him and he gives you a Pikachu (Original Cap). He turns up again at Mt. Moon, on the S.S. Anne, on Route 9 and in Fuchsia City, each time with a gift; see Ash and Lucarionite.

Worth catching: Pikachu, Heracross, Pinsir and an Ultra Rare Shuckle in Viridian Forest.

Pewter CityPewter City, home of Brock's Gym.

Gym 1: Brock (Rock)

Pewter City GymBrock's Gym in Pewter City.

Level: Brock’s strongest Pokémon is level 16, so aim for about that level with Pokémon caught in Kanto.

Bring: Water moves: they hit all three of Brock’s Pokémon super-effectively. His team is Rock with a twist: Alolan Geodude is part Electric and Archen is part Flying. Grass moves work on Onix and Alolan Geodude but only do normal damage to Archen, and Ground moves miss Archen entirely.

Gym Leader Brock3 Pokémon · Lv. 14–16

• Geodude-AlolaLv. 14 · Hard Stone
• ArchenLv. 15
• OnixLv. 16

Rewards: the Boulder Badge, Gen9 TM076 Rock Blast, 1,400 F and a few Blaze Coins.

Next: head east along Route 3 to Mt. Moon.

Mt. Moon and Cerulean City: Gym 2, Misty (Water)

Route 3 (Kanto)Hiker Eden misses the Clefairy dance at Mt. Moon Square.Wild Pokémon here

Mt. Moon B2F Super Nerd Miguel guards the two fossils.

Where to go: Route 3, Mt. Moon, Route 4 and Cerulean City.

1. Head for Mt. Moon. Go east along Route 3. Use the Pokémon Center before Mt. Moon as your respawn point.

2. Pick a fossil. Team Rocket Grunts have moved into Mt. Moon. On B2F, beat Super Nerd Miguel; he lets you take one of his two fossils, the Dome Fossil or the Helix Fossil.

   Super Nerd Miguel (Mt. Moon)3 Pokémon · Lv. 14–15

   • GrimerLv. 15
   • VoltorbLv. 14
   • KoffingLv. 14

3. Go on to Cerulean. Leave by Route 4 and continue east to Cerulean City.

Worth catching:

Where	Pokémon
Route 3	Mankey, Makuhita, Combat-breed Paldean Tauros
Mt. Moon	Roggenrola and an Ultra Rare Clefairy
Cerulean City, on the grass	Abra, Nidoran♀, Nidoran♂

Side quest

Hiker Eden on Route 3 misses the Clefairy dance at Mt. Moon Square. That starts Return of the Moonlight Ritual.

Cerulean CityCerulean City, home of Misty's Gym.Wild Pokémon here

Gym 2: Misty (Water)

Cerulean GymMisty's Gym is a chain of warp tiles.

Level: Misty’s strongest Pokémon is level 27, so aim for about that level.

Bring: Grass and Electric moves. Misty’s Water types are weak to both, with two exceptions: Quagsire is immune to Electric, and Azumarill’s Sap Sipper ability absorbs Grass moves, so use Electric on it. Grass hits Quagsire and Corsola four times as hard.

Gym puzzle: the warp tiles

Misty’s Gym is a chain of warp tiles. Every area has the tile you arrived on and exactly one other: step on the other one each time. After nine jumps you land in front of Misty.

Gym Leader Misty4 Pokémon · Lv. 24–27

• CorsolaLv. 24
• StarmieLv. 27
• QuagsireLv. 25
• AzumarillLv. 26

Rewards: the Cascade Badge, Gen9 TM011 Water Pulse, 2,100 F and a few Blaze Coins.

Next: you need the S.S. Ticket from Bill, north of Cerulean.

Bill, the S.S. Anne and Vermilion City: Gym 3, Lt. Surge (Electric)

Sea CottageBill's Sea Cottage at the end of Route 25.

S.S. Anne Control RoomThe seasick Captain is in the Control Room.

Vermilion CityVermilion City, home of Lt. Surge's Gym.Wild Pokémon here

Vermilion City PortShow your S.S. Ticket at Vermilion Port.

Where to go: Routes 24 and 25 north of Cerulean, then south through Route 5, the Underground Path and Route 6 to Vermilion City.

The next badge is in Vermilion City, but first you need a ticket.

1. Head north. Gary catches you in Cerulean City before you head north. Cross Route 24 to Route 25.
2. Help Bill. In the Sea Cottage at the end of Route 25, Bill has turned himself into a Clefairy. Help him run his Cell Separation System; to thank you, he gives you the S.S. Ticket.
3. Go south to Vermilion. Cerulean’s east exit needs Cut, so go south: the Underground Path in a house on Route 5 takes you under Saffron City to Route 6. Follow Route 6 south to Vermilion City.
4. Board the S.S. Anne. Vermilion Gym is closed: Lt. Surge is on the S.S. Anne. Show your ticket to the sailor at Vermilion Port and board the ship.
5. Battle Gary. Gary is on the ship’s 2F and wants another battle.
6. Help the Captain. Find the Captain in the Control Room, too seasick to stand. Rub his back and he grants you permission to use Cut in Kanto.
7. Challenge Lt. Surge. Back in Vermilion, cut the small tree on the way to the Gym and challenge Lt. Surge (2 badges).

Gary (Cerulean City)3 teams, depending on your starter

If you chose Bulbasaur

• KadabraLv. 19
• CharmeleonLv. 18
• PidgeottoLv. 20
• NidorinoLv. 21

If you chose Charmander

• KadabraLv. 19
• WartortleLv. 18
• PidgeottoLv. 20
• RaticateLv. 21

If you chose Squirtle

• KadabraLv. 19
• IvysaurLv. 18
• FearowLv. 20
• Raticate-AlolaLv. 21

Gary (S.S. Anne)3 teams, depending on your starter

If you chose Bulbasaur

• PoliwhirlLv. 25
• KadabraLv. 24
• CharmeleonLv. 26
• NidorinoLv. 26

If you chose Charmander

• GloomLv. 25
• KadabraLv. 24
• WartortleLv. 26
• MarowakLv. 26

If you chose Squirtle

• GrowlitheLv. 25
• KadabraLv. 24
• IvysaurLv. 26
• PrimeapeLv. 26

Worth catching:

Where	Pokémon
Route 24	Joltik, Carnivine
Route 25	Joltik and an Ultra Rare Trapinch
Route 6	Wimpod
Route 5	an Ultra Rare Chansey
Vermilion City	Alomomola, fished

Gym 3: Lt. Surge (Electric)

Vermilion Gym: search the bins to switch off the barriers.

Level: Lt. Surge’s strongest Pokémon is level 31, so aim for about that level.

Bring: Ground moves. They are the answer to Lt. Surge’s Electric types, except against Kilowattrel, which is part Flying.

Gym puzzle: the bins

Two rows of three electric barriers block the way to Lt. Surge. There are thirteen bins in the room below them.

Each time you enter the Gym, six of the bins are secretly linked to one barrier each: inspect a linked bin and its barrier switches off. Inspect bins until a full column of barriers (one in each row) is open, then walk through.

The links change every time you come in, so nobody’s old solution will work for you.

Gym Leader Lt. Surge5 Pokémon · Lv. 28–31

• DedenneLv. 28
• Raichu-AlolaLv. 28
• KilowattrelLv. 29
• PawmotLv. 30
• ElectivireLv. 31

Rewards: the Thunder Badge, Gen9 TM068 Thunder Punch, 2,400 F and a few Blaze Coins.

Next: with Cut allowed, the east exit of Cerulean City leads to Lavender Town.

Rock Tunnel, Lavender Town and Celadon City: Gym 4, Erika (Grass)

Lavender TownLavender Town and the Pokémon Tower.

Where to go: Cerulean City’s east exit, Routes 9 and 10, Rock Tunnel, Lavender Town, then west along Route 8 and Route 7 to Celadon City.

1. Cut your way east. Return to Cerulean City (teleport or walk) and cut the tree on the east side to reach Route 9.

2. Reach Lavender Town. Go through Route 10 and Rock Tunnel to Lavender Town.

3. Visit the Pokémon Tower. Gary battles you on 2F. Higher up, a woman warns that you cannot see what haunts the top floors without the right device. You come back later.

   Gary (Pokémon Tower)3 teams, depending on your starter

   If you chose Bulbasaur

   • Exeggutor-AlolaLv. 31
   • GyaradosLv. 31
   • KadabraLv. 32
   • CharmeleonLv. 33
   • PidgeottoLv. 33

   If you chose Charmander

   • Marowak-AlolaLv. 30
   • ExeggutorLv. 31
   • KadabraLv. 32
   • WartortleLv. 33
   • PidgeottoLv. 33

   If you chose Squirtle

   • Growlithe-HisuiLv. 30
   • GyaradosLv. 31
   • KadabraLv. 32
   • IvysaurLv. 33
   • FearowLv. 33

4. Head west to Celadon. Go west along Route 8 and take the Underground Path under Saffron City to Route 7 and Celadon City.

5. Listen in. As you enter Celadon, you overhear a Rocket Grunt mention the back room of the Game Corner.

Pokemon Tower 2FGary battles you on 2F of the Pokémon Tower.Wild Pokémon here

Pokemon Tower 6FHigher up, a woman warns you about the top floors.Wild Pokémon here

Worth catching:

Where	Pokémon
Route 9	Hisuian Voltorb, Emolga, Bouffalant
Rock Tunnel	Onix, Rhyhorn and an Ultra Rare Nacli
Pokémon Tower	ghosts such as Sinistea and Galarian Yamask, plus an Ultra Rare Charcadet on 3F, 5F and 6F
Route 8	Scraggy, Magby
Route 7	Houndour, Maschiff, Magby

Celadon CityCeladon City: Erika's Gym and the Game Corner.

Gym 4: Erika (Grass)

Celadon GymErika's Gym in Celadon City.

Level: Erika’s strongest Pokémon is level 40, so aim for about that level.

Bring: Fire and Ice moves: they hit Erika’s whole team super-effectively. Her Gym has small trees inside, so you need Cut.

Gym Leader Erika5 Pokémon · Lv. 36–40

• Brute BonnetLv. 36 · Booster Energy
• Electrode-HisuiLv. 37 · Life Orb
• ArbolivaLv. 38 · Terrain Extender
• VictreebelLv. 40 · Grassy Seed
• VenusaurLv. 40 · Life Orb

Rewards: the Rainbow Badge, Gen9 TM111 Giga Drain, 2,900 F and a few Blaze Coins.

Next: find out what Team Rocket is doing in the Game Corner.

Team Rocket Hideout and the Pokémon Tower

Celadon City Game CornerInspect the poster on the wall.

Rocket Hideout B4FRocket Grunt Tim and Giovanni are on B4F.

Pokemon Tower 7FMr. Fuji is on the top floor of the tower.Wild Pokémon here

Where to go: the Celadon Game Corner, the Rocket Hideout below it, then the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town.

1. Find the hideout. In the Celadon Game Corner, inspect the poster on the wall. A Rocket Grunt jumps out; beat him to open the way down.

2. Get the Lift Key. The Rocket Hideout runs from B1F to B4F. On B4F, Rocket Grunt Tim carries the Lift Key, which you need for the hideout’s lift.

3. Beat Giovanni. Beat Giovanni, the boss of Team Rocket. He leaves behind the Silph Scope.

4. Climb the Pokémon Tower. Go back to Lavender Town. With the Silph Scope, you can climb past 6F of the Pokémon Tower.

   On 7F, beat the three Rocket Grunts and talk to Mr. Fuji, who came to calm the spirit of a Marowak. He gives you the Poké Flute.

Level 90 trainers on 7F?

If you have already spoken to Mr. Fuji on 1F, members of the Calamity Covenant with level 90 and level 100 teams also stand on 7F. They belong to the Shadows of Destruction side quest, not the story, so you can leave them for later.

Rocket Grunt (Game Corner)2 Pokémon · Lv. 29–30

• DrowzeeLv. 29
• MachopLv. 30

Giovanni (Rocket Hideout)4 Pokémon · Lv. 35–37

• RhyhornLv. 35
• KangaskhanLv. 36
• NidoqueenLv. 36
• PersianLv. 37

Next: use the Poké Flute on one of the sleeping Snorlax.

The sleeping Snorlax and Fuchsia City: Gym 5, Koga (Poison)

Route 12 (Kanto)One Snorlax sleeps on Route 12, south of Lavender.Wild Pokémon here

Route 16 (Kanto)The other sleeps on Route 16, west of Celadon.Wild Pokémon here

Where to go: Route 12 south of Lavender Town or Route 16 west of Celadon City, then Fuchsia City.

Two sleeping Snorlax block the roads south: one on Route 12 south of Lavender, one on Route 16 west of Celadon. Play the Poké Flute next to one and it wakes up grumpy and storms off.

Either road leads to Fuchsia City. The Route 16 way continues along Route 17, which you can only ride on your Bicycle.

Play the Poké Flute next to a sleeping Snorlax to wake it up.

Worth catching:

Where	Pokémon
Route 12	Pinsir, Illumise, Volbeat
Route 13	Heracross, Bounsweet
Route 14	Tropius, Chansey
Route 15	an Ultra Rare Ditto
Route 16	Heatmor, Togedemaru
Route 18	Staraptor, Fletchinder

Fuchsia CityFuchsia City, home of Koga's Gym and the Safari Zone.

Gym 5: Koga (Poison)

Fuchsia City GymKoga's Gym is full of walls you cannot see.

Level: Koga’s strongest Pokémon is level 49, so aim for about that level.

Bring: Ground and Psychic moves. Koga’s Poison types are weak to both, with two exceptions: Galarian Weezing floats with Levitate, so Ground moves miss it, and Overqwil is part Dark, so Psychic moves cannot touch it.

Gym puzzle: the invisible walls

Koga’s Gym is full of walls you cannot see. The working route goes almost all the way round the room: west and up along the left side, along the top, down the right side, then back through the middle to reach Koga from below. Follow the o marks (S is the entrance, K is Koga, = is the exit; north is up).

###oooooooooooooooooooooo.###
###o..######.......#####oo###
..#o.####################oo..
#ooo######################ooo
#o..########################o
oo##########################o
o.######..ooo#oooooooo######o
o..#####.#o#ooo####.#o######o
o#.#####.#o#####..###o######o
o######.##o#oooo#.#ooo######o
o######.##ooo##o#ooo###.####o
o#####..#####.#o#o####..###.o
o###..........#o#oooooooooooo
oooooooooooooo#o#.......###..
####.########o#o#.####..####.
##########..#o#o###.##..####.
#######....#oo#ooo#.....####.
#######oooo#o####o#....######
######oo.#o#o#Kooo#.##.######
######o.##o#o#oo###.##..#####
#####.o#..o#oo###.#...#######
######o#.#oo#o.#..###.#######
######o#.##o#o###.....#######
#####.o#..#ooo###############
#####.oo#######.#############
######.o##.###...############
######.oooooooo...###########
########......o..############
##########....o..############
###########...S..############
###########...==..###########

Gym Leader Koga6 Pokémon · Lv. 46–49

• GlimmoraLv. 46 · Focus Sash
• ToxapexLv. 47 · Black Sludge
• Weezing-GalarLv. 47 · Leftovers
• OverqwilLv. 48 · Life Orb
• TentacruelLv. 48 · Choice Specs
• Iron MothLv. 49 · Booster Energy

Rewards: the Soul Badge, Gen9 TM083 Poison Jab, 4,300 F and a few Blaze Coins.

With 5 badges you can now Surf and use Strength in Kanto, and the guards around Saffron City let you through.

Safari Zone

Fuchsia’s Safari Zone has Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle as Ultra Rare spawns, plus the Paldean Tauros breeds and Squawkabilly. Buy a Kanto Safari Ticket at a Kanto Poké Mart and use it from your Bag. See the Safari Zone list.

Next: Saffron City, now open from any of its guard posts.

Saffron City and Silph Co.: Gym 6, Sabrina (Psychic)

Saffron CitySaffron City and Silph Co.

Where to go: any guard post into Saffron City, then Silph Co.

Enter Saffron City through any of its guard posts. A Rocket Grunt is blocking the Gym, and Team Rocket has taken over Silph Co.

1. Enter Silph Co. Gary is on 1F and suggests you both look for a way up to Team Rocket’s boss.
2. Get the Silph Keycard. The building is full of trainers, so bring plenty of healing items. The Silph Keycard, which opens the locked doors, is in a Poké Ball on 5F.
3. Battle Gary. Gary still wants to battle you on 7F.
4. Beat Giovanni again. On 11F, beat Giovanni again. He flees, and the President of Silph Co. thanks you with a Master Ball.
5. Go to the Gym. With Team Rocket gone, the grunt in front of the Gym leaves.

Silph Co. 11FGiovanni and the President of Silph Co. are on 11F.

Gary (Silph Co.)3 teams, depending on your starter

If you chose Bulbasaur

• ExeggutorLv. 47
• GyaradosLv. 47
• AlakazamLv. 47
• CharizardLv. 49
• PidgeotLv. 49

If you chose Charmander

• Arcanine-HisuiLv. 47
• Exeggutor-AlolaLv. 47
• AlakazamLv. 47
• BlastoiseLv. 49
• PidgeotLv. 49

If you chose Squirtle

• ArcanineLv. 48
• GyaradosLv. 47
• AlakazamLv. 47
• VenusaurLv. 49
• PidgeotLv. 49

Giovanni (Silph Co.)5 Pokémon · Lv. 54–56

• NidokingLv. 56
• RhydonLv. 55
• KangaskhanLv. 54
• NidoqueenLv. 55
• PersianLv. 55

Gym 6: Sabrina (Psychic)

Saffron Gym's rooms are linked by warp tiles.

Level: Sabrina’s strongest Pokémon is level 65, so aim for about that level.

Bring: Ghost moves: they hit every member of Sabrina’s team super-effectively. Dark and Bug moves work on most of them, but Hatterene is part Fairy. Her Alakazam holds Alakazite and Mega Evolves.

Gym puzzle: the warp tiles

Sabrina’s Gym is a grid of nine rooms joined by warp tiles in their corners. She is in the middle room.

1. Entrance room (bottom middle). Step on the tile in the top-right corner. You arrive in the middle room on the left.
2. Middle room on the left. Take the tile in the top-right corner. You arrive in the bottom-right room.
3. Bottom-right room. Take the tile in the bottom-right corner. You arrive in Sabrina’s room.

Gym Leader Sabrina6 Pokémon · Lv. 60–65

• ClaydolLv. 60 · Light Clay
• EspathraLv. 61 · Psychic Seed
• HattereneLv. 61 · Leftovers
• VeluzaLv. 63 · Focus Sash
• Braviary-HisuiLv. 64 · Life Orb
• AlakazamLv. 65 · Alakazite

Rewards: the Marsh Badge, Gen9 TM218 Expanding Force, 4,300 F and a few Blaze Coins.

Next: with 6 badges you can Surf to Cinnabar Island.

Cinnabar Island: the Pokémon Mansion and Gym 7, Blaine (Fire)

Cinnabar IslandCinnabar Island. The Gym is locked until you find the Secret Key.Wild Pokémon here

Where to go: Route 21 south of Pallet Town, or Routes 19 and 20 south of Fuchsia City, then Cinnabar Island and the Pokémon Mansion.

Surf south to Cinnabar Island, either from Pallet Town along Route 21 or from Fuchsia City along Routes 19 and 20, past the Seafoam Islands. The sea routes need 6 badges.

Worth catching:

Where	Pokémon
Route 21	Mantine, Horsea, Pyukumuku
Seafoam Islands	Jynx, Galarian Mr. Mime, and Lapras (surfing on B4F), with an Ultra Rare Cetitan on B4F
Route 20	Mareanie, fished

The Pokémon Mansion

The Cinnabar Gym is locked. The Secret Key is somewhere in the old Pokémon Mansion.

Pokemon Mansion 1FSmall Mewtwo statues stand on every floor of the Mansion.Wild Pokémon here

Touch the Mewtwo statues in the order given on Pokémon Mansion statues to open the locked doors on B1F. The Secret Key lies in the room behind them, on the west side of B1F.

Gym 7: Blaine (Fire)

Cinnabar Island GymBlaine's Gym on Cinnabar Island.

Level: Blaine’s strongest Pokémon is level 72, so aim for about that level.

Bring: Rock moves: they hit Blaine’s whole team super-effectively, and Charizard four times as hard. Torkoal’s Drought ability brings out the sun, which weakens Water moves, and Chandelure holds an Air Balloon against Ground moves. His Charizard Mega Evolves into Mega Charizard Y.

Gym Leader Blaine6 Pokémon · Lv. 69–72

• TorkoalLv. 69 · Heat Rock
• Arcanine-HisuiLv. 70 · Life Orb
• ChandelureLv. 70 · Air Balloon
• Gouging FireLv. 71 · Booster Energy
• CharizardLv. 71 · Charizardite Y
• ScovillainLv. 72 · Life Orb

Rewards: the Volcano Badge, Gen9 TM157 Overheat, 4,700 F and a few Blaze Coins.

Next: the Viridian Gym is now open.

Viridian City: Gym 8, Giovanni (Ground)

Viridian CityViridian City. Its Gym opens once you have 7 badges.Wild Pokémon here

Where to go: Viridian City.

With 7 badges the Viridian Gym opens, and its leader is Giovanni.

Gym 8: Giovanni (Ground)

Viridian GymGiovanni leads the Viridian Gym.

Level: Giovanni’s strongest Pokémon is level 75, so aim for about that level.

Bring: Ice moves, the best all-rounder. Every Pokémon on Giovanni’s team is part Ground:

• Ice hits everything except Steelix super-effectively, and Garchomp four times as hard.
• Water moves work on most of the team, but Garchomp only takes normal damage and Clodsire’s Water Absorb heals it.
• Steelix holds Steelixite and Mega Evolves.

Gym Leader Giovanni6 Pokémon · Lv. 72–75

• ClodsireLv. 72 · Black Sludge
• GarchompLv. 73 · Loaded Dice
• NidokingLv. 73 · Life Orb
• SteelixLv. 74 · Steelixite
• Ursaluna-BloodmoonLv. 75 · Leftovers
• Great TuskLv. 75 · Booster Energy

Rewards: the Earth Badge, Gen9 TM149 Earthquake, 5,000 F and a few Blaze Coins.

Next: Route 22, west of Viridian, leads to Victory Road.

Victory Road and the Indigo Plateau

Indigo PlateauIndigo Plateau, the Kanto Pokémon League.

Where to go: Route 22, the Victory Road Guard Post, Victory Road and the Indigo Plateau.

1. Battle Gary on Route 22. Go west from Viridian City onto Route 22. Gary is waiting with a full team.

   Gary (Route 22)3 teams, depending on your starter

   If you chose Bulbasaur

   • RhyperiorLv. 72
   • ExeggutorLv. 72
   • GyaradosLv. 73
   • PidgeotLv. 74
   • AlakazamLv. 74
   • CharizardLv. 75

   If you chose Charmander

   • RhyperiorLv. 72
   • Arcanine-HisuiLv. 73
   • Exeggutor-AlolaLv. 73
   • PidgeotLv. 74
   • AlakazamLv. 74
   • BlastoiseLv. 75

   If you chose Squirtle

   • RhyperiorLv. 73
   • ArcanineLv. 72
   • GyaradosLv. 73
   • AlakazamLv. 74
   • PidgeotLv. 75
   • VenusaurLv. 75

2. Pass the Guard Post. The Victory Road Guard Post checks for 8 badges. An Aroma Lady inside heals your team.

3. Climb Victory Road. Its three floors of strong trainers lead to the Indigo Plateau.

4. Prepare in the lobby. Heal and shop in the Elite Four Lobby, then take on the Elite Four.

Victory Road Guard PostAn Aroma Lady in the Guard Post heals your team.

Worth catching: Combat-breed Paldean Tauros on every floor of Victory Road, with an Ultra Rare Gible on 3F.

The Elite Four

Level: the Elite Four’s Pokémon are levels 85–87, and Gary’s strongest is level 88.

Lorelei (Ice), Bruno (Fighting), Agatha (Ghost) and Lance (Dragon) each end their team with a legendary Pokémon, and the Champion is Gary, whose team depends on your starter. As in Sinnoh, your team is fully healed after each win, and you cannot use Revives during these battles.

Elite Four Lorelei6 Pokémon · Lv. 85–87

• MamoswineLv. 85 · Focus Sash
• CetitanLv. 85 · Sitrus Berry
• Iron BundleLv. 85 · Booster Energy
• Chien-PaoLv. 86 · Life Orb
• BaxcaliburLv. 86 · Loaded Dice
• Kyurem-WhiteLv. 87 · Leftovers

Elite Four Bruno6 Pokémon · Lv. 85–87

• Great TuskLv. 85 · Booster Energy
• BlazikenLv. 85 · Blazikenite
• ConkeldurrLv. 85 · Punching Glove
• Iron ValiantLv. 86 · Booster Energy
• AnnihilapeLv. 86 · Mirror Herb
• KoraidonLv. 87 · Loaded Dice

Elite Four Agatha6 Pokémon · Lv. 85–87

• DragapultLv. 85 · Life Orb
• PolteageistLv. 85 · Focus Sash
• CeruledgeLv. 85 · Focus Sash
• AnnihilapeLv. 86 · Mirror Herb
• Flutter ManeLv. 86 · Booster Energy
• Calyrex-ShadowLv. 87 · Salac Berry

Elite Four Lance6 Pokémon · Lv. 85–87

• DragoniteLv. 85 · Yache Berry
• HaxorusLv. 85 · Salac Berry
• GarchompLv. 85 · Rocky Helmet
• Roaring MoonLv. 86 · Booster Energy
• CharizardLv. 86 · Charizardite X
• MiraidonLv. 87 · Leftovers

Champion Gary (Indigo Plateau)3 teams, depending on your starter

If you chose Bulbasaur

• CharizardLv. 86
• LeafeonLv. 86
• Ogerpon-WellspringLv. 87
• DragoniteLv. 87
• Darmanitan-GalarLv. 88
• MiraidonLv. 88

If you chose Charmander

• BlastoiseLv. 86
• FlareonLv. 86
• OgerponLv. 87
• DragoniteLv. 87
• Darmanitan-GalarLv. 88
• MiraidonLv. 88

If you chose Squirtle

• VenusaurLv. 86
• VaporeonLv. 86
• Ogerpon-HearthflameLv. 87
• DragoniteLv. 87
• Darmanitan-GalarLv. 88
• MiraidonLv. 88

When the Champion falls, leave through the door at the top of the room. You are now Kanto Champion, and Kanto’s rules no longer apply: your Pokémon from other regions fight at full level, and Rare Candy and Pokémon chests work again.

More to do in Kanto

Needs the Champion title

• Mewtwo Strikes Back: Dr. Fuji waits in Cerulean City and opens Cerulean Cave for you. Team Rocket and Giovanni are inside, and Mewtwo waits at the bottom.
• Gym Leader rebattles: every Kanto Gym Leader can be fought again with at least 3 Pokémon of the Gym’s type in your team, and the puzzle Gyms now have a teleporter (see Gyms go in order). See Gyms, Elite Four and Champions.
• Champion Ash: after his Fuchsia City battle, Ash waits in the Elite Four Lobby as a weekly Champion. See Ash and Lucarionite.

No Champion title needed, but tough

• Shadows of Destruction: Mr. Fuji on Pokémon Tower 1F sends you to Dark City to stop the Calamity Covenant and their ritual for Yveltal.
• Wings of the Wind: Commander Gale on Route 16 wants to see a shiny, level 100 Pidgeot with a Timid or Modest nature that you caught yourself. He then battles you in his house for the Pidgeotite.
• Project T.E.R.A.: Dr. Cipher on Silph Co. 1F asks you to clear Team Rocket out of the building again. It is a repeatable challenge.
• Echoes of the Unknown: the Unown labyrinth under Fennel Valley and Regidrago.

Explore the Seafoam Islands, Cerulean Cave and the Safari Zone for their late-game spawns, and see Kanto side quests for everything else.

Every Kanto gym at a glance

Badge	Leader	Type	City	Prize money (F)	TM
1	Brock	Rock	Pewter City	1,400	TM076 Rock Blast
2	Misty	Water	Cerulean City	2,100	TM011 Water Pulse
3	Lt. Surge	Electric	Vermilion City	2,400	TM068 Thunder Punch
4	Erika	Grass	Celadon City	2,900	TM111 Giga Drain
5	Koga	Poison	Fuchsia City	4,300	TM083 Poison Jab
6	Sabrina	Psychic	Saffron City	4,300	TM218 Expanding Force
7	Blaine	Fire	Cinnabar Island	4,700	TM157 Overheat
8	Giovanni	Ground	Viridian City	5,000	TM149 Earthquake

All TMs are the Gen9 versions. For rebattles, see more to do in Kanto.

Related pages

Kanto Pokémon locationsEvery wild Pokémon in Kanto, map by map.

Kanto side questsEvery side quest in the region.

Gyms, Elite Four and ChampionsFull movesets, abilities and held items, plus rebattles.

Hoenn walkthroughThe region before Kanto, and how to reach it.

Credits

Based on Kanto Walkthrough, Kanto Restrictions & Requirements (German) and Cinnabar Island Gym 7 Mansion Statues Guide on the PBO forums. Rewritten and checked against the game on 1 October 2026.