So you've dusted off your Game Boy or fired up an emulator to revisit Pokemon Blue, huh? Smart move. This classic still holds up decades later, but man, some parts haven't aged gracefully. Remember fishing for hours to find that Dratini? Yeah, not my favorite memory. Anyway, this walkthrough Pokemon Blue guide is designed to get you through Kanto efficiently while still enjoying the nostalgia trip.
Why trust me? I've played through Blue more times than I can count since 1998 - including a brutal Nuzlocke run where I lost my Blastoise to a critical hit from Lorelei's Dewgong. Devastating. But lessons learned mean I can help you avoid similar disasters.
We'll cover everything: starter choices (I'll explain why Squirtle's actually the smart pick despite what Charizard fans say), hidden item locations most guides miss (like that Ether in Cerulean City no one talks about), and battle strategies for those brutal Gym Leaders. Oh, and we'll tackle those annoying HM obstacles too.
Your First Steps in Pallet Town
Right off the bat, Professor Oak drags you into his lab. You'll face your first big decision: Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle? Look, everyone loves Charmander - until they hit Brock's rock-types with nothing but Ember. That's when reality hits hard.
Here are the cold facts about starters:
| Pokemon | Pros | Cons | Early Game Viability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Destroys first two Gyms, learns Sleep Powder | Struggles mid-game, poison typing issues | ★★★★★ |
| Charmander | Becomes Charizard, great late-game | Horrible against Brock/Misty, needs babysitting | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Squirtle | Balanced stats, learns Mega Punch early | Average speed, limited movepool | ★★★★☆ |
On my last playthrough, I picked Squirtle and taught it Mega Punch from the move tutor in Rock Tunnel. Absolute wrecking ball against Misty's Starmie. Meanwhile, my friend insisted on Charmander and rage-quit after Brock demolished him three times.
The Hidden Object Hunt
Most players rush through Viridian Forest without grabbing essentials:
- Behind Oak's lab: Potion (free healing!)
- Viridian City PokeMart: Buy 5+ Pokeballs minimum
- Route 2 bushes: Antidotes x3 (weedle poison is annoying)
- Viridian Forest northwest: Potion hidden near the exit
I can't stress enough - grab every item. That spare Potion saved me when a wild Pikachu paralyzed my team in the forest. Talking of which...
Surviving the Early Gym Gauntlet
The first three Gyms define your early game. Screw this up and you'll be grinding for hours. Here's what nobody tells you:
Brock's Rock Tomb
Geodude and Onix seem scary with their high defense. But rock-types have glaring weaknesses:
| Recommended Counters | Where to Find | Effective Moves | Level Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfree | Viridian Forest (common) | Confusion | Lv. 12 |
| Mankey | Route 22 (west of Viridian) | Low Kick | Lv. 11 |
| Nidoran♂ | Route 22 (common) | Double Kick (Lv. 12) | Lv. 12+ |
Misty's Water Warfare
Staryu and Starmie hit surprisingly hard. If you didn't pick Bulbasaur, catch Oddish or Bellsprout on Routes 24/25 immediately after Mt. Moon.
Critical mistake I see: people using Pikachu against Starmie. Bad idea. That water/psychic combo will one-shot it. Instead:
- Parasect with Leech Life (catch Paras in Mt. Moon)
- Oddish's Acid (reduces defense)
- Grab the free Magikarp before Mt. Moon - evolves into Gyarados at Lv. 20!
Did you know you can skip most Mt. Moon trainers? Hug the right wall to avoid unnecessary battles. Save your PP for the Super Nerd with fossils.
Lt. Surge's Volt Trap
His Raichu knows Thunderbolt. It will paralyze and destroy unprepared teams. The puzzle solution everyone misses:
- First trash can top-left
- Second trash can middle of bottom row
- Third trash can top-right corner
Diglett's Cave west of Vermilion has perfect counters - catch Diglett (Lv. 15-22) and evolve to Dugtrio. Ground-types are immune to electric moves!
The Mid-Game Grind: Celadon to Fuchsia
After beating Surge, the world opens up. This is where most players get overwhelmed. Let's break it down:
- Get the Tea from the old lady in Celadon Mansion (required to pass Saffron guards)
- Buy coins at Game Corner for a Fire Stone (evolve Vulpix/Growlithe)
- Raid the Department Store - 4th floor has amazing TMs like Thunderbolt and Ice Beam
Personal confession: I wasted $50,000 on Game Corner slots trying to get a Porygon once. Never again. Just buy coins directly.
Pokemon Tower Ghost Problem
Team Rocket's blocking the top floor until you get the Silph Scope. What most walkthrough Pokemon Blue guides don't mention:
- Battle every trainer inside for EXP (ghosts give terrible EXP)
- Bring repels - Gastly's Lick paralysis is infuriating
- Hidden items: Elixir (3F), Escape Rope (5F), HP Up (7F)
After beating Rocket at the top, Mr. Fuji gives the Pokeflute. Essential for waking Snorlax later.
Safari Zone Secrets
This area is a frustrating money sink. Strategy:
- Buy 20+ Safari Balls
- Only throw rocks at Rhyhorn/Tauros (they flee less)
- Bait works better for Chansey/Dratini
Essential items to grab ASAP:
| Item | Location | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Teeth | Area 3, dead end southeast | Trade for Strength HM |
| Surf HM | Area 4, house on the beach | Critical water travel |
| Rare Candy | Area 2, northeast patch of grass | Free level boost |
I once spent 12,000+ coins trying to catch Chansey. Finally got one after 45 minutes... with 0 Safari Balls left. Don't be me.
Gym Leader Showdowns: Koga to Blaine
Now we're hitting the tough fights. These leaders will expose unbalanced teams:
Koga's Poison Maze
His gym's invisible walls are pure evil. Pattern:
- Enter, immediately turn left
- Up twice, right twice
- Down once, right once to Koga
Team prep is crucial. Psychic-types destroy him:
- Kadabra/Alakazam (trade Abra)
- Hypno (catch Drowzee on Routes 11/12)
- Butterfree with Psychic (TM from Saffron)
Saffron City Takeover
Both Fighting Dojo and Silph Co. must be cleared. Pro tips:
- Beat Dojo first - get Hitmonlee/Hitmonchan
- Silph Co. warp tiles shortcut: left, up, left, up to President's office
- Save before rival battle - his starter will be fully evolved
Sabrina's gym requires battling teleporters. Quick path: enter second warp, then first warp.
Real talk: her Alakazam is terrifying. If you don't outspeed it, you're dead. Evolve your Eevee into Jolteon (Thunder Stone) and teach it Pin Missile from TM.
Blaine's Volcanic Challenge
That quiz at the start? Answers:
- Yes (dig)
- No
- Yes (strength)
- No
Water-types annihilate his team:
- Starmie with Surf
- Gyarados with Hydro Pump
- Vaporeon (evolve Eevee with Water Stone)
Victory Road and Elite Four Preparation
This is where teams go to die if unprepared. My brutal lesson learned: bring 10+ Max Repels.
Victory Road Navigation
The boulder puzzles require exact movements:
- Floor 1: Push boulder down into hole, go around left
- Floor 2: Push upper boulder right, lower boulder down
- Floor 3: Move boulder right onto switch
Must-have HMs: Surf, Strength, Flash (optional but helpful)
Recruitment checklist:
| Pokemon | Location | Why Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Lapras | Silph Co. employee gift | Ice Beam for Lance's dragons |
| Snorlax | Route 12/16 (use Pokeflute) | Tank with Body Slam |
| Jolteon | Evolve Eevee (Thunder Stone) | Counters water/flying types |
Grind spots before Elite Four:
- Victory Road entrance (Lv. 32-38)
- Water routes east of Fuchsia (Lv. 30-35)
- Route 23 grass patches (Lv. 32-36)
Elite Four Battle Breakdown
This is the ultimate test. Minimum levels: 50+ for starters, 55+ for others. Type diversity is critical.
| Trainer | Signature Pokemon | Weakness | Counter Tactics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorelei | Lapras (Lv. 54) | Electric/Fighting | Jolteon Thunderbolt, Machamp Submission |
| Bruno | Machamp (Lv. 56) | Psychic/Flying | Alakazam Psychic, Pidgeot Sky Attack |
| Agatha | Gengar (Lv. 58) | Psychic/Ground | Hypno Dream Eater, Rhydon Earthquake |
| Lance | Dragonite (Lv. 60) | Ice/Dragon | Lapras Blizzard, Dragonite Dragon Rage |
| Champion Blue | Starter evolution (Lv. 61) | Varies | Counter-pick based on his starter |
Critical items to stock:
- Hyper Potions x15
- Revives x10
- Full Restores x5
- PP Restore/Elixir x3
Against Blue: if he has Charizard, use Rock Slide/Rock Throw. For Blastoise, switch to electric/grass. Venusaur? Fire/flying/psychic.
After winning, congrats! Hall of Fame registration plays... but the game's not over.
Post-Game Content and Secrets
The real endgame begins after becoming Champion. Here's what most players miss:
Mewtwo Hunting
Location: Cerulean Cave (accessible after beating Elite Four)
Preparation:
- Bring level 60+ Pokemon
- Stock up on Ultra Balls (30+)
- Parasect with Spore (100% sleep accuracy)
- False Swipe user (optional but helpful)
Route through cave:
- Enter, surf east
- Use strength on boulder
- Navigate rock puzzles to lowest floor
Completing the Pokedex
Trade evolutions are the biggest hurdle:
| Pokemon | Evolution Method | Trade Location |
|---|---|---|
| Gengar | Trade Haunter | Vermilion City (NPC) |
| Alakazam | Trade Kadabra | Cinnabar Lab (NPC) |
| Golem | Trade Graveler | Route 11 (NPC) |
Version-exclusive Pokemon:
- Blue gets: Vulpix, Meowth, Bellsprout
- Red gets: Growlithe, Ekans, Oddish
My proudest moment? Finally catching all 150 after trading with my neighbor back in '99. Took three months to find someone with a Farfetch'd!
Pokemon Blue FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
What's the fastest way to grind levels late-game?
Fight the Elite Four repeatedly. Even if you lose, the EXP gain is massive. Secondary option: vs. Seeker on Cycling Road against bikers with level 30+ Pokemon.
Can I get all three starters without trading?
Nope. Original Pokemon Blue forces you to pick one. You'll need to trade or exploit glitches (like the famous Mew trick near Cerulean).
Which Pokemon are actually worth training?
Top 5 non-legendaries: Starmie (surf/psychic/ice beam), Alakazam, Gyarados, Rhydon, Jolteon. Avoid: Beedrill, Raticate, Fearow - they fall off hard.
Why does my game keep freezing?
Classic Game Boy cartridge issue. Clean the contacts with rubbing alcohol. Emulator problem? Try different save states or ROM version.
Is Missingno safe to catch?
Sort of. It can corrupt your Hall of Fame data but duplicates items in the 6th slot. Save before attempting! Personally corrupted my rival's name once.
Closing Thoughts From a Veteran Trainer
Look, Pokemon Blue isn't perfect. The bag space is awful, poison damage outside battles is annoying, and the special stat being both attack and defense? Messy. But that nostalgic charm keeps us coming back.
My final advice? Don't stress about optimizing everything. My favorite playthrough involved a team of "weak" Pokemon - Butterfree, Beedrill, Raticate, etc. Got destroyed by the Elite Four? Absolutely. But it was hilarious.
Whether you're following this walkthrough Pokemon Blue guide to the letter or doing your own thing, just enjoy revisiting Kanto. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to hunt down that Chansey in Safari Zone again... wish me luck.
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