On to Viridian City, the first real town on your journey. You’ll find a Poké Mart, a Pokémon Center… and a mysteriously closed Gym. But before you set off on your adventure, Professor Oak has a little errand for you.
- Objective
- Bring back Oak’s Parcel and receive the Pokédex
- Optional battle
- Blue on Route 22 (Lv. 8 to 9)
- Items to collect
- Pokédex, Town Map, a free Potion
- Recommended catches
- Pidgey, Rattata, Nidoran♂
🌿Route 1
Route 1 climbs gently northward. Halfway along, a Poké Mart clerk from Viridian hands you a free sample: a Potion. The tall grass hides Pidgey and Rattata, but you don’t have any Poké Balls yet: just battle them to gain a few levels for your Pokémon. You can hop down the small ledges, which is a quick way to head back to Pallet Town.
Route 1
🗺️Map
🌿Wild Pokémon
🎒Items
- 🧪PotionGiven by an employee of the Poké Mart in Viridian City.
🏪Viridian City: the Poké Mart parcel
When you arrive, push open the door of the Poké Mart (the building with the blue roof). The clerk recognizes you: a parcel has arrived for Professor Oak. He entrusts it to you, and nothing will be on sale until you’ve delivered it. North of town, a sleepy old man blocks the way to Route 2: there’s no point insisting for now. As for Viridian City Gym, it’s locked. Its Gym Leader will be the last of the eight you face.
📕Back to the lab: the Pokédex
Head back down Route 1 and hand Oak’s Parcel to the Professor. Blue shows up at that very moment, and the Professor gives both of you a Pokédex, the encyclopedia that records every Pokémon you encounter and catch. Your great mission is under way: complete the 150 entries of Kanto (151 with the mysterious Mew).
Before leaving, step into Blue’s house, right next to yours: his sister gives you a Town Map of the region. You use it from the Items menu, and it shows the name of every location.
- Deliver Oak’s Parcel to the Professor, at the lab in Pallet Town.
- Receive the Pokédex.
- Pick up the Town Map from Blue’s sister.
- Return to Viridian City and buy some Poké Balls (200 ₽ each) and a few Potions.
⚪Your first catches
Back in Viridian City, the Poké Mart is finally open: buy at least five Poké Balls. To catch a Pokémon, first weaken it (its HP bar should drop into the orange, or even the red) without knocking it out, then throw the Poké Ball. The old man to the north has woken up and even gives you a demonstration.
A varied team will save you plenty of trouble. Pidgey is a good Flying-type Pokémon for the whole early game, and Rattata hits hard very early. Above all, if you chose Charmander, head to Route 22, west of Viridian City: you’ll find Nidoran♂ there, which learns Double Kick, a Fighting-type move that’s ideal against Pewter City Gym.
PidgeyNormalFlyingFast and reliable, it evolves into Pidgeotto at level 18.
RattataNormalThe most common Pokémon, but also a formidable attacker early in the game.
Nidoran♂PoisonRoute 22. Double Kick works wonders against Rock-type Pokémon.
SpearowNormalFlyingRoute 22. An aggressive bird that quickly learns Peck and Fury Attack.
⚔️Route 22: Blue is waiting for you
Route 22 leads, much farther on, to the Pokémon League: a guarded gate will keep you from passing without badges. But Blue is already training there, and he challenges you to a duel. This battle is optional, but it earns you 280 ₽ and a good chunk of experience. His Pidgey is a bit stronger than your starter: don’t hesitate to use two Potions in a row.
Blue
📍 Route 22
Target Pidgey first with your most powerful move, then save your HP for Blue’s starter. If your own starter is struggling, a Rattata or a Nidoran caught on the spot can serve as a shield for a turn.
Route 22
🗺️Map
🌿Wild Pokémon
Viridian City
🗺️Map
🌿Wild Pokémon
🎒Items
- 🎁Oak’s ParcelGiven by the clerk at the Poké Mart when first arriving in Viridian City.
- 💿TM42Given by the man to the southwest, near the pond.(Cut or Surf required)
- 🧪PotionOn the cuttable bush to the northwest of town.
