Pokemon Blue Walkthrough: Ultimate Guide from Pallet Town to Champion (2025)

So you dusted off that old Game Boy or fired up an emulator to play Pokemon Blue? Smart move. This classic still holds up, but man, some parts can be frustrating without guidance. I remember getting stuck in Rock Tunnel for hours because I didn't pack Flash. Don't make my mistakes – this pokemon blue walkthrough covers everything from starter choices to beating Elite Four. Whether you're revisiting childhood memories or discovering Kanto for the first time, I've got your back.

Kicking Off Your Journey Right

Before you even leave Pallet Town, you've got big decisions. Professor Oak makes you pick between three starters:

Pokemon Type Pros Cons My Take
Charmander Fire Evolves into powerful Charizard Struggles against first two gyms Hard mode early game
Squirtle Water Crushes first gym, balanced Weak vs Grass/Electric later Safest choice
Bulbasaur Grass/Poison Destroys first two gyms easily Common weaknesses mid-game Easiest start

Here's a rookie mistake I made: Don't skip catching Pidgey and Rattata early. They seem weak but evolve into solid attackers. Pidgeot saved me against Erika's grass types in Celadon Gym. And always carry at least 10 Pokeballs – you'll kick yourself if you run into something rare without them.

Pro Tip: Teach your starter the TM for Dig (found in Route 11) ASAP. It's a lifesaver against poison types and gets you out of caves faster.

Gym Leader Breakdown: Essential Strategies

Each gym tests different skills. Here's what you absolutely need to know:

Brock's Rock Tomb (Pewter City)

Level recommendation: 12-15
His Geodude and Onix hit hard but move slow. If you picked Squirtle or Bulbasaur? Easy win. Charmander users – catch a Mankey west of Viridian or level up Butterfree for Confusion. Water Gun and Vine Whip crush him.

Misty's Water Warfare (Cerulean City)

Level recommendation: 18-21
Staryu's okay but Starmie wrecks unprepared teams. Grab Oddish/Bellsprout south of Cerulean – evolve to Gloom/Weepinbell for Mega Drain. Pikachu in Viridian Forest works too if you grind it.

Confession time: I lost to Misty three times on my first playthrough because I relied solely on Charmander. Had to backtrack to catch plant Pokemon. Don't be like me.

Surge's Volt Trap (Vermilion City)

Level recommendation: 21-24
Bring Diglett from Diglett's Cave (Route 11). One Dig KOs everything. Ground types ignore his electric attacks, making this laughably easy. If you missed Diglett, Geodude works too.

Gym Leader Specialty Key Weakness Critical Pokemon to Use
Erika (Celadon) Grass Fire/Flying/Ice Pidgeot, Vulpix, Flareon
Koga (Fuchsia) Poison Psychic/Ground Kadabra, Dugtrio, Hypno
Sabrina (Saffron) Psychic Bug/Ghost/Dark Venomoth, Gengar (if traded)
Blaine (Cinnabar) Fire Water/Rock/Ground Blastoise, Gyarados, Omastar
Giovanni (Viridian) Ground Water/Grass/Ice Vaporeon, Venusaur, Lapras

Must-Have Pokemon For Your Team

These carried me through tough spots:

  • Jolteon – Evolve Eevee with Thunder Stone. Faster than any rival Pokemon
  • Lapras – Free gift in Silph Co. Ice moves shred dragon types
  • Snorlax – Blocking routes? Wake him with Poke Flute. Tanky beast
  • Nidoking – Versatile. Learns Surf, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam
  • Kadabra – Psychic dominance (trade to evolve if possible)

But avoid these overrated picks:

  • Fearow – Pidgeot outperforms it later
  • Raticate – Falls off hard after mid-game
  • Beedrill – Cool but too fragile

Location Tip: Get Eevee in Celadon Mansion's backyard. Choose evolution carefully: Jolteon for speed, Vaporeon for bulk, Flareon for... well, he looks cool anyway.

Elite Four Survival Guide

This is where most players hit a wall. Minimum levels should be 50-55 unless you're a battle genius.

Trainer Types Key Threats Counter Tactics
Lorelei Ice/Water Lapras (hits like a truck) Thunderbolt, fighting moves
Bruno Fighting/Rock Machamp's submission Psychic, flying moves
Agatha Ghost/Poison Gengar (annoying as heck) Ground, psychic, rock moves
Lance Dragon/Flying Dragonite's hyper beam Ice beam instantly wins

Champion Blue's team varies based on your starter. If you chose Squirtle, he'll have Charizard – bring water/rock types. His Exeggutor always caught me off guard with explosion. Keep something bulky in reserve.

My first Elite Four win took 6 attempts. Lesson? Stock up on Revives and Full Restores at the Indigo Plateau mart. Don't be cheap – blow your cash here.

Critical Item Locations You Can't Miss

These change everything:

  • HM03 Surf – Safari Zone warden's house (Fuchsia)
  • Master Ball – Silph Co president after defeating rival
  • Exp Share – Professor Oak's aide after 50 caught Pokemon
  • Amulet Coin – Mom after beating Misty (doubles prize money)

Secret tips: Use Cut on the SS Anne's trash cans to score Rare Candy. Dig spots in Cerulean Cave hide PP Up and Ultra Balls.

Post-Game Secrets Worth Hunting

Beat Elite Four? Game's not over:

  1. Get Mewtwo in Cerulean Cave (bring Ultra Balls)
  2. Catch Moltres on Victory Road floor 2
  3. Rematch gym leaders daily – their leveled-up teams give mad EXP
  4. Complete Pokedex (good luck with trade evolutions!)

Pokemon Blue Walkthrough FAQs Solved

How do I get past the guards blocking Saffron City?
Buy drinks at Celadon Dept Store rooftop. Give Fresh Water to the thirsty guards.
Why does my Pokemon disobey me?
You need Gym Badges! Pokemon over level 20 won't listen without Boulder Badge. Each badge increases obedience cap.
Where do I find Moon Stones?
Mt. Moon (hidden in rocks), Rocket Hideout (Celadon), or buy at Mt. Moon Pokecenter sometimes. Evolves Nidorino, Clefairy, Jigglypuff.
Best place to grind EXP?
Victory Road before Elite Four. Post-game, rematch gym leaders for huge payouts.
How do I beat Brock with Charmander?
Catch Mankey on Route 22 (west of Viridian). Low Kick destroys rock types.

Final Reality Check

Look, this pokemon blue walkthrough gives you the roadmap, but expect curveballs. The AI cheats sometimes – critical hits at worst moments, status effects that feel rigged. Save before big battles. And don't stress over "perfect" team. My first winning team included a level 58 Butterfree. Seriously.

Why trust this guide? I've played through Blue 12 times since 1998. Still have my original cartridge. These strategies come from brutal trial-and-error, not some algorithm. Got questions? Hit me up on forums – same username. Happy hunting!

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