Phase 1

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Phase 1: Boulder Badge Walkthrough

Phase 1 of the Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen walkthrough: Pallet Town through Viridian Forest and Pewter Gym.

By Damodar Sharma Updated June 24, 2026 Walkthrough

Pallet Town through Viridian Forest and Pewter Gym.

Phase 1

Target12-15 RewardBoulder Badge, TM39 Rock Tomb, Pokedex errand complete Sections4

Phase Sections

Phase Data Rollup

Version

Pallet Town and Oak's Lab

Name the player and Rival, choose Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle, clear the first Rival battle, deliver Oak's Parcel, and collect the Pokedex and Town Map.

Source maps

Pallet Town, Pallet Town Player's House 1F, Pallet Town Player's House 2F, Pallet Town Rival's House, Pallet Town Professor Oak's Lab, and Viridian City Mart.

Wild rows19 Trainers3 Items4

Route plan

Pick the starter you actually want to build around; FR/LG gives Charmander Metal Claw support, but Bulbasaur and Squirtle are still the smoothest Brock answers.

Route Notes

  • Starter choice controls every Rival branch: choose Bulbasaur and Rival uses Charmander; choose Squirtle and Rival uses Bulbasaur; choose Charmander and Rival uses Squirtle.

Oak's Lab

Oak's Lab wild Pokemon by method, games, levels, encounter rates, and requirements
PokémonGamesLevelsRateNotes
Starter gift
Bulbasaur FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Bulbasaur FRLG5GiftChoose Bulbasaur; Rival takes Charmander.
Charmander FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Charmander FRLG5GiftChoose Charmander; Rival takes Squirtle.
Squirtle FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Squirtle FRLG5GiftChoose Squirtle; Rival takes Bulbasaur.

Pallet Town

Pallet Town wild Pokemon by method, games, levels, encounter rates, and requirements
PokémonGamesLevelsRateNotes
Surfing
Tentacool FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Tentacool FRLG5-40100%
Fishing — Old Rod
Magikarp FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Magikarp FRLG5-10100%
Fishing — Good Rod
Horsea FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Horsea FRLG5-1560%
Krabby FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Krabby FRLG5-1560%
Horsea FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Horsea FRLG5-1520%
Krabby FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Krabby FRLG5-1520%
Magikarp FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Magikarp FRLG5-1520%
Fishing — Super Rod
Horsea FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Horsea FRLG15-2540%
Krabby FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Krabby FRLG15-2540%
Shellder FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Shellder FRLG15-2540%
Staryu FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Staryu FRLG15-2540%
Gyarados FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Gyarados FRLG15-2515%
Kingler FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Kingler FRLG25-354%
Seadra FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Seadra FRLG25-354%
Psyduck FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Psyduck FRLG25-351%
Slowpoke FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Slowpoke FRLG25-351%

Trainers

TrainerArea / positionTeamRewardNotes
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRivalPallet Town Professor Oak's Lab$80One-time or scripted battle. Scripted map battle.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRivalPallet Town Professor Oak's Lab$80One-time or scripted battle. Scripted map battle.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRivalPallet Town Professor Oak's Lab$80One-time or scripted battle. Scripted map battle.

Items And Hidden Items

ItemTypeArea / directionCoordinateRequirement
5 Poke BallGift/scriptedPallet Town Professor Oak's Lab: Scripted reward from Event Script Receive Dex Scene.-Scripted reward from Event Script Receive Dex Scene.
5 Poke BallGift/scriptedPallet Town Professor Oak's Lab: Scripted reward from Event Script Give Player More Balls.-Scripted reward from Event Script Give Player More Balls.
Town MapGift/scriptedPallet Town Rival's House: Scripted reward from Event Script Give Town Map.-Scripted reward from Event Script Give Town Map.
Oak's ParcelGift/scriptedViridian City Mart: Scripted reward from Event Script Parcel Scene.-Scripted reward from Event Script Parcel Scene.

Boss Strategy

Boss / branchTeamRewardDanger notesPractical counters
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$80The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$80The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$80The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.

Route 1, Viridian City, and Route 22

Make the parcel loop, buy early supplies, catch Route 1 support, and optionally fight the early Route 22 Rival before the Pokemon League gate.

Source maps

Route 1, Viridian City, Viridian City House, Viridian City School, Viridian City Pokemon Center 1F, Viridian City Mart, Route 22, and Route 22 North Entrance.

Wild rows27 Trainers6 Items3

Route plan

Fight the early Rival if you want extra EXP before Viridian Forest; skip if your starter is fragile and you would rather train first.

Route Notes

  • The old man catching tutorial unlocks normal northbound progress after the parcel delivery.

Route 1

Route 1 wild Pokemon by method, games, levels, encounter rates, and requirements
PokémonGamesLevelsRateNotes
Grass / cave floor
Pidgey FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Pidgey FRLG2-550%
Rattata FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Rattata FRLG2-450%

Route 22

Route 22 wild Pokemon by method, games, levels, encounter rates, and requirements
PokémonGamesLevelsRateNotes
Grass / cave floor
Mankey FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Mankey FRLG2-545%
Rattata FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Rattata FRLG2-545%
Spearow FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Spearow FRLG3 or 510%
Surfing
Psyduck FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Psyduck FRLG20-40100%
Slowpoke FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Slowpoke FRLG20-40100%
Fishing — Old Rod
Magikarp FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Magikarp FRLG5100%
Fishing — Good Rod
Poliwag FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Poliwag FRLG5-1560%
Goldeen FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Goldeen FRLG5-1520%
Magikarp FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Magikarp FRLG5-1520%
Fishing — Super Rod
Poliwag FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Poliwag FRLG15-2540%
Poliwhirl FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Poliwhirl FRLG20-3040%
Gyarados FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Gyarados FRLG15-2515%
Psyduck FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Psyduck FRLG15-355%
Slowpoke FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Slowpoke FRLG15-355%

Viridian City

Viridian City wild Pokemon by method, games, levels, encounter rates, and requirements
PokémonGamesLevelsRateNotes
Surfing
Psyduck FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Psyduck FRLG20-40100%
Slowpoke FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Slowpoke FRLG20-40100%
Fishing — Old Rod
Magikarp FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Magikarp FRLG5100%
Fishing — Good Rod
Poliwag FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Poliwag FRLG5-1560%
Goldeen FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Goldeen FRLG5-1520%
Magikarp FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Magikarp FRLG5-1520%
Fishing — Super Rod
Poliwag FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Poliwag FRLG15-2540%
Poliwhirl FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Poliwhirl FRLG20-3040%
Gyarados FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Gyarados FRLG15-2515%
Psyduck FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Psyduck FRLG15-355%
Slowpoke FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Slowpoke FRLG15-355%

Trainers

TrainerArea / positionTeamRewardNotes
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRivalRoute 22$144One-time or scripted battle. Scripted map battle.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRivalRoute 22$144One-time or scripted battle. Scripted map battle.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRivalRoute 22$144One-time or scripted battle. Scripted map battle.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRivalRoute 22$1908One-time or scripted battle. Scripted map battle.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRivalRoute 22$1908One-time or scripted battle. Scripted map battle.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRivalRoute 22$1908One-time or scripted battle. Scripted map battle.

Items And Hidden Items

ItemTypeArea / directionCoordinateRequirement
PotionVisible item ballViridian City: Visible item ball in Viridian City; check around tile (17, 5).17, 5HIDE VIRIDIAN CITY POTION
Teachy TvGift/scriptedViridian City: Scripted reward from Event Script Do Tutorial Battle.-Scripted reward from Event Script Do Tutorial Battle.
Oak's ParcelGift/scriptedViridian City Mart: Scripted reward from Event Script Parcel Scene.-Scripted reward from Event Script Parcel Scene.

Boss Strategy

Boss / branchTeamRewardDanger notesPractical counters
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$144The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$144The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$144The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.

Route 2 and Viridian Forest

Catch forest staples, collect hidden forest items, and clear Bug Catchers before Pewter.

Source maps

Route 2, Route 2 House, Route 2 East Building, Route 2 Viridian Forest South Entrance, Route 2 Viridian Forest North Entrance, and Viridian Forest.

Wild rows12 Trainers5 Items9

Route plan

Grab Antidotes before the forest. Pikachu in Viridian Forest is rare but excellent into Misty and the water-heavy early game.

Route Notes

  • Route 2's east-side house trade and HM05 aide are later cleanup; note them now but return after Cut and enough Pokedex ownership.

Route 2

Route 2 wild Pokemon by method, games, levels, encounter rates, and requirements
PokémonGamesLevelsRateNotes
Grass / cave floor
Pidgey FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Pidgey FRLG2-545%
Rattata FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Rattata FRLG2-545%
Caterpie FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Caterpie FRLG4-55%
Weedle FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Weedle FRLG4-55%

Route 2 House

Route 2 House wild Pokemon by method, games, levels, encounter rates, and requirements
PokémonGamesLevelsRateNotes
In-game trade
Mr. Mime FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Mr. Mime FRLGTrade levelTradeTrade Abra.

Viridian Forest

Viridian Forest wild Pokemon by method, games, levels, encounter rates, and requirements
PokémonGamesLevelsRateNotes
Grass / cave floor
Caterpie FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Caterpie FRLG3-540%
Weedle FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Weedle FRLG3-540%
Kakuna FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Kakuna FRLG55%
Kakuna FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Kakuna FRLG4 or 65%
Metapod FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Metapod FRLG55%
Metapod FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Metapod FRLG4 or 65%
Pikachu FireRed and LeafGreen sprite Pikachu FRLG3 or 55%

Trainers

TrainerArea / positionTeamRewardNotes
Bug Catcher Rick trainer spriteRickBug CatcherViridian Forest$72One-time or scripted battle. Map tile (47, 45); sight 5.
Bug Catcher Doug trainer spriteDougBug CatcherViridian Forest$84One-time or scripted battle. Map tile (47, 29); sight 4.
Bug Catcher Sammy trainer spriteSammyBug CatcherViridian Forest$108One-time or scripted battle. Map tile (7, 22); sight 4.
Bug Catcher Anthony trainer spriteAnthonyBug CatcherViridian Forest$96One-time or scripted battle. Map tile (43, 6); sight 1.
Bug Catcher Charlie trainer spriteCharlieBug CatcherViridian Forest$84One-time or scripted battle. Map tile (16, 5); sight 1.

Items And Hidden Items

ItemTypeArea / directionCoordinateRequirement
EtherVisible item ballRoute 2: Visible item ball in Route 2; check around tile (17, 54).17, 54HIDE ROUTE2 ETHER
Paralyze HealVisible item ballRoute 2: Visible item ball in Route 2; check around tile (17, 64).17, 64HIDE ROUTE2 PARALYZE HEAL
HM05 FlashGift/scriptedRoute 2 East Building: Scripted reward from Event Script Aide.-Scripted reward from Event Script Aide.
AntidoteVisible item ballViridian Forest: Visible item ball in Viridian Forest; check around tile (40, 21).40, 21HIDE VIRIDIAN FOREST ANTIDOTE
AntidoteHidden itemViridian Forest: Hidden in Viridian Forest; press A on the tile around (28, 57).28, 57Use the Itemfinder or check the described tile.
Poke BallVisible item ballViridian Forest: Visible item ball in Viridian Forest; check around tile (5, 41).5, 41HIDE VIRIDIAN FOREST POKE BALL
PotionVisible item ballViridian Forest: Visible item ball in Viridian Forest; check around tile (21, 34).21, 34HIDE VIRIDIAN FOREST POTION
PotionVisible item ballViridian Forest: Visible item ball in Viridian Forest; check around tile (49, 60).49, 60HIDE VIRIDIAN FOREST POTION 2
PotionHidden itemViridian Forest: Hidden in Viridian Forest; press A on the tile around (3, 22).3, 22Use the Itemfinder or check the described tile.

Pewter City and Pewter Gym

Visit the museum, clear Brock's Gym trainer, beat Brock, and leave with the first badge.

Source maps

Pewter City, Pewter City House 1, Pewter City House 2, Pewter City Mart, Pewter City Museum 1F, Pewter City Museum 2F, and Pewter City Gym.

Wild rows0 Trainers2 Items3

Route plan

Bulbasaur and Squirtle should go straight in near Lv. 12-14. Charmander wants Metal Claw and usually another trained teammate.

Route Notes

  • The Old Amber is visible in the museum source but requires Cut from the side entrance later.

Trainers

TrainerArea / positionTeamRewardNotes
Leader Brock trainer spriteBrockLeaderPewter City Gym$1400One-time or scripted battle. Map tile (6, 5); sight 0.
Camper Liam trainer spriteLiamCamperPewter City Gym$220One-time or scripted battle. Map tile (3, 8); sight 4.

Items And Hidden Items

ItemTypeArea / directionCoordinateRequirement
Poke BallHidden itemPewter City: Hidden in Pewter City; press A on the tile around (6, 3).6, 3Use the Itemfinder or check the described tile.
TM39 Rock TombGift/scriptedPewter City Gym: Scripted reward from Event Script Give TM 39.-Scripted reward from Event Script Give TM 39.
Old AmberGift/scriptedPewter City Museum 1F: Scripted reward from Event Script Old Amber Scientist.-Scripted reward from Event Script Old Amber Scientist.

Boss Strategy

Boss / branchTeamRewardDanger notesPractical counters
Leader Brock trainer spriteBrockLeader$1400Rock Tomb can punish Charmander and Flying catches.Use Bulbasaur or Squirtle directly; Charmander should lean on Metal Claw and trained Route 22 support.

Major Bosses

Boss / branchTeamRewardDanger notesPractical counters
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$80The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$80The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$80The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$144The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$144The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Rival Terry trainer spriteTerryRival$144The branch changes with your starter and is the guide's main repeated boss variable.Plan for Pidgeot, Alakazam, Rhydon, and the final starter evolution, then adjust the last slot around your starter choice.
Leader Brock trainer spriteBrockLeader$1400Rock Tomb can punish Charmander and Flying catches.Use Bulbasaur or Squirtle directly; Charmander should lean on Metal Claw and trained Route 22 support.

Sources