Red & Blue
KNOWLEDGE CENTER
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Blastoise
Golem
Hitmonchan
Alakazam
Mewtwo
Zapdos
Pidgeot
Blastoise: A super powerful Water Pokémon that is easily capable of wiping out opponents with a variety of Water-based moves. Blastoise can learn several powerful Water moves such as Surf, Hydro Pump and Water Gun.
Alakazam/Mewtwo: Alakazam is the premiere Psychic Pokémon until after you defeat the Elite 4 and your rival at Indigo Plateau. It’s super powerful and doles out a lot of damage quickly. Keep Alakazam handy and in a roster spot until you catch Mewtwo. Mewtwo is easily the best Psychic Pokémon unless you somehow obtained a Mew through Nintendo. Mewtwo’s Psychic damage by itself is enough to put most opponents down for the count in one hit. Mewtwo is also able to learn a variety of moves that make it invaluable in tackling multiple type needs on the roster in one swing.
Pidgeot: The earliest bird Pokémon isn’t fancy, but it’s powerful and gets the job done. Teaching it Fly is the best thing you can do with giving it Wing Attack a close second. Pidgeot is especially important in the final battle against your rival, who has a Grass Pokémon at the ready regardless of his starting Pokémon. Pidgeot easily does double damage and can remove that powerful roster spot from contention quickly.
Golem: The best Rock/Ground Pokémon in my opinion quickly earned a place on the roster with its nice selection of dual moves. It also can learn quite a few moves from both types as well, making it an excellent choice against Lorelei in the first battle. Additionally, Earthquake always hits for excellent damage when Golem is at a high level.
Zapdos: Yes, Zapdos is another bird, but in my opinion it’s the best choice for an Electric type. It also has the added benefits of being dual type with Flying. It can conceivably take the place of your Flying type if you don’t want two Flying types on the team, but I usually keep it strictly with Electric moves. Zapdos will come in handy for several middle-of-the-road fights and can achieve victory quickly with a well-placed Thunder attack.
Hitmonchan: Of the two Fighting Pokémon Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan is a personal favorite. It, like its kicking counterpart, can learn elemental supplemented moves, which comes in handy when facing off against Lorelei. Hitmonchan is also a comfortable choice for Lorelei’s Lapras — much like Golem.
The Elite 4 typically utilize a specific type of Pokémon. They have strong Pokémon in hard-to-find types, and their Pokémon are high level.
Lorelei
Lorelei is the first and easiest of the bunch. All of her Pokémon are mostly Water or Ice and can be taken out quickly with a well-timed Rock/Ground, Electric or Psychic move.
Lv. 54 Dewgong
Pokémon to use: Golem
Lv. 53 Cloyster
Pokémon to use: Zapdos
Lv. 54 Slowbro
Pokémon to use: Zapdos
Lv. 56 Lapras
Pokémon to use: Hitmonchan or Golem
Lv. 56 Jynx
Pokémon to use: Golem/Alakazam/Mewtwo
Bruno
Bruno is one of the easier Elite 4 if you chose Squirtle or have a Water Pokémon on your roster as we suggested. Water Pokémon will take out the Onix quickly and the Fighting Pokémon don’t stand a chance against Alakazam or Mewtwo.
Lv. 55 Hitmonchan
Pokémon to use: Alakazam or Mewtwo
Lv. 58 Machamp
Pokémon to use: Alakazam or Mewtwo
Lv. 53 Onix
Pokémon to use: Blastoise
Lv. 55 Hitmonlee
Pokémon to use: Alakazam or Mewtwo
Lv. 56 Onix
Pokémon to use: Blastoise
Agatha
Agatha is a hard nut to crack. She uses a lot of weird Ghost types, which don’t have a known good counter in Generation I. Here, you’re going to have to tough it out with your strongest Psychic most of the battle.
Lv. 56 Gengar
Pokémon to use: Alakazam or Mewtwo
Lv. 56 Goldbat
Pokémon to use: Zapdos
*Note: Goldbat is considered Flying and Zapdos’ Thunder will do x2 damage.
Lv. 55 Haunter
Pokémon to use: Alakazam or Mewtwo
Lv. 58 Arbok
Pokémon to use: Alakazam or Mewtwo or Golem
Lv. 60 Gengar
Pokémon to use: Alakazam or Mewtwo
Lance
Lance is the top of the pyramid as far as the Elite 4 is concerned. This will be a tough, long fight if you have underpowered Pokémon. His Dragon types do not have equals and most don’t have weaknesses. Throw in your strongest Pokémon that has an Ice-type move. It will work wonders here.
Lv. 58 Gyarados
Pokémon to use: Zapdos
*Note: Gyarados is a Water Pokémon, first and foremost. Electric moves will make short work of it with x2 damage.
Lv. 56 Dragonair
Pokémon to use: Strongest Pokémon with Ice-type move.
Lv. 56 Dragonair
Pokémon to use: Strongest Pokémon with Ice-type move.
Lv. 60 Aerodactyl
Pokémon to use: Zapdos
*Note: Aerodactyl is considered Flying, and Zapdos’ Thunder will do x2 damage.
Lv. 62 Dragonite
Pokémon to use: Strongest Pokémon with Ice-type move.
The final battle with your rival depends on yours and his starting Pokémon chosen. His first three Pokémon will always be:
Lv. 61 Rhydon
Pokémon to use: Blastoise
Lv. 61 Pidgeot
Pokémon to use: Zapdos
Lv. 59 Alakazam
Pokémon to use: Alakazam or Mewtwo
*Note: Brute force this match since Psychic Pokémon are weak to their own type.
The second half of his team depends on his starting Pokémon:
If he chooses Bulbasaur, then:
Lv. 61 Gyarados
Pokémon to use: Zapdos
Lv. 63 Arcanine
Pokémon to use: Blastoise
Lv. 65 Venusaur
Pokémon to use: Pidgeot
If he chooses Squirtle, then:
Lv. 61 Arcanine
Pokémon to use: Blastoise
Lv. 63 Exeggutor
Pokémon to use: Pidgeot
Lv. 65 Blastoise
Pokémon to use: Zapdos
If he chooses Charmander, then:
Lv. 61 Exeggutor
Pokémon to use: Pidgeot
Lv. 63 Gyarados
Pokémon to use: Zapdos
Lv. 65 Charizard
Pokémon to use: Blastoise
Teach your team the Action HMs. These will do massive damage against the appropriate types (i.e. Surf does x2 damage against Rock/Ground Pokémon)
Know that the CPU AI will never teach its Pokémon anything beyond its normal movesets, even if it’s dual type. You will never have to deal with the CPU having taught its Pokémon any of the HMs or TMs that it doesn’t already learn by default.
Make sure your Pokémon are Level 60 or above when you reach the Elite 4. This gives you breathing room and ensures that the fights aren’t too close. Your rival may be a tougher fight if your Pokémon aren’t at least Level 65.