Pokemon Red basic speedrunning guide

Pokemon Red any% glitchless basic speed run guide
Updated August 21, 2015

Before starting:
- Clear any existing save file by pressing Up + B + Select on the game title screen
- Set text speed to FAST, battle animation to OFF and battle style to SHIFT

INTRO
- Give your character and your rival a one-character name

PALLET TOWN
- Withdraw the PC Potion in your room
- Choose Squirtle, and give it a one-character name
- Rival battle: Tail Whip once, then spam Tackle (use a second Tail Whip if you get Growled on turn 1). Use your Potion if below 5 HP

ROUTE 1
- Kill a Lv. 2-3 Rattata or Lv. 2-3 Pidgey using Tackle. You need the experience to get Bubble for Brock
- When walking down to deliver Oak's Parcel, cut through the second-to-last patch of grass if you haven't yet fought an encounter

PALLET TOWN
- When delivering the parcel, walk behind Prof. Oak so that your rival takes fewer steps in the cut scene

VIRIDIAN CITY
- Buy 8 Poke Balls, then go west to Route 22

ROUTE 22
- Catch a Lv. 3 or Lv. 4 Nidoran-M, and give it a one-character name
- Tackle Lv. 3 Nidorans once before throwing Poke Balls. Just chuck balls at Lv. 4 Nidorans (but Tackle x2 if low on balls)

VIRIDIAN CITY (2)
- Pick up the hidden tree Potion: http://i.imgur.com/OrxJTOn.png

VIRIDIAN FOREST
- Follow this path: http://wiki.pokemonspeedruns.com/index.php/Pok%C3%A9mon_Red/Blue/Viridian_Forest_Movement
- Pick up the Antidote on the way up
- Heal to 10+ HP for Weedle Guy, and pick up the hidden Potion next to him: http://i.imgur.com/ayGosUM.png
- Weedle Guy: Tail Whip x2, Tackle x4-6. If you get poisoned, wait until after the fight to use the Antidote. If you fall below 7 HP, use a Potion
- After the fight:
	> Switch Nidoran to the front
	> Heal to 17+ HP
	> Heal poison if necessary

PEWTER GYM
- If you're in a race, save before fighting Brock
- Brock:
	> Immediately switch in Squirtle
	> Geodude: Bubble x2-3
	> Switch in Nidoran after killing Geodude, then immediately switch in Squirtle again
	> Onix: Bubble x2-3. If Onix uses Bide on the turn you switch back to Squirtle, use Tail Whip twice, then Bubble
	> Perfect Lv. 8 stats are 16 Attack, 14 Defense, 15 Speed and 13 Special. The worst stats are 14/11/13/11

PEWTER CITY
- Change the battle style option from Shift to Set
- Buy 10 Potions

ROUTE 3
- You need to use one fewer Horn Attack than what's listed below, so finish enemies with Tackle when it will kill
- Bug Catcher 1: Leer, Horn Attack x2 on all three
- If you're in a race, save before the Youngster (aka Shorts Guy)
- Shorts Guy: Leer, HA x2 on both
- Fight the Bug Catcher below, not the Lass above
- At the start of the second Bug Catcher fight, swap Horn Attack with Leer (so Horn Attack is now in move slot 1)
- Bug Catcher 2: HA x2, HA x3, HA x2, HA x2
- Bug Catcher 3: HA x2, HA x4
- Catch a Spearow or a Pidgey in the grass patch ahead. Use Poison Sting to weaken Lv. 5 Spearows, Horn Attack to weaken Lv. 8 Pidgeys and Tackle to weaken everything else
- Take the center before Mt. Moon

MT. MOON (1F)
- Follow these paths (Water Gun route):
	> 1F: http://i.imgur.com/F91yw13.png
	> B1F: http://i.imgur.com/hCViqlS.png
	> B2F: http://i.imgur.com/WvC6drY.png
- If at any point you see a Paras, catch it. Use Horn Attack to weaken it (Tackle if the level difference is 8)
- Pick up TM12 (Water Gun) to the left
- Super Nerd: HA x3, HA+HA+Poison Sting
- Pick up the Rare Candy and the Escape Rope
- Lass: HA x3, HA x2. You should reach Lv. 16 and evolve into Nidorino here
- Teach Water Gun over Leer
- Hiker: WG x3
- Pick up the Moon Stone

MT. MOON (B2F)
- Use the Moon Stone to evolve into Nidoking one step before fighting the Rocket
- Rocket: HA+PS, HA x2
- Super Nerd: HA x2, HA x2, HA x2-3
- Choose the Helix Fossil

CERULEAN CITY
- Take the center
- Get the hidden Rare Candy behind the top-left house: http://i.imgur.com/nlHoFd8.png

NUGGET BRIDGE
- Rival: HA x3, HA, HA+PS, HA x2. If you get Sand-Attacked, switch to your flier and let it die
- Bug Catcher: HA+PS, HA
- Lass: HA+PS, HA x2. Stay in if Sand-Attacked
- Youngster: HA, HA x1-2, HA x1-2
- Use your 2 Rare Candies to reach Lv. 23. Take note of your stats, as they will be referenced later. Teach Thrash over Poison Sting
- Lass: Thrash x2-3
- Jr. Trainer: Thrash
- Rocket: Thrash

ROUTE 25
- Fight the bottom Hiker (WG)
- Lass: Thrash x2
- Fight the Jr. Trainer rather than the Hiker (Thrash x2)
- Lass: Thrash x3
- Get the hidden Ether in the wall (one tile up and to the right of the Lass)
- Say YES to Bill, then heal to full, Escape Rope back to Cerulean and walk to the gym

CERULEAN GYM
- Jr. Trainer: Thrash x2
- If you have bad Attack (<52 at Lv. 23) and bad Speed (also <52), change the battle style to Shift before fighting Misty
- If you're in a race, also save before the fight
- Misty: Thrash, Thrash x2-3. If you get confused from Thrash, sacrifice one of your slaves (and heal Nidoking while it's out). If you used Shift strats, send out Squirtle for Starmie, and use Bubble until you get the speedfall

CERULEAN CITY
- Walk through the Dig house to fight the Rocket (Thrash x2-3), then south to Route 5

ROUTE 5
- Enter the building in the southeast corner, and take the stairs to the underground path
- Pick up the hidden Full Restore to the left of the stairs

ROUTE 6
- If you didn't catch a Paras in Mt. Moon and you have Pidgey, catch an Oddish here (Tackle once to weaken)
- Walk through the left grass to avoid the Bug Catcher on the right
- Heal to 16+ HP for the female Jr. Trainer (Thrash x3)
- Heal to 13+ HP for the male Jr. Trainer (Thrash x2)

VERMILION CITY
- Sell TM34, the Nugget and the Antidote if you have it
- Buy 3 Repels
- Go to the S.S. Anne

S.S. ANNE
- Heal to 35+ HP for the rival battle, and teach Bubblebeam over Tackle
- Rival: HA+BB, BB x2, Thrash, Thrash x2. If you get Sand-Attacked, sacrifice your weakest slave
- Get HM01 from the captain, then leave and head to the gym

VERMILION CITY
- If you have Spearow and no Paras/Oddish, trade the Spearow for Farfetch'd (Dux) in the house above the cut bush blocking the gym
- On the tile before the Cut bush:
	> Swap your slot 1 item with Repels
	> Teach HM01 (Cut) to your Cut slave
	> Teach TM28 (Dig) to Paras (teach to Squirtle if no Paras)
	> Cut the bush

VERMILION GYM
- Trash cans guide: http://i.imgur.com/mCgVe4w.png
- Surge: HA+Bubblebeam, Thrash, Thrash x2

VERMILION CITY
- Go to the house above the gym, talk to the chair of the fan club to get the Bike Voucher, then Dig back to Cerulean

CERULEAN CITY
- Get the Bicycle from the bike shop
- After leaving the shop:
	> Swap your slot 2 item with the Bicycle
	> Teach TM24 (Thunderbolt) over Water Gun
	> Get on the bike and head east to Route 9, cutting the two bushes in your way

ROUTE 9
- Jr. Trainer: Thrash x4. If you get confused and are at low HP, switch to your weakest slave, then immediately switch Nidoking back in. If you get put to sleep, use your Full Restore
- Bug Catcher: Thunderbolt, Thrash x2-3
- Use a Repel a few steps before entering Rock Tunnel

ROCK TUNNEL
- Map: http://wiki.pokemonspeedruns.com/index.php/Pok%C3%A9mon_Red/Blue/Rock_Tunnel
- Pokemaniac 1: BB, TB
- If you had <44 Special at Lv. 23, heal to 25+ HP
- Pokemaniac 2: TB
- Heal to 7+ HP
- Jr. Trainer: Thrash x2-3. If you had <51 Attack at Lv. 23, lead with Horn Attack. If you get paralyzed or put to sleep, use your Full Restore
- Use your second Repel somewhere near the yellow tile on the map above
- Use your third Repel on the blue/yellow tile immediately before the Hiker
- Hiker: BB x3
- Jr. Trainer: Thrash x3
- After exiting, head south to Lavender Town and west to Route 8

ROUTE 8
- Gambler: Thrash x2-3. Use Bubblebeam on the Growlithe if you have good Special and bad/average Attack
- Take the underground path to Celadon City
- Pick up the hidden Elixer in the underground (bottom row, about 4.5 seconds after the bike music begins playing. Map here: http://pokeworld.herokuapp.com/rb/121#2,5)

CELADON CITY
- Go to the mart
	> 2F: Buy TM07, then buy 2 Super Potions and 10 Super Repels
	> 4F: Buy 1 Poke Doll
	> 6F: Buy 1 Fresh Water and 1 Soda Pop, then give them to the girl for TM13 and TM48, then buy 1 more Fresh Water
	> 5F: Buy 11 X Accuracy, 3 X Special and 6 X Speed
	> Take the elevator to 1F, then leave
- Bike west, cut the bush, then go through the building and get HM02 from the girl in the house
- Upon exiting the house:
	> Swap your slot 2 item with Super Repels
	> Teach TM07 (Horn Drill) over Horn Attack
	> Use a Super Repel
	> Swap your slot 3 item with X Accuracies
	> Teach HM02 (Fly) to your flier
	> Teach TM48 (Rock Slide) over Bubblebeam
	> Fly to Lavender, and walk to the tower

LAVENDER TOWER
- Rival: (Use a Potion if below 19 HP), X Accuracy, Horn Drill x5
- Use a Potion if below 24 HP
- Channeler (4F): Rock Slide x2
- Get the Elixer item ball immediately after the Channeler
- Get the hidden Elixer on 5F (right 1, down 2 from the stairs)
- Take the free heal on 5F
- Channeler (6F): Rock Slide
- Channeler (6F): Rock Slide
- Get the Rare Candy that blocks the way, then enter the Ghost battle and escape using the Poke Doll
- Rocket 1: TB x2, Rock Slide
- Rocket 2: X Accuracy, Drill x2
- Rocket 3: TB x2, Thrash x2-3
- Talk to Mr. Fuji to warp to his house

LAVENDER TOWN
- Talk to Mr. Fuji again to get the Poke Flute, then walk out and Fly to Celadon City

CELADON CITY
- Take the center
- Upon exiting, use a Super Repel and bike west to the Snorlax and Cycling Road
- On the tile before the Snorlax, swap your slot 4 item with X Speeds, then use the Poke Flute
- Run from the Snorlax

CYCLING ROAD
- Pick up the hidden Rare Candy and PP Up: https://youtu.be/DkHO4a914qc?t=1h9m46s
- After exiting the Cycling Road building:
	> Use a Super Repel
	> Teach TM13 (Ice Beam) over Rock Slide
	> Bike to the Safari Zone (around the cut bushes rather than through them)

SAFARI ZONE
- Map: http://i.imgur.com/oBebL5z.jpg
- If you had 46 or 49 Speed at Lv. 23, get the Carbos in the second area
- At the end of the first hill in the second area:
	> Use a Super Repel
	> Swap your slot 5 item with X Specials
	> Use the PP Up on Horn Drill
	> Use the Carbos if you got it
- Get the Full Restore in the second area
- In the fourth area, get the Gold Teeth outside and HM03 from the guy in the house, then walk outside and Dig back to Celadon

CELADON CITY
- Bike east to Silph Co. in Saffron City, giving the Fresh Water to the guard in the house blocking the way

SILPH CO.
- Take the elevator to 10F
- Go left and down to fight the Rocket, avoiding the Scientist
- Rocket: Ice Beam x3
- If you had 46, 47 or 49 Speed at Lv. 23, get the Carbos (first item below Rocket), and use it immediately
- Get the Rare Candy and TM26 (second and third item balls)
- Take the stairs to 9F
- Once on 9F, teach HM03 (Surf) to Squirtle, deleting Tail Whip if necessary, and TM26 (Earthquake) to Nidoking over Thrash
- Hug the east wall, then the south wall, then take the teleporter to 5F
- Go down to fight the Rocket on 5F (Earthquake)
- Go right to pick up the Card Key
- Take the teleporter to 9F, then take it back to 5F, then open the door to your left
- Take the teleporter to 3F
- Walk right, then up, then open the door to your left, and take the teleporter to 7F
- Once on 7F, walk one step up, then left to meet your rival
- Rival: X Accuracy, X Speed, Drill x2, EQ x2, Drill
- Take the teleporter to 11F
- Rocket: IB, EQ, IB
- Giovanni: X Accuracy, Drill x2, IB, Drill
- Dig back to Celadon, then Fly to Fuchsia and walk to the gym

FUCHSIA GYM
- Go as far right as you can, then up, then talk to the Juggler blocking your path
- Juggler 1: EQ x4
- Use an Elixer and a Rare Candy to reach Lv. 40, and heal to ~60 HP
- Hug the east wall, then the north wall, then go down and let the second Juggler see you
- Juggler 2: EQ, EQ+TB
- Koga: EQ x3, then play the Poke Flute until Weezing uses Selfdestruct, hopefully killing you. If you don't die, it's only a minor time loss
- If you've managed your items correctly, you will skip getting the Toxic TM from Koga

FUCHSIA CITY
- Bike east to the warden's house to get HM04, then Fly to Pallet Town

PALLET TOWN
- Use a Super Repel, then use 2 Rare Candies to revive Nidoking and reach Lv. 43, then bike to the water and Surf south to Cinnabar Mansion

CINNABAR MANSION
- Head straight up and take the stairs
- On the next floor, go right five steps, then go up and take the stairs
- On the next floor, go down to activate the switch, then continue down to fall through the hole
- After falling, go left and down to dodge the Scientist. If you had 46, 47, 49 or 50 Speed at Lv. 23, get the Carbos item ball. Then take the stairs to the right
- After taking the stairs, use a Super Repel, teach HM04 to Squirtle, and use the Carbos if you got it
- Activate the switch to the left, then follow the path to the northeast corner to activate the second switch
- Get the Rare Candy item ball in the room after the second switch
- Get the hidden Rare Candy: https://youtu.be/7Ee4zwZCIbQ?t=1h25m3s
- Use both candies to reach Lv. 45
- Get the Secret Key, then Dig out and Fly back to Cinnabar

CINNABAR ISLAND
- Bike to the gym
- Questions: ABBBAB
- Blaine: X Accuracy, EQ, Drill x3
- Dig out

If you had 46-51 Speed at Lv. 23, bike to the Celadon Gym now. If you had 52-53 Speed, bike to the Saffron Gym.

CELADON GYM
- Hug the left wall, then Cut the bush in the top-left corner
- Beauty: IB
- Erika: IB x3
- Walk out, then Fly to Saffron (if you already did Sabrina, Fly to Viridian)

SAFFRON GYM
- Teleporters: top-left, bottom-left, bottom-left
- If you had 46-48 Speed at Lv. 23, heal to 50+ HP with normal Potions (and save if you're in a race)
- Sabrina: EQ x4. Use an X Speed on Mr. Mime if you had 46-48 Speed at Lv. 23
- Dig out, then Fly to Viridian (if you didn't do Erika, bike to Erika's gym)

VIRIDIAN CITY
- Bike to the gym

VIRIDIAN GYM
- Go left 2, then up to fight the first required trainer
- Cooltrainer: IB
- Continue left, then save before the next fight
- Blackbelt: X Accuracy, Drill x3
- Exit and re-enter the gym to reset Blackbelt's position and clear the path to Giovanni
- Use an Elixer
- Giovanni: IB x2, EQ x2, IB+IB

VIRIDIAN CITY
- Use a Super Repel, then bike west to Route 22 and Victory Road

ROUTE 22
- Rival: X Accuracy, X Speed (or X Special), IB x1-2, IB, TB, EQ x2, Drill (use X Speed if you had 46-48 Speed OR hit any extra trainers)
- Bike toward Victory Road
- After leaving the water, use another Super Repel

VICTORY ROAD
- Maps:
	> 1F: http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/5/56/Victory_Road_1F_RBY.png
	> 2F: http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/1/11/Victory_Road_2F_RBY.png
	> 3F: http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/e/e5/Victory_Road_3F_RBY.png
- Use Strength upon entering
- Push the boulder on the left onto the switch on the right, then bike to the ladder in the top-left corner
- On the next floor:
	> Use Strength again
	> Push the boulder below onto the switch
	> Bike up the steps so you're hugging the north edge, then use a Super Repel
	> Bike right, then down the steps, then right and up to the ladder
- On the next floor:
	> Use Strength again
	> Push the boulder up 2 and left a bunch, then onto the switch
	> Bike to the boulder in the bottom-right corner, push it down the hole, then go down the hole
- Use Strength one last time, use your last Super Repel, then get on your bike and push the boulder onto the switch in the bottom-left
- Bike back to where you fell down, and follow the ladders to the exit

ELITE FOUR
- Buy 5 Full Restores (can skip if you have 2)
- Lorelei: Switch to your flier, let it die, then X Acc, Drill x5 (Dewgong will always use Rest)
- Elixer before fighting Bruno (and save if you're in a race)
- Bruno: X Acc, IB, Drill x2, IB, Drill
- Heal to full
- Agatha: X Acc, X Speed, EQ, Drill, EQ, Drill, EQ. If you get put to sleep, use the Poke Flute immediately. If you get Hazed, you lose your X Accuracy, so IB x2 Golbat and EQ Arbok
- Stop at least two steps before Lance. Heal to 150+ HP, use the Ether on Horn Drill and save
- Lance: X Special, TB, X Speed, IB x4. Use a second X Special on the second Dragonair if you had <44 Special at Lv. 23
- Heal to 55+ HP
- Champion: X Speed, X Accuracy, Drill x6. If Pidgeot charges Sky Attack on turn 1, use a Full Restore
- If you're racing, type .done when "A defeated A" appears