Early Erika (Late Surge Squirtle Route)

Erika on Late Surge Route

Doing Erika immediately after hideout is bad - need to X Atk + X Acc, MK x3 (bad range on Vileplume, Modests are awful), or X Spec and 2HKO Vic/Vile, or 3 X Spec and bad range on Vileplume

The only time early Erika makes sense is after Tower and Safari Zone (to get Surf)

Standard Erika:
- Collect Surf, Fly to Fuchsia
- Candy twice to L42 before Koga
- Weezing is 68.75% range (just like regular Nob route)
- L43 for Blaine (never X Speed)
- Fly from Cinnabar to Celadon
- Standard risky Erika (Surf*/Blizz, Bite, Blizz)
- Fly to Saffron from Celadon
- L45 for Silph Gyarados

Early Erika:
- Collect Surf, then Fly to Celadon (teach Surf and heal to survive Giga Drain on Fly menu) and fight Erika
- Erika's Victreebel does 35-42 with 5 SpDef Rash down to 27-32 with 31 SpDef Mild/Modest - a Potion should do it
- Slower but safer fight - X Spec, Surf* Victreebel and Vileplume (guaranteed for both - L40 on latter), Bite Tangela.
- Fly to Fuchsia and do gym
- Since you're 76 EXP short of L41 before Koga, would need to OHKO a wild (on way to Surge?) to hit L41 before Koga
- Candy twice to L43 before Koga - Weezing is guaranteed in Torrent and Muk is guaranteed in Torrent and +1
- L44 for Blaine's Rapidash (no benefit - you already outspeed Rapidash at L43)
- Fly from Cinnabar to Saffron
- L45 for Silph Venusaur and Gyarados (higher EXP than standard Erika - not really useful)
- L47 for Sabrina start (no effect on Speed vs Alakazam)

Thoughts:
- Haven't timed it yet, but early Erika is 100% slower, with encounter EXP required, slow Erika fight but very safe Koga, no other benefits other than some possible defensive damage rolls
- Standard Erika is a lot faster and has some risk, but is reasonable