Beginner’s Guide to Pokémon Red, Blue & Green (Gen I)

Welcome, new Trainer, to the Kanto region! Your journey to become a Pokémon Master starts here. These classic games established a world of wonder, strategy, and adventure. While simple on the surface, they have a unique charm and a few quirks. This spoiler-free guide will help you choose your first partner and navigate the 8-Bit world successfully.

See other game guides : Guides and Walkthroughs in Gaming, Beginner’s Guide to the Pokémon Game Series

1. The First and Most Important Choice: Your Starter

Professor Oak offers you one of three Pokémon. This choice is significant, as your starter will be your most reliable partner. There is no “bad” choice, but each has a different personality and strategic type.

Bulbasaur (Grass/Poison Type): The “Easy Mode” starter. It has a type advantage against the first two Gyms, allowing for a smoother early game. It learns powerful status moves like Sleep Powder.
Charmander (Fire Type): The “Challenge Mode” starter. It is weak against the first two Gyms, requiring you to catch and train other Pokémon to succeed. It evolves into the powerful Charizard.
Squirtle (Water Type): The “Balanced” starter. A solid, reliable choice with few glaring early weaknesses and useful moves for both battles and exploration (like Surf, which you’ll need later).
The Choice is Yours: Pick the one you like the most! The game is designed to be beaten with any of them.

2. The Golden Rule: Always Be Prepared

The old slogan is true: Gotta Catch ‘Em All! But more importantly, you must be ready for anything.

Save Constantly: Save your game from the menu before and after every significant event: Gym battles, entering a new area, or when you’ve made a lot of progress.
Stock Up on Poké Balls & Potions: Before leaving any town, visit the Poké Mart. Always have a stock of Poké Balls (at least 20), Potions, and Antidotes (Poison is a persistent threat and will hurt your Pokémon even outside of battle).
Talk to Everyone: Every person in every town and route has something to say. They give hints, items, and sometimes even Pokémon. Exploration and conversation are rewarded.

3. Understanding Battle Basics: Type Matchups & Status

Success in battle hinges on two key concepts.

Type Effectiveness is EVERYTHING: This is a rock-paper-scissors system. For example, Water beats Fire, Fire beats Grass, Grass beats Water. Super-effective moves do double damage, while not-very-effective moves do half. The game will tell you “It’s super effective!” when you get it right. Learning these matchups is your path to victory.
Status Ailments are Potent: Poison, Sleep, and Paralysis can turn the tide of battle.
- Poison: Damages your Pokémon after every turn. Use an Antidote.
- Sleep/Paralysis: Prevents your Pokémon from acting. Use an Awakening or Paralyz Heal. Carrying these is essential.

4. Building a Balanced Team

You can carry six Pokémon. A diverse team is your greatest asset.

Cover Your Weaknesses: Don’t just level your starter. If you chose Charmander, catch a Pikachu in Viridian Forest or a Mankey on Route 22 to handle the first Gym. A team with different types (Water, Electric, Grass, Flying, etc.) can handle any situation.
Don’t Fear the “Box”: Your PC can store Pokémon you aren’t using. It’s okay to rotate team members to train them or to make room for a new Pokémon you want to try.
Evolution is Power: Pokémon evolve as they level up, becoming significantly stronger. Let your core team evolve naturally—don’t cancel their evolution unless you have a very specific reason.

5. Exploration & Key Mechanics

Your Pokémon Are Tools: Certain moves are needed to explore the world. Cut removes small trees, Flash lights up dark caves, Surf crosses water. You will need to catch Pokémon that can learn these “HM” moves. Keep at least one “HM Slave” in your PC—a Pokémon you teach these moves to just for traversal.
The “Miss” and “Critical Hit”: This is a quirk of the original games. Moves have an accuracy stat, and fast Pokémon can sometimes “miss” a lot. Conversely, high-speed Pokémon also land more Critical Hits for double damage. It adds a layer of unpredictability.
Check Your Map: The Town Map is a key item. Use it often to orient yourself.

6. Early Game Priority Checklist

Get Poké Balls in Viridian City: Before venturing into tall grass, buy Poké Balls from the shop.
Explore Viridian Forest Thoroughly: It’s your first major area to catch new Pokémon like Weedle, Caterpie, and Pikachu.
Visit the Pokémon Center First in Every New Town: Heal your team immediately.
Train Before Each Gym: If you’re struggling with a Gym Leader, spend some time battling wild Pokémon on the nearest route to gain a few levels. A 2-3 level difference can change everything.
Always Have an Escape Rope: Buy at least one. It instantly teleports you out of a cave or dungeon.

7. Mindset: A Classic Adventure

These games are a product of their time. The pace is deliberate, the graphics are charmingly simple, and the sense of discovery is pure. There are no lengthy tutorials. You learn by doing, exploring, and sometimes by making mistakes. Let the sense of wonder guide you.

Now, step out of your house. The tall grass awaits, and with it, a world of incredible creatures. Your rival is already on the move. Choose your partner wisely, be curious, be brave, and most importantly—have fun. Your legend is just beginning.