Gen I · Kanto
Pokémon Red and Blue Nuzlocke guide
Level caps, boss teams and trainer levels for your next run — 13 main-story battles from Brock (Lv 14) to Blue (Lv 65).
- Nuzlocke
- SoulLink
- Randomizer
Pokémon Red and Blue are where it all began: 151 Pokémon, eight Kanto gyms and a rival who always seems one step ahead. For a Nuzlocke, Generation I is also the most unpredictable generation — critical hits depend on Speed, Psychic types dominate and a single Wrap can decide a fight.
- Region
- Kanto
- Generation
- I
- First cap
- Lv14
- Final cap
- Lv65
- Main battles
- 13
- Areas tracked
- 51
Red & Blue level caps
A level cap is the level of the opponent’s strongest Pokémon. In a Hardcore Nuzlocke, no Pokémon in your party may be above the cap when the battle starts.
The biggest jump in the main story is +14 levels, from Erika (Lv 29) to Koga (Lv 43). Plan your training before it.
Red & Blue
| # | Battle | Type | Ace | Level cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Brock | Gym |  Onix | Lv14 |
| 02 | Misty | Gym |  Starmie | Lv21 |
| 03 | Lt. Surge | Gym |  Raichu | Lv24 |
| 04 | Erika | Gym |  Vileplume | Lv29 |
| 05 | Koga | Gym |  Weezing | Lv43 |
| 06 | Sabrina | Gym |  Alakazam | Lv43 |
| 07 | Blaine | Gym |  Arcanine | Lv47 |
| 08 | Giovanni | Gym |  Rhydon | Lv50 |
| 09 | Lorelei | League |  Lapras | Lv56 |
| 10 | Bruno | League |  Machamp | Lv58 |
| 11 | Agatha | League |  Gengar | Lv60 |
| 12 | Lance | League |  Dragonite | Lv62 |
| 13 | Blue | League |  Charizard | Lv65 |
Rivals, villains and other story battles
| Battle | Type | Ace | Level cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giovanni | Boss |  Kangaskhan | Lv29 |
| Giovanni | Boss |  Nidoqueen | Lv41 |
Red (Japan) & Green (Japan) & Blue (Japan)
| # | Battle | Type | Ace | Level cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Brock | Gym | — | Lv14 |
| 02 | Misty | Gym | — | Lv21 |
| 03 | Lt. Surge | Gym | — | Lv24 |
| 04 | Erika | Gym | — | Lv29 |
| 05 | Koga | Gym | — | Lv43 |
| 06 | Sabrina | Gym | — | Lv43 |
| 07 | Blaine | Gym | — | Lv47 |
| 08 | Giovanni | Gym | — | Lv50 |
| 09 | Lorelei | League | — | Lv56 |
| 10 | Bruno | League | — | Lv58 |
| 11 | Agatha | League | — | Lv60 |
| 12 | Lance | League | — | Lv62 |
| 13 | Blue | League | — | Lv65 |
Rivals, villains and other story battles
| Battle | Type | Ace | Level cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giovanni | Boss | — | Lv29 |
| Giovanni | Boss | — | Lv41 |
Red & Blue boss teams
Every gym leader, trial and League battle of the main story with levels and known movesets. Tap a battle to open its team.
Red & Blue
01 Brock Gym Cap14
Gym Leader Brock
-
Geodude Lv12 Tackle · Defense Curl -
Onix Lv14 Tackle · Screech · Bide
02 Misty Gym Cap21
Gym Leader Misty
-
Staryu Lv18 Tackle · Water Gun -
Starmie Lv21 Tackle · Water Gun · Harden · Bubblebeam
03 Lt. Surge Gym Cap24
Gym Leader Lt. Surge
-
Voltorb Lv21 Tackle · Screech · Sonicboom -
Pikachu Lv18 Thundershock · Thunder Wave · Growl · Quick Attack -
Raichu Lv24 Thunderbolt · Thundershock · Thunder Wave · Growl
04 Erika Gym Cap29
Gym Leader Erika
-
Victreebel Lv29 Wrap · Poisonpowder · Sleep Powder · Razor Leaf -
Tangela Lv24 Bind · Constrict -
Vileplume Lv29 Poisonpowder · Mega Drain · Sleep Powder · Petal Dance
05 Koga Gym Cap43
Gym Leader Koga
-
Koffing Lv37 Tackle · Smog · Sludge · Smokescreen -
Muk Lv39 Disable · Poison Gas · Minimize · Sludge -
Koffing Lv37 Tackle · Smog · Sludge · Smokescreen
-
Weezing Lv43 Smog · Sludge · Toxic · Selfdestruct
06 Sabrina Gym Cap43
Gym Leader Sabrina
-
Kadabra Lv38 Disable · Psybeam · Recover · Psychic -
Mr. Mime Lv37 Confusion · Barrier · Light Screen · Doubleslap -
Venomoth Lv38 Poisonpowder · Leech Life · Stun Spore · Psybeam -
Alakazam Lv43 Psybeam · Recover · Psywave · Reflect
07 Blaine Gym Cap47
Gym Leader Blaine
-
Growlithe Lv42 Ember · Leer · Take Down · Agility -
Ponyta Lv40 Tail Whip · Stomp · Growl · Fire Spin -
Rapidash Lv42 Tail Whip · Stomp · Growl · Fire Spin -
Arcanine Lv47 Roar · Ember · Take Down · Fire Blast
08 Giovanni Gym Cap50
Gym Leader Giovanni
-
Rhyhorn Lv45 Stomp · Tail Whip · Fury Attack · Horn Attack -
Dugtrio Lv42 Growl · Dig · Sand Attack · Slash -
Nidoqueen Lv44 Scratch · Tail Whip · Poison Sting · Body Slam
-
Nidoking Lv45 Tackle · Horn Attack · Poison Sting · Thrash -
Rhydon Lv50 Stomp · Tail Whip · Fissure · Horn Drill
09 Lorelei League Cap56
Elite Lorelei
-
Dewgong Lv54 Growl · Aurora Beam · Rest · Take Down -
Cloyster Lv53 Supersonic · Clamp · Aurora Beam · Spike Cannon -
Slowbro Lv54 Water Gun · Growl · Withdraw · Amnesia -
Jynx Lv56 Doubleslap · Ice Punch · Body Slam · Thrash -
Lapras Lv56 Body Slam · Confuse Ray · Hydro Pump · Blizard
10 Bruno League Cap58
Elite Bruno
-
Onix Lv53 Rock Throw · Rage · Slam · Harden
-
Hitmonchan Lv55 Ice Punch · Mega Punch · Thunderpunch · Counter -
Hitmonlee Lv55 Jump Kick · Focus Energy · Hi Jump Kick · Mega Kick -
Onix Lv56 Rock Throw · Rage · Slam · Harden
-
Machamp Lv58 Leer · Focus Energy · Fissure · Submission
11 Agatha League Cap60
Elite Agatha
-
Gengar Lv56 Confuse Ray · Night Shade · Hypnosis · Dream Eater
-
Golbat Lv56 Supersonic · Confuse Ray · Wing Attack · Haze -
Haunter Lv55 Confuse Ray · Night Shade · Hypnosis · Dream Eater -
Arbok Lv58 Bite · Glare · Screech · Acid -
Gengar Lv60 Confuse Ray · Night Shade · Toxic · Dream Eater
12 Lance League Cap62
Elite Lance
-
Gyarados Lv58 Hydro Pump · Dragon Rage · Leer · Hyper Beam -
Dragonair Lv56 Agility · Slam · Dragon Rage · Hyper Beam -
Dragonair Lv56 Agility · Slam · Dragon Rage · Hyper Beam
-
Aerodactyl Lv60 Supersonic · Take Down · Bite · Hyper Beam -
Dragonite Lv62 Agility · Slam · Barrier · Hyper Beam
13 Blue League Cap65
Champion Blue · With Gyarados
-
Pidgeot Lv61 Wing Attack · Mirror Move · Sky Attack · Whirlwind -
Alakazam Lv59 Psybeam · Psychic · Reflect · Recover
-
Rhydon Lv61 Leer · Tail Whip · Fury Attack · Horn Drill
-
Gyarados Lv63 Dragon Rage · Hydro Pump · Hyper Beam · Leer
-
Exeggutor Lv61 Hypnosis · Barrage · Stomp -
Charizard Lv65 Fire Blast · Rage · Slash · Fire Spin
Champion Blue · With Exeggutor
-
Pidgeot Lv61 Wing Attack · Mirror Move · Sky Attack · Whirlwind
-
Alakazam Lv59 Psybeam · Psychic · Reflect · Recover
-
Rhydon Lv61 Leer · Tail Whip · Fury Attack · Horn Drill
-
Exeggutor Lv63 Hypnosis · Barrage · Stomp
-
Arcanine Lv61 Roar · Leer · Ember · Take Down
-
Blastoise Lv65 Hydro Pump · Blizzard · Bite · Withdraw
Champion Blue · With Arcanine
-
Pidgeot Lv61 Wing Attack · Mirror Move · Sky Attack · Whirlwind
-
Alakazam Lv59 Psybeam · Psychic · Reflect · Recover
-
Rhydon Lv61 Leer · Tail Whip · Fury Attack · Horn Drill
-
Arcanine Lv63 Roar · Leer · Ember · Take Down
-
Gyarados Lv61 Dragon Rage · Hydro Pump · Hyper Beam · Leer
-
Venusaur Lv65 Growth · Mega Drain · Razor Leaf · SolarBeam
Red (Japan) & Green (Japan) & Blue (Japan)
Trainer levels by location
First battles against route trainers in Red & Blue, sorted by the typical level of their strongest Pokémon — a quick way to see where the level curve climbs. Rematches are not included.
| Location | Trainers | Levels | Typical ace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pallet Town | 3 | 5 | Lv5 |
| Viridian Forest | 5 | 6–9 | Lv7 |
| Route 3 | 8 | 9–14 | Lv11 |
| Mt. Moon | 12 | 10–16 | Lv12 |
| Pewter City | 2 | 11–14 | Lv14 |
| Route 25 | 9 | 13–17 | Lv15 |
| Route 24 | 9 | 14–18 | Lv16 |
| Route 6 | 5 | 16–20 | Lv16 |
| S.S. Anne | 19 | 16–23 | Lv18 |
| Route 11 | 10 | 17–21 | Lv18 |
| Cerulean City | 4 | 16–21 | Lv19 |
| Route 9 | 9 | 18–23 | Lv20 |
| Rock Tunnel | 15 | 19–25 | Lv21 |
| Route 10 | 5 | 19–21 | Lv21 |
| Route 8 | 9 | 19–26 | Lv22 |
| Vermilion City | 4 | 18–24 | Lv23 |
| Celadon City | 9 | 20–29 | Lv23 |
| Pokémon Tower | 19 | 20–26 | Lv24 |
| Route 12 | 4 | 21–27 | Lv24 |
| Route 13 | 11 | 24–30 | Lv28 |
| Route 17 | 10 | 25–33 | Lv29 |
| Route 14 | 7 | 26–33 | Lv29 |
| Route 15 | 11 | 26–33 | Lv29 |
| Route 16 | 6 | 26–33 | Lv29 |
| Route 18 | 3 | 26–34 | Lv29 |
| Sea Route 19 | 10 | 27–30 | Lv29 |
| Sea Route 20 | 9 | 28–35 | Lv31 |
| Route 4 | 1 | 31 | Lv31 |
| Sea Route 21 | 9 | 27–37 | Lv32 |
| Pokémon Mansion | 6 | 29–38 | Lv34 |
| Saffron City | 13 | 30–43 | Lv34 |
| Fuchsia City | 7 | 31–43 | Lv34 |
| Cinnabar Island | 8 | 34–48 | Lv37 |
| Viridian City | 9 | 38–50 | Lv40 |
| Victory Road | 11 | 40–48 | Lv43 |
| Victory Road | 11 | 40–48 | Lv43 |
| Route 22 | 6 | 8–53 | Lv53 |
| Indigo Plateau | 7 | 53–65 | Lv62 |
Nuzlocke tips for Red & Blue
- Your starter shapes the early game. Squirtle and Bulbasaur handle Brock’s Rock types; with Charmander, catch a Pokémon with Fighting or Water moves early.
- The single Special stat covers both special attack and special defense, which makes Psychic types like Alakazam extremely strong — and Sabrina’s gym a serious wall.
- Gift Pokémon are plentiful: a Magikarp for sale at the Pokémon Center outside Mt. Moon, Eevee in Celadon Mansion, Lapras in Silph Co. and Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan at the Fighting Dojo. Agree beforehand whether gifts count.
New to the challenge? Start with the Nuzlocke rules, or bring friends with the Soul Link rules.
FAQ
What is the first level cap in Pokémon Red and Blue?
The first cap is level 14: Brock’s strongest Pokémon is Onix at level 14. Keep every party member at or below level 14 for that battle.
What level is the Champion in Pokémon Red and Blue?
Blue sets the final main-story cap at level 65, with Charizard as the ace.
How many boss battles are there in Pokémon Red and Blue?
This guide lists 13 main-story battles, 2 optional story battles against rivals and villains for Red & Blue.
Can I randomize Pokémon Red and Blue?
Yes. The PokéRuns Randomizer supports Pokémon Red and Blue and runs entirely in your browser. When you send the randomized world to your tracker, it uses your ROM’s real boss teams and level caps.
Sources
Caps and teams come from the PokéRuns tracker data (updated 2026-09-07), compiled from:
Start your Red & Blue run.
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