Pokémon Red and Blue/Route 16-18

New Pokémon Available

Red	Blue	Yellow
Route 16: Snorlax Doduo Trade a Slowbro for: Lickitung		Route 16: Snorlax Doduo Route 17: Ponyta

Also known as "Cycling Road," Routes #16, #17 and #18 are a favorite hangout for bicyclists and motorcyclists alike. It just so happens that many of these two-wheeling enthusiasts are Pokémon trainers as well, and you must fight your way down the long slope to Fuchsia City. Once there, you will have a chance to visit the Safari Zone.

File:Pokemon RBY Route16.png

Route #16

1	Biker	580
	Grimer	LV29
	Koffing	LV29
2	Cue Ball	700
	Machop	LV28
	Mankey	LV28
	Machop	LV28

3	Cue Ball	725
	Mankey	LV29
	Machop	LV28
4	Biker	660
	Weezing	LV33
5	Cue Ball	825
	Machop	LV33

6	Biker	520
	Grimer	LV26
	Grimer	LV26
	Grimer	LV26
	Grimer	LV26

Before you head past the guard post, dig your Cut-trained Pokémon out of the computer in Celadon City and use him to snip away at the tree blocking the northern part of Route #16. It's here that you'll find the patch of wild grass that is your first chance to catch a Doduo, as well as a secret house containing HM 02, Fly. Use this to teleport to any city you've visited, or for a two-turn Flying-type attack that is similar to Dig.

#143 Snorlax

#84 Doduo

You won't get far in Route 16 without defeating the giant, sleeping Snorlax blocking your path. To wake him up, use your flute, and then defend yourself against his grumpy level 30 Snorlax rage. There's only one more Snorlax in the game (at Route #12), so capture him now! He'll learn some okay attacks at level 35 and beyond, but for now he's mainly defensive. He has a ton of Hit Points, comes with Rest, and wakes from it quickly.

The problem with Fly is that it requires a Flying-type Pokémon. And while Fly itself is a very useful skill, you won't get any Flyer worth adding to your party (like Aerodactyl) for a little while. So you'll want to pick up a disposable flying Pokémon for the time being... Like Doduo! Doduo, which can be caught in any version, is by no means terrible. Drill Peck is a strong attack that's great against the many Fighting-type Pokémon in this area (as well as more seldom-seen Grass and Bug Pokémon), but there's not a whole lot else to get excited about. The evolved form, Dodrio, which can be caught in Route #17 in Yellow only (or raised at level 31 in any version) is a fairly speedy, strong attacker that can do good damage with Normal skills like Tri Attack.

File:Pokemon RBY Route17.png

Route #17

Route #17's brutal slope drags you downward unless you hold the or buttons to steady yourself. But there's no reason not to speed to the bottom, since the only thing of interest here is the Ponyta in Yellow. Although there are some pretty useful hidden items -- five in total -- if you're willing to stick around and fiddle with the Itemfinder for a while:

• Rare Candy - In the center of the patch of grass
• Full Restore - On the center bridge segment, a bit below its north entrance
• Max Revive - South of the point where the west and center bridge segments connect
• PP Up - On the east bridge segment, about halfway down
• Max Elixer - South of the water at the point where the west and east bridge segments connect

When you get to Route #18, don't miss the trader in the top floor of the guard post.

1	Biker	560
	Weezing	LV28
	Koffing	LV28
	Weezing	LV28
2	Cue Ball	725
	Machop	LV29
	Machoke	LV29
3	Cue Ball	725
	Mankey	LV29
	Primeape	LV29
4	Biker	660
	Muk	LV33
5	Biker	580
	Voltorb	LV29
	Voltorb	LV29
6	Cue Ball	825
	Machoke	LV33
7	Cue Ball	650
	Mankey	LV26
	Mankey	LV26
	Machoke	LV26
	Machop	LV26
8	Cue Ball	725
	Primeape	LV29
	Machoke	LV29
9	Biker	580
	Weezing	LV29
	Muk	LV29
A	Biker	500
	Koffing	LV25
	Weezing	LV25
	Koffing	LV25
	Koffing	LV25
	Weezing	LV25

Route #16 encounters

Rattata	30%	30%	25%
Raticate	5%	5%	5%
Spearow	40%	40%	30%
Fearow	N/A	N/A	5%
Doduo	25%	25%	35%

Route #17 encounters

Raticate	30%	30%	N/A
Spearow	40%	40%	30%
Fearow	5%	5%	20%
Ponyta	N/A	N/A	24%
Doduo	25%	25%	25%
Dodrio	N/A	N/A	1%

#77 Ponyta
Yellow missed out on the early Growlithe and Vulpix in Blue and Red (unless you count the Vulpix you could win from the Game Corner), but now it finally gets its first Fire Pokémon since Charmander: Ponyta. Ponyta doesn't get the greatest skills... For Fire, it's just Ember for starters and Fire Spin at level 39. But the saving grace of Ponyta and its evolved form, Rapidash, is their incredible Speed, making them easily the fastest of the Fire Pokémon.
#108 Lickitung
If you're collecting all of the Pokémon, the guard post in Route #18 is a great opportunity for Red/Blue players to trade a Slowbro, something you can fish up fairly easily, for a rare Lickitung. But if it's utility that interests you, you're better off keeping the Slowbro. Lickitung is a hearty fellow, but his array of Normal attacks are poor. Yellow players can only trade a rare Tangela for a common Parasect: a truly bad deal.

Almost to Fuchsia City

Just before you arrive at Fuchsia City via Route #18, you will find three Bird Keepers waiting for you on the other side of the guard house. With the help of one little Electric Pokémon (you know the one), you can make short work of all three in no time.

File:Pokemon RBY Route18.png

Route #18

1	Birdkeeper	725
	Spearow	LV29
	Fearow	LV29
2	Birdkeeper	650
	Spearow	LV26
	Spearow	LV26
	Fearow	LV26
	Spearow	LV26
3	Birdkeeper	850
	Dodrio	LV34

Route #18 encounters

Rattata	N/A	N/A	25%
Raticate	20%	20%	5%
Spearow	40%	40%	30%
Fearow	15%	15%	5%
Doduo	25%	25%	35%

Route #18 Fishing
(Super Rod)

Shellder	N/A	N/A	60%
Magikarp	25%	25%	N/A
Krabby	25%	25%	N/A
Goldeen	25%	25%	N/A
Tentacool	25%	25%	40%