{{bp|Professor Elm}}, busy with his studies, wants you to find an old colleague of his. He asks you to visit Mr. Pokémon in {{bp|Cherrygrove City}} to pick up an interesting item. It's a tough journey, but Professor Elm will provide you with a Pokémon of your choice (see the profiles below) for protection. He offers you one of his Pokémon—Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile—to keep you company on your journey. These three starters can be found nowhere else in the game. Also note that each one will be holding a Berry.
The laboratory of Professor Elm is the largest house in town. Among her to meet him.{{bp|Professor Elm}}, busy with his studies, wants you to find an old colleague of his. He asks you to visit Mr. Pokémon in {{bp|Route 30}} to pick up an interesting item. It's a tough journey, but Professor Elm will provide you with a Pokémon of your choice (see the profiles below) for protection. He offers you one of his Pokémon—Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile—to keep you company on your journey. These three starters can be found nowhere else in the game. Also note that each one will be holding a Berry.
The Professor will call you several times during your adventure, and each time he will have a gift for you. The lab assistants will give you your first five Poké Balls after you return from the errand. When you hatch the egg, you will get an '''Everstone'''. After you win your eighth badge in Johto, Professor Elm will call you back to the Lab and give you the '''Master Ball'''. Once you have defeated the Elite Four, Professor Elm will give you the '''S.S. Ticket''' so you can continue on to Kanto.
When your Pokémon gets wounded, you can heal it here in Professor Elm's lab. As you leave, you will be given a Potion to use whenever your Pokémon gets into trouble.
When your Pokémon gets wounded, you can heal it here in Professor Elm's lab. As you leave, you will be given a Potion to use whenever your Pokémon gets into trouble.
| [[File:Pokemon 152Chikorita.png|left]]Like {{bp|Bulbasaur}} before it, Chikorita is a Grass-type that is strong against Rock, Ground, and Water-types, and is weak against Fire, Bug, Poison, and Flying types. Chikorita learns the powerful {{bp|Razor Leaf}} attack at level 8, making it a very strong Pokémon in the early game. But the problem is that Chikorita doesn't learn any other powerful moves until very high levels. And being Grass-type, it has a lot more Pokémon of its type that you can catch. Chikorita is weak against the Violet, Azalea, Mahogany, and Cinnabar Gyms, while also having a hard time against the Olivine, Fuschia, and Blackthorn gyms. However, it is strong against the Pewter, Cerulean, and Viridian Gyms, and is pretty much immune to the Vermillion and Celadon Gyms. The problem is that none of the gyms that play to Chikorita's strengths (and, later, Bayleef's and Meganium's as well) are in Johto.
| [[File:Pokemon 152Chikorita.png|left]]Like {{bp|Bulbasaur}} before it, Chikorita is a Grass-type that is strong against Rock, Ground, and Water-types, and is weak against Fire, Bug, Poison, and Flying types. Chikorita learns the powerful {{bp|Razor Leaf}} attack at level 8, making it a very strong Pokémon in the early game. But the problem is that Chikorita doesn't learn any other powerful moves until very high levels. And being Grass-type, it has a lot more Pokémon of its type that you can catch. Chikorita learns Reflect at level 12 which is very useful combined with its high defense. She also learns Poison Powder and synthesis that will be useful. Body Slam and Solar Beam learned at high levels must be maintained.
| [[File:Pokemon 155Cyndaquil.png|right]]Charmander's successor is also a Fire-type, and it is strong when fighting against Ice, Grass, or Bug-types and is weak when fighting against Water, Rock, or Ground types. While Chikorita excels in Defense, Cyndaquil is the quickest and has the best Special Attack score. It's Fire moves are a little weak in the early game, though, so it's hard to take advantage of its strengths at the beginning of the game. Cyndaquil is weak against the Pewter, Cerulean, and Viridian gyms, and has a hard time against the Blackthorn gym. However, it is strong against the Azalea, Olivine, Magohony, and Celadon gyms, and is pretty much immune to the Cinnabar gym.
| [[File:Pokemon 155Cyndaquil.png|right]]Charmander's successor is also a Fire-type, and it is strong when fighting against Ice, Grass, or Bug-types and is weak when fighting against Water, Rock, or Ground types. While Chikorita excels in Defense, Cyndaquil is the quickest and has the best Special Attack score. It's Fire moves are a little weak in the early game, though, so it's hard to take advantage of its strengths at the beginning of the game. Cyndaquil learn Ember at level 12, and only learns another move fire type at level 27. His moveset is very scarce, so it's not a good choice.
| [[File:Pokemon 158Totodile.png|left]]Totodile is a Water-type like {{bp|Squirtle}}, and it is strong against Fire, Ground, and Rock-types. It is weak when it faces Grass or Electric-type Pokémon and sometimes other Water-types. Totodile learns a variety of strong attacks, but only a few Water ones. That's just as well, since its Attack is higher than its Special Attack. Totodile is probably the strongest starter, but Water-type Pokémon are much more common than Grass or Fire Pokémon. Totodile is weak against the Vermillion and Celadon gyms, and has a hard time against the Blackthorn gym. However, it is strong against the Pewter, Cinnabar, and Viridian gyms, while it is pretty much immune to the Olivine, Mahogany, and Cerulean gyms.
| [[File:Pokemon 158Totodile.png|left]]Totodile is a Water-type like {{bp|Squirtle}}, and it is strong against Fire, Ground, and Rock-types. It is weak when it faces Grass or Electric-type Pokémon and sometimes other Water-types. Totodile learns a variety of strong attacks, but only a few Water ones. That's just as well, since its Attack is higher than its Special Attack. Totodile is probably the strongest starter, but Water-type Pokémon are much more common than Grass or Fire Pokémon. Bite and Slash are great attacks that must be maintained.
Your hometown of New Bark Town may be small, but it's packed with places, people and items that are extremely important to you. Your adventure begins with an errand that your neighbor, Professor Elm, asks you to run for him. He gives you a wonderful gift for helping him!
New Bark Town
Set up your PokéGear
Obtaining your PokéGear
When you head downstairs, Mom will present you with a PokéGear, the very first item you receive which your mother says is back from the repair shop. The PokéGear is a multi-functional device that initially acts as a phone. With it, you can call important people like your mother or your neighbor, Professor Elm. Your mother will explain how to use the device, and she'll also help you set the day of the week. After she's done helping you, your mother will send you to Professor Elm's lab, but not before giving you her phone number, so you can call her any time you'd like. As you progress, you can gain Cards that expand the PokéGear's abilities.
Visit Professor Elm
The laboratory of Professor Elm is the largest house in town. Among her to meet him.Professor Elm, busy with his studies, wants you to find an old colleague of his. He asks you to visit Mr. Pokémon in Route 30 to pick up an interesting item. It's a tough journey, but Professor Elm will provide you with a Pokémon of your choice (see the profiles below) for protection. He offers you one of his Pokémon—Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile—to keep you company on your journey. These three starters can be found nowhere else in the game. Also note that each one will be holding a Berry.
When your Pokémon gets wounded, you can heal it here in Professor Elm's lab. As you leave, you will be given a Potion to use whenever your Pokémon gets into trouble.
#152 Chikorita
#155 Cyndaquil
Like Bulbasaur before it, Chikorita is a Grass-type that is strong against Rock, Ground, and Water-types, and is weak against Fire, Bug, Poison, and Flying types. Chikorita learns the powerful Razor Leaf attack at level 8, making it a very strong Pokémon in the early game. But the problem is that Chikorita doesn't learn any other powerful moves until very high levels. And being Grass-type, it has a lot more Pokémon of its type that you can catch. Chikorita learns Reflect at level 12 which is very useful combined with its high defense. She also learns Poison Powder and synthesis that will be useful. Body Slam and Solar Beam learned at high levels must be maintained.
Charmander's successor is also a Fire-type, and it is strong when fighting against Ice, Grass, or Bug-types and is weak when fighting against Water, Rock, or Ground types. While Chikorita excels in Defense, Cyndaquil is the quickest and has the best Special Attack score. It's Fire moves are a little weak in the early game, though, so it's hard to take advantage of its strengths at the beginning of the game. Cyndaquil learn Ember at level 12, and only learns another move fire type at level 27. His moveset is very scarce, so it's not a good choice.
#158 Totodile
Totodile is a Water-type like Squirtle, and it is strong against Fire, Ground, and Rock-types. It is weak when it faces Grass or Electric-type Pokémon and sometimes other Water-types. Totodile learns a variety of strong attacks, but only a few Water ones. That's just as well, since its Attack is higher than its Special Attack. Totodile is probably the strongest starter, but Water-type Pokémon are much more common than Grass or Fire Pokémon. Bite and Slash are great attacks that must be maintained.
