Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen/Seafoam Islands

The way through the Seafoam Island caves is full of twists and turns, and you'll have to puzzle your way through. The complex labyrinth of caves is one of the most intricate that you'll go through but also hides one of the most powerful allies available, the Legendary Bird Articuno.

Seafoam Islands can't be cleared without a Pokémon that knows Strength. The islands feature a boulders puzzle. Once solved, it permanently remains that way. Setting the boulders in the right place will halt the strong currents, allowing surfing the water.

After you enter the cave, go east and push the boulder into the hole to the north. Now go to the steps north of the entrance and go up. Grab the Ice Heal. Within this cave you'll get your first chance to find a Seel, and more rarely, its evolution Dewgong.

The legendary Pokémon Articuno resides in the depths of these caves. The two boulders on the first floor block the current on the third basement level, which makes it easier to get around, but is not necessary for catching Articuno. It's the two in the third basement that are important: knock the other boulders out of the way so you can get to the ones in line with the holes (if you mess up, leave this floor and they'll reset), then jump in after them, swim to the island in the northwest, and you'll find Articuno.

Save the game before facing Articuno. Capture it, as it's the only one and the only chance. Come adequately prepared, since legendary Pokémon are the most difficult Pokémon to obtain in terms of catch rate.

Floor 1

Floor 1

Pokémon Found

FireRed	Level	Encounter Rate	LeafGreen	Level	Encounter Rate
Zubat	22-26	34%	Zubat	22-26	34%
Golbat	26-30	11%	Golbat	26-30	11%
Psyduck	26-33	50%	Slowpoke	26-33	50%

Floor B1

FLoor B1

Pokémon Found

FireRed	Level	Encounter Rate	LeafGreen	Level	Encounter Rate
Seel	28	10%	Seel	28	10%
Zubat	22-26	34%	Zubat	22-26	34%
Golbat	26-30	11%	Golbat	26-30	11%
Psyduck	29-31	40%	Slowpoke	29-31	40%
Golduck	33-35	5%	Slowbro	33-35	5%

Floor B2

Floor B2

Pokémon Found

FireRed	Level	Encounter Rate	LeafGreen	Level	Encounter Rate
Seel	30-32	20%	Seel	30-32	20%
Zubat	22-24	20%	Zubat	22-24	20%
Golbat	26-30	10%	Golbat	26-30	10%
Psyduck	30-32	40%	Slowpoke	30-32	40%
Golduck	32-34	10%	Slowbro	32-34	10%

Floor B3

Floor B3

Pokémon Found

FireRed	Level	Encounter Rate	LeafGreen	Level	Encounter Rate
Seel	30-32	40%	Seel	30-32	40%
Zubat	24	10%	Zubat	24	10%
Golbat	26-30	10%	Golbat	26-30	10%
Psyduck	30-32	20%	Slowpoke	30-32	20%
Golduck	30-32	15%	Slowbro	30-32	15%
Dewgong	32-34	5%	Dewgong	32-34	5%
Surfing
Seel	25-35	60%	Seel	25-35	60%
Horsea	25-30	30%	Krabby	25-30	30%
Psyduck	30-40	4%	Slowpoke	30-40	4%
Golduck	35-40	1%	Slowbro	35-40	1%
Dewgong	35-40	5%	Dewgong	35-40	5%
Old Rod
Magikarp	5	100%	Magikarp	5	100%
Good Rod
Horsea	5-15	60%	Horsea	5-15	20%
Krabby	5-15	20%	Krabby	5-15	60%
Magikarp	5-15	20%	Magikarp	5-15	20%
Super Rod
Horsea	15-30	80%	Krabby	15-30	80%
Gyarados	15-35	16%	Gyarados	15-35	16%
Psyduck	15-25	4%	Slowpoke	15-25	4%

Floor B4

Floor B4

Pokémon Found

FireRed	Level	Encounter Rate	LeafGreen	Level	Encounter Rate
Seel	30-34	50%	Seel	30-34	50%
Golbat	26-30	15%	Golbat	26-30	15%
Psyduck	32	10%	Slowpoke	32	10%
Golduck	32-34	15%	Slowbro	32-34	15%
Dewgong	34-36	10%	Dewgong	34-36	10%
Surfing
Seel	25-35	60%	Seel	25-35	60%
Horsea	25-30	30%	Krabby	25-30	30%
Psyduck	30-40	4%	Slowpoke	30-40	4%
Golduck	35-40	1%	Slowbro	35-40	1%
Dewgong	35-40	5%	Dewgong	35-40	5%
Old Rod
Magikarp	5	100%	Magikarp	5	100%
Good Rod
Horsea	5-15	60%	Horsea	5-15	20%
Krabby	5-15	20%	Krabby	5-15	60%
Magikarp	5-15	20%	Magikarp	5-15	20%
Super Rod
Horsea	15-30	80%	Krabby	15-30	80%
Gyarados	15-35	16%	Gyarados	15-35	16%
Psyduck	15-25	4%	Slowpoke	15-25	4%
Special Pokémon
Articuno	50	Only One	Articuno	50	Only One

New Pokémon

#086 Seel

Seel is a decent Water-type Pokémon, with average stats all around. Seel has no Water-type moves in its learnset, possessing mainly only Ice and Normal moves. Thus, Seel will not benefit from STAB advantages until it evolves into Dewgong, an Ice/Water Pokémon, at level 34.

Seel is not a bad choice to fill a spot in your team, Water and Ice being two almost essential types for your future fight against the Elite Four. It's just that there are simply more powerful and versatile Pokemon you can choose instead, such as Lapras or Cloyster. Seel is simply just not powerful enough and so it is best left in your PC.

#144 Articuno

The Ice bird, Articuno, is the most popular of the three Legendary Birds. At a superior level 50, Articuno sports the powerful Ice Beam, and its Mist move will make it difficult for you to catch it by using status effects such as sleep or paralyze. Despite this, Articuno will require some TM's before it can be of any use.

Articuno sports the best stats of the Legendary birds, and will be a welcome addition if you don't have an Ice and/or Flying Pokémon in your team. However, remember that its dual type makes Articuno extremely weak against any Rock attacks.

Items

• Ice Heal (1F, near the northwest ladder)
• Revive (B1F, on the center platform)
• Water Stone (B1F, on the south-central area, accessed from B2F)
• Big Pearl (B2F, south of the central platform)
• Nugget (B3F, hidden on a rock, on the western platform)
• Water Stone (B4F, hidden on a rock, near the western ladder)
• Ultra Ball (B4F, east of the southern sign)