What is the main Pokemon Crystal route on Game Boy Color?

Clear Johto's eight badges, stop Team Rocket at Goldenrod Radio Tower, pass Ice Path and Dragon's Den, beat the Elite Four, sail to Kanto, collect the eight Kanto badges, then climb Mt. Silver for Red.

Where do I go after Whitney in Pokemon Crystal?

After Whitney gives you the Plain Badge, get the SquirtBottle from Goldenrod Flower Shop, use it on Sudowoodo on Route 36, then continue toward Ecruteak City.

Why does Clair not give the Rising Badge right away?

After beating Clair, enter Dragon's Den, use Surf and Whirlpool to reach the Dragon Shrine, answer the elder's questions, then return for the Rising Badge and TM24.

Pokemon Crystal Guide

Pokemon Crystal Walkthrough Game Boy Color - Badge Route, HMs, Kanto

New Bark to Red

Pokemon Crystal walkthrough for Game Boy Color

Clear Johto's eight badges, stop Team Rocket in Goldenrod, cross Ice Path, finish Dragon's Den, beat the Elite Four, take the S.S. Aqua to Kanto, collect the second badge set, and reach Red at Mt. Silver.

GBC route Johto + Kanto HM checklist Saves progress

Pokemon Crystal Johto overview map for the Game Boy Color walkthrough — Use the stage filters below when you remember the last badge but not the next destination.

Stuck Finder

What to do after the classic roadblocks

Current blocker

Version Check

Use the Crystal route

This walkthrough is for Pokemon Crystal Version on Game Boy Color and the official 3DS Virtual Console release. Gold, Silver, HeartGold, SoulSilver, randomizers, and ROM hacks can change trainers, maps, events, or available Pokemon. Original cartridge and emulator-style play also depend on the real-time clock for weekday events, phone calls, Lapras, and some shops.

HM Route

HM locations and first major uses

HM	Where to get it	Use timing	Why it matters
HM01 Cut	Ilex Forest after the Farfetch'd puzzle	After Bugsy	Opens the path from Azalea toward Goldenrod.
HM02 Fly	Chuck's wife outside Cianwood Gym	After Chuck	Lets you return quickly to Olivine with SecretPotion.
HM03 Surf	Ecruteak Dance Theater after helping the Kimono Girls	After Morty	Required for Cianwood, Dragon's Den, Kanto water routes, and many items.
HM04 Strength	Olivine cafe sailor	Before late caves	Required in Ice Path's boulder room and useful for route cleanup.
HM05 Flash	Sprout Tower elder	Optional early, useful late	Needed for comfortable dark-cave travel, including Mt. Silver.
HM06 Whirlpool	Lance after the Mahogany Rocket base	Before Dragon's Den	Required to reach the Dragon Shrine and finish Clair's badge event.
HM07 Waterfall	Item ball inside Ice Path 1F	Before Pokemon League route	Required for the route to the Elite Four and later Mt. Silver travel.

Boss Prep

Low-friction readiness checks

WhitneyBring a Rock, Geodude line, traded Machop, or enough status and healing to survive Rollout pressure.

MortyNormal-types dodge Ghost moves, but you still need answers to Hypnosis and Dream Eater.

ClairExpect Dragonair coverage and Kingdra's bulk. Ice attacks help, but reliable neutral damage and healing matter more.

LancePack Ice coverage for Dragonite, Electric coverage for Gyarados, and enough healing for repeated Hyper Beam turns.

RedPrepare for Pikachu, Espeon, Snorlax, Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise at very high levels. Bring Full Restores and Escape Rope support for the climb.

Postgame

Kanto is a badge cleanup route

Pokemon Crystal Kanto overview map after the Elite Four

After the Hall of Fame, Elm gives the S.S. Ticket. Sail from Olivine to Vermilion, then treat Kanto as a flexible badge circuit. Some optional travel is smoother after Power Plant progress and the Radio Card upgrade.

Related Tools

Map Walkthrough Pokedex Items Moves Gyms Trainers Ice Path guide