RegardingPokémongame experiences, the classic Pokémon Red experience is one of the more accessible and easy games for new Pokémon trainers to hop into. This is mainly due to the fact that the game has been around for so long and has been subject to so many remakes that the path of progression is second nature to most at this point. However, if you’re a Pokemon veteran and want a little more bite to your Kanto adventure, there are some options out there to spice things up, and arguably, the toughest of the bunch is Pokemon Radical Red.
10 Non-Legendary Pokemon With The Highest Attack Stat
If you’re wondering which Pokemon are Attack stat powerhouses, this list can help!
ThisPokemon ROM hackallows you to experience Kanto like never before, and will put your skills to the test as it pins you against AI with much more tactical nous, Pokemon trainers with much stronger teams, and adds in all the modern Pokemon mechanics present in later iterations in the series. It’s a genuinely brutal challenge, especially on the highest of the built-in difficulty settings, but hopefully, with the help of this guide, you’ll be able to hit the ground running.
For the sake of brevity, we will not be running through the story content present in this ROM, as it is more or less a direct copy of Pokemon Red. We will mainly be focusing on the path of progression through the Gym leaders and the Elite Four.
Before we get started, you’ll need to know how to download Radical Red. Downloading ROMS may seem a little daunting, but it’s actually easier than you might think. Here’s what you need to do:
Which Starter Is Best In Radical Red?
Okay, let’s get started with this guide, shall we? When it comes to the beginning of the game, not much has changed here. Head out into the tall grass, and Professor Oak will reprimand you for heading out there alone, which will then prompt you to choose your starter.
You can either choose the default settings when beginning your game,which will allow you to choose between the standard trio of Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Or, you can choose custom settings and change the starting trio to any other generation from the series.
This will mainly come down to a matter of preference, as no matter what you do, your rival will still choose a Pokemon that is super-effective against yours. However, if I were to give you a nudge towards any of the starters,I would push you toward objectively stronger final evolutions like Greninja, Swampert, or Cinderace.
How to Beat Brock’s Gym Challenge
Geodude (Alolan)
Custap Berry
Berry Juice
Oran Berry
Flash Fire
If you took my advice and decided to choose a water-type starter, this shouldn’t be that tough of a fight,as water moves well against most Pokemon here. There are some counters to be wary of though, as his Geodude has access to Spark. Not to mention, Archen knows how to use Roost, and this will really stretch out the fight if you let it. But keep these little pain points in mind and you’ll nab your first Gym Badge.
How to Beat Misty’s Gym Challenge
Mystic Water
Technician
Sitrus Berry
Randomized*
Lapapa Berry
Volt Absorb
Misty is a tougher test than Brock because she has a way to nullify a lot of the obvious tactics to take her down. You won’t really be able to use Grass Types, as each of her Pokemon has an Ice-Type move. Plus, if you go for an electric type to sweep her team, she’ll pull out Lanturn, who is immune to all-electric attacks thanks to Volt Absorb.
Electric moves are still the best way to take her down despite this, but you will need to bring along a decent counter for Lanturn, such as a ground or grass Pokemon, but be wary of moves like Scald and Icy Wind if you do take that approach. Keep your nerve, and you’re able to hold her water-types under the water until the bubbles stop.
How to Beat L.T. Surge’s Gym Challenge
Electric Seeds
Electric Surge
Raichu (Alolan)
Twisted Spoon
Surge Surfer
Occa Berry
Expert Belt
Strong Jaw
Manectrite
Intimidate
Looking at L.T. Surge’s line-up, you would immediately think that ground types would carry you through with little issue, but it’s not quite that simple, as almost all Pokemon here have at least one Water, Grass, or Ice move to counter you, and the one that doesn’t (Vikavolt) has levitate which renders your Ground moves useless.
So, it would be good to try to exploit their secondary typing here where possible.For example, Raichu is weak to Dark and Ghost-type moves, and Vikavolt is weak to Fire, Rock, and Flying moves.Also, be wary of Manectric’s Mega Evolution, as they will hit harder than you would expect when this kicks in. Play it smart, bring a balanced team with a counter for all listed above, and you’ll be fine.
How to Beat Erika’s Gym Challenge
Rillabloom
Terrain Extender
Grassy Surge
Grassy Seed
Focus Sash
Electrode (Hisuian)
Venasurite
Once again, you’ll be up against a team with a counter for all the main weaknesses to the gym’s signature typing, which, in this case, is Grass Type Pokemon. Along with a strong Mega-Evolution in the form of Venasaur.
If you have access to a Dragon-Type Pokemon by this point, they tend to work really well here, as only Serperior and Meganium have direct counters for this, and then you can fill the rest of the slots up with other grass counters tailored toward beating them, like a few fire-types. Then also watch out for a few dirty tricks like Electrode’s Explosion attack and Venasaur’s Sleep Powder. Get through this one, and you’re halfway to the Elite Four!
How to Beat Sabrina’s Gym Challenge
Psychic Seed
Magic Bounce
Psychic Surge
Adaptability
Gardivoirite
To make it through this fight with Sabrina, Kanto’s Psychic Pokemon specialist,you’ll need to make a handful of thoughtful inclusions to your line-up targeting specific members of her team. You’ll want a Ghost-type to deal with Hatterene right off the bat, as they have no counter.
Then you’ll want to bring along a Steel-type that can handle Indeedee. For Ursalana and Crawdaunt, a water type with a suitable secondary typing to handle both is ideal, like a Ludicolo, for example. Then, you can swap back to your steel type to deal with Porygon 2 and Gardevoir. This is a hard fight, but if you take this advice, you’ll find they all go down a little easier, and you can jet off to Fuschia City.
Unlike in the standard Fire Red experience, Sabrina’s leveling has been altered to make her the next logical fight after Erika, so there is no benefit to skipping here and heading to Koga first in Radical Red.
How to Beat Koga Gym Challenge
Choice Specs
Sheer Force
Choice Scarf
Battle Bond
Infiltrator
Toxtricity
Toxictrite
This fight is actually a lot more manageable than it looks if you bring along some counters for each specific Pokemon here.Opening up with a strong electric type takes care of Swellow, a fire-type will make short work of Accelgor, and then a fighting type will take care of Drapion and Greninja.
A dark type will be best suited for Dragapult, and then you may handle Koga’s mega evolution, Toxtricity, by packing a strong ground type. Follow this formula, and you shouldn’t have much of an issue defeating Koga. He was a pushover in the vanilla game, and that remains the case here, as much as any trainer is a pushover in this brutal ROM.
How to Beat Blaine’s Gym Challenge
Chlorophyll
Typhlosion
Heavy Duty Boots
Blazing Soul
Charizardite Y
Things get fiery after you sort out everything in the Pokemon Mansion and take onCinnabar Island’s Gym Challenge. As much as you would expect Blaine to have a lot of counters to water types, he actually doesn’t have a lot, meaning you’ll get a lot of joy running a water-dominated team here.The main sticking point is their Pokemon’s Drought abilities that weaken water’s power, but if you have a Pokemon with Rain Dance you can change the weather to suit you.
Pokemon: 10 Best Non-Legendary Poison Types In The Series, Ranked
If you need a strong Poison-type Pokemon for your team, these are all great choices!
The only caveat to this is that they do have some Grass Pokemon to mix things up, so you will need to bring either some strong rock types or some fire-type Pokemon of your own. However, due to these very fire-oriented movesets, he won’t pose too much of a challenge if you set it up correctly, so drown the flames and walk away with another Gym Badge!
