Pokelike Kanto Story Guide — From Starter to Champion
Direct answer
For a first Kanto Story plan, Bulbasaur covers Brock and Misty with Grass damage; Squirtle gives a useful Water core for Brock, Blaine and Giovanni. Add a Ground answer before Lt. Surge, Psychic coverage before Koga, and Electric plus Ice coverage before the League. The fixed campaign runs from Brock’s level-12/14 team through Giovanni’s level-60 Rhydon, then Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, Lance and champion Gary, whose Charizard is level 65. Build the whole League team before entering, then use the preparation screen before each opponent to inspect the next team, reorder your party and adjust held items.
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Start here: continue the recorded Kanto opening
Choose Story → Classic → Kanto for this campaign. The existing Beginner guide records an actual Bulbasaur start, an offered Staryu, a fainted starter, Mystic Water equipment and a Rare Candy decision. Keep that walkthrough for the controls and first choices; this page extends the planning through all eight gyms and the League.
The full rosters, levels, capture pools and evolution records here come from the public official client read on September 17, 2026. The counter plans are editorial reasoning from those facts, not a full Kanto clear performed by this Wiki. Battle Tower, Nuzlocke and Challenge modes are different tasks.
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening
Which Kanto starter should you choose?
These are matchup tradeoffs, not measured starter win rates. In the recorded opening, the starter attacks were Bulbasaur’s Magical Leaf (Grass, special, 40 power), Charmander’s Incinerate (Fire, special, 60), and Squirtle’s Bubble (Water, special, 50). The highest displayed power does not override a resistance or a 4× weakness.
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening · Pokémon types & type chart
| Starter | Pokelike evolution checkpoints | What the choice solves |
|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Ivysaur 16 → Venusaur 32 | A practical first-run recommendation for Grass damage into Brock and Misty. Add Water, Fire or Psychic roles later: Grass alone struggles into Erika, Koga, Sabrina and Blaine. |
| Squirtle | Wartortle 16 → Blastoise 36 | Water answers Brock and the last two gyms. Find Grass/Electric before Misty and a Ground member before Lt. Surge; a Water-only carry does not solve every gym. |
| Charmander | Charmeleon 16 → Charizard 36 | Fire helps against Erika and later Jynx/Exeggutor. Obtain an early Water or Grass partner for Brock and Misty. Charizard becomes Fire/Flying, with a 4× Rock weakness; protect it from Rock opponents. |
First two maps: keep a small core alive
Prioritize a surviving lead and one partner that covers its weak opening matchup. The recorded Bulbasaur/Staryu opening is useful precisely because Staryu could continue after Bulbasaur fainted; it is not a promise that Staryu appears in every run. Read the offered captures and the next boss before filling all six slots.
A Poké Ball node supplies a choice when available; an item node can strengthen the member you already trust. In the recorded session, a Rare Candy moved Staryu from level 6 to 9, then a battle took it to 11 while Bulbasaur remained fainted. Do not count on a fainted starter automatically recovering just because another member won. Use the Beginner guide for the exact bag/equip clicks and HP observations.
Sources: Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening · Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026)
Useful captures by map window
These are eligible pool windows, translated to one-based map numbers; a listed Pokémon is not a guaranteed offer. Evolution levels are Pokelike records, not assumptions about main-series stones or trading.
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokémon types & type chart
| Window | Candidates from the current pool | Decision and evolution |
|---|---|---|
| Maps 1–2 — Route 1 / Mt Moon | Staryu, Psyduck, Poliwag; Oddish or Bellsprout | If starting Charmander, prioritize Water/Grass coverage for Brock and Misty. Staryu evolves into Starmie at 36 in Pokelike; this record does not require a Water Stone. |
| Maps 1–2 | Pikachu, Voltorb; Sandshrew or Geodude | Keep an Electric candidate for Misty and the later League. Sandshrew → Sandslash 22 supplies a Ground role for Surge. Pikachu → Raichu 36; Voltorb → Electrode 30. |
| Maps 1–2 | Drowzee; Eevee | Drowzee → Hypno 26 supplies Psychic coverage. Eevee has level-20 branch choices including Jolteon, Vaporeon and Flareon; choose the missing role instead of assigning one Eevee several jobs. |
| Maps 3–4 — Nugget Bridge / Rock Tunnel | Abra, Slowpoke, Gastly; Vulpix or Growlithe; Magnemite | Abra → Kadabra 16 → Alakazam 36; Gastly → Haunter 25 → Gengar 38; Vulpix → Ninetales 32; Growlithe → Arcanine 34; Magnemite → Magneton 30. Capture a specific Koga/Sabrina/Erika answer, not every candidate. |
| Maps 3–4 | Seel or Shellder | Seel → Dewgong 34 and Shellder → Cloyster 36 add Water/Ice typing. Raise an actual Ice attacker before Lance; do not assume its default attack will always be Ice. |
| Maps 5–6 — Silph Co / Safari Zone | Lapras; Kadabra, Haunter, Hypno; Jolteon, Vaporeon or Flareon | A second chance at developed roles. Lapras adds a Water/Ice route; a higher-level replacement is helpful only if it preserves your needed coverage and HP. |
| Maps 7–8 — Seafoam Island / Viridian City | Starmie, Dewgong, Cloyster, Jynx, Raichu, Magneton | Fill one missing League role while preserving trained members. Jynx adds Ice/Psychic offense but is fragile; replacing a healthy core member solely for a type icon can backfire. |
| Map 9 — Victory Road | Alakazam, Gengar, Gyarados, Golem, Aerodactyl, Dragonite, Omastar or Kabutops | Late opportunities, not mandatory catches. Check the actual level and attacks before replacing a prepared League member. Gyarados adds a 4× Electric weakness; Dragonite adds a 4× Ice weakness. |
All eight Kanto gyms: teams, levels and counters
Prepare your lead to meet the next boss with usable HP and a level advantage when the route permits it. These opponent levels are facts, not universal minimum player levels or guaranteed-win targets.
Kanto applies an ace-only held-item rule to these teams: only the highest-level member retains its item; if levels tie, the later member wins. The table lists the effective item after that rule, rather than all items present in the raw team template. Unusual unevolved opponents retain the names and types shown by the current template.
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokémon types & type chart
| Map / leader | Fixed Story lineup (level) | Effective ace item | Preparation and response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Brock | Geodude 12; Onix 14 | No held item in this template | Grass or Water damage is 4× effective against both Rock/Ground opponents. Bulbasaur or Squirtle can do this job; with Charmander, look for early Staryu, Poliwag, Psyduck, Oddish or Bellsprout rather than relying on resisted Fire. Onix has 160 base Defense, so special damage is useful. |
| 2 — Misty | Staryu 18; Starmie 20 | No held item in this template | Grass or Electric damage hits both targets effectively. Keep Bulbasaur healthy or use an early Pikachu/Voltorb with Electric damage. Starmie is Water/Psychic and has 115 base Speed in this template; do not assume an equally levelled attacker acts first. |
| 3 — Lt. Surge | Pikachu 20; Voltorb 23; Raichu 25 | Raichu: Life Orb | Ground damage hits all three effectively and Ground typing avoids Electric attacks. Sandshrew evolves at 22; Diglett enters the Maps 3–4 pool. Keep Water/Flying Gyarados away from Electric damage. Raichu is the only member retaining its held item after the Kanto ace rule. |
| 4 — Erika | Tangela 26; Victreebel 31; Vileplume 32 | Vileplume: Miracle Seed | Use Fire or Flying damage. Charmander becomes Charmeleon at 16; Vulpix or Growlithe is eligible on Maps 3–4. Victreebel and Vileplume are Grass/Poison, so Psychic also helps there; it is only neutral on Tangela. Avoid Water-only or Grass-only offense. |
| 5 — Koga | Koffing 38; Koffing 38; Muk 40; Weezing 44 | Weezing: Leftovers | Psychic damage is effective against all four Poison templates. Abra/Kadabra/Alakazam or Drowzee/Hypno is a direct option. Bring a healthy attacker: Weezing has 120 base Defense and keeps Leftovers, so weak neutral physical hits can prolong the fight. |
| 6 — Sabrina | Mr. Mime 40; Venomoth 41; Kadabra 42; Alakazam 44 | Alakazam: Scope Lens | Three members are Psychic, but Venomoth is Bug/Poison. Dark, Ghost or Bug damage addresses the Psychic members; Fire/Flying/Psychic can answer Venomoth. A Gastly-line Ghost attacker is also Poison and fears Psychic damage, so it is a risky offensive counter, not a safe switch. |
| 7 — Blaine | Ponyta 47; Growlithe 47; Rapidash 48; Arcanine 53 | Arcanine: Life Orb | Water, Ground or Rock damage is effective against all four. A trained Blastoise or Starmie can carry the Water job. Do not abandon a raised Water member for a low-level last-minute catch; Arcanine is level 53 and keeps Life Orb. |
| 8 — Giovanni | Dugtrio 55; Nidoqueen 53; Nidoking 54; Rhyhorn 56; Rhydon 60 | Rhydon: Rocky Helmet | Water damage hits all five and is 4× effective against Rhyhorn/Rhydon. Grass is also 4× against those two, but only neutral against Poison/Ground Nidoqueen and Nidoking. Keep an Electric-only attacker out: every member is Ground. Rhydon retains Rocky Helmet, so plan for retaliation while finishing it. |
Midgame decisions: Koga and Sabrina need different answers
After Erika, keep a Psychic attacker ready for Koga’s Poison team. That same attacker is not a clean solution to Sabrina’s Psychic members, which resist Psychic damage. Pair it with a different attack role or a healthy strong neutral attacker; avoid sacrificing all your levels merely to obtain a theoretically perfect type.
A Gastly-line member can threaten Sabrina with Ghost damage but its Poison typing is weak to Psychic. Conversely, Starmie combines Water and Psychic roles but can be threatened by Ghost attacks later at Agatha. These are offensive tools with real tradeoffs, not immunity-based guarantees.
Before Blaine, confirm the Water member survived and has kept up. Preserve Electric and Ice options for the League even if they do not lead the last two gyms. Replacing your only Ice attacker immediately before Victory Road can leave Lance unsolved.
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokémon types & type chart
A flexible team plan, with replacements
This is a role map, not a claimed six-member clear. Several examples overlap; use that overlap to fit your encounters. A trained substitute with the needed attack is preferable to forcing six exact species at inadequate levels. Charizard/Ninetales/Arcanine is a useful Fire role if your final mix needs it.
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokémon types & type chart
| Job | Example if acquired | How to adapt |
|---|---|---|
| Grass opening / Water targets | Venusaur from Bulbasaur | With Squirtle or Charmander, an early Oddish/Bellsprout can provide Grass. Electric may cover Misty instead; neither plan removes the need for a Brock answer. |
| Water core | Starmie from Staryu | Blastoise from Squirtle is a straightforward alternative. Starmie additionally has Psychic typing; Blastoise does not inherit that job automatically. |
| Electric damage | Jolteon or Raichu | Electrode or Magneton can fill the job. Preserve it for Lorelei’s Water members, Lance’s Gyarados and Gary’s birds; Electric cannot damage Giovanni’s Ground team. |
| Ground / Surge answer | Sandslash | Geodude’s line or Diglett’s line is another route. Rock/Ground Golem also has 4× Water and Grass weaknesses; remove it from the lead when that risk matters. |
| Psychic damage | Alakazam or Hypno | A Starmie or Slowbro using Psychic attacks may cover the same opponents, freeing a slot. Check actual attack selection and keep another plan for Ghost damage. |
| Ice damage for Lance | Dewgong, Cloyster, Lapras or Jynx | Choose the Ice user you can actually raise. If this member already provides your Water/Psychic job, the freed slot can hold Fire or other coverage for Jynx and Gary’s Exeggutor. |
Spend items on the next fight and the final team
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening
| Resource | Current useful effect | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Mystic Water / Miracle Seed / Charcoal | 40% more Water / Grass / Fire move damage; attempts that type if the holder can use it. | Match the actual attacker. A type item is not a universal move unlock for any species. |
| Magnet / Twisted Spoon / Never-Melt Ice | 40% more Electric / Psychic / Ice damage with eligible type preference. Eligible from Map 5 onward, subject to item offers. | These are mid-run opportunities, not guaranteed early pickups for Misty or Surge. Use them to prepare eligible League attackers when offered. |
| Leftovers | Restores 10% maximum HP each round. | Useful when a member survives repeated hits. It cannot save a member knocked out before healing. |
| Shell Bell | Heals 15% of damage inflicted. | A healthy damaging attacker can gain sustain; weak resisted damage also produces little healing. Compare the actual fight with a damage item. |
| Rare Candy | The recorded opening increased Staryu from level 6 to 9 and consumed the candy. | Apply a scarce upgrade to a surviving keeper or imminent counter. This observed +3 example is not proof of every mode or level-cap interaction. |
Before the Elite Four: prepare the whole sequence
The ninth map is Victory Road. Giovanni already reaches level 60; the League spans levels 53–65, so a lower first League level does not mean the entire sequence is easy. Enter with the members that will handle the later fights still alive, not only a lead that beats Lorelei.
Check five jobs: Electric for the Water/Flying targets; Water or Grass for Bruno’s Onix and Gary’s Rhydon; Psychic or Flying for Fighting targets; Ice for Lance; and a plan for Jynx, Alakazam and Exeggutor. A Pokémon can cover more than one job if its actual attacks allow it.
Before each League opponent, the current game opens a preparation screen, even when ordinary boss previews are hidden. Inspect the enemy lineup, drag your Pokémon to change their order, and tap held items or bag items to equip, swap or unequip them. Usable items in your bag can also be used here: if you have Sacred Ash, select an injured or fainted member to restore that Pokémon to full HP, consuming the item. Preparation itself does not grant a free full-team heal, so check remaining HP and supplies before continuing. Level gains can add HP as maximum HP rises, but do not count on them to revive a fainted teammate.
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokémon types & type chart
Kanto Elite Four and Gary: every team and counter plan
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokémon types & type chart
| Battle | Fixed Story lineup (level) | Effective ace item | Your plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Lorelei | Dewgong 54; Cloyster 53; Slowbro 54; Jynx 56; Lapras 56 | Lapras: Shell Bell | Electric attacks hit Dewgong, Cloyster, Slowbro and Lapras effectively; Jynx needs another answer such as Fire, Dark or strong physical damage. Do not send a Fire-only carry into the four Water members. Lapras keeps Shell Bell; Cloyster’s listed Rocky Helmet is removed by the Kanto ace rule. |
| 2 — Bruno | Onix 53; Hitmonchan 55; Hitmonlee 55; Onix 54; Machamp 58 | Machamp: Choice Band | Water or Grass deals 4× damage to both Onix. Psychic or Flying handles Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee and Machamp. A Starmie can cover Water/Psychic jobs if its actual attacks provide them, but check its attack selection rather than assuming the dual typing alone is enough. |
| 3 — Agatha | Gengar 54; Golbat 54; Haunter 56; Golbat 56; Gengar 58 | Gengar: Scope Lens | Psychic damage hits all five because every member is Poison, but Psychic users can lose to the Ghost attacks from Gengar/Haunter. Electric covers the two Golbat. Normal and Fighting attacks cannot hit the Ghost members; Ground-only offense cannot hit Flying-type Golbat. |
| 4 — Lance | Gyarados 56; Dragonite 56; Dragonair 58; Dragonair 60; Dragonite 62 | Dragonite: Choice Band | Use Electric damage for the opening Gyarados (4×), then Ice for Dragonite (4×) and Dragonair (2×). Electric is only neutral against Dragonite and resisted by Dragonair, so keep a separate Ice job ready. The final level-62 Dragonite retains Choice Band. |
| 5 — Gary (Champion) | Pidgeot 61; Alakazam 59; Rhydon 61; Exeggutor 61; Charizard 65 | Charizard: Charcoal | This fixed champion team ends in Charizard; it is not a claim about a starter-dependent main-series rival. Electric handles Pidgeot and Charizard, Water/Grass hits Rhydon for 4×, Fire hits Exeggutor, and Ghost/Dark/Bug addresses Alakazam. Rock damage is 4× against Charizard if you have a healthy user. One attack type will not cover the entire sequence. |
If your run keeps failing at the same point
Brock or Misty: check whether your lead actually uses Grass/Water for Brock or Grass/Electric for Misty. Fire’s larger opening power is not a substitute for the matchup. A surviving partner matters more than filling every team slot.
Surge: a Water-only plan has reached its first major typing obstacle. Keep a trained Ground member from the early pools; moving Gyarados to the front makes the Electric weakness worse.
Sabrina or Agatha: distinguish offensive coverage from defensive safety. Ghost/Poison Gengar can hurt Psychic opponents but is weak to Psychic; a Psychic attacker can hurt Agatha’s Poison types but is weak to Ghost. Compare level, HP, speed and the actual attack, not just the super-effective icon.
Lance: Gyarados and Dragonite need different responses. Electric is 4× against Gyarados, but Ice is the 4× answer to Dragonite; Dragonair takes 2× from Ice. Keep the Ice user alive for the later targets.
Gary: retain an answer to the fixed final Charizard while covering the earlier Alakazam and Rhydon. Water is useful into Rhydon/Charizard but does not automatically solve Exeggutor. If the team only wins the first matchup, review its complete sequence before restarting with the same plan.
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026) · Pokémon types & type chart
Continue to Johto or check your actual team
Use the Beginner guide when you need the opening controls, Items for the current held-item descriptions, and Team Building plus the Team Analyzer to inspect your real roster and attack coverage. The analyzer checks entered types and shared weaknesses; it does not simulate a guaranteed campaign victory.
After completing Kanto Story, use the Johto / Gen 2 guide for its different level curve, gyms and League opponents. If your goal is Kanto Battle Tower instead, use the Tower overview; Story opponent levels are not Tower stage requirements.
Sources: Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026)
Source boundary
What the source does not prove
- Official client data was read on September 17, 2026. The full campaign tactics are recommendations, not a completed Kanto playthrough or measured win rate.
- Capture windows describe eligible pools, not guaranteed offers. The Beginner evidence covers one real opening; it does not demonstrate a badge or champion clear.
- This guide addresses Classic Kanto Story. Other modes and future client updates can change the applicable teams, items or progression.
Practical next step
Apply this to your next decision.
Play Kanto on the official gameKeep planning
Related pages
Evidence used on this page
Sources
Pokelike official client — Kanto Story teams and progression data (September 17, 2026)
- Publisher
- Pokelike
- Source type
- pokelike official
- Accessed
- September 17, 2026
- Applicable version
- Not stated
- Used on this page
- Fixed Kanto teams, levels, actual ace items, encounter/evolution records, ordinary item descriptions and League preparation and item-use behavior.
- Important boundary
- Official public-client facts; strategy is editorial inference, not a complete game run or guaranteed encounter.
Registry details
General supports
- Kanto fixed gym and League rosters, types, levels and order.
- Kanto ace-only held-item rule and per-opponent League preparation, reordering, item changes and conditional consumable healing.
- Selected Kanto capture windows, evolution levels and current ordinary item descriptions.
General limitations
- Code and data inspection is not a completed campaign or measured win-rate test.
- Encounter eligibility does not guarantee an offered capture; mode-specific rules may differ.
Pokelike v3.1.1 — recorded Classic Kanto opening
- Publisher
- Pokelike
- Source type
- pokelike official
- Accessed
- September 17, 2026
- Applicable version
- v3.1.1
- Used on this page
- Preserved real opening, starter attacks, Staryu capture, fainted starter, item equipment and observed Rare Candy result.
- Important boundary
- One recorded random opening only; no badges, full clear or win-rate comparison.
Registry details
General supports
- Observed new-save Story / Classic / Kanto / Red / Bulbasaur opening and three starter moves.
- Actual Staryu capture, Bug Catcher fight with a fainted starter, Mystic Water equipment, Rare Candy targeting and level increase, and a random-event Ace Trainer fight.
General limitations
- One desktop Chrome session with random choices, not a full clear, route guarantee, best-team test, or physical-device check.
- No live game state was injected; the separate Soothe Bell experiment used synthetic fixtures and is not this playthrough.
Pokémon types & type chart
- Publisher
- The Pokémon Company
- Source type
- pokemon official
- Accessed
- August 27, 2026
- Applicable version
- Not stated
- Used on this page
- Type-based counter reasoning and conditional role substitutions for the exact official Story templates.
- Important boundary
- Type effectiveness alone does not prove available attacks, survival, speed order or a successful run.
Registry details
General supports
- The standard 18 Pokémon types
- The official current-series type effectiveness chart
- The general role of attacking and defending types
General limitations
- The page explicitly notes that type affinity can differ by game
- It does not confirm any Pokelike-specific type chart variation