How to Get to the Elite Four in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Navigate Victory Road so you can take down the Elite Four

Co-authored by Ishrak and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: December 31, 2024 Fact Checked

Challenging the Elite Four and the Pokémon Champion are the most daunting elements of your journey in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen… but to battle them, you first have to make it through Victory Road. This multi-level cave is filled with staircases, boulders, switches, and enemy trainers—and we’re here to show you exactly what you need to do and which way you need to go. Read on for a helpful walkthrough that’ll get you to the Elite 4 and beyond as soon as possible.

Disclaimer: Pokémon that know the moves Surf and Strength are required for Victory Road.

1

Reach Victory Road via Routes 22 and 23.

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Fly to Viridian City and travel west—along the way, prepare to fight your rival one last time. Once you’ve defeated him, continue going left (west) along Route 22 until you find a large building at the end of the path. Enter this building to embark on Route 23, a long path with a variety of different terrains. Continue along this new path; along the way, you’ll pass various checkpoints where officers ensure you have the necessary badges to reach Victory Road and beyond. Once you’ve cleared all these checkpoints, spot the cave entrance to Victory Road.
- Route 23 starts in a building, continues on a grassy path, switches to water, and then switches back to a grassy path. You’ll need a Pokémon that knows Surf to navigate the water-covered part of the road.
- Pro tip: As a cave/tunnel, Victory Road is full of wild Pokémon that will randomly spawn, like Onix, Machop, Geodude, Zubat, Arbok (FireRed only), Sandslash (LeafGreen only), Golbat, Machoke, and Marowak. Use Repels throughout your Victory Road journey to prevent unnecessary battles that’ll slow down your progress.^{[1]
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2

Push the nearby boulder onto a switch.

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Head to the boulder that’s close to the Victory Road entrance. Using a Pokémon that knows Strength, push it to the right (east) until it covers the circular white switch on the far right side of the cave.
- Cool Trainer Naomi and Rolando are found on this floor, but they can be avoided with some careful maneuvering. Expect to fight a Persian, Ponyta, Rapidash, Vulpix, and Ninetales if you square off against Naomi, and a Raticate, Ivysaur, Wartortle, Charmeleon, and Charizard if you fight Rolando.^{[2]
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3

Go up the ladder and push the boulder onto another switch.

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Once you’ve ascended the ladder that’s right next to Rolando, walk down (south) until you find another boulder. Using Strength, push this boulder onto the circular white switch nearby.

4

Head up the stairs and fight Black Belt Daisuke.

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Turn around and walk up the stairs (north) to reach a higher platform. Walk to the right (east) until you run into Black Belt Daisuke. True to his name, his Pokémon team consists of the Fighting-type Pokémon Machoke, Machop, and a second Machoke. Defeat him and continue walking to the right.

5

Follow the path north and use the first ladder.

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Take the staircase down from the platform to the floor and avoid triggering a battle with a trainer on the right side of the platform. Head to the right (east), working your way around the platform until you’re heading up (north). Ascend the first ladder you spot in this area that’s immediately next to the trainer who’s wandering in circles.^{[3]
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- Tamer Vincent is the trainer who’s moving around in circles. If you end up running into him, prepare to fight his Persian and Golduck.

6

Move the stone so it covers the northwest switch.

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Use Strength to push the boulder up twice, to the left 22 times, down once, to the left 4 times, down 3 times, and to the right once—this allows the boulder to cover the switch in the northeast corner of the third floor.^{[4]
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7

Head up on the platform and travel south.

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Go back the way you came, taking the steps to ascend the platform. If you’re careful, it’s possible to avoid the trainer there. As you descend the steps from the platform to the floor, do a little more careful maneuvering to avoid the pair of trainers waiting. Keep walking to the right (east) until you reach a large boulder next to an opening on the floor.^{[5]
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8

Shove the boulder through the hole and jump in after it.

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Jumping down this hole takes you back to the 2F, directly next to the boulder. Now, push this same boulder to the left (west) towards an empty switch. This lifts the barrier guarding a ladder on the plateau above you.

9

Ascend the platform and climb the ladder.

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Move to the right (east) and climb up the second platform staircase (immediately beneath the trainer). Turn to the right and climb up the ladder on the far right side of the platform. Move up (north) and to the left (west) so you’re directly behind the trainers. Then, ascend the ladder that’s there.

10

Move past the trainer team and go down the ladder behind them.

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Quickly side-step to the right to avoid having to fight the double team of trainers. Then, go down the ladder behind them.^{[6]
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11

Head right to exit the cave.

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Continue heading right (east), and then go down (south) to go through the lit-up cave exit. Don’t worry about the person you pass—they’re a Move Tutor, not a trainer who’s lying in wait.
- The Move Tutor can teach one of your Pokémon Double Edge, a strong Normal-type move with 100% Accuracy. While this move is strong, it often leaves your Pokémon taking recoil damage.^{[7]
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12

Head north and go through a small maze.

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After exiting the cave, continue up the grassy path until you reach a stone-covered section of the map that’s covered in Pokémon statues. Weave your way through this maze until you make it up the staircase behind. This takes you to the Indigo Plateau, where you’ll face off against the Elite 4. Happy fighting!

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How do I move the boulders?

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To move boulders, you'll need HM Strength.

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How long does it take a Clefairy to evolve?

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You have to give it a moonstone for it to evolve; there is no level for it to evolve. You can get a moonstone in Mount Moon.

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If I fainted the legendary birds, will they still come back?

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No, they won't, unless you saved beforehand.

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Tips

If you're a bit of an adventurer, there are 8 total items scattered about Victory Road: TM2 (Dragon Claw), Rare Candy, TM37 (Sandstorm), Full Heal, TM7 (Hail), TM50 (Overheat), Max Revive, and a Guard Spec.

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If you want to conserve your Pokémon for any trainer battles in Victory Road, avoid battling or catching any wild Pokémon until you've reached the Elite Four building (reaching here gives you the privilege to fly back once you're truly ready for the final test: battling Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, Lance, and your rival all in a row without stopping, so buy as many Revives and heal/status items as you can carry/afford).

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Warnings

You cannot pass through Victory Road through the back way via the Indigo Plateau and expect to be able to exit through the front way. It won't work; the barriers will be dropped again and their respective switches are only reachable from the front entrance.

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