(Leaf Green) | (Fire Red)

Master the basics of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen! Learn controls, field screen navigation, battle commands, and essential tips for your journey.

Hey there! So you're diving into the world of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen? Awesome choice! While both games are super similar, there are a few version-exclusive Pokemon that set them apart. For example, in Leaf Green, you'll find Bellsprout, Slowpoke, Sandshrew, Vulpix, Pinsir, Staryu, Azurill, Misdreavus, Sneasel, Remoraid, and Mantine. Fire Red, on the other hand, has Magby, Psyduck, Ekans, Growlithe, Scyther, Shellder, Wooper, Murkrow, and Delibird. Fire Red also makes you pay a bit more for Porygon. But honestly, the choice is yours – pick the one that has the Pokemon you love!

This section is all about the essentials, the stuff you'd normally find in a game manual. Think of it as a quick rundown so you're not totally lost when you start up. We'll cover how to move around, what all those buttons do, and how to handle your first battles.

Controls:

Button	Field Screen	Menu Screen
A	Talk, Examine	Confirm
B	Run (With running shoes)	Cancel
Up	View a sign, move	Move up
Down	Move down	Move Down
Left	Move Left	Previous Screen (Pokedex)
Right	Move Right	Next Screen (Pokedex)
R	Help Menu	Help Menu
L	Help Menu	Help Menu
Select	Use selected item	Switch item order
Start	Access Menu	Nothing

Pro Tip: To jump down ledges, just move the control pad downwards. You can only go down, not up!

The Field Screen:

Once you've got the controls down, it's time to explore! Your first instinct might be to just run around, but be a little cautious – sometimes triggering an event too early can be a pain. You'll find Pokemon Centers in pretty much every town. Look for the buildings with red roofs; they're your safe havens. Head inside and chat with the nurse behind the counter – she'll heal up your Pokemon for free!

Right next to the nurse, you'll usually find a PC. Press 'A' to bring up its menu. Here's a quick rundown:

• Bill's PC: This is where you manage your Pokemon storage. You can Withdraw Pokemon, Deposit Pokemon, Move Pokemon between boxes, or Release Pokemon (be careful with that last one!).
• Your PC: This PC lets you manage items. You can Withdraw or Deposit items and mail. Don't worry too much about the mail for now.
• Professor Oak's PC: This keeps track of your Pokedex progress. It's not super critical for gameplay but good to check occasionally.

Upstairs in the Pokemon Center, you'll find people ready for some friendly battles or trades. The first person lets you battle, and the second allows you to trade Pokemon with friends.

Buildings with blue roofs are Pokemarts. These are your go-to shops for supplies. Definitely stock up whenever you can!

Gyms are usually the biggest buildings in town, often with 'Gym' written on them. Beating the Gym Leader is key to progressing the story and earning badges, which often have special abilities.

Don't forget to talk to everyone you meet in a city! You can often get useful items or helpful advice. To leave a house, just step onto the red rectangular mat near the door.

Looking for hidden items? Just press 'A' when standing on the ground. If there's something hidden there, you'll find it! Sometimes, regular items will just appear on the ground in the shape of a Pokeball.

The Battle Screen:

Battling is how your Pokemon get stronger, and it's a core part of the game. When a battle starts, the first Pokemon in your party is automatically sent out. You'll see this menu:

• Fight: Select this to choose one of your Pokemon's moves. Your Pokemon can only know four moves at a time. If it learns a new one and you already have four, you'll have to choose which move to forget.
• Item: Use this to select an item from your bag.
• Pokemon: Switch out your current Pokemon for another one in your party.
• Run: Try to escape from the battle. This doesn't always work, especially against trainers!

When you choose 'Fight', your move list appears. Remember, the Pokemon with the higher Speed stat usually attacks first. Some moves deal damage, while others have different effects. Each move also has a type, so pay attention to type matchups for super-effective hits! You'll also see PP next to each move, which is how many times you can use it. Once PP hits 0, you can't use that move anymore. Generally, stronger moves have less PP.