So You Want to Be a Pokémon Master? - Kanto

For the last twenty years, Pokémon has been an ever-present force for Nintendo and Game Freak as well as having an equally prolific run on TV and film. I've pretty much grown up with this franchise and its adorable (and often terrifying) little creatures in every region we visit.

However, since I started my Pokémon journey at about six years of age, I can hardly say I was a particularly deft hand at game playthrough. Time has made me all the wiser, though it should not have taken this to realise that I wasn't exactly playing the best team. So that is exactly what I'm going to be covering in this article; what is the best team for the Kanto games? (Red/Blue/Yellow.)

I've made my choices based on how accessible these Pokémon are, their statistics, and how they match in key battles throughout the game, with just a hint of personal bias in some cases. I won't be including any Legendary/Mythical Pokémon in these teams as I personally don't use them that often. Plus, you don't usually have access to them until towards the end of the games.

1 - Squirtle

Now, every Pokémon journey begins with your starter. In Red and Blue, the best starter to go for is Squirtle. Don't worry if you have the Yellow edition, though. While Pikachu is the only starter available in Yellow, you still get the chance to get a Squirtle in the game when you get to Vermillion City and it will be an invaluable member of the team.

So why is Squirtle the strongest? First off, its typing.

Water is one of the stronger types in the first generation. Squirtle itself is strong against the Gym Leaders Brock and Blaine, Elite Four Member Bruno, your rival's Arcanine and Rhydon and the main antagonist, Giovanni. It also goes even with Gym Leaders Misty, Koga, and Sabrina as well as Elite Four Members Lorelei and Agatha. While Bulbasaur has slightly better match-ups across the game, I still rate Squirtle as the number one pick for a starter.As for what moves it should have, well, by the time you've levelled it up into a mighty Blastoise, I would personally go for this set:

• Surf. It's a decent power STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move with 100% accuracy and useful outside of battle.
• Ice Beam. This provides coverage for Flying and Dragon types (vital during the Elite Four), as well as more moves to use against Ground types.
• Dig. This is one of the strongest moves in the game as it has the same base power as Earthquake and neatly covers the Electric type weakness.
• Body Slam. A strong, physical move with a 30% chance to paralyze your opponent. Invaluable.

2 - Nidoran (Male)

Not long after you leave Pallet Town, you will arrive in Viridian City. If you head left out of town, you will soon run into the next pokémon for our team; Nidoran.

Now, Nidoran was the only Pokémon in the first generation that was gendered and for this team we want the male Nidoran. This is also where I admit my intentions. Sorry folks, but I am taking advantage of a glitch.

So Nidoran, along with it's evolved forms, Nidorino and Nidoking, are able to learn the move Horn Drill by level up. This is a One Hit Knock Out move and usually has about a 30% accuracy. But in the first generation there was a little glitch where using an X Accuracy on a Pokémon meant that rather than raising its accuracy slightly, it would make its accuracy 100%. Meaning this OHKO move doesn't miss. Along with the fact that in Pokémon Yellow, Nidoran learns Double Kick at level 12 so you can if you can grind it up to that point it will decimate Gym Leader Brock.

Also, since Nidoran could potentially evolve during your journey through Mt. Moon (where you find a Moon Stone you can use to fully evolve it), You could have a fully evolved, super strong Pokémon with decent moves just after the second gym. Speaking of gyms, it matches up well with Gym Leaders Brock (in Yellow), Surge, Erika, Koga, and Blaine, Elite Four Bruno, Agatha, your Rival's Arcanine and Rhydon. It goes even with Elite Four Member Lance and Giovanni but will ruin virtually every member of Team Rocket you come across.

As for its moveset:

• Thrash. One of the strongest physical moves and it is learned by Nidoking if you evolve your Nidorino at level 23.
• Earthquake. The best ground type move since first generation. High power. 100% accuracy. What's not to love?
• Horn Drill. The cheese move. The OHKO that won't miss thanks to X Accuracy.
• Strength. A simple and reliable move with plenty out of battle usage.

3 - Spearow

Around the same place you'll run into Nidoran, you will often find these angry little blighters; Spearow. Now I will admit that I am a big fan of Pidgeot because I've always had one in my first generation playthroughs. However, I have to admit that Spearow, and later Fearow, is a much better choice.

Not only does it have a superior learnset, it also hits its final evolutionary stage a lot sooner than Pidgey does. By the time it hits level 34, it will have the strongest flying type move any of the bird Pokémon in this generation can learn, while the alternative is a Pidgeotto still struggling along with Wing Attack that is still a couple levels from being fully evolved. Even I can admit that there's no contest there.

In turns of match-up, the strong points are few and far between with the only gym it has a definite advantage over being Erika's Grass type gym (and Koga's Gym in Yellow as he has three Venonat and a Venomoth), your Rival's Venusaur and Alakazam. However, it remains a strong staple to use against Misty, Koga, Sabrina, and Blaine, Elite Four Members Bruno, Agatha, and Lance as well as Giovanni due to its speed and strong attack.

Ideally, its moveset will look something like this:

• Drill Peck. As I said above, the strongest flying type move available for any bird Pokémon in this generation.
• Fly. Another strong STAB move and incredibly useful outside of battle too.
• Swift. It may look like a strange choice but in the first generation, Swift was a physical move. That doesn't miss. And it is STAB.
• Substitute. There was no protect in these games but substitute is a more than fitting replacement.

4 - Abra

Our next catch doesn't come until we are in Cerulean City and head North to the cape wear you'll find this pesky little Pokémon. While it might be a nightmare to catch and level up, once it hits level 16 and evolves into Kadabra, it quickly becomes one of the strongest Ookémon in the game. If you can find someone to trade with then you will get what is undeniably the best Pokémon in the first generation.

Alakazam, Abra's fully evolved form, was considered the strongest non-legendary pokémon for a long while because in Red, Blue, and Yellow, there was no such thing as a Special Defense stat. Both Special Attack and Defense were based off of the Special stat, of which Alakazam's was the highest, other than Mewtwo—one of the strongest Pokémon ever created. This makes it possibly the most effective Pokémon in battle, regardless of type match up for these games.

In terms of key battles, Alakazam will match up well against Gym Leaders Erika and Koga, Elite Four Members Bruno and Agatha, your Rival's Venusaur, the entirety of Team Rocket and Giovanni. It goes even in every other battle. It's only really exploitable is the fact that it has a low defence stat so if your opponent can out-speed it/survive it, the only way it can be taken out is with physical attacks so watch out for that.

Alakazam's moveset should go a little something like this:

• Psychic. The strongest Psychic type move available. High damage and 100% accuracy. This is your bread and butter.
• Recover. One way of dealing with longevity. Restores half your maximum HP.
• Thunder Wave. Against an opponent that does out-speed you? Now you can slow it down and have a chance of it not attacking each turn.
• Seismic Toss. Reliable damage based off of your Alakazam's level. You could also have a move like Counter or something to boost your defence like Reflect.

5 - Snorlax

You'll have to wait until Celadon City to get this, along with our last team member, but they are both so worth it. Once you get the Poké Flute from Mr Fuji in Lavender Town, you'll be able to obtain this beast. Snorlax is has been favoured as a Pokémon since its release in the first generation thanks to it's high attack, obscene HP stat and, in later generations, its high special defence.For our first generation team, it provides a nice, meaty wall that your opponent has to attack through in order to reach the rest of your team or a convenient damage sponge while you heal the rest of your team. Snorlax's bulk makes it nearly unstoppable and its Normal typing means it only has one real weakness in Fighting types, which ultimately might not be able to get through this tank in one or two hits, partially thanks to its bulk and partially because of moves like Rest.

In terms of key battles, Snorlax will come in handy in every Gym battle from the moment you catch it, holds up will against Elite Four Members Lorelei and Lance, your Rival's team, Team Rocket and Giovanni. The only one to watch out for is Bruno but you'll have plenty of other Pokémon to with any of Snorlax's weaknesses.

This is the sort of moveset you could run:

• Body Slam. Run this for similar reasons to Blastoise with the added benefit of it being a STAB on Snorlax.
• Submission. A decent Fighting type move to provide coverage for Rock and Ice types.
• Rock Slide. To help deal with Flying types and your Rival's Arcanine.
• Hyper Beam. The strongest Normal type move available and is physical in first generation. Also, if you KO an opponent, it won't require a turn to recharge. If you prefer, you can run a slow-burn status move like Toxic instead.

6 - Jolteon

Whilst you are in Celadon City, you can sneak around the pack of the buildings to find a back entrance into one of the high-rises. Go up to the very top and you'll be able to obtain an Eevee. Then head to the Celadon PokéMart and buy yourself a Thunderstone and you'll be able to evolve Eevee into a Jolteon. Once you've beaten Surge, you will have the TM for Thunderbolt in your bag.

Jolteon is the last member of the team for its speed and coverage. Plus, for those playing Yellow, it'll replace Pikachu as your Electric type since the starting Pikachu in that game can't be evolved. The only other viable alternative for an Electric type is Magneton which, while I do rate it quite highly, doesn't have the blistering speed of Jolteon which is so crucial.

In terms of key battles, Jolteon doesn't appear to be worth much with its sole advantageous match being against the Elite Four's Lorelei. However, it can still be effective against Gym Leaders Koga, Sabrina, and Blaine, Elite Four Member Agatha, your Rival's Pidgeot and Gyarados and most of Team Rocket (thanks to their affinity for Zubat).

As for its moveset, something like this will do nicely:

• Thunderbolt. The best choice for a STAB move on Jolteon. Not as strong as Thunder but, crucially, more accurate.
• Pin Missile. The one Bug type damaging move in this generation. Makes for great coverage of Psychic types.
• Double Kick. Another nice coverage move for Rock and Ice types.
• Substitute. Something to give Jolteon a way to avoid damage and help it stick around in battle for longer.

Alternatives

So that is, in my opinion the best team to use when taking on Pokémon Red, Blue or Yellow. Obviously, that doesn't mean you have to follow my word like it's the gospel. There are plenty of others you could use in your team. Here's a few examples:

• Cloyster. A high defense, water and ice type that would serve you just as well as Blastoise.
• Magneton or Electrode. These two are really the only other viable Electric types outside of legendaries as an exchange for Jolteon.
• Hypno. A bulkier Psychic type than Alakazam and a hell of a lot easier to catch.

Just remember; however you choose to build your team, if you are having fun, then you are doing it right.Do you disagree with my team? Feel free to let me know what members you would replace or what your ideal team of six would be.

Keep striving to be the very best.