Lavender Town is creepy. Everyone knows that. The music alone is enough to make a grown adult feel uneasy if they’re playing alone at 2:00 AM. But the real heart of that discomfort is the Pokémon Tower Leaf Green version. It’s a seven-story graveyard that serves as a massive spike in both difficulty and lore.
Honestly, most players rush through it. They grab the Poké Flute and bolt for the exit. But if you do that, you’re missing half the point—and probably some of the best items in the mid-game.
The Rival Battle You Weren't Ready For
You walk into the second floor, maybe looking to heal or just exploring, and boom. Blue (or whatever you named your rival) is right there. He’s not here to mourn. He’s here to fight.
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This specific encounter is famous for the "Raticate Theory." You've likely heard it: Blue’s Raticate, which was on his team during the S.S. Anne battle, is suddenly gone. He asks if you know what it’s like for a Pokémon to die. It’s dark. It’s heavy. Whether it's true or just fan canon, it sets a grim tone for the rest of the climb.
His team is balanced, usually sitting around level 22 to 25. He’s got Pidgeotto, Gyarados, Growlithe, Kadabra, and his starter. If you haven't evolved your own team yet, this fight can actually send you back to the Pokémon Center pretty quickly.
Why You Can’t Just "Brute Force" the Tower
The biggest mistake people make? Entering without the Silph Scope.
Without that item, every wild encounter is just a "Ghost." You can’t identify them. You can't catch them. More importantly, your Pokémon are "too scared to move." It’s basically a soft lock for the top floors.
To get the Scope, you have to detour to Celadon City. You’ve got to infiltrate the Rocket Hideout under the Game Corner and take down Giovanni. Only after he drops that Silph Scope can you actually see the Gastly, Haunter, and Cubone lurking in the fog.
- Pro Tip: If you're a speedrunner or just impatient, there’s an old glitch involving a Poké Doll. Using a Poké Doll on the Marowak ghost on the 6th floor used to let you bypass the fight entirely in the original Red/Blue. In Leaf Green, they patched the most egregious versions of this, but the "intended" path is always safer for a standard playthrough.
Navigating the Floors: Loot and Hazards
The tower is a vertical gauntlet. The Channelers—those possessed-looking ladies—will throw Ghost-types at you constantly.
On the 5th floor, there’s a protected "Healing Zone." It’s a white glowing square on the ground. Use it. It’s a literal lifesaver because it acts like a mobile Pokémon Center. You can grind levels against the wild Haunters here, heal up for free, and then keep moving.
Don't ignore the floor tiles. There are hidden items everywhere. I’m talking about:
- Nuggets for quick cash.
- Rare Candy tucked away in corners.
- An Elixir and Awakening (you’ll need these for the Confuse Ray spam).
- The Cleanse Tag, which helps keep wild encounters down if you’re tired of seeing Gastly every three steps.
The Mother Marowak Encounter
The climax happens on the 6th floor. It’s the Ghost of Marowak. This isn't just a random encounter; it's a scripted battle against a Level 30 spirit.
You cannot catch this Marowak. Don’t waste your Great Balls. Don't even try the Master Ball if you’re using cheats; the game literally won't let it connect. The spirit is restless because Team Rocket killed her while she was protecting her baby Cubone.
Beating her isn't just about progress; it's about "laying her soul to rest." Once she’s defeated, she disappears, and the path to the 7th floor opens up. This is where you find Mr. Fuji being held hostage by three Team Rocket grunts.
What People Get Wrong About Mr. Fuji
People think Mr. Fuji is just some old man who likes Pokémon. But if you check the journals in the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island later, you’ll find hints that he was one of the lead scientists involved in the Mewtwo project.
Saving him in the Pokémon Tower Leaf Green is what earns you the Poké Flute. This is the only way to wake up the Snorlax blocking Route 12 and Route 16. Without this interaction, your game essentially ends in Lavender Town.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Run
- Get a Psychic or Dark type: Gastly and Haunter are Poison/Ghost. A Kadabra with Confusion or a Pokémon with Bite/Pursuit will one-shot almost everything here.
- Stock up on Paralyze Heals: The Channelers love using Lick and Spite.
- Check for Hidden Items: Use the Itemfinder on every floor. There is almost always a hidden item in the spots where there are no gravestones.
- Capture a Gastly: If you don't have a good special attacker, a Haunter (and eventually Gengar) is one of the best investments you can make for the Elite Four.
The Pokémon Tower isn't just a dungeon. It’s a pivot point for the entire Kanto story. Take your time, grab the Rare Candy on the 6th floor, and maybe say a little prayer for Blue’s Raticate while you’re at it.
To make the most of your post-Tower journey, head south of Lavender Town to Route 12. Use that newly acquired Poké Flute to wake the Snorlax, as it's one of the few opportunities to catch a top-tier Normal-type tank for your endgame roster.