So, you’ve finally made it past the eight gym leaders of Kanto. You’ve got the badges pinned to your trainer card, and you’re feeling like a total champion. But then you hit a wall. Literally. It’s a cave filled with massive rocks, confusing levels, and trainers who clearly have nothing better to do than wait in the dark for a teenager to walk by.
Honestly, the victory road map fire red is the final "skill check" before the game lets you anywhere near the Elite Four. It’s not just about having high-level Pokémon; it’s about having the patience of a saint to deal with Strength puzzles that reset every single time you accidentally walk through the wrong door.
If you’re stuck or just don't want to waste two hours wandering in circles, here is the breakdown of how to actually get through this place without losing your mind.
Bringing the Right Tools (Don’t Forget Strength!)
You’d be surprised how many people walk into the cave entrance only to realize their "HM Slave" is sitting in a PC box back in Viridian City. You absolutely need a Pokémon that knows Strength. Without it, you aren't getting past the first room.
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I’d also strongly suggest bringing a Pokémon with Surf. While Victory Road itself is mostly dry, getting to the entrance involves some water, and there are a few niches where it comes in handy. Oh, and buy Max Repels. Seriously. If you try to do these boulder puzzles while fighting a Zubat every three steps, you’re going to want to throw your Game Boy (or phone, if you’re on an emulator) across the room.
The Floor-by-Floor Breakdown
The layout is a bit of a mess, but if you look at the victory road map fire red as a series of switches, it starts to make sense.
Floor 1: The First Switch
When you walk in, you’ll see a boulder immediately to your right. Use Strength to push it onto the white circular switch in the bottom-right corner. This "unlocks" a stone plate that was blocking the path further up. Head up the stairs, walk across the now-lowered plate, and find the ladder leading to the second floor.
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Floor 2: The Loop
This is where things get annoying. You’ll see another boulder. Push it onto the switch nearby (it’s usually south of where you start). Then, go up the stairs and head east. You’ll run into a few trainers here—mostly Black Belts and Juggler types. There’s a ladder in the top-right area that takes you to Floor 3.
Floor 3: The Hole Puzzle
This is the one that trips everyone up. You need to find the boulder near the top of the room and push it all the way to the left, then down into a hole. Yes, you have to jump down the hole after it. When you land back on Floor 2, you’ll be right next to that same boulder. Push it onto the switch to the left. This lowers the final barrier guarding the exit ladder. It feels counter-intuitive to jump down a hole you just climbed up from, but that’s classic Kanto logic for you.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common mistake is thinking Moltres is still here. If you’re playing the original Red or Blue, yes, the legendary bird is hanging out in Victory Road. But in Fire Red? Nope. They moved it to the top of Mt. Ember on One Island. Don't waste your time checking every corner for a flaming bird that isn't there.
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Another tip: don't sleep on the items. You can find TM02 (Dragon Claw) and TM07 (Hail) in here. Dragon Claw is particularly great if you’re running a Charizard or a Dragonite for the Elite Four.
Surviving the Trainers
The trainers in here aren't pushovers. You’re going to face Level 40+ Machokes, Arcanines, and even some nasty Exeggutors.
- Cooltrainer Naomi: She’s got a diverse team. Watch out for her Persian’s Speed.
- Black Belt Daisuke: Easy enough if you have a Psychic or Flying type, but his Machoke can hit hard if you let it.
- Double Battle: Near the exit, there’s a pair of trainers standing side-by-side. If you aren't ready for a 2-on-2, walk around them.
The Final Stretch
Once you’ve cleared that last boulder switch on Floor 2 (after the hole jump), head back up to Floor 3 and walk past where the barrier was. You’ll find a ladder that leads to a small, final outdoor path.
Basically, once you see the sunlight and the statues of Pokémon lining the walkway, you’ve made it. You’re at the Indigo Plateau.
Pro Tip: Once you step inside the Pokémon Center at the Indigo Plateau, you can use Fly to go back to any city to restock or grind. You never have to walk through Victory Road again if you don't want to. Just make sure you heal at the counter so the game "registers" your location.
Your Next Steps
- Check your movesets: Do you still have Strength on a primary attacker? Delete it at the Move Deleter in Fuchsia City and replace it with something better like Return or Double-Edge before the E4.
- Stock up: Buy Full Restores and Max Potions at the Indigo Plateau shop. You’ll need at least 15-20 for the final gauntlet.
- Grind to Level 55: If your team is below Level 50, Lorelei (the first Elite Four member) is going to have a field day with you. Victory Road is a decent place to grind, but the Sevii Islands are usually faster.