Conquering Kanto: Your Post-8th Gym SoulSilver Journey
So, you’ve just conquered Blackthorn City, snagged the Rising Badge from Clair, and proven your mettle as a Pokémon trainer in Johto. Congratulations! But don’t think your adventure is over. In Pokémon SoulSilver, defeating the 8th gym is just the end of the first act. Now, a whole new region awaits: the expansive and nostalgic landscape of Kanto!
Essentially, after defeating the 8th gym, you need to head back to New Bark Town, use Surf to travel east across Route 27 and Route 26, and ultimately challenge the Pokémon League at the Indigo Plateau. Defeating the Elite Four and the Champion opens the path to Kanto.
Heading to Kanto and Beyond
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what to do after you’ve earned your eighth badge:
1. Prepare for the Pokémon League
Before venturing forth, make sure your team is ready for the challenges ahead.
- Level up your Pokémon: Aim for levels 45-50 as a minimum for the Elite Four. The Victory Road and Route 26/27 provide excellent training grounds.
- Stock up on supplies: Potions, revives, status healers, and plenty of Poké Balls are essential. Visit the Poké Marts in Blackthorn City or Goldenrod City to replenish your inventory.
- Consider your team composition: Ensure you have a balanced team with diverse type coverage to counter the various Pokémon the Elite Four and Champion Lance will throw at you.
2. The Path to Indigo Plateau: Routes 26 & 27
- Return to New Bark Town: Fly back to your starting point.
- Surf East: From New Bark Town, head east using Surf. This will lead you to Route 27, a watery route filled with trainers to battle.
- Navigate the Routes: Follow the winding paths of Routes 27 and 26. You’ll encounter trainers, wild Pokémon, and the occasional item to collect. These routes are excellent for leveling up.
- Gate and Registration: Eventually, you’ll reach a gate leading to the Indigo Plateau. You’ll need to register your Pokémon here before proceeding.
3. Victory Road
- Enter Victory Road: Once registered, you can enter Victory Road, a challenging cave filled with puzzles and powerful trainers.
- Solve Puzzles: Victory Road requires you to use Strength, Rock Smash, and Surf. Navigate the cave carefully, pushing boulders and riding the currents to progress.
- Battle Trainers: The trainers inside Victory Road are tough, so be prepared for some challenging battles.
- Emerge Victorious: After overcoming the obstacles, you’ll emerge onto the Indigo Plateau.
4. The Pokémon League Challenge
- Heal and Prepare: Before challenging the Elite Four, heal your Pokémon and organize your team strategy.
- Challenge the Elite Four: The Elite Four consists of four powerful trainers, each specializing in a different Pokémon type.
- Will (Psychic-type)
- Koga (Bug-type)
- Bruno (Fighting-type)
- Karen (Dark-type)
- Defeat Champion Lance: After defeating the Elite Four, you’ll face the Champion, Lance, who uses a team primarily consisting of Dragon-type Pokémon.
- Become the Champion: Defeating Lance will crown you as the new Pokémon League Champion!
5. Kanto: The Second Chapter
- A New Region Awaits: After becoming the Champion, you’ll return to your home. Professor Oak will tell you about new phenomena occurring in the Kanto region.
- Board the Magnet Train: Travel to Saffron City in Kanto and the train will be fixed.
- Explore Kanto: Kanto is a completely new region filled with familiar faces, new challenges, and eight more gym leaders to defeat! You can explore at your own pace, revisiting iconic locations from the original Pokémon Red and Blue games.
- Collect the Remaining Badges: Challenge the gym leaders of Kanto and collect all eight badges.
- Mount Silver and Red: After defeating all sixteen gym leaders (Johto and Kanto), you’ll gain access to Mount Silver, where you can face the ultimate challenge: Red, the silent protagonist from the original games.
Beyond the Basics: Additional Activities
Even after completing the main story, Pokémon SoulSilver offers plenty of post-game content to keep you engaged:
- Catch Legendary Pokémon: Numerous Legendary Pokémon can be found throughout Johto and Kanto, including Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mewtwo, and more.
- Complete the Pokédex: Strive to catch all 493 Pokémon in the game.
- Rematch Gym Leaders: After some time, you can rematch the gym leaders with stronger teams.
- Battle Frontier: Once you transfer Pokémon to other games you’ll be able to unlock the Battle Frontier for even more challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions players have after beating the 8th gym in Pokémon SoulSilver:
1. What level should my Pokémon be for the Elite Four?
Ideally, aim for levels 45-50 as a minimum, but levels 50-55 are recommended for a smoother experience.
2. Where is Victory Road located?
Victory Road is located just west of the Indigo Plateau, accessible after registering your Pokémon at the gate on Route 26.
3. What HM moves do I need for Victory Road?
You’ll need Strength, Rock Smash, and Surf to navigate Victory Road.
4. What types of Pokémon are the Elite Four?
The Elite Four specialize in Psychic (Will), Bug (Koga), Fighting (Bruno), and Dark (Karen) types.
5. What type of Pokémon does Champion Lance use?
Lance primarily uses Dragon-type Pokémon, along with a few other powerful Pokémon.
6. How do I get to Kanto after beating the Elite Four?
After defeating the Elite Four and Lance, you’ll return home. Professor Oak will inform you about disturbances in Kanto, unlocking the region for you.
7. Where is the Magnet Train located?
The Magnet Train connects Saffron City in Kanto and Goldenrod City in Johto. Once it is repaired it can be accessed.
8. How many gym leaders are in Kanto?
There are eight gym leaders in Kanto, just like in Johto.
9. What level is Red’s Pikachu?
Red’s Pikachu is level 88, making it one of the highest-leveled Pokémon in the entire series.
10. Where is Mount Silver located?
Mount Silver is located west of Viridian City in Kanto. You need all 16 badges to access it.
11. Can I catch Legendary Pokémon in Kanto?
Yes, you can catch several Legendary Pokémon in Kanto, including Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Mewtwo.
12. How do I rematch gym leaders in SoulSilver?
After a certain amount of time, gym leaders will be available for rematches. Check your PokéGear for their availability.
13. What is the Battle Frontier?
The Battle Frontier is a post-game area with various challenging battle facilities.
14. Is there any benefit to completing the Pokédex?
Completing the Pokédex earns you rewards from Professor Oak.
15. Where can I find more information about Pokémon training and strategy?
You can find more information about Pokémon training and strategy on various online forums, wikis, and communities dedicated to Pokémon games. For information on how games can be used for learning purposes, visit the GamesLearningSociety.org website.
Conclusion
Beating the 8th gym in Pokémon SoulSilver is a significant accomplishment, but it’s only the beginning of a much larger adventure. With Kanto waiting to be explored, Legendary Pokémon to be caught, and the ultimate challenge of Red on Mount Silver, your journey is far from over. So, gear up, train hard, and prepare to become the ultimate Pokémon master!