You awaken in the back of a moving truck in Littleroot Town, since your family has just moved here from Johto. Hop out of the truck, and enter your house. Once inside, go upstairs to your room and set your clock. Turn on your PC, and withdraw the single Potion for later. Go back downstairs, and after just missing your dad on the TV, Mom tells you that you should visit your new neighbor, Professor Birch. Birch isn't home, but visit his daughter May (♂ players) / son Brendan (♀ players) upstairs. Birch isn't in his lab either, so head north to Route 101.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
Setting foot on Route 101, you'll see the professor being attacked by a wildPoochyena. He tells you to select one of the Pokémon in the bag on the ground. Choose wisely, because this creature will become your starter Pokémon! These Pokémon include:
Like Bulbasaur and Chikorita, Treecko is strong against Rock-, Ground-, and Water-types, and is weak against Fire- and Flying-types. Treecko maintains its sole Grass-type throughout its evolutions. Being a Grass-type, it will also have an advantage against the first Gym.
Successor to Charmander and Cyndaquil, Torchic has an advantage against Grass-, Bug-, and Ice-types, but falters when battling Water-, Ground-, and Rock-types. Torchic also gains a secondary Fighting-type by its final form. As a Fire-type, it will have a disadvantage against the first Gym.
Once you choose a Pokémon, the Poochyena will attack you. After defeating it, Birch will take you to his lab, and ask you to visit his child on Route 103, north of Oldale Town.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
For now, your rival will only have one Pokémon; what species it is depends on which Pokémon you chose from Birch's bag. Like past games, your rival will have the Pokémon with a type advantage against yours. Since both Pokémon are still low-leveled, neither knows an attack of their own type yet, so your rival doesn't have much of an advantage just yet. After defeating them, your rival will head back south to Littleroot.
Littleroot Town
After following Birch's kid back to the lab, Birch will give you the Pokédex, and his kid will give you 5 Poké Balls. On your way out of town, your mom will give you a pair of Running Shoes. By holding down the B-Button, you can run twice as fast as the normal walking speed.
Get back to Oldale Town, and head west to Route 102.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
Trainers with a PokéNav by their names will be registered in the Trainer's Eyes or Match Call function after the first battle, and may have a rematch with the player with higher-level Pokémon.
Battle past the handful of Pokémon Trainers to earn vital experience and money, and don't miss the Potion to the south of Lass Tiana. Continue west to Petalburg City.
Petalburg City
Petalburg City
After visiting the city's Gym, you'll learn that your father will not accept your challenge until you have earned four other Gym badges. Instead, he asks you to help Wally, a resident of Petalburg, catch his first Pokémon. After Norman lends him his Zigzagoon and a Poké Ball, you follow Wally to Route 102, where he successfully catches a Ralts.
After Wally leaves, you're free to head west to Route 104.
If the player chose Treecko:
If the player chose Torchic:
If the player chose Mudkip:
