- Pokemon LeafGreen Victory Road is the final cave between Route 23 and Indigo Plateau, gated behind all 8 badges.
- HM04 Strength is mandatory for the boulder puzzles; HM05 Flash makes the dark floors easier.
- Wild Pokémon sit around the Lv. 40 range, including Golbat, Machoke, Graveler, and Marowak.
- Moltres is not here in LeafGreen; it moved to Mt. Ember on One Island.
- Target level: bring a team in the mid-40s before challenging the Pokémon League.
Victory Road Overview and Entry Requirements
Victory Road is the last dungeon before the Pokémon League. After defeating Giovanni at the Viridian Gym for the Earth Badge, head west from Viridian City through Route 22 onto Route 23. Guards at the checkpoint gates inspect your badges, and only a trainer holding all eight can pass through to the cave entrance.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| All 8 Badges | Route 23 guards block progress without the full set, including the Earth Badge |
| HM04 Strength | Required to push boulders onto switches; earned from the Safari Zone Warden in Fuchsia City |
| HM05 Flash | Optional but recommended; lights the dark cave floors, obtained from Oak's aide with 10 caught Pokémon |
| Recommended Level | Team around Lv. 43-46; the Elite Four battles run Lv. 52-60 |
| Entry Point | West of Viridian City via Route 22, then north through Route 23 |
Unlike the original Red and Blue, Moltres does not appear in Victory Road in LeafGreen. The fire bird roosts at the peak of Mt. Ember on One Island in the Sevii Islands, reached after the Cinnabar Gym. Do not search this cave for it.
Step-by-Step Victory Road Walkthrough
The cave spans three floors built around boulder-and-switch puzzles. Push a boulder onto a pressure switch to open the path forward, then use ladders and warp tiles to climb toward the exit. Follow this sequence to reach Indigo Plateau without backtracking.
Enter from Route 23
Pass the badge checkpoints and enter the cave. Teach Flash to a party member to illuminate the first floor, then head upward and right toward the first ladder.
First Boulder Puzzle
Use Strength to push the boulder onto the floor switch. This stops the nearby barrier and unlocks the corridor leading to the next ladder.
Second Floor Navigation
Weave past Cooltrainers and a second boulder switch. Push the rock onto the plate, take the opened path, and climb the ladder to the third floor.
Third Floor Descent
Drop through the hole near the entrance to land beside a lower ledge. Grab any visible item balls, then follow the corridor to the final ladder.
Exit to Indigo Plateau
Emerge onto the plateau approach. Heal at the Pokémon Center, stock up on Full Restore and Revive items at the Mart, and save before the Elite Four challenge.
If a boulder gets stuck against a wall, leave the floor through a ladder and return; the puzzle resets and the rock returns to its starting tile. Keep an Escape Rope handy so you can exit quickly after finishing the cave.
Wild Encounters and Trainer Battles
Victory Road hosts some of the strongest wild Pokémon in Kanto, making it an excellent final training ground before the Pokémon League. Encounters cluster around the Lv. 40 mark, so treat every battle as free experience rather than an obstacle.
| Pokémon | Type | Where | Battle Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zubat / Golbat | Poison / Flying | All floors | Golbat's Confuse Ray is annoying; Psychic or Ice moves clear it fast |
| Machop / Machoke | Fighting | Lower floors | Heavy hitters; Flying and Psychic attacks counter cleanly |
| Geodude / Graveler | Rock / Ground | All floors | Water, Grass, or Ice moves sweep them in one hit |
| Onix | Rock / Ground | Mid floors | High Defense but low Special Defense; Surf breaks through |
| Marowak | Ground | Upper floors | Strong physical attacker; Water, Grass, or Ice coverage recommended |
Cooltrainer teams inside the cave also run in the Lv. 40 range and frequently use fully evolved Pokémon such as Rhydon, Kadabra, and Flareon. They guard key corridors, but careful movement lets you skip several of them if your team is already at target level.
If your team sits below Lv. 43, grind here deliberately. The wild Golbat, Machoke, and Graveler give strong experience, and the nearby Indigo Plateau Pokémon Center makes repeated healing runs painless.
Team Prep and Indigo Plateau Checklist
The Elite Four ahead covers Ice, Fighting, Ghost, and Dragon specialties, so build your Victory Road team with that ladder of threats in mind. These three roles cover the cave itself and the League beyond it.
Water and Ice Attacker
- Surf sweeps Onix, Graveler, and Marowak
- Ice Beam is critical for Lance's Dragonite later
- Lapras and Blastoise fill this role well
Psychic Attacker
- Deletes Machoke and the Poison types
- Prepares you for Agatha's Ghost and Poison team
- Kadabra or Jolteon-adjacent options work
Utility and Status Support
- Flash carrier for cave visibility
- Repels to skip wild encounters while puzzling
- Escape Rope, Full Restores, and Revives in the bag
Run through this checklist before stepping into the cave so nothing blocks your march to the Pokémon League.
Before Entering Victory Road:
- Earn all 8 badges including the Earth Badge from Giovanni
- Teach HM04 Strength to a party member
- Carry HM05 Flash or a Flash user for dark floors
- Stock Repels, an Escape Rope, and healing items
- Bring a team around Lv. 43-46 with Ice and Psychic coverage
Save at the Indigo Plateau Pokémon Center before entering the League. The Elite Four must be defeated in one continuous run, so a save here lets you retry instantly without repeating Victory Road.
Victory Road FAQ
These answers cover the most common questions players hit at the Route 23 gates and inside the cave itself.
Q: Do I need Strength to get through Victory Road in LeafGreen?
Yes. The boulder-and-switch puzzles on every floor require HM04 Strength, which you receive from the Safari Zone Warden in Fuchsia City after returning his Gold Teeth. All eight badges are also needed to pass the Route 23 guards and to use Strength outside of battle.
Q: Is Moltres inside Victory Road?
No. In FireRed and LeafGreen, Moltres relocated to the summit of Mt. Ember on One Island in the Sevii Islands. Victory Road only contains wild Pokémon and Cooltrainer battles, so plan a separate trip to Mt. Ember if you want the fire legendary.
Q: What level should my team be for Victory Road?
Aim for the mid-40s, around Lv. 43-46. Wild Pokémon inside sit near Lv. 40, and the Elite Four immediately afterward battles between Lv. 52 and 60, so use the cave as a final training stretch if you are below that range.
Q: Can I avoid the trainers inside the cave?
Most Cooltrainers guard corridors and can be walked past with careful positioning, though a few block mandatory paths. Fighting them is generally worthwhile since their Lv. 40-range teams provide excellent experience right before the Pokémon League.