Pokémon Red and Blue/Viridian City Gym
You’ve got only one Pokémon Gym left! But where could it be? Think back to the very start of your adventure. There was a Gym in Viridian City, but there was a man standing in front of it saying the Gym is closed. Well, it’s not closed any longer. Fly to Viridian City and enter. If you caught Articuno, be sure to bring it; it wipes the floor with the Gym Leader’s team.
Upon entering the Gym, you will discover the return of the directional pads last seen in Team Rocket’s hideout. I wonder if there is a connection… Anyway, start by stepping on the left-facing pads to the left of the entrance, against the wall. There is an enemy Trainer waiting to ambush you if you step on the upper pad. Past him, you will find two pads facing north; it doesn’t matter which one you take, because you’re guaranteed to run into another enemy Trainer when the path curves.
After defeating him, you will find a split. The Gym Leader is at the northwest corner of the map. The path to the right looks like it might be helpful. Unfortunately, if you take the path to the right, you will find an enemy Trainer — and he is blocking your way forward. Rats. Go back to the wider area and go south. The directional pads will deposit you at the entrance.
All well and good, but we still haven’t found the Gym Leader. It looks like you would be able to take the directional pad pointing north, but you would run into a dead end and be forced back the way you came. There is a small path with another directional pad interfering with your movement, and an item ball on the other side. We need to get that.
So take the one remaining path at the northwest to enter a room with no fewer than three enemy Trainers. Defeat them all, but if you think you’ll be able to get to the Gym Leader by walking past them, you’ll be disappointed; that path is a dead-end. Backtrack and take the door at the northeast of this room. Go south here to grab that Revive you saw earlier; then go north. You’ll pass an enemy Trainer, and after that you will finally find the path to the Gym Leader — or not, as the enemy Trainer here will block your path after battling him. After you battle this Trainer, return to the entrance. Take that long straight north path we ignored earlier; with that Trainer gone, you now have an unimpeded path to the Gym Leader.
And who is this Gym Leader, you might ask? None other than Giovanni, of Team Rocket infamy. This Gym and the Rocket hideout are the only two places in the game where directional pads appear. Giovanni is rather fond of those.
Boss — Giovanni (•4950 reward)
- Level 45 Rhyhorn
- Level 42 Dugtrio
- Level 44 Nidoqueen
- Level 45 Nidoking
- Level 50 Rhydon
This guy talks a good game, but he’s really a pushover. If you teach a Water-type Surf (and it doesn’t even have to be that strong a Water-type; a level-30 Gyarados or Vaporeon would work), you will walk all over Giovanni’s team. If you brought Articuno instead, use that; Giovanni will fall even faster.
After you defeat Giovanni, you will receive the eighth and final Badge in the game, the Earth Badge. Possessing this badge ensures that any Pokémon, of any level, from any source, will obey you. You will also receive TM 27 (Fissure), an impractical if impressive one-hit KO move.