Previous Episodes:
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3
Episode 4: Route 6 → Lt.Surge
(Lv. 24 Cap)
After a relatively low-key Episode 3 — Misty beaten, Cascade Badge secured, and a few new encounters along the way — it’s time to head towards Vermilion City.
Encounter time.
With only four Pokémon on this route — and three already taken (including a Pidgey I’m no longer allowed to use) — I’m guaranteed a Meowth.
I said last episode Meowth was a bit meh… but at the same time, who doesn’t like cats?
Sprout, as usual, puts it to sleep.
The rest is history.
I name him Monty.
Monty the Mild Meowth
It has a certain ring to it.
I carry on through Route 6, clearing out the trainers along the way.
I’m shocked to find a Bug Catcher who has actually evolved their Metapod into a Butterfree.
We arrive in Vermilion City — home to Lt. Surge’s Gym, the Pokémon Fan Club, and the port for the S.S. Anne.
I heal up at the Pokémon Center and visit some of the locals.
I pick up my first Fishing Rod (could this mean I get a Magikarp…?), the VS Seeker, and a Bike Voucher.
The chairman of the Pokemon Fan club goes on about how much he adores his Rapidash…
which ends up sounding a bit creepy.
(Must be friends with Bill and Brock.)
Regardless, the people of Vermilion are a generous bunch.
Diglett Cave
Another encounter — with a 95% chance of it being a Diglett.
I name her Diggy.
Diggy the Impish Diglett.
I have big plans for you with Lt. Surge on the horizon.
I continue west onto Route 11.
A large open area, plenty of trainers — and more importantly, another encounter.
Here we have another 50-50.
Spearow or Drowzee!
Spearow appears.
Slightly disappointing… but usable
Drowzee would have been a great pickup — bulky, and Psychic types are strong overall.
Still, a Flying type is useful.
I name it Arrow — Modest nature.
S.S. Anne
I arrive at the S.S.Anne and head straight on board.
I explore the ship, battling every trainer along the way.
It’s valuable experience before my rematch with Ink — and the upcoming gym battle against Lt. Surge.
After raiding every bin onboard, I pick up some useful items — berries, potions, a Great Ball, and a few TMs.
I even found time to recreate Kate Winslets scene on the Titanic.
Just before the battle, Kaa evolves.
Arbok.
A much-needed upgrade.
I reach the end of the hallway where the captains quarters are and who comes down the stairs..Ink who can now speak French.
Rematch time.
I lead with Kaa, he opens with Pidgeotto.
I go straight for Glare to paralyse — he responds with Quick Attack, barely scratching 5HP. Already this feels far more manageable than last time.
A few Bites later, Pidgeotto goes down without much trouble.
He sends out Kadabra.
This is where things get bad.
Psychic coverage hits almost my entire team, and my only answer — Diggy — isn’t exactly built to take a hit. I send in Sprout, hoping it can tank a few Confusions and chip it down.
It doesn’t go to plan.
Confusion lands for 28 damage immediately, and Sprout is confused on turn one. A critical hit from here would end it, so I make the call to pivot — Diggy comes in as a sacrifice to preserve Sprout.
I gamble on Dig, hoping for a Disable.
It never comes.
Diggy goes down — the shortest life yet.
Sprout comes back in — this time without being confused, and crucially, without taking a hit on entry thanks to set mode.
I go for Razor Leaf. He uses Disable, but not before I chunk over half of Kadabra’s health. I go for Razor Leaf again… and this time it gets disabled.
Now it gets risky.
I go for Tackle, knowing a crit ends Sprout.
Kadabra hits — I survive on 3HP.
Just enough.
Charmeleon comes out next.
I send in Bam, who tanks a Metal Claw comfortably.
Karate Chop lands for around 40%, but Smokescreen follows — and now accuracy becomes a problem. Rather than risk missing at a crucial moment, I switch into Kaa, banking on Intimidate and better bulk.
At first, it works. Bite brings Charmeleon down to around a third.
Then Ember lands.
It hits hard — and burns.
Suddenly Kaa is on a timer.
I can’t afford to lose Kaa here, so I switch into Victoria to try and finish the job.
This is starting to feel familiar.
Wing Attack gets Charmeleon within one hit of going down, but now my team is stretched — low HP across the board, burn ticking on Kaa. I decide to play ahead instead of finishing it immediately.
I use a Super Potion on Kaa, preparing for what’s next.
Victoria takes the Ember, holds on, and finishes Charmeleon with Astonish.
Raticate comes out.
Level 16. Should be straightforward.
I take the opportunity to heal Victoria, expecting a manageable hit. Quick Attack comes in — nothing too concerning.
Then I go for Bite.
He goes for Hyper Fang.
I forgot how strong that move is.
It crits.
Victoria is gone instantly.
Another completely avoidable death.
If I had just sent in Kaa, this never happens.
Kaa comes back in and finishes the job cleanly.
Raticate goes down in two moves.
The battle’s over.
But it never really felt under control at any point.
Kadabra forced me into bad positions early, and from there I was constantly reacting instead of planning — switching just to survive, not to win cleanly.
Diggy went down just to get me through Kadabra.
And in the middle of all that, I made a mistake that cost me Victoria.
Ink walks away like nothing happened.
I’m left two team members down.
Again.
Brutal.
I grab the Cut HM from the captain after watching him throw up into a bin.
I feel like joining him after that last battle.
I leave the S.S. Anne and head back to Vermilion to recover.
Victoria and Diggy are replaced with Monty and Arrow — both solid enough options.
I level the team up to around 20, and in the process Arrow evolves.
Monty also learns Pay Day at level 20 — which honestly feels a bit ridiculous.
Free money every hit… no complaints.
Is that why Meowth is Giovanni’s favourite Pokémon?
I finally find a use for Broccoli and teach it Cut.
Broccoli cuts the tree down and we head into Lt. Surge’s Gym.
After plenty of practice bin-raiding aboard the S.S. Anne, this “puzzle” isn’t much of a challenge — I even manage to find the second switch first time.
The trainers here are no problem. Bam, Sprout and Kaa are doing most of the work.
We reach Lt. Surge. He gives his usual speech about the Pokémon war.
(Another great ROM idea… surely someone’s made that?)
He leads with Voltorb. I lead with Bam.
Shock Wave.
Karate Chop.
SonicBoom.
Karate Chop.
Voltorb goes down — Bam sitting at around half health.
Surge sends out Pikachu, so I switch into Sprout.
Immediately — Thunder Wave.
Sprout is paralysed.
I go for Leech Seed — the same approach that worked against Misty.
Slow chip damage, steady recovery… reliable.
Pikachu chips away with Quick Attack, but it’s not doing enough.
One Razor Leaf later, it’s down.
Raichu.
I leave Sprout in and go straight for Leech Seed again — if this thing starts stacking Double Team, I at least want guaranteed damage ticking away.
As expected, it does exactly that.
Between the evasion boosts and paralysis, I go a few turns without landing a hit.
Not ideal.
But Leech Seed is doing its job, and Raichu’s damage is manageable — just enough to be annoying without actually being dangerous.
Eventually, I break through.
Two Razor Leafs land.
Raichu goes down.
Easier than I remember.
(I’ll take it.)
Episode 4 was a bit of a rollercoaster.
What started as a straightforward trip towards Vermilion quickly fell apart during the rival battle, costing me Diggy and Victoria.
From there it became a recovery effort — rebuilding the team, bringing in Monty and Arrow, and trying to steady things again.
Monty, in particular, has already started earning his place.
Lt. Surge turned out to be far more manageable than expected, and for once, things ended under control.
- Route 9-10
- Rock Tunnel
- Lavender Town
I’m sure this will go smoothly.
Continue the Journey
← Episode 3
(Where things were still under control)
Episode 5 →
(What could possibly go wrong?)
ArtfulPlays 
Leave a comment