Your guide to defeating Lt. Surge and earning the Thunder Badge in Pokémon Crystal! Learn about Vermilion City Gym, trainer strategies, and the best Pokémon to use.
Alright, let's get you that Thunder Badge! This one's from Lt. Surge over in Vermilion City. First things first, you'll need to head to Kanto. Professor Elm will give you a S.S. Ticket once you visit him back at the Lab after reloading your save file. Then, it's off to Olivine City to catch the S.S. Aqua!
Once you're in Olivine City, just head southeast to the harbor and hop on the ship. The S.S. Aqua is a bit of a maze, but don't worry, I'll guide you through. Your cabin is in the northwestern part of the main rooms, where you can rest up. There are a few trainers to battle in the other cabins, so feel free to take them on if you need some experience. Head downstairs, and you'll find the sailor crew's quarters. You'll need to find a sailor's buddy who's hiding on the upper floor in one of the rooms. Beat him in a battle, and you'll be able to proceed. There are more trainers to fight on the lower deck, so keep your guard up!
Eventually, you'll find the captain's missing granddaughter. After you escort her back to her grandfather, he'll reward you with a Metal Coat. This is a pretty neat item that boosts Steel-type moves by 10% and can even evolve Onix and Scyther when traded! Once that's done, the ship will dock at Vermilion City. Time to explore!
When you get off the boat in Vermilion City, you'll notice a sleeping Snorlax blocking the path east to Route 11. We'll deal with that later. For now, head to the northwest part of the city to find the Pokémon Gym. Before you go in, you might want to visit the Pokémon Fan Club just north of the Gym. Chat with the guy at the far end, and he'll give you a Rare Candy. Nice!
Now, about the Vermilion City Gym. The good news is that the power is out, so the puzzle is way easier than it used to be! You can battle the trainers inside if you like, but the main event is Leader Lt. Surge. He's waiting for you in the northern room.
Vermilion City Gym - Leader Lt. Surge
Lt. Surge's team is all about Electric-types, so bring Pokémon that resist them or have strong Ground-type moves. His ace is a Lv. 46 Electabuzz, but he also has a Lv. 44 Raichu and a couple of Lv. 40 Electrode and a Lv. 40 Magneton. Ground-type Pokémon like Sandshrew or Diglett will be your best bet here, as they take no damage from Electric attacks and can hit hard. If you don't have any Ground-types, Pokémon with high Defense or Sp. Defense might be able to take a few hits.
Lt. Surge's Pokémon Party:
- Raichu Lv. 44
- Electrode Lv. 40
- Magneton Lv. 40
- Electrode Lv. 40
- Electabuzz Lv. 46
Recommended Levels: Level 53+
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