Mt. Moon: Pokémon FRLG Walkthrough Part 4

Facing a Rocket Grunt in Mt. Moon (Pokémon FireRed)

Quick Guide

  1. Catch a Pikachu in Viridian Forest before leaving Pewter (optional, but useful for later)
  2. Walk east from Pewter City to reach Route 3 and continue onto Mt. Moon
  3. Enter Mt. Moon and make your way to the north-west corner of the first floor, and take the ladder down
  4. Continue through Mt. Moon by wrapping around the path, defeat the Rocket Grunts and the Super Nerd, choose a fossil, and exit the cave onto Route 4
  5. Pick up Mega Punch and Mega Kick from the Karate NPCs on Route 4, then hop over the hill into Cerulean City

Route 3

After you defeat Brock in Pewter City and win the Boulder Badge, it’s time to move onto Mt. Moon.

Mt. Moon is at the end of Route 3, which is to the east of Pewter City. Mt. Moon is a medium-sized cave that leads to Cerulean City, where the next Gym is located.

Entering Route 3 from Pewter City / Pokemon FRLG
Entering Route 3 from Pewter City

Before you leave, make sure to heal up at the Pokémon Center and grab a few more Potions and Poké Balls from the Poké Mart if you’re running low.

Tip: I also recommend backtracking and catching a Pikachu from Viridian Forest if you do not have one. Pikachu will come in handy against the Zubats of Mt. Moon, and against the Water-Type Gym Leader in Cerulean City.

Route 3 is pretty straight forward.

Just keep walking right, beat a few trainers, avoid jumping down hills, and eventually you’ll reach Mt. Moon.

If you’re stealthy enough, you can even avoid a few battles. Although, I recommend fighting the trainers and getting the XP.

Just make sure you still have some Antidotes on you because there are a few Bug Catchers (AKA a lot of Poison Stings) on the Route.

Sneaking behind an NPC on Route 3 to avoid battle / Pokemon FRLG
Sneaking behind an NPC on Route 3 to avoid battle

There is a Pokémon Center at the end of Route 3, which is actually home to one of the most infamous (and hilarious) Pokémon scams in the series.

There is a man in the top-left corner of the Pokémon Center. Talk to him and he will offer you a Magikarp for 500 Poké Dollars.

Buying a Magikarp in the Pokémon Center right before Mt. Moon / Pokemon FRLG
Buying a Magikarp in the Pokémon Center right before Mt. Moon

Whether you want to spend the money or not is up to you.

The Magikarp will only know Splash, which is completely useless, so you will have to switch train it until it evolves. Personally, I love the useless fish, so I’m going to buy it!

Mt. Moon Full Guide

Our goal is to get to Cerulean City, which means we have to cross through Mt. Moon.

Make sure to stop by the Pokémon Center and heal your Pokémon (and buy the Magikarp) before you head through the cave. Even if your Pokémon are full HP, you should heal just to set the checkpoint.

Standing outside of the entrance to Mt. Moon / Pokemon FRLG
Standing outside of the entrance to Mt. Moon

Mt. Moon is full of wild Pokémon and random encounters.

Most of the wild Pokémon are Zubats and Geodudes.

  • Geodude can be easily taken out by Mankey’s Fighting type moves. Mankey can be caught on Route 4
  • Zubat is weak to Electric moves, so a Pikachu from Viridian Forest will be very useful. Pikachu will also be very useful at the Cerulean City Gym, so it’s worth backtracking for one.

Extra Items (Optional)

Mt. Moon is full of items to pick up.

There are Potions, TMs, Stones, etc. However, these items are optional. We’re going to point out some of the locations of the more interesting items.

But if you just want to get through the cave start-to-finish without worrying about any extras, skip down to the section below titled “Mt. Moon Walkthrough (Step-by-Step)”.

Picking up a Rare Candy on the first floor of Mt. Moon / Pokemon FRLG
Picking up a Rare Candy on the first floor of Mt. Moon

I’ll let you explore the cave for yourself if you want to hunt down every piece of loot. But I’ll just tell you about the most important items to pick up while you’re here:

Star Piece Location

The Star Piece is a high value item that can be sold for 4900 Pokédollars. If you’re short on cash, or just want some easy money, then you can find one in Mt Moon fairly quickly:

Step 1: Walk north as soon as you enter the cave until you reach the sign and the girl standing next to it, then walk east

Walk east from the sign that is located right by Mt. Moon’s entrance / Pokemon FRLG
Walk east from the sign that is located right by Mt. Moon’s entrance

Step 2: Once you hit the wall walking east, walk north through the corridor

After you hit the wall walking east, start walking north until you hit the next wall / Pokemon FRLG
After you hit the wall walking east, start walking north until you hit the next wall

Step 3: At the end of the corridor, take the ladder down, just to the right

Take the ladder just to the right of that north wall / Pokemon FRLG
Take the ladder just to the right of that north wall

Step 4: Follow the corridor down as far as possible and then to the left as far as possible

Follow this corridor to the end / Pokemon FRLG
Follow this corridor to the end

Step 5: Take the ladder at the end of the corridor after walking left as far as possible

Take the ladder going down to find the Star Piece room / Pokemon FRLG
Take the ladder going down to find the Star Piece room

Step 6: Defeat the Team Rocket Grunt waiting for you after climbing down the ladder

As soon as you take a step, this Team Rocket Grunt will battle you / Pokemon FRLG
As soon as you take a step, this Team Rocket Grunt will battle you

Step 7: After defeating the Grunt, continue walking east

After defeating the Team Rocket Grunt, walk right until you reach the Star Piece / Pokemon FRLG
After defeating the Team Rocket Grunt, walk right until you reach the Star Piece

Step 8: Walk right until you see a Poké Ball up the set of stairs hugging the north wall. Pick up this Poke Ball to receive the Star piece.

This Poké Ball is the Star Piece / Pokemon FRLG
This Poké Ball is the Star Piece

Rare Candy Location

Step 1: Start from the first ladder you find on the first floor (north east of the Mt. Moon entrance). Do not take the ladder down – instead, walk south of the ladder until you see an NPC wearing a hat (the Bug Catcher)

Walk south from this ladder (North east of Mt. Moon’s entrance) / Pokemon FRLG
Walk south from this ladder (North east of Mt. Moon’s entrance)

Step 2: Walk past the Bug Catcher (and battle them), then continue south

Walk south past the Bug Catcher and you will see a Poké Ball / Item on the ground / Pokemon FRLG
Walk south past the Bug Catcher and you will see a Poké Ball / Item on the ground

Step 3: After you defeat the Bug Catcher, walk slightly south and then walk east to the Poké Ball on the ground (the Rare Candy)

The circled Poké Ball is the Rare Candy / Pokemon FRLG
The circled Poké Ball is the Rare Candy

Step 4: Pick up the Poké Ball to receive the Rare Candy

Picking up the Rare Candy on the first floor of Mt. Moon / Pokemon FRLG
Picking up the Rare Candy on the first floor of Mt. Moon

Escape Rope Location

Step 1: Once again, follow steps 1 – 3 of the Star Piece instructions and reach the ladder going down (north east of the Mt. Moon entrance). Do not take this ladder.

Instead, walk east from the ladder. Basically walk all the way east until you reach the very far wall (you’ll need to walk past the rock barrier).

Walk east of the ladder just past the rock divider / Pokemon FRLG
Walk east of the ladder just past the rock divider

Step 2: After you walk past the rock barrier/divider, walk south.

Start walking south on the other side of the divider and the Poké Ball should soon be in sight / Pokemon FRLG
Start walking south on the other side of the divider and the Poké Ball should soon be in sight

Step 3: Walk south until you find the Poké Ball in the middle of the path – this contains your Escape Rope.

This is the Poké Ball / Item that has the escape rope in it / Pokemon FRLG
This is the Poké Ball / Item that has the escape rope in it

Moon Stone Location

Step 1: Starting back at the ladder just north-east of the Mt. Moon entrance, we’ll need to walk east past the ladder. Do this until you reach the end of the rock wall just above you (see the screenshot below).

Continue right, we need to get to the other side of the north wall / Pokemon FRLG
Continue right, we need to get to the other side of the north wall

Step 2: From here, walk north around the rock wall, and then start going west as far as possible.

Walk left as far as possible, then head south / Pokemon FRLG
Walk left as far as possible, then head south

Step 3: Once you hit the western wall, start walking down until you hit a wall again.

We need to get on the other side of the wall to the left, so go south, then west, then north / Pokemon FRLG
We need to get on the other side of the wall to the left, so go south, then west, then north

Step 4: Walk around the rock wall (going to the west), then continue north as far as possible (do not take the ladder going down when you walk past it).

Walk north from here and you should come across the Moon Stone / Pokemon FRLG
Walk north from here and you should come across the Moon Stone

Step 5: Walk just past the ladder, and then walk up to the Poké Ball in the north westcorner of the cave – this is the Moon Stone.

This Poké Ball contains the Moon Stone / Pokemon FRLG
This Poké Ball contains the Moon Stone

There are quite a few different ladders and paths in Mt. Moon, but there is only one path out.

So here’s our step-by-step process to help you get through Mt. Moon:

Step 1: From the entrance of Mt. Moon, walk north until you reach the trainer standing by the sign, then walk east (you can battle her or walk behind her).

Walk east past this trainer and continue east as far as possible / Pokemon FRLG
Walk east past this trainer and continue east as far as possible

Step 2: Walk east until you reach the rock divider, then walk north until you see the ladder going down (do not take this ladder).

Walk north from here until you reach a corner / Pokemon FRLG
Walk north from here until you reach a corner

Step 3: Walk east, slightly past the ladder, and then make your way around the northern rock-divider right above you.

Walk around the rock wall just above you (so walk east slightly, then north) / Pokemon FRLG
Walk around the rock wall just above you (so walk east slightly, then north)

Step 4: Once you’re on the other side of the divider, start heading west and walk as far west as possible.

Walk west as far as possible, until you run into another rock wall / divider / Pokemon FRLG
Walk west as far as possible, until you run into another rock wall / divider

Step 5: Once you hit the western wall/divider, start going south in order to get to the other side of the rock divider.

Walk south from here, then walk around the rock divider (left side of the above picture) / Pokemon FRLG
Walk south from here, then walk around the rock divider (left side of the above picture)

Step 6: Once you are on the other side of the divider, walk north as far as possible until you see a ladder going down.

Walk north from here until you see a ladder / Pokemon FRLG
Walk north from here until you see a ladder

Step 7: Take the ladder down to the 2nd Mt. Moon floor

Take this ladder down to the second (basement) floor of Mt. Moon / Pokemon FRLG
Take this ladder down to the second (basement) floor of Mt. Moon

Step 8: After you take the ladder down, you will find yourself in a corridor. Follow the corridor down and to the right.

Follow the tight corridor until you reach another ladder heading down deeper into the cave / Pokemon FRLG
Follow the tight corridor until you reach another ladder heading down deeper into the cave

Step 9: Walk to the end of the corridor, then take the next ladder heading down deeper into Mt. Moon.

Take this ladder at the end of the corridor to head to the final level of Mt. Moon / Pokemon FRLG
Take this ladder at the end of the corridor to head to the final level of Mt. Moon

Step 10: As soon as you resurface from taking the ladder, walk north until you see a Poké Ball on the ground. This is a Revive, which will heal a KO’d Pokémon, and it may come in handy later!

Pick up this Poké Ball / Item to receive a Revive / Pokemon FRLG
Pick up this Poké Ball / Item to receive a Revive

Step 11: After you grab the Revive, walk back south near the ladder, then head down the steps to the east.

Double back after picking up the revive and head east down the stairs / Pokemon FRLG
Double back after picking up the revive and head east down the stairs

Step 12: Make your way past the Team Rocket Grunt (defeat him or sneak by), and then walk up the next set of stairs to the right. This will bring you on top of a rocky hill section.

Defeat the grunt or slip by him, then walk up the second set of stairs / Pokemon FRLG
Defeat the grunt or slip by him, then walk up the second set of stairs

Step 13: Walk south on the rocky hill, and follow along its path until you see a Team Rocket Grunt blocking a small entryway.

Follow the path on the top of the rock hill all the way to the end / Pokemon FRLG
Follow the path on the top of the rock hill all the way to the end

Step 14: Once you reach the Grunt, heal your Pokémon if you have to, and then prepare for battle!

This is the Final Team Rocket Grunt of Mt. Moon. Battle them then walk through the pathway he is blocking / Pokemon FRLG
This is the Final Team Rocket Grunt of Mt. Moon. Battle them then walk through the pathway he is blocking

You need to defeat this Grunt, but that shouldn’t be a problem if your Pokémon are healthy.

Step 15: After you put this Grunt in his place, continue north. There’s a Super Nerd guarding two fossils.

Walk past the Grunt and continue forward until you see the Super Nerd / Pokemon FRLG
Walk past the Grunt and continue forward until you see the Super Nerd

Step 16: Walk up and talk to the Super Nerd, or try to walk by him – either way he will stop you to challenge you to a battle. Here’s his team:

Super Nerd Team
Pokémon Level Type
Grimer 12 Poison
Voltorb 12 Electric
Koffing 12 Poison

After you defeat the Super Nerd, you will have to choose between the two Fossils in front of you.

Choose wisely, as you’ll actually be able to turn this fossil into a real Pokémon later.

Fossil Pokémon
Helix Fossil Omanyte
Dome Fossil Kabuto

Step 17: After you defeat the Super Nerd and grab your fossil, just follow the cave’s path ahead and take the next two ladders up to the surface.

Choosing the Dome Fossil at the end of Mt. Moon / Pokemon FRLG
Choosing the Dome Fossil at the end of Mt. Moon
Walk through the path way (previously blocked by the two fossils) then walk left as far as possible / Pokemon FRLG
Walk through the path way (previously blocked by the two fossils) then walk left as far as possible

Step 18: When you come across a set of stairs and a ladder leading up, you can take that ladder to start heading back to the surface and leave Mt. Moon

Pick up the Poké Ball on the ground and then take this ladder up to the surface / Pokemon FRLG
Pick up the Poké Ball on the ground and then take this ladder up to the surface

Step 19: In this small corridor you can take the second ladder leading up. This will bring you to the surface and out of Mt. Moon.

This ladder leads to the surface and puts you on Route 4 outside of Mt. Moon / Pokemon FRLG
This ladder leads to the surface and puts you on Route 4 outside of Mt. Moon

This will lead out to Route 4, but don’t run onto Cerulean quite yet – because there are a couple of things to do on this Route. And you won’t be able to come back after you jump the hill.

Route 4

If you head right on Route 4, you will reach a hill. Jumping down that hill will lead right to Cerulean City, but we don’t want to do that quite yet.

The hills on Route 4 leading to Cerulean City / Pokemon FRLG
The hills on Route 4 leading to Cerulean City

There are two NPCs in the middle of the Route, facing each other and debating whether Mega Kick or Mega Punch is better.

If you talk to each of them, you will be able to teach Mega Kick and Mega Punch to your Pokémon.

Learning Mega Punch and Mega Kick on Route 4, before entering Cerulean City / Pokemon FRLG
Learning Mega Punch and Mega Kick on Route 4, before entering Cerulean City

I recommend learning both moves because they’re pretty strong Fighting Type moves!

After that, you can continue east and pick up the Poké Ball on the ground. This will contain the TM for Roar, which may also prove useful.

Then once you’re certain that you’re all set with Mt. Moon for the time being, you can hop over the hill leading southeast and continue onto Cerulean City.

ReOcelot

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A jack of all trades when it comes to gaming. I can sit down for hours in a casual playthrough of Pokémon, or I can spend months trying to hit Diamond in League of Legends. I love and appreciate everything about games, and love sharing that passion with my readers.

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