Pokemon Crystal Elite Four and Lance Guide

Pokemon Crystal optimal walkthrough

Blackthorn → Dragon's Den → Victory Road → Elite Four + Champion.

Phase 8 of 12 Target Lv 40 → 50 Reward Rising Badge + TM24 + Johto Champion

Route Map

Route 44 and Ice Path

East of Mahogany, Route 44 leads to the Ice Path, a sliding-puzzle cave that drops you into Blackthorn. Solve the optional second ice puzzle for HM07 WaterfallWater — the last HM in the game.

Blackthorn City — Clair

Blackthorn is the last Johto city. Trade the Red Scale here (from the Lake of RageNormal) for an Exp.-boost item, then take on Clair at the Dragon gym. She won't hand over the badge after losing — she sends you to the Dragon's Den to prove yourself.

Dragon’s Den — The Badge Test

Behind the gym, SurfWater into the Dragon's Den. The Elder quizzes you on your philosophy as a trainer — answer with humility (the "kind/considerate" options) and he awards the Rising Badge and TM24 DragonBreathDragon. You also receive a gift Dratini that knows ExtremeSpeed.

Dratini (gift)

Dragon · Dragon's Den · ★ knows ExtremeSpeed → Dragonite

Victory Road — Rival Battle

With all eight Johto badges, head to the League: from New Bark Town, SurfWater east along Routes 26–27 through Tohjo Falls (needs WaterfallWater/SurfWater) into Victory Road. Your rival makes his stand inside.

Team Recommendations

Must-Grab Items

Gym Strategy - Clair, The Dragon Leader

Gym puzzle: Rotate the spinner tiles and use Strength/WhirlpoolWater to reach Clair.

Blackthorn City Gym Leader

Clair, Blackthorn City Gym

Ice clears the Dragonair trio. Kingdra is the real check because Water/Dragon only fears Dragon in Gen II.

DragonairLv 37 DragonairLv 37 DragonairLv 37 KingdraLv 40

Dragonair Lv 37 MovesThunder WaveSurfSlamDragonBreath ReadPara + chip.

Dragonair Lv 37 MovesThunder WaveThunderboltSlamDragonBreath ReadElectric coverage.

Dragonair Lv 37 MovesThunder WaveIce BeamSlamDragonBreath ReadIce coverage vs your dragons.

Kingdra Lv 40 MovesSmokescreenSurfHyper BeamDragonBreath Read★ Ace — Water/Dragon, only weak to Dragon; tanky.

How to win: The three Dragonair are pure Dragon — Ice is 2× and ends them fast. Kingdra (Water/Dragon) resists Ice and only takes super-effective damage from Dragon, so out-damage it with a strong neutral special hit. Keep a backup that does not mind paralysis and respect Kingdra's burst damage.

Elite Four

Stock up at the Indigo Plateau Pokémon Center — once you start, it's all four members plus Lance with no break. Bring an Ice attacker, a Dark attacker, and a Psychic and you cover the whole gauntlet.

Elite Four - Psychic

Will, Elite Four

Dark is the cleanest answer. His Xatu bookends add Confuse Ray pressure, while Jynx can steal turns with sleep.

XatuLv 40 JynxLv 41 ExeggutorLv 41 SlowbroLv 41 XatuLv 42

Xatu Lv 40 MovesQuick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic ReadConfuse Ray + Future Sight.

Jynx Lv 41 MovesDoubleslapLovely KissIce PunchPsychic ReadLovely Kiss sleep — careful.

Exeggutor Lv 41 MovesReflectLeech SeedEgg BombPsychic ReadGrass/Psychic; weak to your Ice/Bug/Fire.

Slowbro Lv 41 MovesCurseAmnesiaBody SlamPsychic ReadBulky; Body Slam.

Xatu Lv 42 MovesQuick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic ReadAce; same as the first.

Counters: Dark (Sneasel/Umbreon) is super-effective on every Psychic here. Ice/Bug also help vs Exeggutor. Carry an Awakening for Jynx's Lovely Kiss.

Elite Four - Poison

Koga, Elite Four

Psychic handles the Poison core. Save Fire for Forretress before it gets value from Spikes or Explosion.

AriadosLv 40 VenomothLv 41 ForretressLv 43 MukLv 42 CrobatLv 44

Ariados Lv 40 MovesDouble TeamSpider WebBaton PassGiga Drain ReadSpider Web trap + Baton Pass.

Venomoth Lv 41 MovesSupersonicGustPsychicToxic ReadToxic + Psychic.

Forretress Lv 43 MovesProtectSwiftExplosionSpikes Read★ Spikes + Explosion — 4× weak to Fire.

Muk Lv 42 MovesMinimizeAcid ArmorSludge BombToxic ReadMinimize + Sludge Bomb; bulky.

Crobat Lv 44 MovesDouble TeamQuick AttackWing AttackToxic ReadFast; Toxic + Wing Attack.

Counters: Psychic is super-effective on the whole Poison lineup. Bring Fire for Forretress (it's 4× weak and loves to Explode — don't let it take your Psychic with it). Heal poison promptly.

Elite Four - Fighting

Bruno, Elite Four

Psychic shreds the Fighting types, but keep Water or Grass ready because Onix is the odd one out.

HitmontopLv 42 HitmonleeLv 42 HitmonchanLv 42 OnixLv 43 MachampLv 46

Hitmontop Lv 42 MovesPursuitQuick AttackDigDetect ReadPursuit/Detect.

Hitmonlee Lv 42 MovesSwaggerDouble KickHi Jump KickForesight ReadHi Jump Kick.

Hitmonchan Lv 42 MovesThunderPunchIce PunchFire PunchMach Punch ReadElemental punches.

Onix Lv 43 MovesBindEarthquakeSandstormRock Slide Read★ Not Fighting — needs Water/Grass.

Machamp Lv 46 MovesRock SlideForesightVital ThrowCross Chop ReadAce; Cross Chop hurts.

Counters: Psychic shreds every Fighting-type (and his Onix takes neutral, so pack a Water/Grass hit for it). Espeon/Alakazam sweep this whole round; just bring an answer for Onix.

Elite Four - Dark

Karen, Elite Four

Fighting beats the Dark core, Fire covers Vileplume, and Water/Ground/Rock keep Houndoom from closing.

UmbreonLv 42 VileplumeLv 42 GengarLv 45 MurkrowLv 44 HoundoomLv 47

Umbreon Lv 42 MovesSand-AttackConfuse RayFaint AttackMean Look ReadStall wall; Mean Look + Faint Attack.

Vileplume Lv 42 MovesStun SporeAcidMoonlightPetal Dance ReadStatus (Stun Spore) + Petal Dance.

Gengar Lv 45 MovesLickSpiteCurseDestiny Bond ReadDestiny Bond — don't over-commit a sweeper.

Murkrow Lv 44 MovesQuick AttackWhirlwindPursuitFaint Attack ReadFaint Attack chip.

Houndoom Lv 47 MovesRoarPursuitFlamethrowerCrunch Read★ Ace — Crunch + Flamethrower hit hard.

Counters: Fighting beats the Dark types (Umbreon/Houndoom/Murkrow). Bring Fire for Vileplume and a Water/Ground/Rock hit for Houndoom. Beware Gengar's Destiny Bond — chip it rather than slamming it with your ace.

Champion — Lance

Champion - Dragon

Lance, Champion

Ice is the key to the Dragonites. Electric checks Gyarados, and Rock hammers Aerodactyl and Charizard.

GyaradosLv 44 DragoniteLv 47 DragoniteLv 47 AerodactylLv 46 CharizardLv 46 DragoniteLv 50

Gyarados Lv 44 MovesFlailRain DanceSurfHyper Beam ReadSurf, Hyper Beam — Electric KOs it.

Dragonite Lv 47 MovesThunder WaveTwisterThunderHyper Beam ReadThunder + Hyper Beam.

Dragonite Lv 47 MovesThunder WaveTwisterBlizzardHyper Beam ReadBlizzard + Hyper Beam.

Aerodactyl Lv 46 MovesWing AttackAncientPowerRock SlideHyper Beam ReadRock/Flying — 4× weak to Rock and to Electric/Ice 2×.

Charizard Lv 46 MovesFlamethrowerWing AttackSlashHyper Beam ReadFlamethrower; weak to Rock 4×, Water, Electric.

Dragonite Lv 50 MovesFire BlastSafeguardOutrageHyper Beam Read★ Ace — Outrage + Hyper Beam.

How to win: ★ Ice is the key — the three Dragonite are 4× weak to Ice, so Lapras, Piloswine, or Jynx can carry this fight. Electric handles Gyarados, Aerodactyl, and Charizard; Rock is 4× on Aerodactyl and Charizard. Exploit Hyper Beam recharge turns, heal paralysis, and do not let the Lv 50 Dragonite snowball.

Time / Day Window

No time gates block progress here. Note for later: once you beat the Elite Four, the rival becomes a Monday/Wednesday rematch at the Indigo Plateau, and Kanto opens up. Roaming Raikou/Entei remain catchable on Johto routes if you still need them.

Legendary Note

By now Suicune should be in your party and the roaming beasts mopped up (or saved for Phase 11). Beating Lance makes you Johto Champion and unlocks Kanto — and eventually the Ho-Oh and Lugia endgame. No new legendary triggers in this phase. See the Legendary Reference for what's left.

HM Update

Unlocked this phase: HM07 WaterfallWater (Ice Path), usable with the Rising Badge — that's all seven HMs now (Cut, FlyFlying, SurfWater, Strength, FlashNormal, WhirlpoolWater, WaterfallWater). WaterfallWater is required to climb Tohjo Falls toward Victory Road and to reach spots in Kanto. Keep an HM-mule or spread the field moves across your bulkier members so your attackers stay sharp for the E4.

Phase 8 Checklist

• Cleared the Ice Path and grabbed HM07 WaterfallWater.
• Beat Clair, passed the Dragon's Den test → Rising Badge + TM24 + ExtremeSpeed Dratini.
• Pushed through Victory Road and beat the rival.
• Swept the Elite Four (Dark for Will/Karen, Psychic for Koga/Bruno).
• Beat Champion Lance with Ice/Electric/Rock → Johto Champion, Kanto unlocked.