Kalos walkthrough section
Pokemon X and Y Phase 1: Phase 1 Resources And Checklist
Bug Badge Team Recommendations By the time you enter Viola's Gym, you want a 3–4 Pokemon party at Lv 10–12.
Phase 1 Bug Badge Viola Santalune Gym Leader Vaniville Town to Santalune City Gym. 01 / 10 
Phase 1 section 10 of 10
Team Recommendations By the time you enter Viola's Gym, you want a 3–4 Pokemon party at Lv 10–12.
GuidePokemon X and Y
PhasePhase 1
Section10/10
Phase 1 Resources And Checklist
Team Recommendations
By the time you enter Viola's Gym, you want a 3–4 Pokémon party at Lv 10–12. The ideal Phase 1 build:
| Slot | Pokémon | Reasoning | Target Lv |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Your starter | Story-mandated. Fennekin = best vs Viola. Chespin = struggles vs Viola, lean on Pansear/Fletchling. Froakie = neutral, gets there. | Lv 11 |
| 2 | Fletchling | Peck is super effective on Bug, comes with priority Quick Attack via leveling. Future Talonflame is your phase 2–5 MVP. | Lv 10 |
| 3 | Pansage / Pansear / Panpour | Gifted in Santalune Forest. Whichever you get, it covers your starter's weakness. Pansear/Fennekin is a Fire double-up — totally fine for Phase 1. | Lv 10 |
| 4 (optional) | Bunnelby | Future Cut/Strength HM mule and a real attacker with Huge Power Diggersby. Catch on Route 2. | Lv 8–9 |
| 5 (optional) | Litleo (if not Fennekin) | Fire backup if you went Chespin or Froakie. Pyroar is a strong Phase 3+ special attacker. | Lv 8–9 |
Trade evolutions / held items to start considering
None of your Phase 1 catches trade-evolve. The earliest trade evos in the main story are Phase 4+ (Boldore→Gigalith, Karrablast↔Shelmet, etc.). For Phase 1, just focus on raw levels.
Mega Evolution
Mega Evolution doesn't unlock until Phase 3 when Korrina hands you the Mega Ring in Shalour City. You can see a Mega Lucario in cutscenes before that, but you can't use Megas yet.
Must-Grab Items (Phase 1 Master List)
| Item | Where | Missable? |
|---|---|---|
| Town Map | Route 2, given by Calem/Serena | No |
| Pokédex | Route 2, Sina & Dexio | No (story-locked) |
| Potion ×5 | Aquacorde, talk to Shauna second time at café | ★ Yes |
| Potion ×1 | Route 2 grass | No |
| Potion ×1 | Santalune Forest | No |
| Antidote | Santalune Forest | No |
| Paralyze Heal | Santalune Forest | No |
| Poké Ball ×3 (hidden) | Santalune Forest, examine rustling trees | No, but easy to walk past |
| Tiny Mushroom (hidden) | Santalune Forest mushroom cluster | No |
| Pansage / Pansear / Panpour | Santalune Forest, friendly NPC | ★ Yes |
| Potion ×1 | Route 3 | No |
| Repel | Route 3 | No |
| Antidote (hidden) | Route 3 east grass | No |
| Quick Ball | Santalune Trainer's School teacher | ★ Yes |
| Old Rod | Santalune City, fisherman on lower bridge | No (story-locked, but easy to miss the conversation) |
| Roller Skates | Santalune City, Roller Skater outside Pokémon Center | No (story-locked) |
| TM83 Infestation | Viola, after defeat | No (gym reward) |
| Bug Badge | Viola, after defeat | No (gym reward) |
| Exp. Share (Key Item, all-party) | Route 4 gate, from Alexa after Viola — Phase 2 entry | No, but leads directly into Phase 2 |
Version Note Summary
Phase 1 — Pokémon X vs Pokémon Y differences
X exclusiveCaterpie / Metapod / (eventually) Butterfree in Santalune Forest grass. Butterfree's hidden ability Tinted Lens has minor competitive use.
Y exclusiveWeedle / Kakuna / (eventually) Beedrill in Santalune Forest grass. Beedrill gets a Mega in OR/AS but not accessible in vanilla XY storyline.
RecommendationNeither species is critical for Phase 1. If you want both, plan a Wonder Trade or GTS trade once you reach the Santalune Pokémon Center. The bigger version splits arrive in Phases 3–5 (Helioptile fossils, Skrelp/Clauncher, version Mega Stones).
Same in bothStarters, monkey gift, Viola's team, all items, and all trainer rosters in Phase 1 are identical between X and Y. The wild bug split is the only version difference in this phase.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Pick a starter and beat your rival in Aquacorde
- Talk to Shauna a second time for 5× Potion (missable)
- Receive the Pokédex from Sina & Dexio on Route 2
- Catch a Fletchling on Route 2 (★ priority)
- Catch a Bunnelby on Route 2 (HM mule + future Diggersby)
- Catch a Zigzagoon for Pickup utility (optional but recommended)
- Catch a Pikachu in Santalune Forest if you want Electric coverage
- Accept the Pansage/Pansear/Panpour gift in Santalune Forest (missable)
- Pick up Potion, Antidote, Paralyze Heal in Santalune Forest
- Meet Tierno and Trevor on Route 3; their trainer battles happen later on Route 7.
- Catch a Litleo on Route 3 if your starter isn't Fire
- Trigger any rustling-grass encounters for Audino XP
- Visit the Trainer's School in Santalune City
- Collect the Quick Ball from the school teacher (missable)
- Receive the Old Rod from the fisherman in Santalune City
- Receive the Roller Skates outside the Pokémon Center
- Buy 10× Poké Balls and 5× Potions before entering the Gym
- Defeat the two gym trainers (Metapod/Kakuna Harden walls)
- Defeat Viola — earn Bug Badge + TM83 Infestation
- Meet Alexa before Route 4 for the Exp. Share
Dex quick links
