Victory Road is the final cave you must cross before reaching the Pokémon League in Pokémon FireRed Version. The cave has three floors, several ladders, trainers, and Strength puzzles. You do not need to explore every corner to reach the exit.
Before entering, make sure you have:
- All eight Gym Badges
- A Pokémon that knows HM04 Strength
- A Pokémon that knows Surf for Route 23
- Plenty of healing items
- A trained team, preferably around the mid-40s or higher
After defeating Giovanni in Viridian City and earning the Earth Badge, travel west to Route 22. Continue through the Pokémon League gate and Route 23. The guards will check your badges one by one. After the final checkpoint, you will reach Victory Road.
How to Get Through Victory Road
Victory Road mainly revolves around pushing boulders onto round floor switches. When a boulder is placed correctly, a barrier disappears and opens another section of the cave. Take your time with each puzzle because pushing a boulder into the wrong position can block your route.
On the first floor, you will see a boulder. Use Strength and move it onto the nearby floor switch. This opens the raised path. Continue around the area, collecting items if you want them, and head toward the northwest side of the floor. You will find the ladder that takes you to the second floor.
There are useful items here, including a Rare Candy and TM02 Dragon Claw. They are optional if your goal is reaching the Elite Four.
Second Floor Boulder Puzzle
On the second floor, look for another Strength boulder. Push it onto the floor switch to remove the next barrier. Once the path opens, move through the available stairs and continue toward the ladder leading upward.
You can pick up TM37 Sandstorm, TM07 Hail, and other items while exploring this floor. Do not let the extra loot distract you if you are low on health or supplies. Victory Road contains wild Pokémon and trainers, so unnecessary battles can wear down your team.
Once you find the ladder, climb to the third floor.
Solving the Third Floor Puzzle
The third floor contains the most important part of the route. First, work your way toward the boulder and push it into the correct position so that the nearby switch is activated. This opens the path across the raised section.
After crossing the newly opened area, continue through the trainers and move toward the southern side. Eventually, you will find another boulder near a hole in the floor.
Push this boulder into the hole, then follow it down to the second floor. On the lower level, push the boulder onto the final switch. This removes the barrier blocking the route forward.
From there, use the available ladders to return to the correct section of the third floor and continue toward the exit. You may encounter more trainers along the way, so keep your team healed.
Items and Optional Stops
Victory Road contains several useful rewards. Depending on how much you explore, you can find TMs such as Dragon Claw, Sandstorm, Hail, and Overheat, along with items including Rare Candy, Full Heal, Max Revive, and Guard Spec.
There is also a Move Tutor near the end of the cave who can teach Double-Edge to a compatible Pokémon. You do not need this move, so treat it as an optional reward.
What Happens After Victory Road
Once you leave Victory Road, you will arrive at Indigo Plateau. Before challenging the Elite Four, heal your team and visit the Poké Mart. Stock up on Revives, Full Restores, and other healing items.
Save your game before entering the Pokémon League. The Elite Four is a sequence of battles with no opportunity to visit a Pokémon Center between opponents, so preparation matters.
