Your rival in Crystal is even more devious than that of Red and Blue, but doesn't make any changes from Pokémon Gold & Silver. Making his first appearence in your home town, he'll steal a Pokemon from Professor Elm and begin a quest for pure strength: along the way though, you might come to understand his motives and goals a little better.

Encounter 1: Cherrygrove City

Location: Cherrygrove City

Puzzle:
On route back to New Bark Town after visiting Mr. Pokemon, you'll meet your rival for the first time. He's just stolen his first Pokemon which will always be the one with a type advantage over yours; however, since you have an opportunity to level your Pokemon up in the grass before you fight, you have nothing to fear. It should be an easy first match as long as he doesn't score a critical hit.

Rival Chikorita
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 5
Attacks:
Tackle
Growl

Totodile Chosen
Rival Cyndaquil
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 5
Attacks:
Tackle
Leer

Chikorita Chosen
Rival Totodile
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 5
Attacks:
Scratch
Leer

Cyndaquil Chosen
Encounter 2: Azalea Town

Location: Azalea Town

Puzzle:
Unlike the rival in Pokemon Red and Blue, you won't see this guy until after you have a couple of badges under your belt. As you try to enter the Ilex Forest, you'll be confronted by this sour individual and challenged. Here has has added Gastly and Zubat to his party. Watch out for Gastly's Hypnosis and the newly evolved starter.

Rival Gastly Zubat Bayleef
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 12 Level 14 Level 16
Attacks:
Hypnosis
Spite
Lick
Attacks:
Leech Life
Supersonic
Bite
Attacks:
Growl
Razor Leaf
Reflect
Poisonpowder
Totodile Chosen
Rival Gastly Zubat Quilava
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 12 Level 14 Level 16
Attacks:
Hypnosis
Spite
Lick
Attacks:
Leech Life
Supersonic
Bite
Attacks:
Tackle
Leer
Smokescreen
Ember
Chikorita Chosen
Rival Gastly Zubat Croconaw
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 12 Level 14 Level 16
Attacks:
Hypnosis
Spite
Lick
Attacks:
Leech Life
Supersonic
Bite
Attacks:
Scratch
Leer
Rage
Water Gun
Cyndaquil Chosen
Encounter 3: Burnt Tower

Location: Ecruteak City

Puzzle:
You'll find your rival exploring the Burnt Tower next. He's added a Magnemite to his team now, which is Electric/Steel-type as of the second generation. Beware of its Sonicboom attack, which will oncur a flat damage amount of 20HP. Haunter likes to use Curse but if you've beaten Morty already you'll know how to deal with it.

Rival Haunter Magnemite Zubat Bayleef
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 20 Level 18 Level 20 Level 22
Attacks:
Lick
Spite
Mean Look
Curse
Attacks:
Tackle
Thundershock
Supersonic
SonicBoom
Attacks:
Leech Life
Supersonic
Bite
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Growl
Razor Leaf
Reflect
Poisonpowder
Totodile Chosen
Rival Haunter Magnemite Zubat Quilava
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 20 Level 18 Level 20 Level 22
Attacks:
Lick
Spite
Mean Look
Curse
Attacks:
Tackle
Thundershock
Supersonic
SonicBoom
Attacks:
Leech Life
Supersonic
Bite
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Leer
Smokescreen
Ember
Quick Attack
Chikorita Chosen
Rival Haunter Magnemite Zubat Croconaw
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 20 Level 18 Level 20 Level 22
Attacks:
Lick
Spite
Mean Look
Curse
Attacks:
Tackle
Thundershock
Supersonic
SonicBoom
Attacks:
Leech Life
Supersonic
Bite
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Leer
Rage
Water Gun
Bite
Cyndaquil Chosen
Encounter 4: Goldenrod Underground

Location: Goldenrod Underground

Puzzle:
This time around your rival has cold-heartedly stolen a new Pokemon for his team: the Ice/Dark-type Sneasel. Sneasel has good Attack and Speed stats but has two Special based types for its STABs. Zubat has evolved and might be a pester with Wing Attack, and Haunter has now learned Shadow Ball. If you have a good mix of Psychic-type and Fighting-type moves in your arsenal, you should be safe.

Rival Golbat Magnemite Haunter Sneasel Meganium
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 30 Level 28 Level 30 Level 32 Level 32
Attacks:
Leech Life
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Tackle
Thundershock
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Attacks:
Lick
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Attacks:
Leer
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Attacks:
Reflect
Razor Leaf
Poisonpowder
Body Slam
Totodile Chosen
Rival Golbat Magnemite Haunter Sneasel Quilava
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 30 Level 28 Level 30 Level 32 Level 32
Attacks:
Leech Life
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Tackle
Thundershock
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Attacks:
Lick
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Attacks:
Leer
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Attacks:
Smokescreen
Ember
Quick Attack
Flame Wheel
Chikorita Chosen
Rival Golbat Magnemite Haunter Sneasel Feraligatr
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 30 Level 28 Level 30 Level 32 Level 32
Attacks:
Leech Life
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Tackle
Thundershock
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Attacks:
Lick
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Attacks:
Leer
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Attacks:
Rage
Water Gun
Bite
Scary Face
Cyndaquil Chosen
Encounter 5: Victory Road

Location: Victory Road

Puzzle:
Your rival will face you one last time before you head off to boot out the Elite Four. His team is complete now, though not fully evolved. He's added a Kadabra to his team, though this shouldn't been too much trouble if you have a Dark-type or Steel-type with strong Attack. Half his team is only in their second stages of evolution still so use that to your advantage with your own fully evolved team. This match is pretty straightforward and your rival doesn't have very many strong attacks on his Pokemon so you should be fine.

Rival Sneasel Golbat Magneton Haunter Kadabra Meganium
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 34 Level 36 Level 35 Level 35 Level 35 Level 38
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Fury Cutter
Attacks:
Leech Life
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Thundershock
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Swift
Attacks:
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Disable
Psybeam
Recover
Future Sight
Attacks:
Reflect
Razor Leaf
Poisonpowder
Body Slam
Totodile Chosen
Rival Sneasel Golbat Magneton Haunter Kadabra Typhlosion
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 34 Level 36 Level 35 Level 35 Level 35 Level 38
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Fury Cutter
Attacks:
Leech Life
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Thundershock
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Swift
Attacks:
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Disable
Psybeam
Recover
Future Sight
Attacks:
Smokescreen
Ember
Quick Attack
Flame Wheel
Chikorita Chosen
Rival Sneasel Golbat Magneton Haunter Kadabra Feraligatr
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 34 Level 36 Level 35 Level 35 Level 35 Level 38
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Fury Cutter
Attacks:
Leech Life
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Thundershock
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Swift
Attacks:
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Disable
Psybeam
Recover
Future Sight
Attacks:
Rage
Water Gun
Scary Face
Slash
Chikorita Chosen
Encounter 6: Mt. Moon

Location: Mt. Moon

Puzzle:
For this match you'll meet your rival at Mount Moon. His team has evolved with the exception of Golbat, but is still more of the same. Alakazam is frightening with Psychic but if you have a Houndoom or Steelix you should be fine. Gengar too can be a bit of a hassle though Shadow Ball won't hit for much off its weak Attack stat. The starter will have a strong STAB move so beware and counter appropriately. This is the last storyline match against your rival so give it your all!

Rival Sneasel Golbat Magneton Gengar Alakazam Meganium
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 41 Level 42 Level 41 Level 43 Level 43 Level 45
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Fury Cutter
Attacks:
Leech Life
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Thundershock
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Swift
Attacks:
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Disable
Psybeam
Recover
Future Sight
Attacks:
Razor Leaf
Poisonpowder
Body Slam
Light Screen
Totodile Chosen
Rival Sneasel Golbat Magneton Gengar Alakazam Typhlosion
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 41 Level 42 Level 41 Level 43 Level 43 Level 45
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Fury Cutter
Attacks:
Leech Life
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Thundershock
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Swift
Attacks:
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Disable
Psybeam
Recover
Future Sight
Attacks:
Smokescreen
Quick Attack
Flame Wheel
Swift
Chikorita Chosen
Rival Sneasel Golbat Magneton Gengar Alakazam Feraligatr
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 41 Level 42 Level 41 Level 43 Level 43 Level 45
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Fury Cutter
Attacks:
Leech Life
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Thundershock
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Swift
Attacks:
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Disable
Psybeam
Recover
Future Sight
Attacks:
Rage
Water Gun
Scary Face
Slash
Cyndaquil Chosen
Encounter 7: Indigo Plateau

Location: indigo Plateau
Days: Monday & Wednesay

Puzzle:
He's take the old advice of caring for his Pokemon to heart it seems because his Golbat has finally evolved into Crobat. This team is exceedingly fast with quick strikers like Gengar, Sneasel, and Crobat to boot. Annoyingly enough Alakazam can Recover. It's really more of the same though so there's not much point in prattling on with how to beat him. For experience and money you can fight him every Monday and Wednesday after you defeat him the first time. Good luck!

Rival Sneasel Crobat Magneton Gengar Alakazam Meganium
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 48 Level 45 Level 48 Level 46 Level 46 Level 50
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Fury Cutter
Attacks:
Toxic
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Thunder
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Swift
Attacks:
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Recover
Future Sight
Psychic
Reflect
Attacks:
Giga Drain
Body Slam
Light Screen
Safeguard
Totodile Chosen
Rival Sneasel Crobat Magneton Gengar Alakazam Typhlosion
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 48 Level 45 Level 48 Level 46 Level 46 Level 50
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Fury Cutter
Attacks:
Toxic
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Thunder
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Swift
Attacks:
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Recover
Future Sight
Psychic
Reflect
Attacks:
Smokescreen
Quick Attack
Flame Wheel
Swift
Chikorita Chosen
Rival Sneasel Crobat Magneton Gengar Alakazam Feraligatr
Battle Type
Single Battle
Items
Level 48 Level 45 Level 48 Level 46 Level 46 Level 50
Attacks:
Quick Attack
Screech
Faint Attack
Fury Cutter
Attacks:
Toxic
Bite
Confuse Ray
Wing Attack
Attacks:
Thunder
SonicBoom
Thunder Wave
Swift
Attacks:
Mean Look
Curse
Shadow Ball
Confuse Ray
Attacks:
Recover
Future Sight
Psychic
Reflect
Attacks:
Surf
Rain Dance
Slash
Screech
Cyndaquil Chosen