Radical Random: Mono

With the exception of Kaizo Ironmon, it is known that Pokemon Radical Red, a FireRed upgrade from the creator Soupercell, is the gold standard Pokemon experience for seasoned players who love classic style Pokemon games.

I've whittled down my preferred play style to the following set of Challenge Rules, for anyone looking for a FUN way to tackle an otherwise VERY DIFFICULT game.

The Challenge:

Out of the box, Radical Red comes with some of the best QoL features out there, helping to keep the focus on the intelligently designed and often grueling battles, and not some of the more tedious aspects you may remember from your youth. With that spirit in mind, here's my challenge recommendation, designed to maximize what is great about Radical Red, and to help you enjoy every last Pokemon, Ability, and Move through Gen 9.

Called Radical Random: Mono, the challenge is to efficiently Defeat All Boss Trainers with a Randomized, Monotype Team of 6 Pokemon from your Pool. Target Runtime is a 10hr clear to Champion, from Pewter forward.

Lets get specific:

• Start with a New Game+ Save of Radical Red 4.1. (If you don't have one, you should definitely play the game as intended first. My first clear on 3.1 took me over 80hrs, and I needed every minute of the training.)
• When Asked: "Do you want to simply play Radical Red without any custom options?" Select NO
• Difficulty Options: DEFAULT
• Minimal Grinding Mode: YES
• Species Randomizer: NORMAL SPECIES
• Ability Randomizer: YES
• Learnset Randomizer: YES

Hit DONE and lets get to implementing some built in QoL 'Cheats'.

To meet the criteria for Radical Random: Mono, the following 4 Codes must be entered into the SNES, CASE SENSITIVE NOTE, its a good move to lock in your run before entering the codes, to save yourself time:

• Woyaopp (Rare Candy Gifts in Viridian City)
• DexAll (Dex Nav shows ALL Pokemon, immediately)
• SO2Toxic (Care Packages with obscure items throughout the game)
• EZCatch (All Pokemon are caught with the first ball thrown)

These QoL Cheats help keep things moving by giving fair access to often necessary extra items etc. A 10hr Clear Requires These Codes, as of 2025. But somewhat obviously, don't start your game clock until the fun begins! Don't sweat the menu build time. It should be fun, feels like cracking packs, to me.

Good. Almost there!

Starter Selection Rules:

• Utilize a Save State to preview all 27 choices (Recommended, Not Required)
• Select the most singularly GOATED Pokemon you can get your hands on, noting their random ability, and their random learnset
• Don't like it? Reset your save state and pick a different one
• Finalize your Pokemon
• That type is now your Monotype
• If your Pokemon is Dual Type, you may choose your Monotype from between its two typings

You're now playing Radical Random: Mono

Gameplay Rules:

• Upon reaching the Pokemon Center in Viridian City, talk to Nurse Joy's Assistant to fill your starting Pool via Mystery Gift. You may get a beastly team, you may get absolutely nothing
• Enter the following Mystery Gift Codes: Seviian . Random6 . and finally, your Monotype Name i.e. Fire Because the game is Randomized, these free Pokemon will be as well, save for the 3rd gift, which will be your Monotype
• This is the end of the freebies. So how do you build up your Pool..?

• Utilizing the DexNav, you must catch EVERY POKEMON of your chosen Monotype on each route before proceeding, barring Surf/Rod access. These Pokemon are added to your Pool. Chances are you'll need most of them at some point.

• Pokemon who do not share a type with your chosen Monotype must be released
• Dual Typing applies as long as one of the two types is your Monotype
• After obtaining the Rainbow Badge, every Pokemon in your party MUST HAVE A STAB MOVE of your chosen Monotype at all times, or they cannot be used
• You may advance your Pokemon to Lvl Cap by any means, at any time. I recommend rare candies.
• All items, Pokemon, and strategies that are available to you without hacking the game are valid, as long as these conditions are met. Whatever it takes to defeat All Boss Trainers, ending with the Champion, is exactly what you should do
• Bonus points for style
• Crowned if you finish in 10 Hours
• REQUIRED: Screencap your Hall of Fame (Publishing Optional)

Notes:

• Not officially a rule, but 'Play it as it lies' is the passive rule of thumb. I typically stick to the same team unless I'm completely walled out
• Any other unmentioned Mystery Gifts (Puzzle, Mega) are yours to choose to use. I use them
• Rules are being updated, as things come up, but this is the way, as of now
• Save States make the world go 'round. When in doubt, do what feels right to YOU--the challenge is to use your smarts and your Pokemon allies to conquer Boss Trainers, quickly, and Radical Red is natively resistant to Save State abuse cases (Battle pathing doesn't change on reset, i.e. if it didn't crit, it will never crit and vice versa)
• This is NOT a Nuzlocke type challenge, HOWEVER if you cannot proceed in the game without breaking the rules, i.e. the Pokemon in your Pool can't overcome your next opponent, your run is OVER
• 10hrs is the Target Runtime, but a W is a W

Send questions or feedback to IlliterallyIlly@gmail.com

Smell ya later!