User:Team Rocket Grunt/Roadblock

A roadblock in a Pokémon game refers to any in-game character, Pokémon, obstacle, or event that deliberately prevents the player from accessing a certain area or progressing further until particular conditions are met. These elements may not be a part of the game's natural geography or story world, but are intentionally placed by the developers to control the player's path and ensure progression follows a designed sequence.

The most common types of roadblocks are natural obstacles that can be cleared using HMs, special moves that a Pokémon can learn and use outside of battle, but only after the player has obtained a specific badge. Examples include small bushes that require Cut, or bodies of water that require Surf to cross. Other roadblocks include wild Pokémon blocking the path, such as Snorlax or Sudowoodo, as well as guards or gates that require the player to reach a certain level of progression. Some roadblocks also take the form of NPCs - minor characters who stop the player for various, sometimes seemingly arbitrary, reasons.

List of roadblocks

Pokémon Red, Greed and Blue

Pokémon Red, Greed and Blue
Location	Type	Requirement	Description
Pallet Town	natural: Water	Obtain HM Surf and Soul Badge from Koga	You cannot leave Pallet Town through the southern route without the ability to Surf.
Pallet Town	NPC: Professor Oak	Obtain starter Pokémon	Professor Oak won't allow you to exit through the northern route from Pallet Town without a starter.
Professor Oak's Lab	NPC: Professor Oak	Choose starter Pokémon	Professor Oak won't let you leave his lab without choosing a starter.
Professor Oak's Lab	NPC: Blue	Battle against Blue	Blue forces the player to battle when they try to leave. The outcome of the battle doesn't matter.
Viridian City	NPC: Old man	Get parcel from Viridian City PokéMart and deliver it to Professor Oak	An old man won't let the player pass, claiming it's private property. His granddaughter says he's grumpy because he hasn't had his morning coffee. In the Japanese version, she says he's drunk.
Pokémon League Reception Gate	NPC: Guard	Obtain another badge	Several guards block the path unless the player has the required badges in order: Boulder, Cascade, Thunder, and Rainbow. After that, the player must be able to Surf, then obtain the Soul, Marsh, Volcano, and Earth Badges.
Pewter City	NPC: boy	Defeat Brock	An NPC blocks the path to Route 3, asking the player to defeat Gym Leader Brock.
Kanto Route 4	natural: ledge	Can't be moved	Blocks the previous part of the game. Requires HM Surf or must be bypassed using Diglett's Tunnel, Fly, Teleport, or Dig.
Cerulean City	NPC: guard	Obtain S.S. Anne ticket from Bill	An NPC won't let the player into the house with the back exit. There is a tree that can be Cut to clear the path from the city, but it requires the player to defeat Misty, obtain a badge, and trade for a Pokémon that knows Cut to continue on Route 9. Diglett's Tunnel can also be used to return to areas before Cerulean City.
Vermilion City	NPC: guard	Obtain S.S. Anne ticket from Bill	The guard at the S.S. Anne requires the ticket from Bill. The S.S. Anne is optional if the player already has a Pokémon with Cut.
Cerulean City	natural: tree	Defeat Misty and know the move Cut	This path leads to Route 9.
Kanto Route 5	NPC: guard	Requires drink	The player can't enter Saffron City until they get a drink from Celadon City. Alternatively, a drink can be traded from Pokémon Stadium 2.
Kanto Route 12	Pokemon: Snorlax	Obtain Poké Flute	Snorlax blocks the water bridge. The player needs the Poké Flute to wake it up.
Rock Tunnel	natural: darkness	Required TM Flash and Boulder Badge from Brock	While not impossible, Rock Tunnel is very difficult to navigate without Flash. The player must return to the gate on Route 2 and have registered at least 10 Pokémon species to receive the HM from one of Oak’s aides. Flash requires the Boulder Badge to use.
Kanto Route 16	Pokemon: Snorlax	Obtain Poké Flute	Snorlax blocks the path to Cycling Road. The player must get the Poké Flute to wake it up.
Pokemon Tower	Pokemon: Marowak	Obtain Silph Scope	The ghost of Marowak prevents the player from reaching Mr. Fuji and obtaining the Poké Flute. The Silph Scope must be retrieved from Team Rocket’s hideout in Celadon City. Alternatively, the ghost can be bypassed using a Poké Doll.
Rocket Hideout	natural: elevator	Obtain Lift Key	To reach Giovanni and obtain the Silph Scope, the player must use an elevator that requires the Lift Key.
Cycling Road	NPC: guard	Obtain Bicycle	The Bicycle is available at the Bike Shop if the player has a Bike Voucher from a man in Vermilion City.
Kanto Route 16	natural: water	HM Fly	Although not a roadblock, Fly allows faster travel, but requires the Thunder Badge from Lt. Surge.
Fuchsia City	natural: water	Obtain Surf	The HM Surf is found in the Safari Zone. With the Soul Badge, the player can travel across water to areas like Seafoam Island or the Power Plant.
Kanto Route 24	NPC: guard	Defeat the Elite Four	With Surf, the player can return to Cerulean City and access a previously blocked path to the Unknown Dungeon.
Cinnabar Island	natural: closed door	Requires Secret Key	The Cinnabar Gym is locked and requires the Secret Key from the Pokémon Mansion.
Viridian City	natural: closed door	7 Badges	The Viridian Gym remains closed until the player obtains all seven previous badges.
Saffron City	natural: closed door	Defeat Team Rocket in Silph Co.	The Saffron Gym is blocked by a Team Rocket member until Team Rocket is defeated in Silph Co.
Silph Co.	natural: closed door	Find Card Key	To reach the Rocket Boss, the player must find the Card Key on Floor 5 of Silph Co.
Victory Road	natural: strengh puzzle	HM Strength and Rainbow Badge	Strength is needed to solve puzzles in certain areas. It is obtained from the Safari Zone Warden after returning his Gold Teeth. Using Strength requires the Rainbow Badge from Erika.

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