Pokémon Crystal · catch-as-you-play checklist
Every location in play order, with what to catch and what to do before you leave. Tick as you go — progress saves in this browser.
Time of day is a real gate. Roughly a third of early species are night-only. On an emulator, change the system clock rather than waiting — it is the single biggest time-saver in Gen 2.
Headbutt trees are their own encounter table. Get TM02 (Headbutt) in Ilex Forest, then headbutt trees on every route you pass. Heracross, Pineco, Aipom and Exeggcute are only available this way.
The opening stretch. Nothing missable yet, but start catching immediately — Route 29 and 30 species get tedious to backtrack for.
Fishing opens up here. Get the Old Rod early; several water species have no other source for a long stretch.
The densest stretch for free Pokémon. Goldenrod alone hands you three.
Long stretch of surfing. The Suicune chain runs through here in Crystal specifically.
Last of Johto. Make sure the Time Capsule is already open before you leave for Kanto.
Sixteen badges total. Kanto's routes repeat a lot of Johto species — the genuinely new catches are thinner than you'd expect.
Legendaries, the Celebi event, and then the transfer chain.