Saffron City

Overview

Saffron City is a major city in the Kanto region of the Pokemon franchise. It is located at the centre of Kanto, with four major routes reaching it. Route 5 from Cerulean City in the North, Route 6 that reaches Vermilion City in the South. To the East of Saffron lies Route 8 to Lavender Town and to the West Route 7 that leads to Celadon City. Places of interest within Saffron include the Fighting Dojo, Silph Co. Headquarters and the Kanto Magnet Train Station. Saffron City is also home to the psychic gym leader, Sabrina.

Generation I/III

Saffron City is the second biggest city in Kanto and tenth biggest in the Pokemon world with a population of 63. In-game it is referred to as "Shining Big City". The Silph Co. HQ is the most prominent building in the city. Despite being located at the centre of Kanto and being surrounded by three major cities and a town, the players access to the Saffron is restricted until later in the game as thirsty guards at the gate prevent progression. If the landscape of Kanto is matched to that of modern Japan on which it is based, then Saffron's counterpart would be Tokyo.

• Silph Co. Headquarters

Silph Co. produce many items on which Pokemon Trainers rely, such as the Pokeball and the Silph Scope. Their produce is shipped all over the Pokemon World and their Headquarters is located in Saffron City. The powerful company was naturally a target for the criminal organization Team Rocket who executed a takeover of the building before the player arrived.

The building is an eleven story skyscraper. Most travelling within the building is done via warp tiles, with certain doors being locked and only accessible with a Card Key. Once the player has overcome Team Rocket they are rewarded with the very item Team Rocket were trying to steal - Silph Co.'s top secret prototype Master Ball. The player can also obtain a Lapras after rescuing a Silph Co. employee from Team Rocket.

• Fighting Dojo

The Fighting Dojo is the most unusual feature of Saffron as it is a second Gym within the same city. The Fighting Dojo, however, is not an official Indigo League Gym. The two Gyms, Psychic and Fighting competed with each other to be the official Gym. Kiyo, the Fighting leader lost to Sabrina the Psychic leader due to a type disadvantage. Instead of closing the Gym, Kiyo kept the Gym open opting to reward Trainers who could defeat him with either a Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan instead of a badge. The Gym has no puzzles, only eight trainers and the gym leader the the player has to beat before claiming the reward.

• Copycat's House

A house found in the north-western section of Saffron City. Here the player encounters Copycat, a girl who can likes to dress up and mimic other people. She has a pet Doduo which she taught to mimic human speech. In Copycat's room is s SNES with a game the has Mario with a bucket on his head, a reference to Game Freak developed Mario & Wario. Giving Copycat a Clefairy doll will reward the player with TM31 Mimic in R/B/Y or access to Mimic as a Move Tutor move in FR/LG.

• Mr. Psychic's House

Found in the south-eastern part of Saffron City, Mr.Psychic lives alone in a one story house. Just by visiting him the player will be rewarded with TM29 Psychic.

• Pokemon Trainer Fan Club

A concept only introduced in Ruby/Saphire the Pokemon Trainer Fan Club is only found in Saffron City is Fire Red/Leaf Green versions of the game. The player gathers fans after defeating the Elite Four and by winning link battles.

• Saffron City Gym

Sabrina is the leader of Saffron City Gym, the Psychic Gym. Her title is "The Master of Psychic Pokemon." The Gym consists of nine rooms, accessed by warp tiles that make travelling through the Gym a puzzle. There are seven trainers the player must defeat before reaching Sabrina. Once Sabrina is beaten she will reward the player with the Marsh Badge and TM46 Psywave in R/B/Y and TM04 Calm Mind in FR/LG.

Sabrina's Team in FR/LG

Generation II/IV

Saffron City undergoes many changes between Generation I and Generation II. A power outage before the arrival of the player has caused many of the citizens of Saffron to leave the city. The population of Saffron in Gen II is 47, a marked decline from Gen I.

• Silph Co. Headquarters

Silph Co. have increased security since the Team Rocket incident. The player is no longer allowed past the Ground Floor lobby. It is still worth a visit, however, as one of the guards will give the player one of Silph Co.'s latest technologies, the Up-Grade, which allows Porygon to evolve into Porygon2. In HG/SS the player can also receive one of three Hoenn starters: Torchic, Treecko or Mudkip from Steven Stone after defeating Red.

• Fighting Dojo

The Fighting Dojo is closed in Gen II as the leader Kiyo is training in Mt. Mortar in Johto. In HG/SS the Dojo is used as a location to rematch the Gym Leaders of Kanto and Johto after certain prerequisites are met - getting the leaders phone number and calling them at the right time to arrange a rematch.

• Magnet Train Station

The Magnet Train station in Saffron links Kanto with Goldenrod City in Johto, where the other station is located. It can be found where Copycat's house used to be situated. Initially the train isn't running thanks to the power outage the city is experiencing. When the player restores power the Magent Train resumes service. A Pass is required to board the train. In HG/SS the player can meet Lt. Surge at Saffron Station to trade their Pikachu for a French Pikachu in the English version, or an English Pikachu in the Japanese version.

• Copycat's House

Copycat's original house has been torn down to make room for the Magent Train Station. As compensation Copycat and her family have been given Magnet Train Passes. She will give hers to the player if they can return the Clefairy doll given to her three years ago by Red. Any old Clefairy doll won't do, it has to be the doll she received from Red. It can be found in the Pokemon Fan Club in Vermillion City.

• Saffron City Gym

Not much has changed to Saffron City Gym between Gen I and Gen II. Sabrina as still the leader, but only four trainers man the Gym as oppose to the seven found there before. The puzzle remains the same as in Gen II. Beating Sabrina will net the player the Marsh Badge and TM48 Skill Swap.

Sabrina's Team in HG/SS

Super Smash Bros.

Saffron City is one of the nine stages in the original Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64.