Summary of "Nintendo DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW about FireRed & Leaf Green Glitches"

Overview

This document summarizes a video explaining how classic Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen glitches work on the Nintendo Switch (non-Japanese versions). It focuses on a universal pre‑Elite‑4 setup that enables arbitrary code execution (ACE). The video demonstrates:

Performing the mail/knockoff/recycle glitch to unlock a permanent “glitched slot.”
Creating the ACE Pokémon (species 0351, aka “Hawk”).
Running box-name codes (using the eShark code generator) to inject items, obtain infinite Rare Candies/money, get an early National Dex, create tradeback NPCs for single‑game trade evolutions, and more.

Important reminders emphasized in the video:

Save often.
Consult an up‑to‑date written guide (Pomeg Letter Bombers) for exact words/codes per language/version.
Typing errors or wrong box contents commonly crash the game.

Pre‑Elite‑4 setup (high‑level step sequence)

Prepare a double battle with exactly the recommended three lead Pokémon to avoid edge cases:
- Lead: any Pokémon holding a consumable berry (Citrus Berry recommended because it triggers at half HP).
- 2nd: a trade Farfetch’d (or equivalent) at ≥ level 21 that knows Knock Off.
- 3rd: a trade Mr. Mime at ≥ level 33 that knows Recycle, holding a Retro Mail (buyable in Celadon).
In the double battle:
- Turn 1: cause the lead to faint or consume its berry (for example, reduce and revive to half HP so the berry triggers).
- Switch to Mr. Mime (holding Retro Mail). Use Knock Off on the slot to knock the mail off, then use Recycle next turn to pick up the consumed berry. This sequence deletes the mail through the wrong channel and completes the permanent mail/glitch activation.
- Note: Only do this double battle once — the activation is effectively permanent.
After the battle:
- Fill party slots and add Retro Mail to five of six Pokémon, leaving the one that recycled the berry without mail initially.
- Give mail to a different Pokémon until you see the glitched “?” mail slot — this signals the glitched slot is present.
- Use that glitched slot to duplicate items (example: convert Retro Mail actions into multiple HP Ups) until you have the items needed for setup (e.g., eight HP Ups).

Creating the ACE Pokémon (Hawk / species 0351)

Use the Pomeg Letter Bombers site for the exact mail text per language. In the English pre‑Elite‑4 workflow the video follows the “Hawk 2.0” word sequence to create a glitch Pokémon in Box 3 Slot 1.
Light EV training for the glitch Pokémon:
- Defeat a Mankey (gives Attack EV) and a Caterpie (gives HP EV) while the glitch Pokémon leads so it gains the required EVs.
Convert the created Pokémon into species 0351 by swapping words in the glitched mail (per the guide).
Box placement requirements for running codes:
- Place species 0351 into Box 13 Slot 2.
- Place a normal Pokémon into Box 13 Slot 1.
- Keep Box 13 and Box 14 otherwise empty when running codes — they must remain empty aside from those two Pokémon.

Testing ACE and running codes

Always verify the setup by typing a small test code that produces a harmless bogus Pokémon (example: shiny level 0 Bulbasaur in an empty slot). If the test produces the bogus Pokémon without crashing, ACE setup is good.
Use the eShark code generator (Switch setting) to compute the box-name strings you must type into each box name to produce desired effects. Common examples:
- Get Any Item — injects a chosen item (appears in the last PC item slot).
- Add/Remove Item (wrong pocket) — creates bottomless Rare Candies (key items) for infinite leveling and infinite sellable items for money.
- Get National Dex via NPC — run in Viridian City Pokémon Center to have an NPC grant the National Dex (enables some Johto evolutions early; Elite Four rematches become stronger).
- Create Tradeback NPC — creates an NPC trade script (run in Viridian City center, via the old man) that trades your lead Pokémon and trades back a blank glitch Pokémon to trigger trade evolutions solo (example: Scyther → Scizor using Metal Coat).

How to execute a code:

Pick up a normal Pokémon with the yellow hand (SELECT / minus to toggle), hover over the glitch Pokémon, press A to swap — this triggers the glitch and causes the game to read box names as code.
If no valid code is present, the game will crash.

Key tips and troubleshooting

Save after typing box names. Typing errors are the most common failure.
Boxes 13 & 14 must remain empty except for the designated slots. Other boxes (1–12) may be filled.
Use the yellow hand (select) when interacting with the glitched Pokémon for safety. Use the white hand only for intentional cloning or releasing the fast‑clone species.
If a code requires a clean environment/reboot (some trade scripts), reboot the game before executing the code to avoid corruption.
Returning to normal:
- Remove all mail from Pokémon and release the glitch species if desired. The double‑battle activation is semi‑permanent; to re‑create the glitched mail slot you would reapply mail to five Pokémon and repeat the mail creation.
Bad eggs / corrupted Pokémon:
- Small/invisible bad‑egg artifacts can appear (especially in Box 13). To clear small/invisible ones: grab with the yellow hand, hold A, pick up extra blank slots and drop — they should disappear.
- Some corrupted Pokémon (“semi‑permanent bad eggs”) require the fast‑clone species to delete them properly.

Warning: Many problems are caused by simple typos or not keeping the required boxes empty. Recheck all typed box names and follow the save → test workflow.

Fast‑clone species (delete / clone tool)

The fast‑clone species (English index ≈ 0x32000) can be created either:
- By entering specific mail words (English‑only sequence exists pre‑Elite‑4), or
- By using ACE codes on EU languages (Pomeg site gives indexes and word sequences per language).
Uses:
- Delete sticky corrupted Pokémon: place fast‑clone in a working box, use the yellow hand to pick up the corrupted entry that has a blank space to its right and hold A — the corrupted slot will be deleted.
- Clone Pokémon: position your target Pokémon over the glitch species, use the white hand hover/swap sequence to duplicate repeatedly. Side effects: this creates an invisible blank space entry that must be cleared (release or pick‑up trick depending on FR/LG differences).
Only use the white hand on the fast‑clone species for deliberate duping or to release it.

Miscellaneous notes & warnings

The video focuses on English and EU versions (not Japanese). EU languages sometimes need different words or ACE codes for the same species; consult the Pomeg Letter Bombers site.
Some actions will cause the Elite Four to use rematch teams; be prepared for stronger opponents.
Do not reuse the initial double‑battle mail knock‑off sequence repeatedly — it changes how mail is handled and can cause gradual loss of mail functionality.
Reboot or clean the environment when instructed by specific codes or trade scripts to avoid game corruption.

Resources

Pomeg Letter Bombers — written guide (updated for Switch); exact mail words and per‑language information.
eShark code generator — use the “English Switch” dropdown for Switch‑compatible codes.