So, you’ve finally made it through Victory Road. Honestly, that cave is a slog with all the Strength puzzles and constant Zubat—well, maybe not Zubats since you can actually see them now, but you get what I mean. You’re standing in front of the Indigo Plateau. The music is swelling. Your starter is sitting on your shoulder or head, looking pumped. But here's the thing: the Let's Go Pikachu Let's Go Eevee Elite Four isn't just a victory lap. If you go in underleveled or without a plan for Lorelei’s Dewgong, you’re gonna have a bad time.
It's a weird game, right? It looks like a "baby" version of Yellow, but the stat-boosting Candy system and the lack of held items change the math more than people realize. You can't just slap a Choice Band on a Primeape and call it a day.
What Actually Happens at the Indigo Plateau
The Indigo Plateau serves as the final gauntlet. It’s four of the toughest trainers in Kanto followed by the Champion. Unlike the original Game Boy games, the Movepools here are updated to Gen 7 standards. That means Lorelei isn't just sitting there with a terrible AI; she’s going to use actual strategy.
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Most people think they can just over-level their Pikachu or Eevee and Buzzy Buzz their way to a trophy. You might get through the first two, but then you hit a wall. Bruno’s Machamp or Agatha’s Gengar will punish you if you’re just mindlessly clicking the same button.
Lorelei: The Ice Queen Who Is Secretly About Water
First up is Lorelei. Everyone calls her an Ice trainer, but honestly, she’s a Water trainer in disguise. Her team consists of Dewgong, Cloyster, Slowbro, Jynx, and Lapras. If you bring a Fire-type thinking you're going to melt her Ice-types, you're going to get hit by a Surf or Hydro Pump before you can say "Charizard."
The real threat here is her Slowbro. It’s tanky. It’s annoying. It has Calm Mind. If you let it set up, it becomes an unkillable pink nightmare. You need Electric moves here. If you're playing Let's Go Pikachu, your starter's Buzzy Buzz is basically a cheat code because it guarantees a paralyze. If you're on Eevee, Bouncy Bubble or Sparkly Swirl are your best friends.
Don't forget that Jynx is part Psychic. It’s fast. It hits hard. If you don't knock it out in one hit, it’ll use Lovely Kiss and put your Pokémon to sleep. That’s where the frustration begins. Always carry a few Full Heals. Seriously.
Bruno: The Fighting Type Speed Bump
Bruno is usually the easiest part of the Let's Go Pikachu Let's Go Eevee Elite Four, but don't get cocky. He leads with Onix. Why? I have no idea. Onix is still terrible. One Water or Grass move and it's gone.
The real danger is his Machamp and his Hitmonlee. In this game, Hitmonlee has some serious reach with moves like High Jump Kick. If it misses, it hurts itself, which is hilarious, but if it hits, it’s a truck. His Machamp has a lot of bulk.
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- Lead with a Psychic or Flying type. - Pidgeot with Air Slash is great.
- Alakazam (if you were lucky enough to trade) or Mr. Mime will basically sweep his entire team.
- Just watch out for Machamp’s Crunch. He’s got coverage for your Psychic types.
Agatha: The Ghost Trainer Who Loves Poison
Agatha is an icon. She’s also a liar. She claims to be a Ghost trainer, but because this is Kanto, almost all Ghosts are also Poison types. Her team—Arbok, Weezing, Golbat, and two Gengars—is basically a Team Rocket audition.
The strategy here is simple but risky: Ground and Psychic moves.
Because Gengar has insane Speed, it’ll often move first. It loves to use Confuse Ray or Toxic. This is the "status" fight of the Elite Four. You’ll spend half the time snapping your Pokémon out of confusion. If you have a fast Ground-type like Dugtrio, Earthquake can do a lot of work, but remember that her Gengars don't have the Levitate ability in this game. They are grounded. You can hit them with Earthquake. That’s a huge tip people forget because they’re used to modern competitive Pokémon rules.
Lance: The Dragon Master (With No Dragons)
Lance is the final member of the Elite Four. In the original games, he had three Dragonites. In Let's Go, he’s a bit more balanced, but no less terrifying. He’s got Seadra (which eventually becomes Kingdra in other games, but stays Seadra here), Aerodactyl, Gyarados, Charizard, and Dragonite.
Wait. Only one of those is an actual Dragon-type.
Regardless, they all feel like dragons. His Aerodactyl is incredibly fast. It will Rock Slide you into oblivion. His Gyarados is a menace if you don't have an Electric move. But the Dragonite is the boss. It has Outrage. Once it starts clicking Outrage, it's going to tear through your team unless you have a Fairy-type or a bulky Ice-type.
If you caught the Articuno in the Seafoam Islands, use it. Ice Beam is the "win button" for Lance.
The Final Rival Fight
You aren't done. You never are. Your rival (Trace, or whatever you named him) is the Champion. His team is actually really well-rounded. He has a Mega Evolution. He’ll usually Mega Evolve his Pidgeot or his starter depending on the situation.
This fight is about momentum. He has a Jolteon or Flareon (the opposite of what you need), a Marowak, a Rapidash, and a Slowbro. It’s a classic "balanced" team. The key is to keep your type advantages rotating. Don't leave your Charizard in against his Slowbro.
How to Prepare Without Grinding for Days
If you’re feeling underleveled, don't just run around in the grass. The best way to level up for the Let's Go Pikachu Let's Go Eevee Elite Four is the Chansey Chain.
Go to Cerulean Cave (if you’ve unlocked it) or the fields near Fuchsia City. Catching Chanseys in a row gives you a massive XP multiplier. We’re talking 10,000 to 50,000 XP in a single catch if you get a "Great" or "Excellent" throw with a synchronized Joy-Con toss. It’s broken. Use it.
Also, use your Candies. The AV (Awakened Values) system in Let's Go is different from EVs. You can technically max out every single stat of a Pokémon. If your Pikachu is hitting like a wet noodle, feed it some Lightning Candies. It makes a world of difference.
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Essential Items to Pack
- Full Restores: Buy at least 30. You’ll use them.
- Revives: Max Revives are better, but standard ones are fine.
- X-Attack / X-Defense: If you're really struggling, using a battle item on the first turn of a fight can give you the edge to sweep.
- No Berries: Remember, you can't give your Pokémon held items to eat mid-battle automatically. You have to use your turn to heal them.
The Secret to the Post-Game Elite Four
Once you beat them once, the Elite Four gets a massive power boost. They all get higher levels and their teams change slightly. For example, Lorelei adds an Alolan Sandslash to her roster.
This is where the real challenge lies. The "Rematch" Elite Four is designed for players who have started to master the mechanics. You’ll want to be at least Level 70 before you even think about stepping back into that building for a second round.
Real Talk: Why People Fail
Most players fail because they rely on a single Pokémon. The Elite Four is designed to cover each other's weaknesses. If you only use your starter, you’ll hit a wall with Agatha’s Ghost/Poison types or Lance’s Aerodactyl.
Variety is the literal point of the game. Even if you love your Eevee, let the rest of your team shine.
What to do next:
- Check your Movepool: Go to the Move Reminder in the Pokémon League lobby. Ensure your Pokémon have high-base power moves like Thunderbolt, Psychic, or Earthquake.
- Stock up on Ultra Balls: You’ll want them for the post-game legendary hunts after you clear the hall of fame.
- Go Catch a Dratini: If you don't have a Dragon-type of your own, head to Route 10 and start surfing. Having a Dragonite for the final fight makes things much smoother.
The Elite Four is a test of endurance more than anything. Keep your head down, keep your potions ready, and don't let Agatha's Gengar tilt you into making bad swaps. You've got this.