You’ve probably been there. You are deep into a FireRed nuzlocke or just a casual nostalgia trip, and you realize you absolutely do not want to spend four hours grinding Gastlys in Pokémon Tower. Or maybe you just want that Mewtwo before you even hit the third gym. Whatever the reason, using pokemon fire red emulator cheat codes is basically a rite of passage for GBA fans.
But here is the thing: most people mess this up.
They grab a random code from a 2005 forum, paste it into My Boy! or VisualBoyAdvance, and then wonder why their save file just turned into a screen of glitchy MissingNo garbage. It’s frustrating. Honestly, it’s avoidable. If you want to use GameShark or Action Replay codes without nuking your 40-hour save, you have to know which master codes actually work for your specific ROM version.
The Version 1.0 vs 1.1 Trap
Most players don't realize there are two main versions of the FireRed ROM floating around the internet. Version 1.0 (often called the "Squirrels" version in the ROM hacking community) and Version 1.1.
If your cheat isn't working, this is almost always the culprit.
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The codes for one usually won't work for the other. It’s like trying to put a Ford key into a Chevy; it looks similar, but nothing is going to happen. For the most popular emulator setups, you’ll need a Master Code enabled first. Think of this as the "key" that unlocks the game's memory so the other cheats can actually change things.
The Essential Master Codes
For Version 1.0, you’ll generally want to use this GameShark v3 (Action Replay) master code:
000014D1 000A1003DAE6 0007
If you are on Version 1.1, the string is different and usually looks like this:
3AF85ACA C4D18CEC8E883EFF 92E9660D
Seriously, don’t skip this. If you try to spawn a Celebi without the master code active, your game will likely just freeze the next time you walk into tall grass.
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Getting Unlimited Rare Candies and Master Balls
Let’s be real. These are the two reasons 90% of people look for cheats. You want the Rare Candy code because grinding is a chore, and you want the Master Ball code because catching Beldum or legendary birds is a nightmare.
Here is how you actually do it.
Instead of the code putting the item in your bag (which often breaks the bag's internal logic), the safest method is the "PC Storage" cheat. This modifies the first slot of your PC in the Pokémon Center.
- Rare Candy (PC Slot 1):
82025840 0044 - Master Ball (PC Slot 1):
82025840 0001
How to use it safely: 1. Enter the code.
2. Go to any PC in a Pokémon Center.
3. Access your item storage.
4. Withdraw one of the items.
5. The quantity might look weird (like a question mark or a 0), but once you withdraw it, it usually resets to 999.
6. Immediately disable the code. If you leave these codes on while you're playing, you risk the game trying to "overwrite" other items you pick up later. It’s a mess. Just get your 999 candies and get out.
Walking Through Walls: The Ultimate Shortcut
The "Walk Through Walls" (WTW) cheat is the most powerful tool in the kit, but it’s also the most dangerous. It literally lets you bypass every ledge, tree, and water tile in Kanto.
Use this GameShark code:
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509197D3 542975F478DA95DF 44018CB4
It’s great for skipping the annoying Strength puzzles in Seafoam Islands. However, there is a massive caveat. If you walk "out of bounds" too far or enter a door from the wrong side, you can trigger a "soft lock." This is where your character gets stuck in a black void, and if you save there, your game is dead.
Always, always keep a backup save state before you turn on WTW.
Encountering Any Pokémon You Want
The Wild Pokémon Modifier is a bit more complex. It usually requires two parts: a "Master" encounter code and a specific ID code for the Pokémon. For example, if you want to find a wild Mewtwo, you'd use the encounter toggle followed by the ID 83007CEE 0096.
- Articuno:
83007CEE 0090 - Zapdos:
83007CEE 0091 - Moltres:
83007CEE 0092 - Mew:
83007CEE 0097(Note: Mew often won't obey you if you catch it this way because the game knows it wasn't an "official" event encounter).
Why Your Emulator Might Be Refusing Codes
Sometimes you do everything right and the codes still fail. If you're using My Boy! on Android, make sure you've selected the correct "Cheat Type" in the menu. Usually, you have to toggle between "Auto-detect," "GameShark v3," and "CodeBreaker."
If "Auto-detect" fails, manually select CodeBreaker for 12-digit codes and GameShark v3 for the longer ones.
On PC, mGBA is generally the most stable choice in 2026. It handles cheat overflows much better than the old VisualBoyAdvance builds. If a code causes a siren-like buzzing sound or the screen turns white, it means the memory addresses are clashing. Restart the emulator, load an actual in-game save (not a save state), and try again with only one code active.
Pro-Tips for Staying Safe
- The Rule of Three: Never have more than three cheats active at once. The GBA's engine is old; it can't handle too many memory overrides at the same time.
- Save States vs. In-Game Saves: Cheats can sometimes corrupt a save state. Before you start cheating, save your game normally at a Pokémon Center.
- Check Your Bag: If you use an item cheat and your "Key Items" pocket suddenly has 50 Bicycle icons, do not save. Close the game immediately.
- The National Dex: If you use codes to get Johto or Hoenn Pokémon before beating the Elite Four, they won't evolve. The game literally blocks evolution for non-Kanto Pokémon until the National Dex is unlocked.
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most out of your FireRed experience without the headache, start by identifying your ROM version. You can usually see this in the emulator's "ROM Info" or by checking the internal header. Once you have that, apply the Master Code first. Test it with something simple like the "Infinite Money" code (3AF85ACA C4D18CEC 8E883EFF 92E9660D) to see if the values change in your trainer card. If that works, you’re golden to start adding the Rare Candies or specific encounters you’re looking for. Just remember to disable the codes as soon as the item is in your possession to keep the game engine stable.