- Pokemon Renaissance Chapter 1 delivers 10-15 hours of content in the new Alderus region
- New regional forms: Bulbasaur (Ice/Grass), Charmander (Ground), Squirtle (Steel) completely change starter picks
- Side quests first: Doing Blue Coast Town quests before Route 1 makes your starter overleveled
- Six trainers gate the strong trainer Paul on Route 1 — beat them all before challenging him
- Chapter 1 ends at Clifton Sea before Serpentine Cave, where an evil team plants explosives
Getting Started in Pokemon Renaissance Chapter 1
Pokemon Renaissance Chapter 1 opens with one of the most stylish intros in any fan game: your character is selected through a misprinted Pokédex record at a corporate archive, complete with character customization (name, skin tone, eye color) before the story even begins. You play as a 17-year-old trainer racing your rival Thomas to Professor Blackthorn's lab in Blue Coast Town.
Difficulty can be changed at any time in the options menu (except Nightmare mode), so don't stress over the initial choice — Normal is a good baseline for a first playthrough. The official Project Renaissance Twitter confirms Chapter 1 offers 10-15 hours of content, 60+ new Pokémon, a custom soundtrack, and full English/French support.
Video Highlights:
- Full Chapter 1 opening, customization, and starter reveal
- All three new Alderus regional starter forms in action
- Blue Coast Town side quests and the hide-and-seek mini-quest
- Route 1 trainer battles and the rival fight vs. Thomas
- Double freeze clutch moment in the optional ruins duel
Pray at the shrine memorializing your parents, grab the free potion near your house, and collect the map and journal from your sister. These opening items cost nothing and cover early heals.
Starter Comparison: New Alderus Regional Forms
This is the hardest starter decision in any fan game because all three Kanto starters received Alderus regional forms with entirely new types.
| Starter | Alderus Type | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Ice/Grass | Strong special moves, Powder Snow freezes often | Fire (4x weak), Fighting |
| Charmander | Ground | Immune to Electric, powerful physical attacker | Water, Grass, Ice |
| Squirtle | Steel | Metal shell gives great defense, Bullet Punch priority | Fire, Fighting, Ground |
Bulbasaur (Ice/Grass)
- Powder Snow carries early fights
- Leech Seed + potions = stall wins
- Evolves to Ivysaur on Route 1
- Struggles vs. Steel Squirtle rival fight
Charmander (Ground)
- Electric immunity is huge long-term
- Best physical damage of the three
- Strong vs. rival Squirtle's Steel typing
Squirtle (Steel)
- Bullet Punch priority spam is dangerous
- Tanky against physical hits
- Water typing later adds coverage
Thomas picks the starter that counters yours. If you choose Bulbasaur, his Steel Squirtle spams priority Bullet Punch — stock potions and lean on Leech Seed to out-sustain him.
Blue Coast Town Side Quests Walkthrough
Blue Coast Town alone contains enough side content to hit roughly level 12 before ever stepping onto Route 1. Do these quests in order for maximum efficiency.
| Side Quest | giver | How to Complete | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berry Thief | Mergin, berry merchant | Track Kevin to Pokémon Center, then Matteo's house at night | Berry pack (hold in battle) |
| Photographer | Paul Vincent, artist | Photograph: shell beach, tall lighthouse, bridge (camera holds 3 shots) | Generous compensation |
| Hide-and-Seek | Lisa, near ruins | Find 4 Pokémon plus Lisa, then win her battle | Rare Candy, friendship item, Full Heal |
| Missing Marip | Bruno, farm owner | Talk to Robin, find Medi at night, get letter, investigate ruins | Items + money |
Accept Every Quest in Town
Talk to Mergin (berries), Paul Vincent (camera), Lisa (hide-and-seek), and Bruno at the farm before leaving. Grab free items: potion, Tiny Mushroom, Great Ball in the ruins area.
Explore Blue Coast Ruins
Catch wild Pokémon (Oddwig, Marip line encounters), find Lisa's hidden friends, and note the level 14 duo trainer — she is too strong for a fresh team. Return later around level 12-13 for revenge and a Dusk Ball-type reward.
Solve the Marip Mystery at Night
Book a room at the Pokémon Center to skip to night (this also boosts Pokémon happiness). Find Medi near the water, choose dialogue: ask about the farm, then confront him about the Marip theft, then battle (level 8). Deliver his letter to Robin, then return to the ruins to reunite Bruno with the mother Aemrost.
Finish the Berry Thief Chain
Give the hungry grandmother an Oran Berry for a lead, confront Kevin at the Pokémon Center, then follow the trail to Matteo's house. The merchant lets Kevin keep the berries for his sick mother — a wholesome ending plus your reward.
Collect the Camera Photos
Photo targets: the shell beach (south, ask the fisherman to step aside), the towering lighthouse, and the bridge toward Serpentine Cave. Hand all three to Paul Vincent.
At night, Nurse Joy is replaced by Fedison, who heals your team just as effectively — the Pokémon Center works around the clock.
Route 1 Trainers and the Rival Battle
Route 1 is not a straight line — it branches, hides items (Full Heal, X Attack), and gates its strongest trainer, Paul, behind six preliminary battles.
Route 1 progression notes:
- Wild encounters include Burby, Genie, Oddwig, and the adorable Marip line — all catchable early
- A guard near the lighthouse asks you to catch a Marip for his sick son Titoan; you receive old medicines and a heartfelt scene
- The ruins duo trainer (level 14) is optional — a double freeze from Powder Snow can clutch the win even at lower levels
- XP Share is on by default, keeping your whole team leveled
After defeating all six trainers and Paul, Thomas ambushes you at the bridge for the first rival battle. Martin, head of Azor Corporation R&D, then delivers your Pokédex and warns of an organization planting explosives in Serpentine Cave — your Chapter 1 endpoint teaser.
Lead with your strongest attacker, apply Leech Seed early if using the Bulbasaur line, and heal through Bullet Punch priority. Winning here gives you a clean head start into Chapter 2 content.
Chapter 1 Completion Checklist
Chapter 1 Essentials:
- Choose starter and reach Ivysaur (or first evolution)
- Complete all four Blue Coast Town side quests
- Defeat all six Route 1 trainers plus Paul
- Win the rival battle against Thomas at the bridge
- Receive the Pokédex from Martin at Clifton Sea
- Get your revenge on the level 14 ruins trainer
The game rewards exploration with rare items (Quick Claw, Miracle Seed, Shell Bell), and some encounters — like the mysterious rooftop Pokémon and the erased mailbox — hint at future chapters. Save before optional duels.
FAQ
Q: How long is Pokemon Renaissance Chapter 1?
Roughly 10-15 hours of content covering the new Alderus region's opening areas: Blue Coast Town, the ruins, Route 1, and Clifton Sea, with dozens of side quests and 60+ new Pokémon to discover.
Q: Which starter is best in Chapter 1?
There is no wrong pick. Bulbasaur's Ice/Grass Powder Snow dominates early routes, Charmander's Ground typing walls Electric types, and Squirtle's Steel shell plus Bullet Punch makes the rival fight easier. Choose based on your preferred playstyle.
Q: Can I change the difficulty later in Pokemon Renaissance?
Yes. Aside from Nightmare mode, you can change the difficulty parameter at any time in the options menu, and the choice has no impact on the amount of content you can access.
Q: Where does Chapter 1 end?
Chapter 1 concludes at Clifton Sea, just before Serpentine Cave. Martin warns that a mysterious organization is planting explosives inside the cave searching for something — the hook for the next chapter.