List of 8F bootstrap setups

The 8F item in Pokémon Red and Blue is useful for Arbitrary code execution. However, it cannot be used "raw", since it executes code based on party Pokémon data, which is hard to manipulate.

Thus, Pokémon "bootstrap" setups need to be used to "redirect" execution flow to a part of memory easier to arrange - usually, items.

For convenience reasons, bootstraps make execution jump to the third item in the player's pack (usually the first two items are 8F and an item such as Master Balls, Escape Ropes, etc.).

US versions

5 Pokémon setup

Credits to pigdevil2010 for this setup, currently the most used and recommended.

The player's party Pokémon must be in a certain order and have certain stats :

1. Exactly 5 Pokémon
2. Pidgey as the first Pokémon
3. Parasect as the second Pokémon
4. Onix as the third Pokémon
5. Tentacool as the fourth Pokémon
6. Kangaskhan as the fifth Pokémon
7. Pidgey must have 233 HP

To obtain such a Pidgey, Rare Candy it up to Lv100, apply 5–6 HP Ups.

If needed get it poisoned, use a Max Potion (not Full Restore !), walk 4*(Pidgey's max HP-233) steps and cure the poison.

The bootstrap code translates to the following ASM :

Initial hl = D163

$D163 <- 05 || dec b
$D164 <- 24 || inc h  ; h = D2
$D165 <- 2E ||
$D166 <- 22 || ld l, 22 ; hl = D222
$D167 <- 18 ||
$D168 <- 02 || jr 2  ; pc = D16B
$D169 <- FF ||
$D16A <- FF ||
$D16B <- 24 || inc h  ; h = D3
$D16C <- 00 || nop
$D16D <- e9 || jp hl  ; pc = D322



6 Pokémon setup

Another setup allows any Pokémon at the front of the party :

1. 6 Pokémon
2. The first Pokémon does not matter
3. Pidgey as the second Pokémon
4. Parasect as the third Pokémon
5. Onix as the fourth Pokémon
6. Tentacool as the fifth Pokémon
7. Arbok as the sixth Pokémon
8. Pidgey must have 233 HP

The bootstrap code translates to the following ASM :

$D163 <- 06 ||
$D164 <- ?? || ld b, ??
$D165 <- 24 || inc h  ; h = D2
$D166 <- 2E ||
$D167 <- 22 || ld l, 22 ; hl = D222
$D168 <- 18 ||
$D169 <- 02 || jr 2D  ; pc = D197
(...)
$D197 <- 24 || inc h  ; h = D3
$D198 <- 00 || nop
$D199 <- E9 || jp hl  ; pc = D322

Legacy 6 Pokémon setup

This setup is difficult to obtain, quite volatile (PP-sensitive) and though it's outdated, it works and was the first to be so.

Credits goes to TheZZAZZGlitch.

1. 6 Pokémon
2. Onix as the first Pokémon
3. Pidgey as the second Pokémon
4. Tentacool as the third Pokémon
5. Meowth as the fourth Pokémon
6. The fifth and sixth Pokémon don't matter
7. 24 PP left on the second Pokémon's second move w/ 0 PP Ups used
8. 21 PP left on the second Pokémon's third move w/ 1 PP Up used
9. 36 PP left on the fourth Pokémon's first move w/ 0 PP Ups used
10. 24 PP left on the fourth Pokémon's second move w/ 0 PP Ups used
11. 20 PP left on the fourth Pokémon's third move w/ 0 PP Ups used
12. Double Team as the fifth Pokémon's first move
13. Double Kick as the fifth Pokémon's second move
14. Strength as the fifth Pokémon's third move
15. Sixth Pokémon's attack stat has to be exactly 233

Super-compact setup

Glitch Pokémon M p u is quite hard to obtain (it cannot be obtained via the Old man glitch nor the Trainer-Fly glitch, because a battle with a Trainer begins instead.

Also, since it is not "hl-jump" type, some setup will [b]not[/b] work if this setup is used.

1. 3, 4 or 5 Pokémon
2. h Poké as the first Pokémon
3. Onix as the second Pokémon
4. M p u as the third Pokémon
5. Other Pokémon don't matter

Or :

1. 6 Pokémon
2. First Pokémon doesn't matter
3. h Poké as the second Pokémon
4. Onix as the third Pokémon
5. M p u as the fourth Pokémon
6. The fifth and sixth Pokémon don't matter

EU versions

The general rule of thumb is to replace Onixes with Gravelers.

5 Pokémon setup

Credits to pigdevil2010 for this setup, currently the most used and recommended.

The player's party Pokémon must be in a certain order and have certain stats :

1. Exactly 5 Pokémon
2. Pidgey as the first Pokémon
3. Parasect as the second Pokémon
4. Graveler as the third Pokémon
5. Tentacool as the fourth Pokémon
6. Kangaskhan as the fifth Pokémon
7. Pidgey must have 233 HP

To obtain such a Pidgey, Rare Candy it up to Lv100, apply 5–6 HP Ups.

If needed get it poisoned, use a Max Potion (not Full Restore !), walk 4*(Pidgey's max HP-233) steps and cure the poison.

The bootstrap code translates to the following ASM :

Initial hl = D163

$D163 <- 05 || dec b
$D164 <- 24 || inc h  ; h = D2
$D165 <- 2E ||
$D166 <- 27 || ld l, 27 ; hl = D227
$D167 <- 18 ||
$D168 <- 02 || jr 2  ; pc = D16B
$D169 <- FF ||
$D16A <- FF ||
$D16B <- 24 || inc h  ; h = D3
$D16C <- 00 || nop
$D16D <- e9 || jp hl  ; pc = D327



6 Pokémon setup

Another setup allows any Pokémon at the front of the party :

1. 6 Pokémon
2. The first Pokémon does not matter
3. Pidgey as the second Pokémon
4. Parasect as the third Pokémon
5. Graveler as the fourth Pokémon
6. Tentacool as the fifth Pokémon
7. Arbok as the sixth Pokémon
8. Pidgey must have 233 HP

The bootstrap code translates to the following ASM :

$D163 <- 06 ||
$D164 <- ?? || ld b, ??
$D165 <- 24 || inc h  ; h = D2
$D166 <- 2E ||
$D167 <- 27 || ld l, 27 ; hl = D227
$D168 <- 18 ||
$D169 <- 02 || jr 2D  ; pc = D197
(...)
$D197 <- 24 || inc h  ; h = D3
$D198 <- 00 || nop
$D199 <- E9 || jp hl  ; pc = D327

Legacy 6 Pokémon setup

This setup is difficult to obtain, quite volatile (PP-sensitive) and though it's outdated, it works and was the first to be so.

Credits goes to TheZZAZZGlitch.

1. 6 Pokémon
2. Graveler as the first Pokémon
3. Pidgey as the second Pokémon
4. Tentacool as the third Pokémon
5. Meowth as the fourth Pokémon
6. The fifth and sixth Pokémon don't matter
7. 24 PP left on the second Pokémon's second move w/ 0 PP Ups used
8. 21 PP left on the second Pokémon's third move w/ 1 PP Up used
9. 36 PP left on the fourth Pokémon's first move w/ 0 PP Ups used
10. 24 PP left on the fourth Pokémon's second move w/ 0 PP Ups used
11. 20 PP left on the fourth Pokémon's third move w/ 0 PP Ups used
12. Double Team as the fifth Pokémon's first move
13. Double Kick as the fifth Pokémon's second move
14. Strength as the fifth Pokémon's third move
15. Sixth Pokémon's attack stat has to be exactly 233

Super-compact setup

Glitch Pokémon M p u is quite hard to obtain (it cannot be obtained via the Old man glitch nor the Trainer-Fly glitch, because a battle with a Trainer begins instead.

Also, since it is not "hl-jump" type, some setup will [b]not[/b] work if this setup is used.

1. 3, 4 or 5 Pokémon
2. h Poké as the first Pokémon
3. Graveler as the second Pokémon
4. M p u as the third Pokémon
5. Other Pokémon don't matter

Or :

1. 6 Pokémon
2. First Pokémon doesn't matter
3. h Poké as the second Pokémon
4. Graveler as the third Pokémon
5. M p u as the fourth Pokémon
6. The fifth and sixth Pokémon don't matter