7 Pokemons You Must Catch In FireRed/LeafGreen; How to Do It

Pokemons that are under the radar but will make your playthrough easy.
How and where can you obtain these Pokemons.
How certain Type Matchups can help you win difficult fights.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen were released in 2004 and now with a re-release on switch, the game is getting more attraction as more and more people are diving into Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen with their Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Re-Release of Old GBA Pokemon Games

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen were a big deal when they initially came out in 2004. The series has moved on to the Game Boy Advance(GBA), so the cast of original 151 Pokemons was stuck on the previous generation of handhelds. These are now are brought back to the present day, letting players trade them through latest games Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald.

Now a new generation of fans is experiencing FireRed and LeafGreen with the title getting a re-released on Nintendo Switch this February, 2026. While many Pokemon like the Kanto Starters have remained popular through the years, many more from FireRed and LeafGreen are still underrated and would be a perfect fit for a new playthrough.

Here’s a list of Pokemons that you should try in your next playthrough.

Electrode – The Electric Ball Pokemon

There’s a lot that goes into battle, but ultimately whether a player attacks first or second can be the difference between winning and losing. It’s great for Electrode that it is about as fast as they come. With Gen-3 games, the only Pokemon that outspeeds Electrode are Deoxys and Ninjask. Electrode is easy to overlook considering Voltorb is only found in and around the optional power plant area. Even the legendary bird Zapdos is a stronger electrical option. Electrode is still a great Pokemon to keep around as it access the moves like Self-Destruct and Explosion that can immediately knock out most opponents, and its speed ensures it can hit that attack first.

Can be found in Power plant on Route 10 as Electrode or catch a Voltorb which evolves into Electrode at level 30.

Dodrio – The Triple Bird Pokemon

It’s so easy to use Pidgeot as a team’s flying Pokemon. As Pidgey is available in the earliest route in the game (Route 1) and when it’s time for the Elite Four, Pigeon is one of the strongest flying Pokemon. The truth though is that another bird might actually be better. In relation to Pidgeot, the issues with Dodrio is that it’s only first accessible in Celeron City area, which is a decent way into the game.

It actually shines over Pigeot in some key ways, it can learn Drill Peck, one of the best flying moves in the game. It also gets Tri Attack, which has the chance to either Freeze, Paralyze, or Burn the target. Stats wise Dodrio and Pidgeot are comparable, their base stats is about the same, but Dodrio is superior in both Attack and Speed. The main thing Pigeot really has is its availability for significantly more of the game, but later in the adventure Its better to swap to a Dodrio.

Dodrio is not found in the wild, so players must first catch a Doduo, which is found on Routes 16, 17, and 18 (near Celadon City/Fuchsia City) and in the Safari Zone. Then evolve it at level 31.

Cloyster – The Seashell Pokemon

There are so many options for water types in the 1st Gen, with the starter Blastoise and the high powered Gyarados being amongst the most popular choices. Overshadowed is the bulky Cloyster, though it’s not particularly fast and has decent Special Defense, it has solid Attack and Special Attack stats and its Defense is the highest of any other available in the base game FireRed and LeafGreen. It is a good choice as it’s half Ice-typing, there aren’t that many Ice-types in the game. Cloyster will especially be useful for taking down Lance’s Dragon Pokemons in the Elite Four.

Cloyster is not found in the wild, so players must first catch a Shellder using a Super Rod in areas like Cinnabar Island or Route 11, then evolve it using a water stone.

Poliwrath – The Tadpole Pokemon

Poliwrath has a similar issue to Cloyster. There are so many water Pokemon that Poliwrath is easy to ignore, but that can’t been said for the creator “Satoshi Tajiri“, who has called Polywag as his favourite Pokemon. The iconic swirl on its belly was inspired by the tadpole Tajiri enjoyed catching as a kid, as they had translucent stomach through which their intestines were visible. Perhaps this is why Poliwrath is quietly one of the best Water types in the game.

While Polywag and Polywhirl are pure Water types, it gains the Fighting type when it evolves to Poliwrath. Water/Fighting was a unique type combination. Poliwrath also has well rounded base stats, and it’s also a fun fighting alternative to Primeape, Machamp, Hitmonlee, and Hitmonchan.

Poliwrath is not found directly in the wild, find Poliwag or Poliwhirl by fishing with a Super Rod in various water locations (like Route 6, 22, 23, 25, or Four Island), then evolve them at Level 25 and finally use a water stone.

Marowak – The Bone Keeper Pokemon

Marowak actually plays a central role in FireRed and LeafGreen, as a battle against the ghost of a dead Marowak is one of the final challenges while ascending Pokemon Tower in Lavender Town. Marowak is one of the very few pure Ground types in the 1st Gen alongside Diglett and Sandshrew evolutions. Marowak’s Defense is high but other than that its stats are normal.

It gets interesting when it holds the Thick Club item, which only 5% of Marowak and Cubone have when caught in the wild. The Thick Club doubles Marowak’s Attack boosting the stats to among the highest value one’s in the game. Paired with a relatively diverse moveset with TMs, and Marowak is most threatening then it may initially be seen as.

Marowak are primarily found on Victory Road (1F and 2F) with a low 4–5% encounter rate, or can be evolved from a Cubone at level 28.

Tauros – The Wild Bull Pokemon

It would be easy to play FireRed and LeafGreen without ever seeing a Taurus. It can only be found in two areas of Safari Zone and is an extremely rare encounter in both spots. Then there’s the task of actually catching it with the Safari Zone’s unique and often frustrating capture mechanics. Considering the game offers two Snorlax for free, players would lean more for choosing one of them instead of Taurus if they want a normal type on their team.

Taurus is compatible with TMs and HMs, like Surf, Toxic, Blizzard, Solar Beam, Iron Tail, Thunder, Earthquake, Flamethrower, and Rock Tomb. Which can be effectively provide some excellent coverage, since its a Normal type. it’s only weak to just Fighting moves and Ghost types are immune its normal type attacks.

Tauros is exclusively found in the Safari Zone, specifically in Areas 2 and 3.

Hypno – The Hypnosis Pokemon

Alakazam clearly the topic for Psychic type from Kanto, but in Gen 3 its Special Defense was lowered. And Abra is available early in the game, even if you can’t trade it to evolve into an Alakazam. Kadabra is still one of the best Special Attackers in the game, this overshadows Hypno. Which isn’t quite as good as Alakazam and can be found as a Drowzee just a little bit later into the adventure.

If you’re unable to get an Alakazam, Hypno is a good Psychic alternative. It’s not as fast or as strong in Special Attack, but every other stat is better than both Kadabra and Alakazam. Hypno can learn some Dark, Ghost, and Fighting Moves, making it a solid utility for the team.

Hypno is primarily found in the Berry Forest on Three Island or can be evolved from a Drowzee at level 26.