What is the best Pokemon in FireRed and LeafGreen?

For in-game playthroughs, Nidoking is hard to beat. You can evolve it before Misty using a Moon Stone from Mt. Moon, and its movepool covers almost every type. Alakazam hits 135 Sp. Atk with 120 Speed, making it the fastest special sweeper available. Gyarados and Starmie round out the S-Tier picks that carry teams through the Elite Four.

What is the best team for a FireRed and LeafGreen playthrough?

A solid six would be your starter, Nidoking (available before Cerulean City), Gyarados (Magikarp from the Old Rod), Alakazam (trade-evolve Kadabra), Snorlax (one of two blocking Routes 12 and 16), and a Flying-type like Dodrio for Fly. That covers every type matchup you'll face through the main story and Elite Four.

Why is Psychic type so strong in FRLG?

Gen 3 didn't give Dark or Ghost types many good offensive moves. Psychic's only real checks were other Psychic-types and the rare Pursuit user. Alakazam, Starmie, and Espeon all rank high because they hit hard and fast with almost nothing to wall them. Steel-types resist Psychic, but most Steel Pokemon in FRLG are slow and don't threaten back.

Are legendary Pokemon available in FireRed and LeafGreen?

Yes, but most come late. The three Legendary Birds ( Articuno , Zapdos , Moltres ) are catchable before the Elite Four. Mewtwo is post-game only, locked behind Cerulean Cave after you beat the Champion. They're all S-Tier on this list, but you won't have them for most of your playthrough.

How does the FRLG tier list ranking work?

Pokemon are ranked by how useful they are across a full FRLG playthrough. Base stats, typing, movepool depth, and how early you can get them all factor in. A 600 BST Pokemon you can only catch in the post-game matters less than a 500 BST pick you grab before the second gym. Browse the full roster in the FRLG Pokedex .

Is Nidoking really that good in FireRed and LeafGreen?

It's one of the best Pokemon in the entire game. You catch Nidoran before Mt. Moon, evolve it with the Moon Stone inside the cave, and have a fully evolved Pokemon before most trainers finish their second badge. Its movepool is massive: Earthquake, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Sludge Bomb, Rock Slide. It covers almost every type weakness your team might have.

What Pokemon should you avoid in FRLG?

Most late-game catches with slow leveling curves aren't worth the effort. Dratini needs heavy grinding to reach Dragonite, and by the time it evolves you're already at the Elite Four. Pokemon with crippling abilities (like Slaking's Truant) or slow setup requirements also underperform compared to simpler picks that work right out of the box.

Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen Tier List

FRLG runs on the Gen 3 engine, and that changes the tier rankings compared to the full national dex. There's no Fairy type to check Dragons, movepools are more limited than modern games, and the roster tops out at Gen 3. Alakazam and Starmie are top threats here because Psychic types had fewer counters before Dark and Ghost got real offensive options. Nidoking punches above its BST thanks to an absurdly wide movepool. These rankings are tuned to what's available and viable in FireRed and LeafGreen, not the full national dex.