Is Arcanine Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
Switch-in Attack drops on every entry. AbilityIntimidate makes Arcanine one of FRLG's best: raw power, Speed, and team support from one slot. Handles Erika, Lorelei, and contributes against Bruno. AbilityFlash Fire offers Fire immunity instead. Either ability works. FireRed only.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.
Misty's team hits Growlithe's weaknesses hard.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Arcanine resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.
Lance's team hits Arcanine's weaknesses hard.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Terry's team.
Catch Growlithe on Route 8 (walking, Lv 15-18, uncommon).
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- LV 25NormalTake Down9085%20
- After Erika
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- LV 31FireFlame Wheel90100%25
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- LV 49FireFlamethrower135100%15
- After Giovanni
- TM50FireOverheat19590%5
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
You can buy the Fire Stone at the Celadon Department Store on the 4th floor (₽2,100). 1 other location is also available.
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- After Erika
- TM35FireFlamethrower135100%15
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- LV 49NormalExtreme Speed80100%5
- After Giovanni
- TM50FireOverheat19590%5
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
How to Get Arcanine in FireRed & LeafGreen
Fire Stone on Growlithe. FireRed exclusive chain since Growlithe is version-locked. No wild Arcanine in FRLG.
Wild Arcanine may be holding when caught:
Rawst Berry (50% chance) When held by a Pokemon, it will be used in battle to heal a burn.Catch Growlithe at any of these 3 spots to eventually evolve into Arcanine.
Encountered via tall grass encounters
- 1Catch Growlithe
- 2Evolve ArcanineUse Fire Stone
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7How to Obtain Arcanine in FRLG
The path to Arcanine starts with Growlithe at Lv. 15-32 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 2Arcanine ✓BREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Four Island Pokemon Day Care to receive a Arcanine egg. Requires the Rainbow Pass to access Four Island.
Arcanine Weakness
Arcanine's Fire typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Ground, and Rock. The Fire typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. With 90 HP and balanced defenses, Arcanine can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Arcanine Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Arcanine
 Squirtle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x90-107%KO Water Pulse 2x34-41% Rock Tomb 2x31-37% | ||
 Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x81-97% Water Pulse 2x31-37% Rock Tomb 2x29-34% | ||
 Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x51-61% Dig 2x29-34% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x76-92% Rock Tomb 2x42-51% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x90-107%KO Water Pulse 2x34-41% Rock Tomb 2x31-37% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x81-97% Water Pulse 2x31-37% Rock Tomb 2x29-34% | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x51-61% Dig 2x29-34% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x76-92% Rock Tomb 2x42-51% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x71-84% Rock Tomb 2x25-30% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Vaporeon builds →Waterfall 2x71-84% Dig 2x25-30% | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x66-78% Waterfall 2x45-54% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x84-99% Water Pulse 2x30-36% Rock Tomb 2x28-34% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x79-93% Water Pulse 2x27-32% Rock Tomb 2x27-32% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x86-102%KO Dig 2x25-30% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x72-86% Rock Tomb 2x25-30% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x66-79% Surf 2x54-64% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x86-102%KO Surf 2x46-55% Rock Tomb 2x30-36% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x79-94% Surf 2x42-50% Rock Tomb 2x27-32% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x86-102%KO Dig 2x25-30% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x72-86% Rock Tomb 2x25-30% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x66-79% Surf 2x54-64% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x86-102%KO Surf 2x46-55% Rock Tomb 2x30-36% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x83-98% Dig 2x24-28% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x69-81% Rock Tomb 2x24-28% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x65-77% Hydro Pump 2x65-77% | ||
 Blastoise Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Blastoise builds →Surf 2x69-81% Earthquake 2x47-55% | ||
 Dewgong WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodIcefall Cave Surfing | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x86-102%KO Dig 2x24-29% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x67-79% Hydro Pump 2x68-80% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x71-84% Rock Tomb 2x24-29% | ||
 Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Omastar builds →Surf 2x89-105%KO Rock Tomb 2x29-35% Mud Shot 2x21-25% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x105-124%KO Rock Tomb 2x54-64% Surf 2x30-35% | ||
 Suicune Water | A | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Vaporeon builds →Hydro Pump 2x107-126%KO Dig 2x24-28% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x67-78% Hydro Pump 2x66-78% | ||
Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Omastar builds →Hydro Pump 2x111-131%KO Ancient Power 2x33-40% Mud Shot 2x21-25% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x70-82% Rock Tomb 2x24-28% | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Forretress's Explosion hits Arcanine for 69-81%.
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityKeeneye ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin14-17% Explosion69-81% Earthquake 2x55-65% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityOblivious ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Jynx builds →Ice Beam16-18% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySwarm ItemSalacberry NatureJolly Moves View Scizor builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemSalacberry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Arcanine View Glalie builds →Explosion56-66% Ice Beam9-11% | ||
Arcanine Evolutions
Arcanine evolved from Growlithe's chain using an evolution item. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Growlithe eggs (average hatch time). The evolution from Growlithe pushed Arcanine to 555 total stats. Attack saw the largest single gain at +40. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Arcanine to get Growlithe eggs easily using 102 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Body Slam, Crunch, Fire Spin and 4 more.
FRLG Arcanine Best Moveset
110 Attack and 100 Sp. Atk hit from both sides, but all Fire moves use the Special stat, not Attack. AbilityIntimidate drops opponent Attack on every switch-in. The moveset works mixed: MoveFlamethrower from the special side and MoveExtreme Speed for priority physical damage that bypasses Speed entirely.
Best Build
Arcanine best EVs are Attack and Sp. Atk
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Extreme Speed
- Overheat
- Hidden Power Fighting
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
You'll want to breed for Body Slam and Crunch on Arcanine. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Overheat and Fire Blast, they expand what Arcanine can actually threaten in practice.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
A POKéMON that is described in Chinese legends. It is said to race at an unbelievable speed.
A POKéMON that has long been admired for its beauty. It runs agilely as if on wings.
Arcanine FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
- Why can't I find Arcanine in LeafGreen?
Arcanine is exclusive to Pokemon FireRed. LeafGreen players have to trade for one.
See the Locations section above for where to find Arcanine in FireRed.
How to trade in FireRed and LeafGreen
GBA cartridges: You need a Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable and both players' FireRed/LeafGreen cartridges. Trade at the Cable Club on the 2nd floor of any Pokemon Center, which opens up shortly after Oak gives you the Pokedex.Nintendo Switch (2026 release): Trading uses local wireless only. There is no online play, and no Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required. Both players head to the Pokemon Wireless Club on the 2nd floor of any Pokemon Center, then step into a Union Room. Up to four other players can join. Available once you have the Pokedex from Professor Oak.
Game Availability
Available since Red & Blue, Arcanine appears in 21 games spanning 10 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Hisuian form in Generation 8.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves