Is Growlithe Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
FireRed only. AbilityIntimidate lowers the opponent's Attack on switch-in, the same upgrade Ekans got but on a much better Pokemon. Arcanine at Fire Stone is fast with high offense. Handles Erika, Koga, and Lorelei. AbilityFlash Fire is the alternative for Fire immunity. Vulpix fills this slot in LeafGreen.
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 Growlithe in FireRed & LeafGreen
FireRed exclusive with four grass encounters at uncommon rates. Growlithe shows up on a couple of mid-game routes and one late-game building.
Wild Growlithe may be holding when caught:
Rawst Berry (50% chance) When held by a Pokemon, it will be used in battle to heal a burn.3 locations to catch Growlithe
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7Where To Catch Growlithe in FRLG
Growlithe is your first catch on the way to Growlithe. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 15-32 across 6 total spots in the chain.
Step 2Evolve into ArcanineBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Four Island Pokemon Day Care to receive a Arcanine egg. Requires the Rainbow Pass to access Four Island.
Growlithe Weakness
Type-wise, Growlithe takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| 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 Growlithe Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Growlithe
 Squirtle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x158-188%KO Water Pulse 2x56-67% Rock Tomb 2x56-67% | ||
 Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x148-175%KO Water Pulse 2x48-58% Rock Tomb 2x52-63% | ||
 Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x90-106%KO Dig 2x48-58% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x131-156%KO Rock Tomb 2x69-81% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x158-188%KO Water Pulse 2x56-67% Rock Tomb 2x56-67% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x148-175%KO Water Pulse 2x48-58% Rock Tomb 2x52-63% | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x90-106%KO Dig 2x48-58% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x131-156%KO Rock Tomb 2x69-81% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x132-156%KO Rock Tomb 2x44-53% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Vaporeon builds →Waterfall 2x129-152%KO Dig 2x44-53% | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x122-144%KO Waterfall 2x80-95% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x157-186%KO Water Pulse 2x53-63% Rock Tomb 2x53-63% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x144-171%KO Water Pulse 2x49-58% Rock Tomb 2x49-58% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x152-179%KO Dig 2x47-56% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x137-162%KO Rock Tomb 2x47-56% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x129-153%KO Surf 2x97-115%KO | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x163-192%KO Surf 2x83-99% Rock Tomb 2x55-65% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x152-179%KO Surf 2x76-90% Rock Tomb 2x51-61% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x152-179%KO Dig 2x47-56% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x137-162%KO Rock Tomb 2x47-56% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x129-153%KO Surf 2x97-115%KO | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x163-192%KO Surf 2x83-99% Rock Tomb 2x55-65% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x149-176%KO Dig 2x46-54% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x130-154%KO Rock Tomb 2x44-52% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x125-148%KO Hydro Pump 2x115-137%KO | ||
 Blastoise Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Blastoise builds →Surf 2x122-144%KO Earthquake 2x89-106%KO | ||
 Dewgong WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodIcefall Cave Surfing | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x155-182%KO Dig 2x47-55% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x131-154%KO Hydro Pump 2x122-143%KO | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x135-159%KO Rock Tomb 2x45-54% | ||
 Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Omastar builds →Surf 2x161-189%KO Rock Tomb 2x56-67% Mud Shot 2x40-48% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x202-238%KO Rock Tomb 2x102-120%KO Surf 2x52-62% | ||
 Suicune Water | A | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Suicune builds →Surf 2x131-155%KO Dig 2x51-61% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Vaporeon builds →Hydro Pump 2x196-231%KO Dig 2x47-55% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x130-154%KO Hydro Pump 2x120-142%KO | ||
Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Omastar builds →Hydro Pump 2x203-239%KO Ancient Power 2x66-78% Mud Shot 2x40-47% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x136-160%KO Rock Tomb 2x46-54% | ||
Growlithe Evolutions
Growlithe doesn't evolve by leveling. You'll need an evolution item to push it forward to Arcanine. Evolving adds up to 205 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
FRLG Growlithe Best Moveset
Either AbilityIntimidate for Attack drops or AbilityFlash Fire absorbing Fire moves, both relevant on Arcanine. One evolution from where these abilities back real stats.
Best Build
Growlithe best EVs are HP and Sp. Atk
Special Tank Moveset
- Toxic
- Crunch
- Flamethrower
- Hidden Power Grass
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The egg pool carries weight here. Body Slam and Crunch aren't available any other way for Growlithe, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Overheat and Fire Blast for solid options.
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
Base Stats
Very friendly and faithful to people. It will try to repel enemies by barking and biting.
It is very protective of its territory. It will bark and bite to repel intruders from its space.
Growlithe FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
- When should I use the Fire Stone on Growlithe?
Wait until Growlithe reaches Lv. 43 before using the Fire Stone. Evolving earlier permanently locks Growlithe out of Take Down, Flame Wheel, and Agility, moves Arcanine cannot relearn.
- Lv. 25learns Take Down
- Lv. 31learns Flame Wheel
- Lv. 43learns Agility
- Lv. 43+Use the Fire Stone
- Is Growlithe exclusive to FireRed or LeafGreen?
Growlithe is exclusive to Pokemon FireRed. LeafGreen players have to trade for one.
See the Locations section above for where to find Growlithe 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. - How do I evolve Growlithe into Arcanine in FireRed & LeafGreen?
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Growlithe has appeared in 21 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received a Hisuian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
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