The Mushroom Pokemon. Found in Mt. Moon. Paras is forgettable on its own, but Parasect gets Spore: a 100% accurate sleep move and one of Gen 1's best.
295HP35Attack70Defense55Speed25Sp.Def55Sp.Atk55
Paras
Parasect
Weak to
Mixed
Balanced
25Speed · Very Slow

Is Paras Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Paras is one of the slowest Pokemon in the game, and the Bug/Grass typing creates a painful list of weaknesses. MoveSpore is the one saving grace. 100% accuracy sleep is powerful for catching legendaries. Outside of that, Paras doesn't contribute much to a team.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTEGGEGESGGETEBrockGym 1ParasCatchableMistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ParasectEvolveErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Paras's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Avoid
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Paras trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Good

Paras has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
You Win
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Good

Parasect has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

You Win
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
You Win
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Parasect trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

Even
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
Even
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Risky
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Good

Parasect has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.

Easy KO
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
Easy KO
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
You Win
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Parasect trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Strong

Parasect resists most of Giovanni's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
Easy KO
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Good

Parasect has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
You Win
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Parasect has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Parasect trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Tough

Lance's typing presses Parasect's defenses.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Avoid
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Parasect trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Risky
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Easy KO
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStomp
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 63
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Avoid
Charizard
Lv 65
FireFlying
Blaze
RageSlashFire BlastFire Spin

Catchable

Available after Badge 1
Type
BugGrass
Tier
E

Catch Paras in Mt. Moon (walking, Lv 8, rare).

View Paras locations

Evolve Paras to Parasect

Level 24
Type
BugGrass
Tier
E

Paras evolves into Parasect at Level 24. Your Paras should hit Level 24 before you reach Erika, at typical leveling pace.

View Parasect locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Paras in Red & Blue

Paras keeps to Mt. Moon and the Safari Zone, uncommon at all ten spots in both versions. Steady but never plentiful, with no single standout location.

2 locations to catch Paras

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6

Where To Catch Paras in RB

Paras is the chain's first catch. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 8-64 across 18 total spots in the chain.

To plan your throws, open the Red & Blue catch rate calculator with Paras preloaded.

Paras Weakness

Type-wise, Paras takes extra damage from Fire, Poison, Flying, Ice, Bug, and Rock. Watch out for Fire, Poison, and Flying attacks, those deal 4x damage. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses.

Paras Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Fire, Poison, Flying
2x (Weak)Ice, Bug, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Water, Electric, Fighting
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Ground
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Paras Weak Against

Fragile
6Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Score-11
¼xResist
0xImmune
None

What is Paras Strong Against

6Strong
2Resisted
0Immune
Score+4
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Paras

C
Spearow
Spearow
NormalFlying
C
Pidgey
Pidgey
NormalFlying
D
Geodude
Geodude
RockGround
C
Beedrill
Beedrill
BugPoison
C

Paras Evolutions

Paras starts a line toward Parasect. Can't breed this Bug/Grass type (295 stats), so keep the evolution path going. Evolving adds up to 110 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Paras
BugGrass
Parasect
BugGrass
HP
35
60+25
ATK
70
95+25
DEF
55
80+25
SP.ATK
45
60+15
SP.DEF
55
80+25
SPE
25
30+5
BST
285E-Tier
405E-Tier+120
ROLE
Balanced
Trick Room
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Paras Best Moveset

Bug/Grass pre-evolution with MoveSpore (100%% accurate sleep) but stats too frail to survive long enough to use it reliably. Four weaknesses to Fire don't help. The one move worth having on a frame that can't support it.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Paras
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Leech LifeSTAB
  • Skull Bash
  • Solar BeamSTAB
  • Double Edge

Moves List

TMs carry this one. Paras learns Solar Beam and Leech Life naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Ground and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Scratch
—4010035Normal
Lv 13
Stun Spore
C—7530Grass
Lv 20
Leech Life
S3010010Bug
Lv 27
Spore
D—10015Grass
Lv 34
Slash
D7010020Normal
Lv 41
Growth
D——20Normal

TM Moves

All 17 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
D8510015Normal
HM01
CutS.S. Annebadge 2
—509530Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
S12010015Normal
TM21D6010010Grass
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
S10010010Normal
TM22
Solar BeamPokémon Mansionbadge 6
S18010010Grass
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM03
Swords DanceSilph Co.badge 5
C——30Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Paras can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP35
F
Attack70
C
Defense55
D
Sp. Atk55
D
Sp. Def55
D
Speed25
F
Total295
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.3 m
Weight5.4 kg
Base XP57
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

Burrows to suck tree roots. The mushrooms on its back grow by drawing nutrients from the bug host.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Paras Red & Blue Guide

  • How do I catch Paras in the Red & Blue Safari Zone?

    See the Locations section above for where to find Paras in Red & Blue.

    Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:

    • Throw bait to keep Paras from fleeing (flee rate cut to 1/4) but it becomes harder to catch (catch factor halved).
    • Throw a rock to make Paras easier to catch (catch factor doubled) but it flees twice as often.
    • Each effect lasts 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other.
  • For Red & Blue, you can run Paras through the first few routes without issues. 295 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Parasect as fast as you can.

Game Availability

One of the original 151, Paras has appeared in 19 games: most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.

Explore

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