Best Starter in Pokemon Red and Blue
Squirtle is the best starter in Red and Blue, with 8 wins in 13 rated boss fights. It has Bubble from Lv 8 and is rated Strong against Brock, where Bulbasaur and Charmander are both Tough. It's slow to finish, though. The Red and Blue evolution levels put Blastoise at Lv 36, four levels after Venusaur.
Red and Blue Starter Evolutions and Stats
Bulbasaur
Final form: Venusaur
grass
poison
Base statsVenusaur
- Total
- 425
| Boss | Result and score out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Brock | Tough, 28.6 |
| Misty | Good, 61.3 |
| Lt. Surge | Even, 53.0 |
| Erika | Tough, 36.5 |
| Koga | Even, 43.4 |
| Sabrina | Even, 44.7 |
| Blaine | Even, 44.1 |
| Giovanni | Strong, 75.8 |
| Lorelei | Good, 69.4 |
| Bruno | Strong, 75.4 |
| Agatha | Tough, 29.8 |
| Lance | Even, 45.4 |
| Blue | Even, 49.9 |
Wins 4 of 13
Charmander
Final form: Charizard
fire
flyingEvolution
Base statsCharizard
- Total
- 425
| Boss | Result and score out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Brock | Tough, 39.8 |
| Misty | Tough, 31.3 |
| Lt. Surge | Good, 63.0 |
| Erika | Good, 63.1 |
| Koga | Good, 64.7 |
| Sabrina | Even, 53.5 |
| Blaine | Even, 55.1 |
| Giovanni | Good, 58.5 |
| Lorelei | Even, 54.8 |
| Bruno | Even, 56.4 |
| Agatha | Good, 60.5 |
| Lance | Tough, 37.2 |
| Blue | Even, 51.2 |
Wins 5 of 13
Squirtle
Final form: Blastoise
water
Base statsBlastoise
- Total
- 425
| Boss | Result and score out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Brock | Strong, 79.2 |
| Misty | Tough, 35.6 |
| Lt. Surge | Good, 58.3 |
| Erika | Tough, 37.8 |
| Koga | Good, 64.9 |
| Sabrina | Even, 50.6 |
| Blaine | Strong, 76.2 |
| Giovanni | Strong, 81.0 |
| Lorelei | Even, 46.8 |
| Bruno | Strong, 72.7 |
| Agatha | Good, 59.8 |
| Lance | Even, 51.6 |
| Blue | Good, 57.0 |
Most wins: 8 of 13
- Strong
- Good
- Even
- Tough
- Bad
- Score 50
Red and Blue Boss Fights, Rated for Each Starter
13 fights in story orderSquirtle's two Tough fights both come before Blastoise: Misty's Starmie, then Erika's grass team in Celadon City. After it evolves at Lv 36, it's rated Strong against Blaine, Giovanni and Bruno.
Each cell is that starter's rating for the fight, scored 0 to 100. Tap a row for the boss team.
Ratings come from our matchup model: your starter's form, level, moves and stats at each fight against that boss team. Not a tier list.
| Boss |  Bulbasaur |  Charmander |  Squirtle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gyms · 8 | 2 won · 2 Tough | 4 won · 2 Tough | 5 won · 2 Tough |
Tough28.6 | Tough39.8 | Strong79.2 | |
Good61.3 | Tough31.3 | Tough35.6 | |
Even53.0 | Good63.0 | Good58.3 | |
Tough36.5 | Good63.1 | Tough37.8 | |
Even43.4 | Good64.7 | Good64.9 | |
Even44.7 | Even53.5 | Even50.6 | |
Even44.1 | Even55.1 | Strong76.2 | |
Strong75.8 | Good58.5 | Strong81.0 | |
| Pokemon League · 5 | 2 won · 1 Tough | 1 won · 1 Tough | 3 won · 0 Tough |
Good69.4 | Even54.8 | Even46.8 | |
Strong75.4 | Even56.4 | Strong72.7 | |
Tough29.8 | Good60.5 | Good59.8 | |
Even45.4 | Tough37.2 | Even51.6 | |
Even49.9 | Even51.2 | Good57.0 |
Earlier rival battles are not rated. The Champion is your rival, and that fight is rated.
Best Team for Each Red and Blue Starter
5 teammates per starter · all obtainable in Red & BlueMr. Mime, Jynx and Haunter, 2nd to 4th in Squirtle's Red and Blue ranking, are all on its team. Two of the five are in-game trades: an Abra for Mr. Mime on Route 2 and a Poliwhirl for Jynx in Cerulean City. Dugtrio, a rare catch, joins before Lt. Surge.
- BrockTough 29
- ErikaTough 36
- AgathaTough 30
This team wins 12 of 13 boss fights. It wins 2 of Bulbasaur's 3 Tough or Bad fights; no teammate you can catch in time wins Brock.
Between them, the team resists every type Bulbasaur is weak to.
- Clefable
normalThe only teammate that wins Erika, where Bulbasaur is Tough
Where: Mt. Moon 1F, rareWhen: Before Gym 2 (Misty)Level: Lv 8
- ErikaGood 62
- KogaGood 70
- BlaineGood 63
- Gyaradoswaterflying
Good or Strong in 2 of the last 4 boss fights
Where: Mt. Moon Pokemon Center, you buy it for 500When: Before Gym 2 (Misty)Level: Lv 5
- KogaGood 62
- BlaineStrong 78
- BlueGood 63
- Haunter
ghostpoison4th of 64 Red teammates in our boss-fight scores (4th of 65 in Blue)
Where: Pokemon Tower 3F, rareWhen: Before Gym 5 (Koga)Level: Lv 25
You catch it as Haunter.
- KogaStrong 81
- AgathaGood 66
- LanceGood 67
- Rhydon
ground
rockGood or Strong in 7 of 9 fights after you catch it
Where: Safari Zone CenterWhen: Before Gym 5 (Koga)Level: Lv 25
- KogaGood 69as Rhyhorn
- BlaineStrong 79
- AgathaGood 65
- Starmiewater
psychic1st of 64 Red teammates in our boss-fight scores (1st of 65 in Blue)
Where: Route 19, with the Super RodWhen: Before Gym 7 (Blaine)Level: Lv 15
- BlaineStrong 83
- AgathaStrong 75
- BlueGood 68
- BrockTough 40
- MistyTough 31
- LanceTough 37
This team wins 11 of 13 boss fights. It wins 1 of Charmander's 3 Tough or Bad fights; it doesn't win Misty, and no teammate you can catch in time wins Brock.
Between them, the team resists every type Charmander is weak to.
- Clefablenormal
Good or Strong in 10 of 12 fights after you catch it
Where: Mt. Moon 1F, rareWhen: Before Gym 2 (Misty)Level: Lv 8
- BlaineGood 63
- BrunoGood 64
- LanceGood 59
- Dugtrioground
Good or Strong in 7 of 11 fights after you catch it
Where: Digletts Cave, rareWhen: Before Gym 3 (Lt. Surge)Level: Lv 29 to 31
You catch it as Dugtrio.
- SabrinaGood 62
- BlaineStrong 77
- BrunoGood 63
- Mr. Mimepsychic
2nd of 63 Red teammates in our boss-fight scores (2nd of 64 in Blue)
Where: Route 2 Trade House, in-game trade (you give an Abra)When: Before Gym 3 (Lt. Surge)Level: Lv 8
Doesn't evolve.
- BlaineGood 61
- BrunoStrong 84
- LanceGood 58
- Haunterghostpoison
4th of 63 Red teammates in our boss-fight scores (4th of 64 in Blue)
Where: Pokemon Tower 3F, rareWhen: Before Gym 5 (Koga)Level: Lv 25
You catch it as Haunter.
- LoreleiGood 64
- BrunoStrong 83
- LanceGood 67
- Starmiewaterpsychic
1st of 63 Red teammates in our boss-fight scores (1st of 64 in Blue)
Where: Route 19, with the Super RodWhen: Before Gym 7 (Blaine)Level: Lv 15
- BlaineStrong 83
- BrunoStrong 88
- LanceGood 67
- MistyTough 36
- ErikaTough 38
This team wins 12 of 13 boss fights. It wins 1 of Squirtle's 2 Tough or Bad fights; it doesn't win Misty.
Between them, the team resists every type Squirtle is weak to.
- Dugtrioground
Good or Strong in 7 of 11 fights after you catch it
Where: Digletts Cave, rareWhen: Before Gym 3 (Lt. Surge)Level: Lv 29 to 31
You catch it as Dugtrio.
- Lt. SurgeStrong 86
- SabrinaGood 62
- BlaineStrong 77
- Mr. Mimepsychic
2nd of 63 Red teammates in our boss-fight scores (2nd of 64 in Blue)
Where: Route 2 Trade House, in-game trade (you give an Abra)When: Before Gym 3 (Lt. Surge)Level: Lv 8
Doesn't evolve.
- ErikaGood 68
- LoreleiGood 58
- LanceGood 58
- Haunterghostpoison
4th of 63 Red teammates in our boss-fight scores (4th of 64 in Blue)
Where: Pokemon Tower 3F, rareWhen: Before Gym 5 (Koga)Level: Lv 25
You catch it as Haunter.
- LoreleiGood 64
- BrunoStrong 83
- LanceGood 67
- Jynx
icepsychic3rd of 63 Red teammates in our boss-fight scores (3rd of 64 in Blue)
Where: Cerulean Trade House, in-game trade (you give a Poliwhirl)When: Before Gym 5 (Koga)Level: Lv 23
Doesn't evolve.
- SabrinaGood 59
- BrunoStrong 80
- LanceGood 68
- Taurosnormal
Good or Strong in 7 of 9 fights after you catch it
Where: Safari Zone West, rareWhen: Before Gym 5 (Koga)Level: Lv 26
Doesn't evolve.
- SabrinaGood 63
- LoreleiGood 62
- LanceGood 65
Every teammate is a wild catch, one you buy or an in-game trade in Red & Blue, with no trading between games. It counts only for fights after you can catch it, and an evolution only once you can reach its item. Rare means under 1 in 10 wild encounters there. Teammates are ranked by how they do in the boss fights after you catch them, and a late catch ranks lower because it misses fights. At least two of the five join before a quarter of the boss fights are done. Every teammate is in the top third of that ranking. No two of the six (your starter and its five teammates) have exactly the same typing, and no type appears on more than two of them or hits more than two for super effective damage. The six always include a physical attacker, a special attacker, a fast Pokemon and a bulky one. Wins in your starter's Tough or Bad fights count extra, and legendary and mythical Pokemon are left out. Scores come from the Boss fights model, for the teammate's form at that fight.
Key Moves for Each Red and Blue Starter
Hydro Pump only comes at Lv 52, as Blastoise, so Water Gun from Lv 15 does much of Squirtle's work in Red and Blue. Charizard's Flamethrower is late too, at Lv 46, and Squirtle's Red and Blue page lists every move in between.
| Lv | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Grass, Status | grass Status | Status | None |
| 13 | Grass, Special, power 35 | grass Special | Special | 35 |
| Evolves to Ivysaur at Lv 16 | ||||
| 30 | Grass, Special, power 55 | grassSpecial | Special | 55 |
| Evolves to Venusaur at Lv 32 | ||||
| 43 | Normal, Status | normalStatus | Status | None |
| 55 | Grass, Status | grassStatus | Status | None |
| 65 | Grass, Special, power 120 | grassSpecial | Special | 120 |
| Lv | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Fire, Special, power 40 | fireSpecial | Special | 40 |
| Evolves to Charmeleon at Lv 16 | ||||
| 24 | Normal, Physical, power 20 | normal Physical | Physical | 20 |
| 33 | Normal, Physical, power 70 | normalPhysical | Physical | 70 |
| Evolves to Charizard at Lv 36 | ||||
| 46 | Fire, Special, power 95 | fireSpecial | Special | 95 |
| 55 | Fire, Special, power 15 | fireSpecial | Special | 15 |
| Lv | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Water, Special, power 20 | waterSpecial | Special | 20 |
| 15 | Water, Special, power 40 | waterSpecial | Special | 40 |
| Evolves to Wartortle at Lv 16 | ||||
| 24 | Normal, Physical, power 60 | normalPhysical | Physical | 60 |
| Evolves to Blastoise at Lv 36 | ||||
| 42 | Normal, Physical, power 100 | normalPhysical | Physical | 100 |
| 52 | Water, Special, power 120 | waterSpecial | Special | 120 |
In Gen 1 to 3, a move's type decides if it is physical or special.
More Red and Blue guides
Charmander's own page covers its rough start in Red and Blue: Tough against Brock and Misty, then Good in each of the next three gyms.
Starters in other games
Same trio, different answer: FireRed and LeafGreen use these three starters and the same eight gym leaders, but the top pick there is Charmander. Yellow skips the choice and hands you Pikachu.