Playthrough tier listFireRed & LeafGreen

Best Bug Pokémon in FireRed & LeafGreen

Scizor (FireRed, post-game, evolves by trade holding a Metal Coat), Heracross (post-game) and Pinsir (LeafGreen) lead the 19 Bug Pokémon for beating FireRed and LeafGreen.

19gradedNov 11, 2026updated
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  • Post-game
    • FireRed only
    • LeafGreen only
Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 19 Pokémon
STop0 PokémonCarries a FireRed & LeafGreen run against most of the bosses
No Pokémon is graded S.
AStrong3 PokémonA strong pick for most of the gameClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
ScizorScizorPost-game · FireRed only · Trade to evolve
HeracrossHeracrossPost-game
PinsirPinsirLeafGreen only
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
BSolid2 PokémonDoes the job with some help
ScytherScytherFireRed only
YanmaYanmaPost-game
CSituational2 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
ButterfreeButterfree
ParasectParasect
DBottom12 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
VenomothVenomoth
AriadosAriadosPost-game
BeedrillBeedrill
LedianLedianPost-game
MetapodMetapod
CaterpieCaterpie
ParasParas
VenonatVenonat
SpinarakSpinarakPost-game
KakunaKakuna
WeedleWeedle
LedybaLedybaPost-game

What each tier means

  • STop Carries a FireRed & LeafGreen run against most of the bosses
  • AStrong A strong pick for most of the game
  • BSolid Does the job with some help
  • CSituational Struggles against several bosses
  • DBottom Hard to use for beating the game
2 reads blended into one listreblend in Showing19/ 19

Board breakdown

Among Bug Pokémon in FireRed and LeafGreen, Butterfree does well in 6 of the 13 boss fights, Brock to your rival, 3 fights (5 in FireRed) have no Bug answer, and the versions differ in 4 fights.

With Scizor (FireRed) out of reach until the credits, which Bug pick should you raise?

Take Butterfree, which equals Parasect (as the Paras line) at 6 of 13 fights and comes 1 badge earlier.

Butterfree does well in 1 more fight than Pinsir in LeafGreen and is yours 3 badges earlier.

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Butterfree has 6 of 13, first at Erika.

Gym 1, BrockGym 2, MistyGym 3, Lt. SurgeGym 4, ErikaGym 5, KogaGym 6, SabrinaGym 7, BlaineGym 8, GiovanniElite Four, LoreleiElite Four, BrunoElite Four, AgathaElite Four, LanceChampion, Terry
  • ButterfreeGym 1 Brock: no clear edgeGym 2 Misty: no clear edgeGym 3 Lt. Surge: has troubleGym 4 Erika: does wellGym 5 Koga: does wellGym 6 Sabrina: does wellGym 7 Blaine: no clear edgeGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: no clear edgeLance: has troubleTerry: no clear edgeFrom the startCaterpieViridian Forest40% of encounters#010CaterpieLevel 7#011MetapodLevel 10#012Butterfreefinal form by Brock
    Does wellErikaKogaSabrinaGiovanniLoreleiBrunoHas troubleLt. Surge, LanceNo clear edgeBrock, Misty, Blaine, Agatha, Terry
  • ParasectGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: does wellGym 3 Lt. Surge: does wellGym 4 Erika: no clear edgeGym 5 Koga: has troubleGym 6 Sabrina: does wellGym 7 Blaine: has troubleGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: has troubleLance: has troubleTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 1ParasMt. Moon B1F100% of encounters#046ParasLevel 24#047Parasectfinal form by Erika
    Not yet: BrockDoes wellMistyLt. SurgeSabrinaGiovanniLoreleiBrunoHas troubleKoga, Blaine, Agatha, LanceNo clear edgeErika, Terry
  • PinsirGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: not on your team yetGym 3 Lt. Surge: not on your team yetGym 4 Erika: no clear edgeGym 5 Koga: no clear edgeGym 6 Sabrina: no clear edgeGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: no clear edgeLance: no clear edgeTerry: does wellAfter badge 3Celadon City game cornerGiftLv 18
    Not yet: Brock to Lt. SurgeDoes wellBlaineGiovanniLoreleiBrunoTerryNo clear edgeErika, Koga, Sabrina, Agatha, Lance
  • ScytherGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: not on your team yetGym 3 Lt. Surge: not on your team yetGym 4 Erika: does wellGym 5 Koga: no clear edgeGym 6 Sabrina: does wellGym 7 Blaine: no clear edgeGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: no clear edgeLance: no clear edgeTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 3Celadon City game cornerGiftLv 25
    Not yet: Brock to Lt. SurgeDoes wellErikaSabrinaGiovanniLoreleiBrunoNo clear edgeKoga, Blaine, Agatha, Lance, Terry
  • VenomothGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: not on your team yetGym 3 Lt. Surge: not on your team yetGym 4 Erika: not on your team yetGym 5 Koga: no clear edgeGym 6 Sabrina: does wellGym 7 Blaine: has troubleGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: no clear edgeLance: has troubleTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 4VenonatRoute 1230% of encounters#048VenonatLevel 31#049Venomothfinal form by Koga
    Not yet: Brock to ErikaDoes wellSabrinaGiovanniLoreleiBrunoHas troubleBlaine, LanceNo clear edgeKoga, Agatha, Terry
NextBeedrill 2

Best pair

FireRed
Butterfree + Parasect8/13 togetherevery fight a Bug pick wins
LeafGreen
Butterfree + Parasect8/13 togetherall Bug picks: 10

After the creditsOnly after you beat TerryCounted in no fight

  • ScizorAfter the Hall of Fame
  • HeracrossAfter the Hall of Fame
  • YanmaAfter the Hall of Fame
  • AriadosAfter the Hall of Fame
  • LedianAfter the Hall of Fame

On the road from Brock to your rival, which fights leave Bug with no answer?

In both versions, Brock, Agatha and Lance have no Bug answer.

In FireRed, Blaine and your rival (judged on his 3 fixed Pokémon) are gaps too: their one answer, Pinsir, is LeafGreen only.

The best Bug pick you can have by each fight, Brock to your rival. First with none: Brock.

Gyms

  1. Closest: Butterfree

    Team

    1. GeodudeLv 12RockGround
    2. OnixLv 14RockGroundAce

    No clear edge (1)Butterfree

    Has trouble (1)Beedrill

    Full fight

  2. Parasectas Paras

    Team

    1. StaryuLv 18Water
    2. StarmieLv 21WaterPsychicAce

    Does well (1)Parasectas ParasMoves: Bullet Seed and Leech Life

    No clear edge (2)ButterfreeBeedrill

    Full fight

  3. Parasectas Paras

    Team

    1. VoltorbLv 21Electric
    2. PikachuLv 18Electric
    3. RaichuLv 24ElectricAce

    Does well (1)Parasectas ParasMoves: Dig

    No clear edge (1)Beedrill

    Has trouble (1)Butterfree

    Full fight

  4. ButterfreeFireRed +2 moreLeafGreen +1 more

    Team

    1. VictreebelLv 29GrassPoisonAce
    2. TangelaLv 24Grass
    3. VileplumeLv 29GrassPoisonAce

    Does well (3)ButterfreeMoves: Aerial AceScytherFireRed onlyMoves: Aerial AceBeedrillMoves: Aerial Ace and Twineedle

    No clear edge (2)ParasectPinsirLeafGreen only

    Full fight

  5. Butterfree

    Team

    1. KoffingLv 37Poison
    2. MukLv 39Poison
    3. KoffingLv 37Poison
    4. WeezingLv 43PoisonAce

    Does well (1)ButterfreeMoves: Psychic

    No clear edge (3)ScytherFireRed onlyVenomothPinsirLeafGreen only

    Has trouble (2)ParasectBeedrill

    Full fight

  6. ButterfreeFireRed +3 moreLeafGreen +2 more

    Team

    1. KadabraLv 38Psychic
    2. Mr MimeLv 37Psychic
    3. VenomothLv 38BugPoison
    4. AlakazamLv 43PsychicAce

    Does well (4)ButterfreeMoves: Thief and Aerial AceParasectMoves: Leech Life and Aerial AceScytherFireRed onlyMoves: Thief and Aerial AceVenomothMoves: Leech Life and Aerial Ace

    No clear edge (2)BeedrillPinsirLeafGreen only

    Full fight

  7. FireRedClosest: Scyther
    LeafGreenPinsir

    Team

    1. GrowlitheLv 42Fire
    2. PonytaLv 40Fire
    3. RapidashLv 42Fire
    4. ArcanineLv 47FireAce

    Does well (1)PinsirLeafGreen onlyMoves: Dig

    No clear edge (2)ScytherFireRed onlyButterfree

    Has trouble (3)ParasectVenomothBeedrill

    Full fight

  8. Butterfree+3 more

    Team

    1. RhyhornLv 45GroundRock
    2. DugtrioLv 42Ground
    3. NidoqueenLv 44PoisonGround
    4. NidokingLv 45PoisonGround
    5. RhyhornLv 50GroundRockAce

    Does well (5)ButterfreeMoves: Solar Beam and PsychicParasectMoves: Solar Beam and DigVenomothMoves: Solar Beam and PsychicScytherFireRed onlyMoves: Rock Smash, Fury Cutter and Aerial AcePinsirLeafGreen onlyMoves: Focus Punch, Seismic Toss and Dig

    No clear edge (1)Beedrill

    Full fight

League

  1. Butterfree+4 more

    Team

    1. DewgongLv 52WaterIce
    2. CloysterLv 51WaterIce
    3. SlowbroLv 52WaterPsychic
    4. JynxLv 54IcePsychicAce
    5. LaprasLv 54WaterIceAce

    Does well (6)ButterfreeMoves: Solar Beam and Silver WindVenomothMoves: Solar Beam and Leech LifeParasectMoves: Solar Beam and Leech LifeScytherFireRed onlyMoves: Rock Smash and Fury CutterPinsirLeafGreen onlyMoves: Focus Punch and ThiefBeedrillMoves: Brick Break and Pin Missile

    Full fight

  2. Butterfree+3 more

    Team

    1. OnixLv 51RockGround
    2. HitmonchanLv 53Fighting
    3. HitmonleeLv 53Fighting
    4. OnixLv 54RockGround
    5. MachampLv 56FightingAce

    Does well (5)ButterfreeMoves: Solar Beam and Aerial AceParasectMoves: Solar Beam and Aerial AceVenomothMoves: Solar Beam and Aerial AceScytherFireRed onlyMoves: Rock Smash and Aerial AcePinsirLeafGreen onlyMoves: Focus Punch

    No clear edge (1)Beedrill

    Full fight

  3. FireRedClosest: Butterfree
    LeafGreenClosest: Pinsir

    Team

    1. GengarLv 54GhostPoison
    2. GolbatLv 54PoisonFlying
    3. HaunterLv 53GhostPoison
    4. ArbokLv 56Poison
    5. GengarLv 58GhostPoisonAce

    No clear edge (4)PinsirLeafGreen onlyButterfreeScytherFireRed onlyVenomoth

    Has trouble (2)ParasectBeedrill

    Full fight

  4. FireRedClosest: Scyther
    LeafGreenClosest: Pinsir

    Team

    1. GyaradosLv 56WaterFlying
    2. DragonairLv 54Dragon
    3. DragonairLv 54Dragon
    4. AerodactylLv 58RockFlying
    5. DragoniteLv 60DragonFlyingAce

    No clear edge (2)ScytherFireRed onlyPinsirLeafGreen only

    Has trouble (4)ButterfreeParasectVenomothBeedrill

    Full fight

  5. FireRedClosest: Scyther
    LeafGreenPinsir

    Team

    1. PidgeotLv 59NormalFlying
    2. AlakazamLv 57Psychic
    3. RhydonLv 59GroundRock

    Does well (1)PinsirLeafGreen onlyMoves: Rock Slide, Thief and Focus Punch

    No clear edge (5)ScytherFireRed onlyButterfreeVenomothParasectBeedrill

For a Bug team, what does Pinsir (LeafGreen) change?

LeafGreen alone answers Blaine and your rival (judged on his 3 fixed Pokémon), with Pinsir; FireRed has more at Erika and Sabrina, through Scyther.

Each card can change a Bug team: the two versions and move stats.

  • 4 fights where versions differ
    FireRedLeafGreen
    Only hereScytherPinsir
    Open only in FireRed: Blaine, Terry
  • Bug moves use Attack
    • ButterfreeAttack 45, used by Bug movesSp. Atk 80, not used by Bug moves
    • VenomothAttack 65, used by Bug movesSp. Atk 90, not used by Bug moves
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