Playthrough tier listFireRed & LeafGreen

Best Fighting Pokémon in FireRed & LeafGreen

Heracross (post-game), Hitmontop (post-game) and Poliwrath lead the 11 Fighting Pokémon for beating FireRed and LeafGreen.

11gradedNov 11, 2026updated
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  • Post-game
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Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 11 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
HeracrossHeracrossPost-game
HitmontopHitmontopPost-game
PoliwrathPoliwrath
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
BSolid2 PokémonDoes the job with some help
MachampMachampTrade to evolve
PrimeapePrimeape
CSituational1 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
TyrogueTyroguePost-game
DBottom5 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
HitmonleeHitmonleeGift
HitmonchanHitmonchanGift
MachokeMachoke
MachopMachop
MankeyMankey

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 Showing11/ 11

Board breakdown

Among Fighting Pokémon in FireRed and LeafGreen, Poliwrath does well in 5 of the 13 boss fights, Brock to your rival, 7 fights have no Fighting answer, and both versions play out the same.

Heracross only joins after the credits, so which Fighting Pokémon carries the story?

Pick Poliwrath: it ties Primeape (as the Mankey line) at 5 of 13 fights and grades higher.

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Poliwrath has 5 of 13, first at Koga.

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
  • PoliwrathGym 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: does wellGym 6 Sabrina: no clear edgeGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: no clear edgeLance: no clear edgeTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 4PoliwagViridian CityGood Rod60% of encounters#060PoliwagLevel 25#061PoliwhirlWater Stone#062PoliwrathWater Stone in Celadon City
    Not yet: Brock to ErikaDoes wellKogaBlaineGiovanniLoreleiBrunoNo clear edgeSabrina, Agatha, Lance, Terry
  • PrimeapeGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: has troubleGym 3 Lt. Surge: does wellGym 4 Erika: no clear edgeGym 5 Koga: has troubleGym 6 Sabrina: has troubleGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: has troubleLance: no clear edgeTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 1MankeyRoute 310% of encounters#056MankeyLevel 28#057Primeapefinal form by Koga
    Not yet: BrockDoes wellLt. SurgeBlaineGiovanniLoreleiBrunoHas troubleMisty, Koga, Sabrina, AgathaNo clear edgeErika, Lance, Terry
  • HitmonleeGym 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: not on your team yetGym 6 Sabrina: has troubleGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: has troubleLance: no clear edgeTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 5Saffron City fighting dojoLv 25
    Not yet: Brock to KogaDoes wellBlaineGiovanniLoreleiBrunoHas troubleSabrina, AgathaNo clear edgeLance, Terry
  • HitmonchanGym 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: not on your team yetGym 6 Sabrina: has troubleGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: has troubleLance: no clear edgeTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 5Saffron City fighting dojoLv 25
    Not yet: Brock to KogaDoes wellBlaineGiovanniLoreleiBrunoHas troubleSabrina, AgathaNo clear edgeLance, Terry
  • MachampGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: not on your team yetGym 3 Lt. Surge: not on your team yetGym 4 Erika: has troubleGym 5 Koga: has troubleGym 6 Sabrina: has troubleGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: does wellBruno: does wellAgatha: has troubleLance: no clear edgeTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 3MachopRock Tunnel 1F15% of encounters#066MachopLevel 28#067MachokeTrade#068Machamp
    Not yet: Brock to Lt. SurgeDoes wellBlaineGiovanniLoreleiBrunoHas troubleErika, Koga, Sabrina, AgathaNo clear edgeLance, Terry

Best pair

Poliwrath + Primeape6/13 togetherevery fight a Fighting pick wins

After the creditsOnly after you beat TerryCounted in no fight

  • HeracrossAfter the Hall of Fame
  • HitmontopAfter the Hall of Fame

Between Brock and your rival, where is a Fighting team left with nothing?

There are 7: Brock, Misty, Erika, Sabrina, Agatha, Lance and your rival (judged on his 3 fixed Pokémon).

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

Gyms

  1. Nothing yet

    Team

    1. GeodudeLv 12RockGround
    2. OnixLv 14RockGroundAce

    No Fighting pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  2. Has trouble: Mankey

    Team

    1. StaryuLv 18Water
    2. StarmieLv 21WaterPsychicAce

    Has trouble (1)Primeapeas Mankey

    Full fight

  3. Primeapeas Mankey

    Team

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

    Does well (1)Primeapeas MankeyMoves: Dig

    Full fight

  4. Closest: Mankey

    Team

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

    No clear edge (1)Primeapeas Mankey

    Has trouble (1)Machamp Trade to evolveas Machop

    Full fight

  5. Poliwrath

    Team

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

    Does well (1)PoliwrathMoves: Psychic and Dig

    Has trouble (2)PrimeapeMachamp Trade to evolve

    Full fight

  6. Closest: Poliwrath

    Team

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

    No clear edge (1)Poliwrath

    Has trouble (4)PrimeapeHitmonlee GiftHitmonchan GiftMachamp Trade to evolve

    Full fight

  7. Poliwrath+4 more

    Team

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

    Does well (5)PoliwrathMoves: SurfHitmonchan GiftMoves: Rock SlidePrimeapeMoves: DigHitmonlee GiftMoves: Rock SlideMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Dig

    Full fight

  8. Poliwrath+4 more

    Team

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

    Does well (5)PoliwrathMoves: SurfMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Focus Punch and DigPrimeapeMoves: Focus Punch and DigHitmonchan GiftMoves: Focus Punch and Ice PunchHitmonlee GiftMoves: Focus Punch and Seismic Toss

    Full fight

League

  1. Poliwrath+4 more

    Team

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

    Does well (5)PoliwrathMoves: Focus Punch and ThiefHitmonlee GiftMoves: Focus Punch and ThiefHitmonchan GiftMoves: Focus Punch and ThiefPrimeapeMoves: Focus Punch and ThiefMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Focus Punch and Thief

    Full fight

  2. Poliwrath+4 more

    Team

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

    Does well (5)PoliwrathMoves: Surf and PsychicPrimeapeMoves: Focus Punch and Aerial AceHitmonchan GiftMoves: Focus PunchHitmonlee GiftMoves: Focus PunchMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Focus Punch

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Poliwrath

    Team

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

    No clear edge (1)Poliwrath

    Has trouble (4)PrimeapeHitmonlee GiftHitmonchan GiftMachamp Trade to evolve

    Full fight

  4. Closest: Poliwrath

    Team

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

    No clear edge (5)PoliwrathMachamp Trade to evolveHitmonlee GiftPrimeapeHitmonchan Gift

    Full fight

  5. Closest: Poliwrath

    Team

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

    No clear edge (5)PoliwrathMachamp Trade to evolvePrimeapeHitmonchan GiftHitmonlee Gift

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