Playthrough tier listFireRed & LeafGreen

Best Ground Pokémon in FireRed & LeafGreen

Nidoking leads the 23 Ground Pokémon for beating FireRed and LeafGreen.

23gradedNov 11, 2026updated
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  • Post-game
  • Trade to evolve
  • LeafGreen only
Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 23 Pokémon
STop0 PokémonCarries a FireRed & LeafGreen run against most of the bosses
No Pokémon is graded S.
AStrong1 PokémonA strong pick for most of the gameClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
NidokingNidoking
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
BSolid3 PokémonDoes the job with some help
GolemGolemTrade to evolve
RhydonRhydon
SandslashSandslashLeafGreen only
CSituational4 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
NidoqueenNidoqueen
PiloswinePiloswinePost-game
QuagsireQuagsirePost-game · FireRed only
PupitarPupitarPost-game
DBottom15 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
DonphanDonphanPost-game
SteelixSteelixPost-game · Trade to evolve
DugtrioDugtrio
MarowakMarowak
OnixOnix
LarvitarLarvitarPost-game
GravelerGraveler
GeodudeGeodude
RhyhornRhyhorn
SandshrewSandshrewLeafGreen only
SwinubSwinubPost-game
WooperWooperPost-game · FireRed only
PhanpyPhanpyPost-game
DiglettDiglett
CuboneCubone

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 Showing23/ 23

Board breakdown

Among Ground Pokémon in FireRed and LeafGreen, Nidoking does well in 7 of the 13 boss fights, Brock to your rival, 4 fights have no Ground answer, and the versions differ in 4 fights.

Nidoking against Nidoqueen: which Ground pick should you train?

Nidoking does more: 7 of 13 fights, starting with Lt. Surge, while Nidoqueen does well in 5 fights.

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Nidoking has 7 of 13, first at Lt. Surge.

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
  • NidokingGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: no clear edgeGym 3 Lt. Surge: does wellGym 4 Erika: does wellGym 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 1Nidoran♂ (male)Route 3FireRed: 14% of encountersLeafGreen: 1% of encounters#032Nidoran♂Level 16#033NidorinoMoon Stone#034NidokingMoon Stone on Mt. Moon
    Not yet: BrockDoes wellLt. SurgeErikaBlaineGiovanniLoreleiBrunoTerryNo clear edgeMisty, Koga, Sabrina, Agatha, Lance
  • NidoqueenGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: no clear edgeGym 3 Lt. Surge: no clear edgeGym 4 Erika: does wellGym 5 Koga: no clear edgeGym 6 Sabrina: no clear edgeGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: no clear edgeBruno: does wellAgatha: no clear edgeLance: no clear edgeTerry: does wellAfter badge 1Nidoran♀ (female)Route 3FireRed: 1% of encountersLeafGreen: 14% of encounters#029Nidoran♀Level 16#030NidorinaMoon Stone#031NidoqueenMoon Stone on Mt. Moon
    Not yet: BrockDoes wellErikaBlaineGiovanniBrunoTerryNo clear edgeMisty, Lt. Surge, Koga, Sabrina, Lorelei, Agatha, Lance
  • GolemGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: has troubleGym 3 Lt. Surge: does wellGym 4 Erika: has troubleGym 5 Koga: no clear edgeGym 6 Sabrina: does wellGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: no clear edgeBruno: no clear edgeAgatha: no clear edgeLance: does wellTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 1GeodudeMt. Moon B2F30% of encounters#074GeodudeLevel 25#075GravelerTrade#076Golem
    Not yet: BrockDoes wellLt. SurgeSabrinaBlaineGiovanniLanceHas troubleMisty, ErikaNo clear edgeKoga, Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, Terry
  • DugtrioGym 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: does wellGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: no clear edgeBruno: does wellAgatha: no clear edgeLance: no clear edgeTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 3DiglettDiglett's Cave B1F95% of encounters#050DiglettLevel 26#051Dugtriofinal form by Erika
    Not yet: Brock to Lt. SurgeDoes wellSabrinaBlaineGiovanniBrunoNo clear edgeErika, Koga, Lorelei, Agatha, Lance, Terry
  • SandslashGym 1 Brock: not on your team yetGym 2 Misty: has troubleGym 3 Lt. Surge: does wellGym 4 Erika: no clear edgeGym 5 Koga: no clear edgeGym 6 Sabrina: no clear edgeGym 7 Blaine: does wellGym 8 Giovanni: does wellLorelei: no clear edgeBruno: does wellAgatha: no clear edgeLance: no clear edgeTerry: no clear edgeAfter badge 1SandshrewRoute 425% of encounters#027SandshrewLevel 22#028Sandslashfinal form by Lt. Surge
    Not yet: BrockDoes wellLt. SurgeBlaineGiovanniBrunoHas troubleMistyNo clear edgeErika, Koga, Sabrina, Lorelei, Agatha, Lance, Terry
NextMarowak 3Rhydon 2

Best pair

Nidoking + Golem9/13 togetherneeds a link trade
No tradeNidoking + Dugtrio8/13 together

After the creditsOnly after you beat TerryCounted in no fight

  • PiloswineAfter the Hall of Fame
  • QuagsireAfter the Hall of Fame
  • DonphanAfter the Hall of Fame
  • SteelixAfter the Hall of Fame

Which opponents, from Brock to your rival, does no Ground Pokémon answer?

Bring another type for Brock, Misty, Koga and Agatha.

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

Gyms

  1. Nothing yet

    TeamGround-type team

    1. GeodudeLv 12RockGround
    2. OnixLv 14RockGroundAce

    No Ground pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  2. Closest: Nidoking

    Team

    1. StaryuLv 18Water
    2. StarmieLv 21WaterPsychicAce

    No clear edge (2)NidokingNidoqueen

    Has trouble (2)Golem Trade to evolveas GeodudeSandslashas SandshrewLeafGreen only

    Full fight

  3. NidokingFireRed +1 moreLeafGreen +2 more

    Team

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

    Does well (3)NidokingMoves: DigSandslashLeafGreen onlyMoves: DigGolem Trade to evolveas GeodudeMoves: Dig

    No clear edge (1)Nidoqueen

    Full fight

  4. Nidoking+1 more

    Team

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

    Does well (2)NidokingMoves: Flamethrower and Poison StingNidoqueenMoves: Flamethrower and Poison Sting

    No clear edge (2)DugtrioSandslashLeafGreen only

    Has trouble (3)Golem Trade to evolveMarowakas CuboneOnix

    Full fight

  5. Closest: Golem

    Team

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

    No clear edge (8)Golem Trade to evolveOnixSandslashLeafGreen onlyRhydonas RhyhornNidokingNidoqueenMarowakDugtrio

    Full fight

  6. Dugtrio+1 more

    Team

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

    Does well (2)DugtrioMoves: Thief and Aerial AceGolem Trade to evolveMoves: Dig and Rock Slide

    No clear edge (6)MarowakSandslashLeafGreen onlyNidokingNidoqueenOnixRhydonas Rhyhorn

    Full fight

  7. NidokingFireRed +6 moreLeafGreen +7 more

    Team

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

    Does well (8)NidokingMoves: DigGolem Trade to evolveMoves: EarthquakeDugtrioMoves: DigNidoqueenMoves: DigRhydonMoves: DigSandslashLeafGreen onlyMoves: DigMarowakMoves: DigOnixMoves: Dig

    Full fight

  8. NidokingFireRed +5 moreLeafGreen +6 more

    TeamGround-type team

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

    Does well (7)NidokingMoves: Surf, Blizzard and DigSandslashLeafGreen onlyMoves: DigMarowakMoves: Dig and BlizzardDugtrioMoves: DigRhydonMoves: Surf, Blizzard and DigGolem Trade to evolveMoves: EarthquakeNidoqueenMoves: Surf, Blizzard and Dig

    No clear edge (1)Onix

    Full fight

League

  1. Nidoking

    Team

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

    Does well (1)NidokingMoves: Thunder and Megahorn

    No clear edge (7)RhydonGolem Trade to evolveNidoqueenOnixDugtrioMarowakSandslashLeafGreen only

    Full fight

  2. NidokingFireRed +3 moreLeafGreen +4 more

    Team

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

    Does well (5)NidokingMoves: Surf and PeckNidoqueenMoves: Surf and Aerial AceSandslashLeafGreen onlyMoves: Earthquake and Aerial AceDugtrioMoves: Earthquake and Aerial AceMarowakMoves: Earthquake and Aerial Ace

    No clear edge (3)RhydonGolem Trade to evolveOnix

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Golem

    Team

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

    No clear edge (8)Golem Trade to evolveRhydonDugtrioNidokingOnixNidoqueenSandslashLeafGreen onlyMarowak

    Full fight

  4. Golem

    Team

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

    Does well (1)Golem Trade to evolveMoves: Rock Slide and Earthquake

    No clear edge (7)NidokingRhydonNidoqueenOnixSandslashLeafGreen onlyMarowakDugtrio

    Full fight

  5. Nidoking+1 more

    Team

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

    Does well (2)NidokingMoves: Thunder, Megahorn and SurfNidoqueenMoves: Thunder, Bite and Surf

    No clear edge (6)Golem Trade to evolveRhydonDugtrioOnixSandslashLeafGreen onlyMarowak

How do your version and link trades change a Ground playthrough?

You can pick either version: FireRed still has 2 or more Ground answers in all 4 fights where the counts differ.

Only a link trade turns Graveler into Golem, so a one-cart run cannot evolve it.

Each card can change a Ground team: the two versions and link trades.

  • 4 fights where versions differ
    FireRedLeafGreen
    Only hereSandslash
    Same open fights in both versions
  • Needs a link tradeGolemFrom Graveler
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