BEST RED & BLUE POKEMON
Game Notes
Gen 1 plays by its own rules, and the S-Tier picks prove it. Alakazam at 135 Special hits hard and tanks special moves since those stats aren't split yet. Starmie is almost as fast with Water/Psychic coverage nothing resists well. Tauros at 110 base Speed abuses the crit formula with Normal STAB and Hyper Beam. Snorlax walls everything physical. Every ranking here is Gen 1 only — no modern movepool buffs or type additions.
Pokemon Spotlight
Snorlax
160 HP and 110 Special Defense create a wall that absorbs special hits all day. 110 Attack with Body Slam and Hyper Beam gives it legitimate offensive pressure. Slow at 30 Speed, but in Gen 1 Snorlax doesn't need to be fast to dominate.
View page detailsSnorlax — S Tier, 540 BST
160 HP and 110 Special Defense create a wall that absorbs special hits all day. 110 Attack with Body Slam and Hyper Beam gives it legitimate offensive pressure. Slow at 30 Speed, but in Gen 1 Snorlax doesn't need to be fast to dominate.
Mewtwo
154 Special paired with 130 Speed makes Mewtwo the undisputed strongest Pokemon in Red and Blue. Psychic typing has no real counter in Gen 1 since Bug moves are terrible and Ghost doesn't even hit Psychic. Nothing outspeeds and KOs it reliably.
View page detailsMewtwo — S Tier, 680 BST
154 Special paired with 130 Speed makes Mewtwo the undisputed strongest Pokemon in Red and Blue. Psychic typing has no real counter in Gen 1 since Bug moves are terrible and Ghost doesn't even hit Psychic. Nothing outspeeds and KOs it reliably.
Exeggutor
Grass/Psychic is an excellent offensive combo in Gen 1 where Psychic has almost no checks. 125 Special powers both Psychic and Mega Drain effectively. Sleep Powder shuts down its counters, and 95 HP gives it enough bulk to take a neutral hit before firing back.
View page detailsExeggutor — S Tier, 530 BST
Grass/Psychic is an excellent offensive combo in Gen 1 where Psychic has almost no checks. 125 Special powers both Psychic and Mega Drain effectively. Sleep Powder shuts down its counters, and 95 HP gives it enough bulk to take a neutral hit before firing back.
- #1MewtwoPsychicSPECIALHP106Atk110Def90SpA154SpD90Spe130Amnesia–Psychic90Recover–Ice Beam90HP106Atk110Def90SpA154SpD90Spe130
- #2
MewPsychicSPECIALHP100Atk100Def100SpA100SpD100Spe100Soft-Boiled–Swords Dance–Earthquake100Explosion250HP100Atk100Def100SpA100SpD100Spe100 - #3SnorlaxNormalPHYSICALHP160Atk110Def65SpA65SpD110Spe30Body Slam85Rest–Self-Destruct200Earthquake100HP160Atk110Def65SpA65SpD110Spe30
- #4ExeggutorGrassPsychicSPECIALHP95Atk95Def85SpA125SpD75Spe55Psychic90Explosion250Mega Drain40HP95Atk95Def85SpA125SpD75Spe55
- #5
StarmieWaterPsychicSPECIALHP60Atk75Def85SpA100SpD85Spe115Thunder Wave–Blizzard110Psychic90Thunderbolt90HP60Atk75Def85SpA100SpD85Spe115 - #6
AlakazamPsychicSPECIALHP55Atk50Def45SpA135SpD95Spe120Psychic90Recover–Thunder Wave–Seismic Toss–HP55Atk50Def45SpA135SpD95Spe120 - #7
GengarGhostPoisonPHYSICALHP60Atk65Def60SpA130SpD75Spe110Hypnosis–Explosion250Thunderbolt90Psychic90HP60Atk65Def60SpA130SpD75Spe110 - #8
TaurosNormalPHYSICALHP75Atk100Def95SpA40SpD70Spe110Body Slam85Hyper Beam150Earthquake100Blizzard110HP75Atk100Def95SpA40SpD70Spe110 
RhydonGroundRockPHYSICALHP105Atk130Def120SpA45SpD45Spe40Earthquake100Rock Slide75Body Slam85Substitute–HP105Atk130Def120SpA45SpD45Spe40
ChanseyNormalPHYSICALHP250Atk5Def5SpA35SpD105Spe50Soft-Boiled–Thunder Wave–Ice Beam90Thunderbolt90HP250Atk5Def5SpA35SpD105Spe50
- #9
ZapdosElectricMIXEDHP90Atk90Def85SpA125SpD90Spe100Drill Peck80Thunderbolt90Thunder Wave–Agility–HP90Atk90Def85SpA125SpD90Spe100 - #10
CloysterWaterIceSPECIALHP50Atk95Def180SpA85SpD45Spe70Explosion250Clamp35Blizzard110Rest–HP50Atk95Def180SpA85SpD45Spe70 - #11
JolteonElectricSPECIALHP65Atk65Def60SpA110SpD95Spe130Thunderbolt90Thunder Wave–Double Kick30Pin Missile25HP65Atk65Def60SpA110SpD95Spe130 - #12
JynxIcePsychicSPECIALHP65Atk50Def35SpA115SpD95Spe95Lovely Kiss–Blizzard110Psychic90Rest–HP65Atk50Def35SpA115SpD95Spe95
- #13
DragoniteDragonMIXEDHP91Atk134Def95SpA100SpD100Spe80Wrap15Hyper Beam150Blizzard110Agility–HP91Atk134Def95SpA100SpD100Spe80 - #14
ArticunoIceMIXEDHP90Atk85Def100SpA95SpD125Spe85Blizzard110Agility–Hyper Beam150Ice Beam90HP90Atk85Def100SpA95SpD125Spe85 - #15
MoltresFireMIXEDHP90Atk100Def90SpA125SpD85Spe90Fire Blast110Agility–Fire Spin35Hyper Beam150HP90Atk100Def90SpA125SpD85Spe90 - #16
ArcanineFireSPECIALHP90Atk110Def80SpA100SpD80Spe95Body Slam85Fire Blast110Hyper Beam150Rest–HP90Atk110Def80SpA100SpD80Spe95 - #17
GyaradosWaterMIXEDHP95Atk125Def79SpA60SpD100Spe81Hyper Beam150Hydro Pump110Blizzard110Body Slam85HP95Atk125Def79SpA60SpD100Spe81 - #18
LaprasWaterIceSPECIALHP130Atk85Def80SpA85SpD95Spe60Thunderbolt90Blizzard110Confuse Ray–Sing–HP130Atk85Def80SpA85SpD95Spe60 - #19
CharizardFireMIXEDHP78Atk84Def78SpA109SpD85Spe100Earthquake100Fire Blast110Swords Dance–Hyper Beam150HP78Atk84Def78SpA109SpD85Spe100 - #20
VaporeonWaterSPECIALHP130Atk65Def60SpA110SpD95Spe65Rest–Acid Armor–Hydro Pump110Ice Beam90HP130Atk65Def60SpA110SpD95Spe65 - #21
FlareonFireSPECIALHP65Atk130Def60SpA95SpD110Spe65Body Slam85Hyper Beam150Fire Blast110Quick Attack40HP65Atk130Def60SpA95SpD110Spe65 - #22
AerodactylRockPHYSICALHP80Atk105Def65SpA60SpD75Spe130Fire Blast110Hyper Beam150Double-Edge120Substitute–HP80Atk105Def65SpA60SpD75Spe130 - #23
MachampFightingPHYSICALHP90Atk130Def80SpA65SpD85Spe55Earthquake100Body Slam85Submission80Low Kick–HP90Atk130Def80SpA65SpD85Spe55 - #24
PinsirBugPHYSICALHP65Atk125Def100SpA55SpD70Spe85Swords Dance–Hyper Beam150Submission80HP65Atk125Def100SpA55SpD70Spe85
- #33
BlastoiseWaterSPECIALHP79Atk83Def100SpA85SpD105Spe78Blizzard110Hydro Pump110Body Slam85Surf90HP79Atk83Def100SpA85SpD105Spe78 - #34
VenusaurGrassPoisonMIXEDHP80Atk82Def83SpA100SpD100Spe80Razor Leaf55Sleep Powder–Leech Seed–Body Slam85HP80Atk82Def83SpA100SpD100Spe80 - #35
TentacruelWaterPoisonMIXEDHP80Atk70Def65SpA80SpD120Spe100Wrap15Blizzard110Toxic–Surf90HP80Atk70Def65SpA80SpD120Spe100 - #36
PoliwrathWaterFightingMIXEDHP90Atk95Def95SpA70SpD90Spe70Hypnosis–Submission80Ice Beam90Surf90HP90Atk95Def95SpA70SpD90Spe70 - #37
NidoqueenPoisonGroundPHYSICALHP90Atk92Def87SpA75SpD85Spe76Earthquake100Thunderbolt90Blizzard110Body Slam85HP90Atk92Def87SpA75SpD85Spe76 - #38
NidokingPoisonGroundPHYSICALHP81Atk102Def77SpA85SpD75Spe85Earthquake100Rock Slide75Thunderbolt90Ice Beam90HP81Atk102Def77SpA85SpD75Spe85 - #39
NinetalesFireSPECIALHP73Atk76Def75SpA81SpD100Spe100Fire Blast110Body Slam85Toxic–Reflect–HP73Atk76Def75SpA81SpD100Spe100 - #40
GolduckWaterSPECIALHP80Atk82Def78SpA95SpD80Spe85Blizzard110Hydro Pump110Surf90Ice Beam90HP80Atk82Def78SpA95SpD80Spe85 - #41
RapidashFireSPECIALHP65Atk100Def70SpA80SpD80Spe105Fire Spin35Body Slam85Stomp65Fire Blast110HP65Atk100Def70SpA80SpD80Spe105 - #42
MukPoisonPHYSICALHP105Atk105Def75SpA65SpD100Spe50Explosion250Acid Armor–Sludge65Body Slam85HP105Atk105Def75SpA65SpD100Spe50 
ScytherBugPHYSICALHP70Atk110Def80SpA55SpD80Spe105Swords Dance–Slash70Hyper Beam150Quick Attack40HP70Atk110Def80SpA55SpD80Spe105
MagmarFireSPECIALHP65Atk95Def57SpA100SpD85Spe93Fire Blast110Body Slam85Confuse Ray–Submission80HP65Atk95Def57SpA100SpD85Spe93
NidorinaPoisonPHYSICALHP70Atk62Def67SpA55SpD55Spe56Blizzard110Body Slam85Poison Sting15Ice Beam90HP70Atk62Def67SpA55SpD55Spe56
GrowlitheFireSPECIALHP55Atk70Def45SpA70SpD50Spe60Reflect–Bite60Body Slam85Flamethrower90HP55Atk70Def45SpA70SpD50Spe60
SeelWaterSPECIALHP65Atk45Def55SpA45SpD70Spe45Surf90Body Slam85Double-Edge120Bubble Beam65HP65Atk45Def55SpA45SpD70Spe45
EeveeNormalPHYSICALHP55Atk55Def50SpA45SpD65Spe55Body Slam85Toxic–Reflect–Sand Attack–HP55Atk55Def50SpA45SpD65Spe55
PsyduckWaterSPECIALHP50Atk52Def48SpA65SpD50Spe55Blizzard110Counter–Hydro Pump110Surf90HP50Atk52Def48SpA65SpD50Spe55
CharmanderFireSPECIALHP39Atk52Def43SpA60SpD50Spe65Flamethrower90Fire Spin35Ember40Fire Blast110HP39Atk52Def43SpA60SpD50Spe65
VenonatBugPoisonPHYSICALHP60Atk55Def50SpA40SpD55Spe45Reflect–Psychic90Mega Drain40Double-Edge120HP60Atk55Def50SpA40SpD55Spe45
BellsproutGrassPoisonMIXEDHP50Atk75Def35SpA70SpD30Spe40Solar Beam120Sleep Powder–Razor Leaf55Vine Whip45HP50Atk75Def35SpA70SpD30Spe40
DratiniDragonSPECIALHP41Atk64Def45SpA50SpD50Spe50Thunder Wave–Body Slam85Blizzard110Thunderbolt90HP41Atk64Def45SpA50SpD50Spe50
HorseaWaterSPECIALHP30Atk40Def70SpA70SpD25Spe60Hydro Pump110Blizzard110Surf90HP30Atk40Def70SpA70SpD25Spe60
EkansPoisonPHYSICALHP35Atk60Def44SpA40SpD54Spe55Wrap15Mega Drain40Substitute–Rock Slide75HP35Atk60Def44SpA40SpD54Spe55- #66
DittoNormalPHYSICALHP48Atk48Def48SpA48SpD48Spe48Transform–HP48Atk48Def48SpA48SpD48Spe48
Pokemon Comparison
FAQ
Alakazam. It has 135 Special in a game where that one stat handles both Sp. Atk and Sp. Def. Faster than almost everything, and Psychic type has no real counters in Gen 1. Bug-type moves max out at 25 base power per hit, and Ghost is bugged to do nothing against Psychic instead of being super effective. Tauros is the other S-Tier staple for its Speed-based crits and Normal-type coverage.
Squirtle gives you the smoothest early game. Blastoise handles Brock, Misty is a breeze, and it picks up Ice Beam for coverage later. Your starter honestly matters less than your mid-game picks though. Nidoking from Mt. Moon before the second gym is more impactful than any starter choice. Charmander is the roughest start since it's weak to both Brock and Misty.
Gen 1 doesn't split Special into Sp. Atk and Sp. Def. One stat does both jobs. Pokemon with high Special hit hard AND tank special moves at the same time. That's why Alakazam at 135 Special is the best special attacker while also being a solid special wall. Chansey at 105 Special becomes one of the best walls in the game despite zero offensive presence.
Speed determines your crit rate in Gen 1. Faster Pokemon crit more often, and high-crit moves like Slash stack on top of that. Tauros with Slash crits almost every hit because of its 110 base Speed. Crits in Gen 1 also ignore all stat changes, letting you punch through defensive setups. That mechanic alone pushes fast Pokemon up this tier list.
Zapdos is the best of the three Birds and one of the strongest Pokemon in the game. 125 Special with Electric/Flying typing gives it wide coverage. Articuno and Moltres are solid but their typing is less useful defensively. Mewtwo is post-game only, locked behind Cerulean Cave after the Champion. All four rank S-Tier or A-Tier on this list.
Red gets Arcanine and Electabuzz. Blue gets Sandslash and Magmar. Arcanine is the standout with 110 Attack and 95 Speed, making it one of the best Fire-types available. Electabuzz is decent but Zapdos fills the Electric slot better. Most other exclusives are interchangeable between versions.
Anything that evolves late with a slow leveling curve. Dratini needs to hit level 55 for Dragonite, which means deep grinding. Onix looks good early but its stats are terrible long-term. Porygon from the Celadon Game Corner costs too many coins for what it does. And most Bug-types are dead weight since their moves are awful in Gen 1.
GAME AVAILABILITY
- Gen IY
Yellow151 Pokemon - Gen IRB
Red & Blue151 Pokemon - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver251 Pokemon - Gen IIC
Crystal251 Pokemon - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire202 Pokemon - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen151 Pokemon - Gen IIIE
Emerald202 Pokemon - Gen IVPt
Platinum210 Pokemon - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver256 Pokemon - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl151 Pokemon - Gen VBW
Black & White156 Pokemon - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2301 Pokemon - Gen VIXY
X & Y457 Pokemon - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire211 Pokemon - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon403 Pokemon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon302 Pokemon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee153 Pokemon - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield400 Pokemon - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus242 Pokemon - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl151 Pokemon - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet400 Pokemon - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A364 Pokemon - Gen XWW
Winds & Waves51 Pokemon