Best team composition for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Official artwork for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (Image via The Pokemon Company)
Official artwork for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are the franchise's first-ever remakes, and they are significantly more challenging than their original counterparts. Both of these titles offer some of the best Kanto journeys, with experiences that will last you a lifetime. However, focusing on the best team composition for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen is important to tackle all the challenges that these remakes throw at you.

Since Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are from an older era of the franchise, they can be quite difficult for newer players who are used to things we tend to take for granted now, like the physical-special split that reworked almost every move in the franchise.

This article explores the best team composition that players may want to use to make their journey through Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen a bit easier.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the opinions of the writer

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Explaining the best team composition for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Blastoise

Blastoise as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)
Blastoise as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Blastoise is the final evolution of Squirtle, the Water-type starter in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen. While many may consider Venusaur to be the better starter due to its advantages against the first two gyms, its movepool is terrible, causing it to fall off significantly after the fourth gym or so. Additionally, Venusaur's Poison attacks are Physical, meaning they use its poor Physical Attack stat.

Since Blastoise is a pure Water-type creature, here are its weaknesses:

  • Grass
  • Electric

Here are the moves players should try to get for their Blastoise:

  • Ice Beam - Learned via TM13 from the Rocket Game Corner. It is worth the effort
  • Seismic Toss - Learned via tutor in Pewter City
  • Surf - Learned via HM03 from the Safari Zone
  • Protect - Learned at level 31 as Wartortle

Raticate

Raticate as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)
Raticate as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The true power of Raticate is only known to a few Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen trainers. Many may be quick to pass up on this powerful Normal-type creature, but it has one of the most broken abilities in the game in the third generation: Guts. This ability doubles the Pocket Monster's power when it is under status ailments like Poisoned or Burned.

Raticate can be found as early as a Rattata on Route 1. It evolves at level 20. Since it is a pure Normal-type species, it is only weak to Fighting-type attacks.

Here are the moves Raticate should learn:

  • Strength - Learned via TM04 from Fuchsia City
  • Hyper Fang - Learned at level 13 as Rattata
  • Cut - Learned via HM01 from the S.S. Anne
  • Dig - Learned via TM28 from Cerulean City

Aerodactyl

Aerodactyl as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)
Aerodactyl as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Aerodactyl is a solid flyer in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen that scales excellently into the late game, thanks to its high speed and attack stats. Its Rock typing also makes it a better offensive pick than the average Fearow or Pidgeot most players tend to gravitate toward. The creature can be obtained by reviving the Old Amber at Cinnabar Island, which can be acquired at Pewter City.

Since Aerodactyl is a Rock and Flying-type species, here are the elements it is weak against:

  • Rock
  • Water
  • Steel
  • Electric
  • Ice

Here are the moves players should teach their Aerodactyl:

  • Fly - Learned via HM02 from Route 16
  • Steel Wing - Learned via TM47 from the Safari Zone
  • Rock Slide - Learned via tutor in Rock Tunnel
  • Dragon Claw - Learned via TM02 from Victory Road

Jolteon

Jolteon as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)
Jolteon as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Jolteon is the Electric-type evolution of Eevee, which Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen players can obtain from the back entrance of the Celadon City apartment complex. To get it, trainers must climb to the top of the stairs and enter the classroom on the roof. Once they have their Eevee, they can buy a Thunder Stone from the Celadon Department Store and evolve it.

Since Jolteon is a pure Electric-type species, it is only weak to Ground-type attacks.

Here are the moves Jolteon should have for this team:

  • Sand Attack - Learned at level 8 as Eevee
  • Bite - Learned at level 30 as Eevee
  • Thunderbolt - Learned via TM24 from the Rocket Game Corner
  • Mimic - Learned via move tutor in Saffron City

Nidoking

Nidoking as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)
Nidoking as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Nidoking is the best early-game evolution players can get in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen. While it may have fallen off a bit in the original titles, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have a much deeper movepool for the creature, allowing it to scale even better through a playthrough.

Nidoran, Nidoking's base form, can be found as early as Route 3. After evolving into Nidorino, it can evolve with a Moon Stone, which can be found in Mt. Moon.

Nidoking is a Ground and Poison-type species, which means it is weak to the following elements:

  • Ground
  • Water
  • Psychic
  • Ice

Here are the moves Nidoking should learn:

  • Earthquake - Learned via TM26 from Viridian City
  • Shadow Ball - Learned via TM30 from the Rocket Game Corner
  • Brick Break - Learned via TM31 from Celadon City
  • Hyper Beam - Learned via TM15 from Celadon City

Hitmonlee

Hitmonlee as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)
Hitmonlee as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Hitmonlee is a very powerful Fighting-type creature that can help in some of the late-game battles in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, like against Elite Four member Bruno.

Hitmonlee can be obtained after defeating the dojo master at the Saffron City. Players then have to choose between Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan. Hitmonchan is the more defensive of the two, which sacrifices a lot of damage output trainers would have with Hitmonlee.

Since Hitmonlee is a pure Fighting-type species, and the Fairy typing is not present in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, here are the remaining types the creature is weak to:

  • Flying
  • Psychic

Here are the moves Hitmonlee should have:

  • Rolling Kick - Learned at level 11
  • High Jump Kick - Learned at level 26
  • Mega Kick - Learned from move tutor on Route 4
  • Bulk Up - Learned from TM08 from Silph Co.

Check out the best team compositions for other Pokemon games:

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Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh
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