Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen In-Game Tiers

By Jubilee.
  1. Introduction
  2. High Tier
  3. Middle Tier
  4. Low Tier
  5. Bottom Tier
  6. Untiered

Introduction

The best possible Pokémon for an in-game team are the ones that are obtained at the start of the game, can OHKO enemies easily, take little damage from nearly any enemy, can learn many HMs, can heal themselves, can learn useful moves upon level up, don't need excessive TMs, and have a useful ability. Such a Pokémon doesn't exist, of course, but this means that Pokémon closer to this ideal are obviously the best ones to use.

The goal of this in-game tier list is to recommend a select group of Pokémon for an efficient run through the game. The ones that fit most of the above requirements are placed in the high tier. Very inefficient Pokémon will be put in the low tier. Things that are neither efficient nor inefficient, for example Pokémon that have some opportunity costs but don't end up as good as high tiered ones, will be put in the middle tier.

Don't confuse an efficient run with a speed run. Speed runs are often ones that are segmented and recorded with luck manipulation through resets, and aim for the absolute fastest time recorded, but the real time spent on them is usually much more. Just assume you want to play through in a relatively fast time frame. The most efficient team size for these runs is only one member, but if one doesn't assume something more like 3 members, the resulting in-game tier lists become incredibly centralized around Pokémon you get early on in the game rather than anything encountered later on. Also note when reading through this guide that some of the moves and abilities listed for a Pokémon may only be obtained by their evolutions. Some Pokémon may be placed in higher tiers due to their evolutions capabilities as well.

High Tier

Abra

Abra

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Average
  • Additional Comments: Psychic typing is very useful for all the Poison-types that are in the game. High Special Attack and Speed stats net quick and easy KOs. However, needs to be traded to fully evolve, which requires two Gameboy Advances/SPs and a link cable or wireless adapter.
Articuno

Articuno

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has very well-rounded stats and an especially high Special Defense stat. Obtained late in the game but at a high level of 50 which makes up for it.
Bulbasaur

Bulbasaur

  • Availability: Beginning
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Learns 3 useful status moves and has a useful Grass-typing in the beginning of the game. However, there are many Poison-types in the game, which both of Bulbasaur's STABs are not very effective against.
Charmander

Charmander

  • Availability: Beginning
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Wide
  • Additional Comments: Learns useful moves through level up and TM, such as Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Mega Punch, Fly, and Dragon Claw. Learns a vast amount of HMs as well. Has high Special Attack and Speed stats.
Clefairy

Clefairy

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Very wide
  • Additional Comments: Learns a vast amount of TMs and useful moves upon level up, and is very bulky both physically and specially. Can also be evolved as soon as it is obtained with a Moon Stone.
Cubone

Cubone

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Useful Ground typing for OHKOing the vast amount of Poison-type Pokémon in the game, and has an incredibly high Attack stat once equipped with the Thick Club item, allowing it to OHKO many other Pokémon as well.
Diglett

Diglett

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Useful Ground typing for OHKOing the vast amount of Poison-type Pokémon in the game. Instead of catching Diglett you can also capture his evolution Dugtrio who is available in the same area and time as Diglett and is at a significantly higher level.
Hitmonlee

Hitmonlee

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Average
  • Additional Comments: Has a very high Attack stat and learns useful moves upon level up and through TM.
Jynx

Jynx

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Wide
  • Additional Comments: Very high Special Attack and Speed stats, learns Lovely Kiss upon level up, and her Psychic typing is very useful for OHKOing the vast amount of Poison-types in the game. Unfortunately, you need to trade a man in Cerulean City a Poliwhirl to receive her, but since she is obtained via trading she gains double experience points, quickly making up for the extra effort.
Lapras

Lapras

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Very wide
  • Additional Comments: Available late in the game and at a much lower level than your party at that point in the game. However, it has above average stats all around, and a very wide movepool consisting of notable attacks, such as Surf, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Thunder, and Psychic.
Machop

Machop

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Average
  • Additional Comments: Has a very high Attack stat and learns useful moves upon level up and through TM. However, needs to be traded to fully evolve which requires two Gameboy Advances/SPs and a link cable or wireless adapter.
Mankey

Mankey

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Average
  • Movepool: Average
  • Additional Comments: Useful for defeating the Pewter City gym leader Brock if you choose Charmander as your starter. Has high Attack and Speed stats.
Nidoran-M

Nidoran-M

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Average
  • Movepool: Very wide
  • Additional Comments: Has well-distributed stats and learns a vast amount of TMs and in-game move tutor moves.
Snorlax

Snorlax

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Very wide
  • Additional Comments: Has a massive HP stat and a high Attack and Special Defense stat. Learns many useful moves upon level up and through TM, such as Body Slam, Brick Break, Shadow Ball, and Rest.
Staryu

Staryu (LeafGreen only)

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Very wide
  • Additional Comments: Very high Speed stat, learns Recover upon level up, and learns a vast amount of useful TMs and HMs, such as Surf, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Thunderbolt, Thunder, and Psychic.
Squirtle

Squirtle

  • Availability: Beginning
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Average
  • Additional Comments: Learns 3 HMs, Rock Smash, Surf, and Strength, and has decent stats all around.
Vaporeon

Vaporeon

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a massive HP stat and very high Special Attack and Special Defense stats.
Zapdos

Zapdos

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has very well-rounded stats and an especially high Special Attack stat. Although it has a shallow movepool it really only needs Thunderbolt / Thunder and Drill Peck to be of good use. It is obtained late in the game however, but at a high level of 50 which compensates for it.

Middle Tier

Bellsprout

Bellsprout (LeafGreen only)

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Learns 3 useful status moves upon level up.
Doduo

Doduo

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a very high Attack stat and learns two powerful STAB moves upon level up (Tri Attack and Drill Peck).
Electabuzz

Electabuzz (FireRed only)

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Wide
  • Additional Comments: Has a wide movepool consisting of Thunderbolt, Thunder, Brick Break, Psychic, and Mega Punch. However, outside of a wide movepool, he is outclassed by Zapdos in every way.
Exeggcute

Exeggcute

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Learns Sleep Powder upon level up, has a very high Special Attack stat and useful Psychic typing.
Geodude

Geodude

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Average
  • Additional Comments: Useful Ground typing for handling the vast amount of Poison-types in the game, learns useful moves upon level up including Selfdestruct.
Growlithe

Growlithe (FireRed only)

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Although its stats are very high all around, it has a shallow movepool outside of Fire-type attacks.
Hitmonchan

Hitmonchan

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Average
  • Additional Comments: Has a high Attack stat and learns useful moves through level up, TMs, HMs, and in-game move tutor moves. However, it is basically outclassed by the stronger, faster Hitmonlee.
Jolteon

Jolteon

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Very shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a very shallow movepool outside of Electric-type attacks. However, it has very high Special Attack and Speed stats and is capable of dealing lots of damage to foes with just Thunderbolt or Thunder.
Magnemite

Magnemite

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool outside of Electric-type attacks, however its Steel typing is very useful in-game, and it has a very high Special Attack stat.
Mr. Mime

Mr. Mime

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Useful Psychic typing for all of the Poison-types in the game. Since it is obtained through trading it also gains double experience. However, it has a shallow movepool outside of Psychic-type attacks.
Nidoran-F

Nidoran-F

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Wide
  • Additional Comments: Has well-rounded stats in all areas and learns a lot of TMs.
Oddish

Oddish (FireRed only)

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Learns 3 status moves upon level up but is outclassed by Bulbasaur. However, if one does not choose Bulbasaur as the starter then Oddish is a good replacement.
Pikachu

Pikachu

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Wide
  • Additional Comments: Has an above average Attack, Special Attack, and Speed stat, learns Thunderbolt upon level up at level 26, and learns a vast amount of TMs and in-game move tutor moves such as Brick Break and Mega Punch.
Slowpoke

Slowpoke (LeafGreen only)

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Very wide
  • Additional Comments: Learns a vast amount of useful TMs and HMs including Surf, Psychic, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Flamethrower, and Fire Blast. Also has very high Defense and Special Attack stats; however, it is very slow.
Spearow

Spearow

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Is outclassed by Doduo statwise but is available much earlier than Doduo.
Tentacool

Tentacool

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has well-rounded stats, but a shallow movepool outside of Water-type attacks.
Voltorb

Voltorb

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Is the fastest Pokémon available in the game and learns Selfdestruct upon level up.

Low Tier

Caterpie

Caterpie

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Very poor
  • Movepool: Very shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has no useful STAB attack and is weak offensively. However, has a very accurate Sleep Powder due to its ability Compoundeyes when it evolves into Butterfree.
Drowzee

Drowzee

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool outside of Psychic-type attacks.
Flareon

Flareon

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has good stats, but has a very shallow movepool outside of Fire-type attacks.
Grimer

Grimer

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has below average stats and has a shallow movepool.
Horsea

Horsea

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Shallow movepool outside of Water-type attacks and can't be fully evolved until the National Pokédex is acquired.
Jigglypuff

Jigglypuff

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has poor offensive stats.
Kangaskhan

Kangaskhan

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Decent
  • Additional Comments: Has a massive HP stat and a high Attack stat, but is only available late in the game and is very hard to capture.
Koffing

Koffing

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has poor offensive stats and is available too late in the game.
Luckitung

Lickitung

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Decent
  • Additional Comments: Outclassed by other Normal-types such as Kangaskhan and Snorlax.
Magikarp

Magikarp

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Very poor
  • Movepool: Very shallow
  • Additional Comments: Incredibly useless until it evolves into Gyarados. Gyarados isn't very useful either due to it not gaining STAB on any of its physical attacks.
Magmar

Magmar (LeafGreen only)

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Wide
  • Additional Comments: Although it has a wide movepool it is available too late in the game.
Meowth

Meowth

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Poor offensive stats and has a shallow movepool outside of Normal-type attacks. However, it does have a useful ability in Pickup.
Moltres

Moltres

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Poor
  • Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool outside of Fire-type attacks and is obtained very late in the game.
Paras

Paras

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Poor
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Doesn't have a useful STAB attack, bad typing, and poor stats besides its Attack. However, it does learn a 100% accuracy sleep move in Spore.
Pidgey

Pidgey

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has below average offenses.
Pinsir

Pinsir (LeafGreen only)

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Very shallow
  • Additional Comments: Doesn't learn a useful STAB attack and is very hard to capture.
Poliwag

Poliwag

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool outside of Water-type attacks. Has a poor Special Attack stat, so Water-type attacks aren't very viable.
Ponyta

Ponyta

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool outside of Fire-type attacks.
Psyduck

Psyduck (FireRed only)

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Doesn't learn any useful moves.
Rattata

Rattata

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Learns Hyper Fang early. However, later in the game it starts to become less useful.
Rhyhorn

Rhyhorn

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Evolves at a high level of 42 and has poor Speed and Special Defense stats.
Sandshrew

Sandshrew (LeafGreen only)

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Average
  • Movepool: Decent
  • Additional Comments: Useful Ground typing for the vast amount of Poison-types in the game; however, relies on TMs for its movepool.
Scyther

Scyther (FireRed only)

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Average
  • Movepool: Poor
  • Additional Comments: Very hard to capture and has no decent STAB attack outside of Aerial Ace. It also can't be fully evolved until the National Pokédex is acquired.
Seel

Seel

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Weak offensively and has a shallow movepool outside of Water-type and Ice-type attacks.
Shellder

Shellder (FireRed only)

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool outside of Water-type and Ice-type attacks.
Tauros

Tauros

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Decent
  • Additional Comments: Available only late in the game and very hard to capture.
Venonat

Venonat

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a very shallow movepool and no decent STAB attack.
Vulpix

Vulpix (LeafGreen only)

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Has a shallow movepool outside of Fire-type attacks.

Bottom Tier

Aerodactyl

Aerodactyl

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Decent
  • Additional Comments: Although Aerodactyl has very good stats and can be taught many useful TMs, it is available too late in the game and at a very low level of 5.
Chansey

Chansey

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Poor
  • Movepool: Wide
  • Additional Comments: Has terrible offensive stats, incredibly low Defense stat, and is very hard to capture.
Ditto

Ditto

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Poor
  • Movepool: Very shallow
  • Additional Comments: Obtained too late in the game and can only learn the move Transform which makes it completely useless.
Dratini

Dratini

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Available only very late in the game and at a very low level, evolves at a very high level, very weak until it does evolve, and is very hard to capture.
Ekans

Ekans (FireRed only)

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Shallow movepool and doesn't have a strong STAB attack.
Farfetch'd

Farfetch'd

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Shallow movepool, below average stats, and there are much better Flying-types in the game.
Gastly

Gastly

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Wide
  • Additional Comments: Both its STABs are physical, which is unfortunate since its Attack stat is much lower than its Special Attack stat. It also needs to be traded to fully evolve, which requires two Gameboy Advances/SPs and a link cable or wireless adapter.
Goldeen

Goldeen

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Poor
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Doesn't have a powerful STAB move since Water-type attacks in this generation are special and it has a very poor Special Attack stat.
Kabuto

Kabuto

  • Availability: Late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Available very late in the game and obtained at a low level of 5.
Krabby

Krabby

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Poor
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Doesn't have a powerful STAB move since Water-type attacks in this generation are special, and it has a very poor Special Attack stat.
Omanyte

Omanyte

  • Availability: Very late
  • Stats: Above average
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Available very late in the game and obtained at a low level of 5.
Onix

Onix

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Poor
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Very slow, bad typing, shallow movepool, and can't be fully evolved until you acquire the National Pokédex.
Porygon

Porygon

  • Availability: Mid-game
  • Stats: Below average
  • Movepool: Wide
  • Additional Comments: Too expensive to obtain (9,999 Game Corner coins for FireRed and 6,500 for LeafGreen). Also, can't be evolved until you acquire the National Pokédex.
Tangela

Tangela

  • Availability: Very late
  • Stats: Decent
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Available too late in the game, is very slow, and has a shallow movepool outside of Grass-type attacks.
Weedle

Weedle

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Poor
  • Movepool: Very shallow
  • Additional Comments: Very poor stats and movepool.
Zubat

Zubat

  • Availability: Early
  • Stats: Poor
  • Movepool: Shallow
  • Additional Comments: Can't be fully evolved until you have acquired the National Pokédex.

Untiered

Mewtwo

Mewtwo

  • Availability: End
  • Stats: Spectacular
  • Movepool: Above Average
  • Additional Comments: Is only available once you have completely beaten the game.