It’s time to once again answer the hardest question we have ever faced: what Pokémon starter are we going to choose?
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have announced that the first generation of Pokémon games is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch. Fire Red and Leaf Green, the GameBoy Advance remakes of Pokémon Red and Blue, will be available on February 27th for the MSRP of $19.99.
Yes, that price tag is a little annoying, but it will still be nice to access these games on a modern platform. Plus, there’s a chance these games will have Pokémon Home support. I say chance because, despite the initial description saying they do, it has since been updated to remove that information.
That’s beside the point; we’re here to answer that age-old question: what is the best starter available in Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green? If you ask me, it’s Charmander all day, every day, but for some inexplicable reason, not everyone agrees with that statement.
So let’s take a more scientific approach and figure out not only who the best starter is, but also which one is right for you.
Bulbasaur
The grass type Pokemon eventually evolves into Venusaur, a Grass/Poison type. As a kid, everyone talked about this being the head-over-heels best option because of moves like Leech Seed and Solar Beam.
Oh, to be young and naive again.
Here’s the thing about Bulbasaur: the grass type makes it an excellent option for beginners, as you’ll have a distinct advantage in the first two gyms you face (Brock and his Rock Pokemon and Misty and her Water Pokemon). This makes the early portions of the game, which can admittedly be a slog, far more manageable.
As you approach the later stages of the game, these Pokémon types may become problematic; Sabrina’s Psychic Pokémon in Saffron City, as well as Blaine’s Fire Pokémon on Cinnabar Island, will eat you alive. Here’s the thing, though: by these stages of the game, you should have a well-rounded line-up of Pokémon that can make up for these deficiencies. With this in mind, we recommend Bulbasaur for beginners or those looking for an easier time in the game’s opening moments.
Charmander
Charmander, the fire type Pokemon and arguably one of the most important to Ash’s story in the animated series, was always my personal choice. There wasn’t really a reason in particular; I just liked Fire-type Pokémon.
Boy, was I in for a surprise when I would routinely get my butt kicked through the early stages of the game. Remember what I said about how Bulbasaur’s grass type was lined up nicely for the game’s opening stages? Yeah, the opposite is true here. Brock’s Rock type Pokemon brush off your Fire attacks. Mistry’s Water-type Pokémon eat you alive for breakfast. Don’t get me started on the slog that Mt. Moon can be, either.
If you’re able to persevere through these opening moments, and don’t worry, you will, then Charmander’s strength will help carry you on your way to the Pokémon League and the Elite Four. By the time you’ve evolved into Charizard, it should be one of the strongest Pokémon in your roster.
As such, we recommend Charmander for those looking for a challenge in the early stages. Iron sharpens iron, after all! Charizard’s Special Attack and Speed also make for a great late-game stat combination.
Squirtle
Finally, we’ve reached Squirtle, undoubtedly the coolest of all the Pokémon. Sadly, you won’t be able to obtain its iconic sunglasses in Fire Red and Leaf Green, but it will evolve into Blastoise. That’s worth it, in my book.
The best thing about Squirtle is that it’s a very well-rounded Pokémon that can aid you throughout your Pokémon journey. Water is super effective against Rock, so Brock won’t put up much of a fight. By the time you reach Misty, you should have a couple of other solid Pokémon at your disposal, which makes the Water v Water match-up a wash (pun not intended).
Sure, Lt. Surge’s Electric-type Pokémon, followed by the Grass-type Pokémon of Erika, are favored against Squirtle, who should have evolved to Wartortle or Blastoise by this point. However, you should also be able to pick and choose the right Pokémon to deal with those types by now.
Because of this, Squirtle is the best option for those looking for an evenly-paced difficulty curve. Blastoise has far and away the best defensive stats of the three.
Is there really a best starting Pokémon in Fire Red and Leaf Green?
If there’s one thing I hope you all take away from this guide, it’s that no, there isn’t a “best” starting Pokémon in Fire Red and Leaf Green.
Don’t get me wrong; some do things better than others, but at the end of the day, they are all viable options. I wanted to make sure I highlighted the biggest reason for taking each one (Bulbasaur for an easier path, Charmander for a challenge and setting yourself up for the late game, and Squirtle for a well-rounded and defensive approach).
At the end of the day, you should pick whichever starting Pokémon speaks to you. After all, this is your Pokémon journey!
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