Pokémon Fire Red And LeafGreen are finally on Switch, bringing a taste of the series’ retro roots to a modern platform for PokémonIt’s the 30th anniversary. Millions of fans and newcomers download the game to start a whole new adventure in the Kanto region. They will all face the same timeless and confusing choice: which starter Pokémon is best to choose?
Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle: who should lead your team to catch them all and defeat the Elite Four? The answer is whichever you personally prefer. The interest of playing Pokémon Fire Red And LeafGreen it’s about having fun, not using an Excel spreadsheet like decade-old Game Boy Advance games. But even so, there may be a little nagging voice of doubt in the back of your head that convinces you to listen to something other than your heart. If so, here are my tips for which starter to choose. Let’s quickly review the three choices.
Bulbasaur The poison grass type is tough as nails and is not easily knocked down. Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur at level 16 and Venusaur at level 32. This is four levels earlier than other starters for the final transformation. Bulbasaur is also excellent against the first two gym leaders, Brock and Misty, whose field teams are weak against Grass-types. What Ivysaur and Venusaur lack in speed and raw attack power, they make up for with high HP and tons of status attacks that can win almost any war of attrition.
Sleep Powder is annoying but effective in a wide range of combinations, especially when combined with Leech Seed and Solar Beam. Paired with the Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb, this is a great choice for the master tactician.
Charmander The fire type has always been a favorite because it’s the most badass. Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at level 16 and Charizard at level 36, the latter of which is also a flying type. This added versatility also brings additional vulnerability, but Charizard is great late game for quickly sweeping most opponents off the field. Charmander, on the other hand, struggles early in the game, especially against the first two gyms. He does, however, possess Metal Claw, which can allow him to overtake Brock’s rock types.
Flame Thrower and Slash are excellent meat and potatoes attacks. Later, you can teach him Earthquake to add another devastating move to his arsenal. Fire Spin and Toxic also pair well to cut off oxygen, even against opponents with a match-up advantage.
Squirtle The water type is the cutest and has a lot of versatility in the early and later stages of the game. Squirtle evolves into Wartortle at level 16 and Blastoise at level 36. It is quite easy to train and has no problems against Brock. Additionally, Squirtle has the best defense throughout the match, although he struggles in gyms three and four. He can, however, learn Bubble Beam from Misty, which gives him early access to a special attack for the first half of the game.
Hydro Pump and Skull Bash are powerful late-game attacks, and Blastoise also benefits from being able to learn moves like Ice Beam and Blizzard to make short work of Dragon-types. It’s a good compromise between Charizard’s glass cannon attack and Venusaur’s slow situational effectiveness.
Okay but for real: which entry should I choose Pokémon Fire Red And LeafGreen? My final answer is: Bulbasaur. It offers great survivability and offers plenty of options to support any team you want to build. The early game, up until Surge, is super easy and you have plenty of time to train the rest of your team by the time you get to a grass showdown in Celadon City. Another great thing about Bulbasaur is that there really aren’t any other great types of grass. Starmie is a great Water-type substitute for Blastoise, and Arcanine is a great Fire-type substitute for Charizard. Additionally, Sleep Powder is a godsend when it comes to capturing other Pokémon on your journey.