Despite the limited variety of critters in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, players can assemble a championship-quality team without needing to catch a single monster in the wilds of the Kanto region. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen trainers can use Pokemon obtained by NPCs or from the Celadon Game Corner to put together a solid squad that provides some decent type coverage.
As a remake of the original Pokemon Red and Green for the Game Boy, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen allow players to experience the challenges that the Kanto region has to offer, with some Gen 3 battle mechanics thrown in. These include the introduction of Pokemon Abilities, which can affect the outcome of a battle, and Pokemon Natures, which determine how stats will be distributed on a given monster. In Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, catching a Pokemon with a nature that enhances its best stat, such as a Modest Nature on a Fire-type like Ninetales, is easier said than done due to the random nature of wild Pokemon encounters.
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Player Defeats the Elite Four Using Just 1 Caterpie
A clever Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen player manages to defeat the Elite Four using just a single Caterpie.
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Can Be Beaten Without Catching a Single Wild Pokemon
Though Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen players can assemble a "barely-functional" team and still claim the Champion's crown, they may also forego throwing a Poke Ball altogether to claim victory. The latter path was proven viable by a Reddit user named DerelictUsername, as they posted a screenshot on the Pokemon FireRed subreddit of their championship-winning Pokemon team. The Pokemon that DerelictUsername had on their squad for this self-imposed challenge were Lapras, Jolteon, Hitmonlee, Aerodactyl, Kadabra, and Dragonair, with each Pokemon team member ranging from Level 50 to 54. Members of DerelictUsername's winning team were obtained via specific events in the main story, with Lapras and Hitmonlee coming from Saffron City after clearing the Silph Co. Tower and the Fighting Dojo, respectively. Jolteon evolved from Eevee via a Thunder Stone, though Eevee can be obtained by entering Celadon Mansion from the back door. As for Aerodactyl, the Fossil Pokemon requires some patience, as it can only be revived from an Old Amber retrieved from the Pewter City Museum. The Old Amber can be taken to the Cinnabar Island Lab to be resurrected into an Aerodactyl.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
While Kadabra and Dragonair can rarely be found in the wild, or after catching an Abra or a Dratini and evolving them, there is a workaround. Both Abra and Dratini can be purchased with Game Coins in the Celadon Game Corner, though the costs will vary between the FireRed and LeafGreen versions. Coins can be won by playing the Game Corner's slot machines or purchased with Poke Dollars at a rate of 50 coins per 1,000 Poke Dollars. In Pokemon LeafGreen, a Level 7 Abra can be obtained for 120 coins, while a Level 24 Dratini will set trainers back 4,600 coins. By comparison, in Pokemon FireRed, a Level 9 Abra costs 180 coins, and a Level 18 Dratini is available for 2,800 coins. Given that DerelictUsername played Pokemon FireRed for their challenge, Abra and Dratini cost a combined 2,980 coins, or just under 50,000 Poke Dollars at most. Abra and Dratini then evolved via level-ups, though Dragonair was just five levels shy of reaching level 55, when it could evolve into Dragonite.
Pokemon Type Variety Was The Key to Victory
As for the elemental type coverage used in this Pokemon FireRed challenge team, none of the Pokemon used by DerelictUsername had overlapping types. With Jolteon taking down Water and Flying-type threats, and some solid special attack power from Kadabra and Lapras, most of the Elite Four could be taken down with relative ease. This was also coupled with fast physical attacks from Hitmonlee and Aerodactyl. Despite its resistance to several Pokemon attack types, DerelictUsername said that Dragonair was barely used due to its shallow move pool.
Although both Gyarados and the Starter Pokemon like Venusaur were also eligible for this self-imposed challenge, DerelictUsername opted not to use Ivysaur or Gyarados after defeating the Celadon City Gym, simply because the OP played Pokemon FireRed with them enough times. Other users stated that Mr. Mime could also qualify for the no-catch challenge, as it is a Pokemon that requires trading an Abra to an NPC outside Diglett's Tunnel on Route 2. Ergo, buying an Abra from the Celadon Game Corner would be sufficient.
- Released
- September 7, 2004
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Mild Fantasy Violence, Simulated Gambling
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- The Pokemon Company, Nintendo
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
WHERE TO PLAY
Set off on a grand adventure to fulfill your dreams of becoming a Pokémon Master!
Explore the Kanto region and discover wild Pokémon around every corner. Build your Pokémon collection and train, and battle your way to success–earn your badges as you develop winning strategies to use against experienced Gym Leaders in every town. Explore every inch to uncover amazing secrets that will help you in your quest to be the best trainer ever!
• Trade, battle, and chat wirelessly! All new wireless adapter comes packed in every game, so trainers can trade, battle, and chat between their FireRed and LeafGreen versions with no cables!
• Catch loads of Pokémon in the never-before-seen island areas!
• Expand your collection when you trade with a friend. Link up with Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire or Pokémon Colosseum to catch them all!
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- February 27, 2026
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Switch
- How Long To Beat
- 30 Hours
