The starter you pick in Pokmon FireRed and LeafGreen means a lot more than
you might think here's why you need to choose carefully

Date:
Sat, 14 Mar 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Description:
Playing Pokmon FireRed and LeafGreen? Youll want to pick your starter carefully but not for the reason you may think.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get the TechRadar Newsletter Sign up for
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now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Pokmon FireRed and LeafGreen have been out for a couple of weeks now on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and Ive been loving these re-released classics. Ive been busy filling out the Pokdex, hunting for shinies, and even battling with my friends in person.

But whether youve finished the game as I have, or if youre just starting out, Im sure youll agree that theres one moment that sticks in the memory above all. Of course, Im talking about selecting your starter. Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtlewho will it be? Your decision is a big one. Bulbasaur provides the easiest ride with his incredible performance in the early game, which is a big plus. Squirtle is a great all-rounder and offers a whole lot
of bulk. And Charmander, while needing a bit of support in the beginning,
goes on to blossom into one of the most iconic Pokmon of all time. Its a
tough call. Article continues below You may like Still choosing between
Pokmon FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch or Switch 2? Heres something you might not have considered Pokmon LeafGreen review: my first-ever Pokmon adventure is still superb As a lifelong Pokmon fan, the return of FireRed and LeafGreen has me feeling hopeful now I need these 3 classic entries to land on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

But the starter you choose has even more consequences than you may have thought at first. Thats because your selection will have an impact on which legendary Pokmon are available to you in the post-game. Until recently, I had no idea this was even a thing, so Im here to share some intel with all of
you. Interested? Ill reveal all down below. A beastly encounter (Image
credit: Nintendo / The Pokmon Company / Game Freak) Although most of the mons you encounter in Pokmon FireRed and LeafGreen are set and arent dependent on any player choices there are some exceptions.

Of course, there are some version exclusives, like how Growlithe is only available in FireRed and Vulpix is only seen in LeafGreen but theres more. For instance, the mythical Pokmon Deoxys will assume a different form depending on the game version you have something I wrote about very recently .

But one legendary encounter will come down to the biggest player choice of all: your starter selection. And thats because your pick will decide which
one of the Johto regions Legendary Beasts you can encounter. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Essentially, the starter Pokmon you choose will have a type weakness to the legendary thats available to you. For instance, those who pick Bulbasaur can catch Entei, those who go with Charmander can bag Suicune, and the
enlightened among you who selected Squirtle can get Raikou.

Theres no way to catch the other legendaries on your save, so in order to
fill out your dex, youll need to trade locally with players who made
different starter selections. For example, my colleague Nikita chose Charmander, meaning I could register her Suicune, while she could register my Raikou. (Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokmon Company / Game Freak) But how do you even go about getting these Legendary Beasts? Well, this can actually be slightly frustrating. What to read next It's official; Pokmon FireRed and LeafGreen are coming to Switch and Switch 2 but not in the way you might think Everything we learned from the Pokmon Winds and Pokmon Waves official announcement trailer How Nano Banana 2 can recreate your favorite Pokmon battles, only better

The Legendary Beasts are roaming Pokmon, meaning they move from route to
route as they please. When you encounter them, theyre at level 50 and will flee on the first turn. My recommendation is to have a Pokmon thats in the level 40-49 range, and run through the grass in Route 1 and Route 2 with a repel active.

Eventually, the Legendary Beast will reveal itself, and you can catch it. If youve not already used your Master Ball, Id strongly recommend using it here, in order to avoid chasing either Raikou, Entei, or Suicune around the Kanto region.

And thats all there is to it. Have you caught one of the Legendary Beasts
yet? Have you been enjoying playing through FireRed or LeafGreen on your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 ? Id love to hear from you, so be sure
to drop a comment. The best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play right now Our top picks for Nintendo's latest handheld

Read our full guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 games 1. Best overall: Donkey Kong Bananza 2. Great for multiplayer: Mario Kart World 3. A sequel
for the ages: Hollow Knight: Silksong 4. A timeless adventure and remake: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition 5. Best Pokmon: Pokmon Legends Z-A Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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