How to Beat the Gym Leaders in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Reviewed by Ishrak

Last Updated: May 9, 2025

Are you stuck on that one Gym Leader in Pokémon FireRed? Frustrated beyond belief? Well wikiHow is here to help. All you need are some new skills and a little patience--you'll soon be beating them so badly that they'll marvel at you!

Steps

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You should have a starting team that is like this: Starter, Pikachu, Spearow/Pidgey, Mankey, Beedrill/Butterfree, and another Pokémon.
Your Pokémon should be level 9 or more. This is a good chance to level up a weakling or two. Use Metal Claw if you have Charmander, Bubble or Water Gun if you have Squirtle, or Vine Whip if you have Bulbasaur.

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Also, your Pokémon should be around 20 to 25 (Bulbasaur or Pikachu).
Surge. You can find a Diglett in the nearby Diglett's Cave. You can even use Dugtrio! Also, your Pokémon should be in the late 20s.
If you picked Charmander, than you've got nothing to worry about! If you chose Squirtle or Bulbasaur you can use a Pidgey or Pidgeotto, or use a Spearow or Fearow. Otherwise use a Fire-type (Vulpix, Flareon, Growlithe, Arcanine, Ninetales).
Either that or a very powerful Pokémon. If you're using a Ground-type, be aware that Koffing and Weezing have the Levitate ability, preventing you from using Ground-type moves against them.
Or you could evolve Weedle up into Beedrill, who knows Pin Missile (Jolteon also learns this move). If this fails, use a Pokémon with a strong physical move. Kadabra and Alakazam may have a high special attack and speed stat, but they don't fare well against physical attacks due to their low defense stat. Pokémon such as Fearow and Snorlax are good physical attackers.
You could also bring a Psychic-type to deal with Nidoking and Nidoqueen.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I get a Charizard in Fire Red?

Chinchillagirl1

Community Answer

To obtain a Charizard, you must first select Charmander as your starter Pokémon. You can then evolve it into Charmeleon and finally into Charizard as you progress through the game.

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How can I acquire all three starter Pokémon in Pokémon FireRed?

Community Answer

To obtain all three starter Pokémon on a single save file, you must trade with other players. You cannot acquire them all through normal gameplay alone.

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How can I use Gym Badges in Pokémon Fire Red?

Natalie Tellechea

Top Answerer

You cannot directly "use" Gym Badges in Pokémon Fire Red.

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Tips

Battle and defeat every trainer! Once you get the Vs. Seeker, use that to rematch trainers as well.

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Diglett can learn Dig early. You can also get Dig from a Rocket Grunt after defeating Misty.

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You could trade some Pokémon from LeafGreen.

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Warnings

Weaklings will fail you!

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Some people do this, they only level up their starter. Don't do that!

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