Best Starter Fighter for Pokémon Fire Red: A Guide

Selecting your initial fighter in the Pocket Monsters universe marks the beginning of an epic journey and a critical strategic decision that can influence your entire gaming experience. Each of the three starter Pokémon in Pokémon FireRed—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—possesses distinct characteristics and advantages. In this guide, we'll delve into each starter Pokémon's attributes and help you decide which one is the best for a successful start in the game.

Table of Contents

• Squirtle
• Bulbasaur
• Charmander
• Choosing Your First Pokémon: Who to Take on Your Journey?

Squirtle

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Squirtle, resembling a small turtle, is protected by a sturdy shell that not only serves as a shield but also enhances its swimming capabilities due to its hydrodynamic design. This Water-type Pokémon can shoot precise water jets from its mouth and is surprisingly effective on land as well. Despite its calm nature, Squirtle can be challenging to train, falling between Bulbasaur and Charmander in terms of difficulty.

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Squirtle is an excellent choice for beginners due to its high defense and balanced stats. It offers a significant advantage early in the game by easily defeating Brock's Rock-type Pokémon and Misty's Water-type team. Its final evolution, Blastoise, boasts powerful Water attacks and high survivability, making it a versatile fighter throughout your journey. The Torrent ability enhances its Water moves, while the hidden ability Rain Dish restores its health during rain. However, Squirtle struggles against Grass and Electric types, particularly in battles against Erika and Lt. Surge, and its attacks may not be as potent as Charmander's, with speed also being a concern.

Bulbasaur

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Bulbasaur, a Grass and Poison type, is characterized by its green body and the large bulb on its back, which stores energy and helps it survive without food during dry spells. The bulb grows by absorbing sunlight, signaling its evolution into Ivysaur when it becomes too heavy. Bulbasaur is an ideal choice for new players due to its balanced stats and versatility in various scenarios. Its types provide an advantage against the first Gym Leaders, Brock and Misty.

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Bulbasaur's Leech Seed ability allows it to gradually reduce an opponent's HP, while Vine Whip uses its vines to strike foes effectively. These vines are strong enough to lift heavy objects and aid in climbing. Its hidden ability, Chlorophyll, doubles its speed in sunlight, offering a strategic advantage. However, Bulbasaur is vulnerable to Fire, Ice, Psychic, and Flying attacks, making it weak against Pokémon like Charmander. It's not the fastest, and its attacks may not match the power of Charizard or Blastoise in later stages.

Charmander

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Charmander, a Fire-type lizard, features a flame on its tail that indicates its health and emotions. A bright flame signifies strength, while a dim one indicates exhaustion. It's believed that if the flame extinguishes, Charmander's life ends. This popular starter can be challenging initially due to its high Attack and Speed but struggles against the first gyms, particularly Brock's Rock-type and Misty's Water-type Pokémon. Its relatively low defense makes it vulnerable early on.

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Despite early challenges, Charmander evolves into Charizard, gaining access to powerful moves and the ability to Mega Evolve, making it a formidable ally in later stages. Choosing Charmander is ideal for players who enjoy overcoming initial difficulties for long-term rewards.

Choosing Your First Pokémon: Who to Take on Your Journey?

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Each of the three Pokémon offers unique advantages and challenges, making the best choice dependent on your play style. Bulbasaur provides an easy start, handling the first two gyms effectively with its Grass type. Charmander suits those who relish challenges, promising powerful rewards later in the game. Squirtle offers balance and versatility, making it a solid choice for varied gameplay.

In our opinion, Bulbasaur stands out as the best option for a comfortable progression. It excels against the initial gyms and offers solid Defense and Stamina, making it suitable even for beginners. Bulbasaur remains useful throughout the game, proving its worth from the start.

Your choice of starter Pokémon will shape your playstyle and approach to battles, so consider both the early challenges and your strategy for the later parts of the game. No matter your decision, this choice will lay the foundation for your adventure in the world of Pocket Monsters.