Best Starter Fighter in Pokémon Fire Red: A Guide

Embarking on your journey in the Pocket Monsters universe begins with a crucial decision: selecting your first fighter. This choice not only kickstarts your adventure but also shapes your strategy throughout the game. In Pokémon FireRed, you're presented with three distinct starters, each with its own unique attributes and advantages. Let's delve into the characteristics of each starter Pokémon to help you decide which one will set you up for the best start.

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, boasts a sturdy shell that serves multiple purposes. Not only can it retract into it for protection or rest, but the shell's rounded shape and grooves enhance its hydrodynamics, allowing Squirtle to swim at impressive speeds. Additionally, Squirtle can shoot precise water jets from its mouth, making it a formidable Water-type even on land.

With a relatively calm demeanor, Squirtle might be challenging to train compared to Bulbasaur but easier than Charmander. Its high defense and balanced stats make it an excellent choice for beginners, providing a significant advantage early in the game. Squirtle effortlessly defeats Brock's Rock-type Pokémon and Misty's Water-types. Its final evolution, Blastoise, boasts powerful Water attacks, high survivability, and the utility of Surf for both battling and navigation.

Squirtle's Torrent ability enhances its Water moves, while its hidden ability, Rain Dish, heals it during rain. However, it struggles against Grass and Electric types, notably in battles against Erika and Lt. Surge. Its attacks may not be as potent as Charmander's, and its speed could use some improvement.

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Bulbasaur

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Bulbasaur, a Grass and Poison type, features a distinctive bulb on its back that stores energy, allowing it to survive without food during dry spells. This bulb grows by absorbing sunlight, and when it becomes too heavy, it signals Bulbasaur's imminent evolution into Ivysaur.

This Pokémon is a versatile choice for players embarking on their adventure, with balanced stats that make it adaptable in various scenarios. Its Grass type helps it counter the first Gym Leaders, Brock and Misty, effectively.

Bulbasaur's Leech Seed ability inflicts damage over time, while its Vine Whip uses its vines as powerful limbs to strike opponents or manipulate objects. Its hidden ability, Chlorophyll, doubles its speed in sunlight, giving it an edge in critical situations.

However, Bulbasaur is vulnerable to Fire, Ice, Psychic, and Flying attacks, making it weak against Pokémon like Charmander. Its speed is not its strongest attribute, and it can struggle to attack first in some battles. As the game progresses, these vulnerabilities become more pronounced, and its attacks may not match the power of those from Charizard or Blastoise.

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Charmander

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Charmander, a Fire-type lizard, has a flame on its tail that reflects its health and emotions. A healthy Charmander's flame burns even in the rain, signifying its vitality.

Despite being a popular choice, Charmander can present challenges at the start. With high Attack and Speed, it excels against Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel types. Its evolution into Charizard unlocks powerful moves and the potential for Mega Evolution, making it a formidable ally in later stages.

However, Charmander struggles early on against the first Gym Leaders. Brock's Rock-type Pokémon resist Fire attacks, and Misty's Water-type fighters pose a significant threat. Additionally, Charmander's low defense makes it vulnerable in battles.

Despite these initial hurdles, Charmander becomes a powerful ally as the game progresses. It's a rewarding choice for trainers who embrace early challenges, offering significant payoffs later in the journey.

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

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Each of the three Pokémon starters in Pokémon FireRed offers unique advantages and challenges, and your choice should align with your preferred playstyle. For an easier start, Bulbasaur is the best option, effectively handling the first two Gyms with its Grass type. If you're up for a challenge, Charmander's early struggles pave the way for powerful late-game rewards. For those seeking balance and versatility, Squirtle's high defense and utility make it an excellent choice.

In our opinion, Bulbasaur stands out as the best choice for a smooth progression. It not only performs well against the initial Gym Leaders but also offers solid Defense and Stamina, making it ideal for beginners. Its early-game effectiveness and continued utility throughout the game make it a reliable companion.

Ultimately, the choice of your first Pokémon shapes your entire adventure in the world of Pocket Monsters. Consider not only the early challenges but also your long-term strategy. No matter which fighter you choose, it will lay the foundation for your journey in this captivating universe.