At first glance, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen’s gameplay might seem identical, but they each contain several version-exclusive Pokemon that cannot be found in the other game. This was designed to encourage utilization of the link cable and the trading feature way back in the early 2000s.
So what does that mean for you if you’re playing FR/LG on an emulator or the Nintendo Switch now?
In this article, we’ll go over all the version-exclusive Pokemon in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen and show you exactly where to catch them.
If you want to complete that Kanto Pokedex or are looking for a key member of your team, this guide is for you.
Key Highlights:
- Version exclusives still matter today: FireRed and LeafGreen each have unique Pokemon that require trading, whether you’re playing on an emulator or Nintendo Switch.
- FireRed offers more offense-oriented Pokemon while LeafGreen lets you catch better defensive mons.
- Deoxys’s Attack and Defense formes are also version exclusives, both available across the GBA and Switch versions.
Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen Version Exclusives and Their Locations
| Pokemon | FR Availability | LG Availability | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ekans and Arbok | ✔ | ✘ | Ekans is obtainable in Routes 4, 8, and 9. Arbok evolves from Ekans at level 22 and can also be encountered in the wild on Route 23 and Victory Road. |
| Growlithe and Arcanine | ✔ | ✘ | Growlithe can be caught on Routes 7 and 8 and in the Pokemon Mansion. Arcanine evolves from Growlithe using a Fire Stone. |
| Shellder and Cloyster | ✔ | ✘ | Shellder can be caught using the Super Rod in Pallet Town and Cinnabar Island. Cloyster evolves from Shellder using a Water Stone. |
| Psyduck and Golduck | ✔ | ✘ | Psyduck can be found by surfing on Route 6 and in Cerulean Cave. Golduck evolves from Psyduck at level 33 and can also be encountered in Cerulean Cave. |
| Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, and Bellossom | ✔ | ✘ | Oddish appears on Routes 5, 6, and 7. Gloom evolves from Oddish at level 21 and can also be found on Routes 12, 13, and 14. Vileplume evolves from Gloom using a Leaf Stone. |
| Scyther and Scizor | ✔ | ✘ | Scyther can be found in the Safari Zone as a rare encounter. Scizor can be obtained by trading Scyther while it holds a Metal Coat. |
| Elekid and Electabuzz | ✔ | ✘ | Electabuzz appears in the Power Plant as an uncommon encounter. You can obtain an Elekid via breeding. |
| Magby and Magmar | ✘ | ✔ | Magmar can be found in the grass at Mt. Ember on One Island. You can obtain a Magby via breeding. |
| Sandshrew and Sandslash | ✘ | ✔ | Sandshrew appears on Routes 4, 8, and 9. Sandslash evolves from Sandshrew at level 22 and can also be caught on Route 23 and Victory Road. |
| Vulpix and Ninetales | ✘ | ✔ | Vulpix appears on Routes 7 and 8 and in the Pokemon Mansion. Ninetales evolves from Vulpix using a Fire Stone. |
| Staryu and Starmie | ✘ | ✔ | Staryu can be caught with the Super Rod in Pallet Town, Vermilion City, and Cinnabar Island. Starmie can be evolved from Staryu using a Water Stone. |
| Slowpoke, Slowbro, and Slowking | ✘ | ✔ | Slowpoke appears by surfing on Route 6 and in Cerulean Cave. Slowbro evolves from Slowpoke at level 37. Slowking evolves from Slowpoke through trading while holding a King’s Rock. |
| Bellsprout, Weepinbell, and Victreebel | ✘ | ✔ | Bellsprout appears on Routes 5, 6, and 7. Weepinbell evolves from Bellsprout at level 21 and can be found on Routes 12, 13, and 14. Victreebel evolves from Weepinbell using a Leaf Stone. |
| Pinsir | ✘ | ✔ | Pinsir appears as a rare encounter in the Safari Zone. |
Sevii Island Exclusives
Another major addition in FireRed and LeafGreen is the Sevii Islands. This group of islands becomes accessible during the later part of the game and expands the Kanto adventure with new areas, Pokemon encounters, and post-game activities.
Many version-exclusive Pokemon can be found in these islands, particularly after defeating the Elite Four. Because of this, some exclusives are only obtainable in the postgame.
| FireRed Sevii Island Exclusives | LeafGreen Sevii Island Exclusives |
|---|---|
| Wooper and Quagsire Murkrow Qwilfish Delibird Skarmory | Azurill, Marill, and Azumarill Misdreavus Sneasel Remoraid and Octillery Mantine |
Deoxys Forme Differences
One of the most interesting differences between FireRed and LeafGreen involves Deoxys. Yes, you can also obtain this Legendary in the Nintendo Switch.
Deoxys is a Psychic-type legendary Pokemon that changes forme depending on the game it appears in.
In FireRed, Deoxys appears in its Attack Forme. This forme has extremely high Attack and Special Attack stats but very low defenses.
In LeafGreen, Deoxys appears in its Defense Forme. This version sacrifices offensive power for extremely high defensive stats.
On the GBA, Deoxys can only be obtained through a special event using the Aurora Ticket, which unlocks Birth Island.
On Nintendo Switch 1 and 2 however, players can now obtain the ticket needed through normal gameplay, after beating the Elite Four.
Once caught, Deoxys’s forme is locked depending on the version of the game you are playing.
Which Version Should You Choose?
Since most of the game’s core elements and mechanics remain identical, the biggest factor when choosing between FireRed and LeafGreen is simply which version-exclusive Pokemon you prefer.
The most notable crossroads for me include the following:
- Growlithe and Arcanine in FireRed vs. Vulpix and Ninetales in LeafGreen
- Scyther in FireRed vs. Pinsir in LeafGreen
- Psyduck in FireRed vs. Slowpoke in LeafGreen
- Deoxys Attack Forme in FireRed vs. Defense Forme in LeafGreen
These differences mainly affect team building and collecting. If you prefer stronger offensive options, FireRed may be the better choice.
If you prefer more defensive or alternative Pokemon options, LeafGreen might suit you better. It’s also worth noting that the version exclusives remain the same on GBA and Nintendo Switch versions.
Keep in mind that you can obtain all version-exclusive Pokemon in FireRed and LeafGreen, regardless of which version you are playing.
If you are playing on an emulator, you can simply download both versions and trade with yourself. For Nintendo Switch owners, however, you will need to use the traditional method of trading with another player.
Conclusion
Those are all the version-exclusive Pokemon in FireRed and LeafGreen.
Both games offer the same classic Kanto adventure, so you will not miss out on the main story regardless of which version you pick. The decision ultimately comes down to which Pokemon you want on your team.
As someone who played both the GBA and Switch versions, I can definitely assure you that the games are the same in almost every aspect, and that includes the version exclusives.
We are firing out the most helpful Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen guides, so if you are planning to beat this OG masterpiece, make sure you take a look at our other articles here at Pokecoders.
