Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen were remakes of the very first Pokemon games, Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue. These games introduced the iconic Generation I to a brand new audience. The games also greatly improved the graphics and gameplay of Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue.
The original 151 Pokémon returned in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen better than ever. Even though the remakes improved some things, some Pokémon remained at the bottom of the barrel. The goal of Pokémon is to train these creatures to become stronger, but there are certain Pokémon that just aren’t worth the effort. That’s what we’ll be focusing on today. These are the eight all-time worst Pokémon in FireRed & LeafGreen.
8. Zubat
We’re starting off this list with one of the more annoying Pokémon in the game. When exploring caves, players will be harassed by Zubat endlessly. To make things even more frustrating Zubat isn’t really worth catching in the first place. With a base stat total of 215, Zubat is seriously underpowered and fails to be a competitive Pokémon.
Zubat’s usefulness only gets worse when you take a look at its move list. All of the moves that Zubat can learn have better versions that can be used by stronger Pokémon. The moves Leech Life and Supersonic are just weaker versions of Absorb and Confusion. Another disappointing fact about Zubat is that even though it’s a Poison-type Pokemon, it only learns one Poison-type move, and players have to wait all the way until level 41 for it.
Zubat has one saving grace that keeps it at the top of this list. Zubat can evolve. Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen includes all the Generation III evolutions for the original 151 Pokémon. This means that Zubat can quickly evolve into Golbat and then Crobat. Its base stat total jumps from 215 to an impressive 535.
7. Onix
Onix may seem like an intimidating Pokémon but it’s actually one of the worst in the game. Brock’s Onix is the first real challenge that many players will face. Players who choose a Fire-type Pokémon will struggle against Onix, but with the right strategy, they can easily overcome it.
Onix’s stats are pretty abysmal when compared to other Pokémon. The 385 base stat total would be decent if it was even distributed. Onix’s highest stat is its Defense, which is at an insane 160. All of Onix’s other stats are painfully low. The only real advantage that Onix has is that it can resist Physical moves well, but even that high defense can be stripped away. The Achille’s heel to Onix is its four times vulnerability to Grass and Water-type moves.
The only way to make Onix even remotely usable is to evolve it into Steelix. Evolving into Steelix drops the Rock-typing for Steel, which means its four-times vulnerability is gone. Steelix also has much better stats, which make it viable in battle. If you ever catch an Onix, the best course of action is to evolve it as fast as possible.
6. Farfetch’d
Farfetch’d has always been a Pokémon that’s failed to stand out. When compared to a lot of the iconic Pokémon in FireRed & LeafGreen, Farfetch’d has a rather boring design. It doesn’t even have an evolution to help it become more interesting. The stats for Farfetch’d only make it even more mundane. The highest stat for Farfetch’d is its Attack, but even that isn’t all that impressive.
Most players will only keep Farfetch’d around so that they can learn HM moves. With low stats and no evolution, Farfetch’d is a Pokémon better left forgotten. In Generation VIII, they decided to give Farfetch a regional form that improved both its stats and design.
5. Abra
Abra is a unique Pokémon that is both frustrating and a true powerhouse if you’re willing to put in the work. Catching Abra is a challenge all on its own. Abra will always attempt to teleport away any time you encounter it in the wild. If you’re lucky enough to actually catch Abra, it can only use the move Teleport, which automatically fails in battle.
Because it’s unable to do damage in battle, Abra is impossible to level up unless you use TMs and Exp. Sharing. With its relatively high Sp. Atk and Speed, Abra can do some serious damage if you teach it some damaging moves with TMs. The more effort you put into Abra the stronger it gets. With enough levels, Abra evolves into Kadabra and later Alakazam, who can be monsters on the battlefield. Abra is a Pokémon that requires hard work but is definitely worth it in the end.
4. Venonat
Venonat is another Pokémon on our list that players will have to really work hard to make it into something good. It will be a struggle for Venonat to beat any Pokémon in battle with its 250 base stat total. In most instances, weak Pokémon evolve early, but that’s not the case for Venonat. Players will have to grind through 31 levels before Venonat evolves.
Even evolution isn’t enough to take this Pokémon out of the bottom of the barrel. When Venonat evolves into Venomoth, its base stat total only increases to 375. A middling base stat total combined with a Bug/Poison-typing makes Venonat a horribly mediocre Pokémon.
3. Weedle/Caterpie
Both Weedle and Caterpie are the mascots of Bug-type Pokémon. These are some of the first Pokémon that players will encounter once they start their journey. Their early introduction is why Weedle and Caterpie are so weak. Both Pokémon have a base stat total of 175, which is the lowest in the entire game. In addition to their low stats, the two Pokemon can only learn a total of two moves until they evolve.
The upside to catching Weedle and Caterpie is that they both evolve faster than most Pokémon. It only takes 10 levels for Weedle and Caterpie to reach their final evolutions. The numerous similarities between the two Pokémon make it nearly impossible to say which is better, so they’ll share the number 3 spot. Weedle and Caterpie are greatly early-game Pokémon but they’re practically useless after the first gym.
2. Magikarp
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Anybody who knows anything about Pokémon shouldn’t be surprised to see Magikarp on this list. Even within the world of Pokémon, Magikarp is regarded as a joke and the weakest Pokémon. Although Magikarp has higher stats than Caterpie or Weedle, its move list is what makes it such a terrible Pokémon. Magikarp can only learn a total of two moves before it evolves: Splash and Tackle.
Splash is a move that has absolutely no effect in-game. It does not damage, it doesn’t affect stats, and it doesn’t even place a status effect on the opponent. The move only exists to be a joke. To add to the problems with Magikarp, it can’t even learn Tackle until level 15. That means players have to grind through 15 levels with a Pokémon that can’t even deal damage.
If players are willing to put in the hard work to train Magikarp, they can get one of the best Pokémon in the game. At level 20 Magikarp evolves into Gyarados. Gyarados boast an impressive base stat total of 540. This Pokémon, on its own, can carry players through the majority of the game. If you’re willing to suffer through a lot of bad for a lot of good, Magikarp is the Pokémon for you.
1. Ditto
The reason why Ditto is considered the worst Pokémon is because of its unique move. The only move Ditto knows is Transform, which copies the target’s appearance, type, stats, abilities, and moves. The only thing that Ditto retains is its HP and level. Ditto’s base HP of 48 is so awful that it might as well not keep that either.
Using Transform puts Ditto at a major disadvantage in 1 on 1 fights. Ditto has to waste a full turn using Transform before it can even do anything. That means at best, all Ditto can do when battling is tie stat-wise against Pokémon, who have had a free turn. This objectively makes Ditto worse than every other Pokémon in Generation I.