You’ll Have to Play The Worst Pokemon Games to Complete FireRed and LeafGreen’s Pokedex

If you’re looking forward to playing Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch or Switch 2, or if you’ve already gotten a sneak peek, there’s something important to know about the Pokedex. These Switch versions are largely based on the original Game Boy Advance games, but they’re more than just simple remakes of the Kanto region. They include the extra Sevii Islands, gameplay improvements, and a complete National Pokedex featuring all Pokemon up to the Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire generation. That’s a huge number of Pokemon, but you’ll primarily experience the Kanto region in the main game – the National Pokedex content becomes available after you finish the main story.

The biggest issue with Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen is that many Pokemon are impossible to obtain within the game, even though they’re included in the full Pokedex. While Nintendo once indicated these games would connect to Pokemon Home, that information was later removed, leaving its future uncertain. Because these games lack online trading and rely only on local co-op, Pokemon Home compatibility is crucial for completing the Pokedex. Unfortunately, doing so requires playing some of the least popular entries in the Pokemon series.

Why You Need to Play Gen 8, Gen 9, and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl to Beat FireRed and LeafGreen

If you don’t already have a complete Pokédex transferred from Pokémon Home, you’ll need to play through at least two, and potentially three, different games to obtain all the Pokémon that were previously unavailable in FireRed and LeafGreen. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (with The Teal Mask DLC and The Indigo Disk DLC)
Pokemon Sword and Shield (with Isle of Armour DLC and Crown Tundra DLC)
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

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Personally, I think the Pokémon games from Generations 8 and 9 are among the best, even with their flaws, and despite the mixed reception to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. However, I really didn’t enjoy Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and I know a lot of others feel the same way. It’s frustrating because you basically have to play through it if you want to catch all the Pokémon.

Pokemon You Can Get For FireRed and LeafGreen’s National Dex in Scarlet and Violet

While some of these Pokémon are also available in Pokémon Sword and Shield or Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, I still suggest catching them in the newest generation, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, if you can. That’s because the game’s sandwich-making feature significantly increases your chances of finding specific types of Pokémon. If your goal is to collect everything and transfer it to Pokémon Home, and eventually to FireRed and LeafGreen, Gen 9 offers the most efficient method. Here’s a list of the Pokémon you can easily obtain in Gen 9 to complete your National Pokédex:

Chinchou
Lanturn
Mareep
Flaaffy
Ampharos
Sudowoodo
Sunkern
Sunflora
Espeon
Umbreon
Girafarig
Pineko
Forretress
Teddiursa
Ursaring
Houndour
Houndoom
Wingull
Pelipper
Ralts
Kirlia
Gardevoir
Surskit
Masquerain
Shroomish
Breloom
Slakoth
Vigoroth
Slaking
Makuhita
Hariyama
Sableye
Meditite
Medicham
Plusle
Minun
Gulpin
Swalot
Numel
Camerupt
Torkoal
Spoink
Grumpig
Cacnea
Cacturne
Swablu
Altaria
Zangoose
Seviper
Barboach
Whiscash
Tropius
Luvdisc
Bagon
Shelgon
Salemence
Beldum
Metang
Metagross

Pokemon You Can Get For FireRed and LeafGreen’s National Dex in The Teal Mask

Hoothoot
Noctowl
Gligar
Poochyena
Mightyena
Lotad
Lombre
Ludicolo
Seedot
Nuzleaf
Shiftry
Nosepass
Volbeat
Illumise
Corphish
Crawdaunt
Feebas
Milotic
Duskull
Dusclops
Chimecho

Pokemon You Can Get For FireRed and LeafGreen’s National Dex in The Indigo Disk

Image via The Pokemon Company

Chikorita
Bayleef
Meganium
Cyndaquil
Quilava
Typhlosion
Totodile
Croconow
Feraligatr
Snubbull
Granbull
Treecko
Grovyle
Sceptile
Torchic
Combusken
Blaziken
Mudkip
Marshtomp
Swampert
Trapinch
Vibrava
Flygon

Pokemon You Can Get For FireRed and LeafGreen’s National Dex in Sword and Shield, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

While many Pokémon are available in Pokémon Sword and Shield, some can only be found in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. To collect everything efficiently, it’s best to finish Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and reach the post-game content. This will unlock most Pokémon in the Grand Underground and certain Legendary Pokémon in Ramanas Park. Here’s a list of those Pokémon:

Corsola
Miltank
Zigzagoon
Linoone
Nincada
Ninjask
Shedinja
Whismur
Loudred
Exploud
Mawile
Aaron
Lairon
Aggron
Electrike
Manectric
Roselia
Carvanha
Sharpedo
Wailmer
Wailord
Lunatone
Solrock
Baltoy
Claydol
Lileep
Cradily
Anorith
Arnaldo
Absol
Spheal
Sealeo
Walrein
Relicanth
Regirok
Regice
Registeel

Pokemon You Can Get For FireRed and LeafGreen’s National Dex Only in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Some Pokémon are exclusive to Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Catching these can be tricky, as they’re only found in the game’s Grand Underground and Ramanas Park, which require both progressing through the game and completing the main story. So, if you’re starting a new game, you’ll need to reach the post-game content first. Here’s a list of those Pokémon:

Mew (You need a Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee save file to get Mew in Floaroma Town)
Wurmple
Silcoon
Beautifly
Cascoon
Dustox
Taillow
Swellow
Skitty
Delcatty
Spinda
Castform
Kecleon
Clamperl
Huntail
Gorebyss
Latias
Latios
Kyogre
Groudon
Rayquaza
Jirachi (You need a Pokemon Sword and Shield save file to get Jirachi in Floaroma Town)

Currently, Celebi is the only Pokemon you can’t get in the game, but there’s a possibility that future events could add ways to obtain it in FireRed and LeafGreen.

2026-02-26 14:43