Raikou, Entei, and Suicune are powerful, legendary Pokémon you can find after completing the main story in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. Unlike Mewtwo, you won’t find them in one specific location; instead, they roam around different routes throughout the Kanto region, often appearing in grassy areas and near water. Importantly, each player can only encounter one of these legendary beasts, and which one depends on which starter Pokémon you initially chose at the beginning of your game.
This guide will help you catch Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen. We’ll show you where to find them in the Kanto region after you beat the main game, including what you need to do to unlock the encounters. You’ll also get recommendations for the best Pokemon and items to use, and detailed instructions for catching these Legendary Beasts in both their regular and shiny versions.
How to Find Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
You’ll find Raikou, Entei, and Suicune after you’ve finished the main story. These three Legendary Pokémon roam around in the grassy areas of any route in Kanto, and you can also find Suicune near ponds.
The legendary Pokémon you encounter in the game depends on your starting choice. If you pick Squirtle, you’ll battle Raikou. Choosing Bulbasaur will bring Entei into the fight, and if you select Charmander, you’ll face Suicune.
HM Fly is the fastest way to get back to cities with grassy areas or ponds, particularly in the Kanto region. Players traveling from the Sevii Islands need to ride the ferry to Vermillion City before they can use HM Fly.
Routes 2 and 7 are the best places to find Legendary Beast Pokémon while exploring on foot. You can find Suicune specifically in the ponds along Route 25. These routes in Kanto have mostly lower-level wild Pokémon, and you won’t encounter a huge variety of different species.
To find a Legendary Beast Pokemon, players must have completed the following activities first:
- Defeated the Elite Four and earned the Hall of Fame.
- Unlocked the National Dex update from Professor Oak.
- Have completed the Sevii Islands quests:
- Obtained a Ruby from Mt. Ember.
- Acquired a Sapphire from Dotted Hole or Rocket Warehouse.
- Unlocked Celio’s Network Machine.
How to Encounter Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in Multiple Route Locations
- Assign a Pokemon as high as level 49 in the first party. Preferably, Gengar, Dugtrio, or Crobat.
- Pick a city within the Kanto Region and use HM Fly.
- Choosing Veridian City or Pewter City will lead players close to Kanto Route 2.
- Selecting Celadon City or Saffron City will bring players near Kanto Route 7.
- If players are coming from Cerulean City after catching Mewtwo, travel north and east to reach Route 25.
- After saving, head into the grassy fields or to the pond waters.
- Consume a Repel item (either Super or Max Repel) to ensure an encounter with a level 50 Legendary Beast Pokemon.
- Move randomly through the tall grass or waters for 10 to 20 seconds to come across Raikou, Entei, or Suicune.
- If players are still unable to face their respective Legendary Beast Pokemon, they can reload their save file, leave and revisit the area, or change Route locations.
Players can save near the tall grasses or waterways before facing Raikou, Entei, or Suicune.
How to Prepare for Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
Raikou Overview and Moves
| Pokemon | Level | Pokemon Type | Pokemon Moves | Type Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Raikou |
Level 50 | Electric |
|
|
| Ability or Move | Ability or Move Type | Ability or Move Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure | Non-Hidden | The Opponent’s Moves against Entei use 2 PP instead of 1. |
| Thunder Shock | Electric | An electrical attack that may paralyze the foe. |
| Roar | Normal | Makes the foe flee to end the battle. |
| Quick Attack | Normal | An extremely fast attack that always strikes first. |
| Spark | Electric | An electrified tackle that may paralyze the foe. |
Raikou, a Legendary Pokémon known for its electric powers, is faster and has a stronger special attack compared to the other two Legendary Beasts.
Raikou Recommended Pokemon and Moves
| Pokemon | Pokemon Type | Team Role | Recommended Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golem | Rock/Ground | Weakness Damage, Tanking, and Debuff |
|
| Rhydon | Ground/Rock | Weakness Damage, Tanking, and Debuff |
|
| Onix or Steelix | Rock/Ground | Weakness Damage, Tanking, and Debuff |
|
| Dugtrio | Ground | Weakness Damage and Arena Lock |
|
| Wobbuffet | Psychic | Chip Damage and Arena Lock |
|
| Gengar | Ghost | Chip Damage, Arena Lock, and Status Inflict |
|
| Vileplume (FireRed) | Grass/Poison | Chip Damage and Status Inflict |
|
| Parasect | Bug/Grass | Chip Damage and Status Inflict |
|
Vileplume is only available in the Pokemon FireRed game. Golem and Steelix, however, can be obtained by trading with other players on the Nintendo Switch. To get Steelix, you’ll also need to unlock the National Pokédex and give it a Metal Coat to hold.
Entei Overview and Moves
| Pokemon | Level | Pokemon Type | Pokemon Moves | Type Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Entei |
Level 50 | Fire |
|
|
| Ability or Move | Ability or Move Type | Ability or Move Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure | Non-Hidden | The Opponent’s Moves against Entei use 2 PP instead of 1. |
| Ember | Fire | A weak fire attack that may inflict a burn. |
| Roar | Normal | Makes the foe flee to end the battle. |
| Fire Spin | Fire | Traps the foe in a ring of fire for 2 to 5 turns. |
| Stomp | Normal | Stomps the enemy with a big foot. May cause flinching. |
Entei, known as the Volcano Pokemon, has more health and stronger attacks than Raikou and Suicune, the other two Legendary Beasts.
Entei Recommended Pokemon and Moves
| Pokemon | Pokemon Type | Team Role | Recommended Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabutops | Rock/Water | Weakness Damage, Tanking, and Status Inflict |
|
| Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | Weakness Damage, Tanking, and Status Inflict |
|
| Gyarados | Water/Flying | Weakness Damage, Tanking, and Status Inflict |
|
| Lapras | Water/Ice | Weakness Damage and Status Inflict |
|
| Starmie (LeafGreen) | Water/Psychic | Weakness Damage and Status Inflict |
|
| Vaporeon | Water | Weakness Damage and Status Inflict |
|
| Dugtrio | Ground | Weakness Damage and Debuff |
|
| Golbat or Crobat | Poison/Flying | Chip Damage and Status Inflict |
|
As a Pokémon fan, I’m so excited to finally unlock the National Pokédex so my Golbat can evolve into Crobat! It’s a bit of a quest, but I also learned that if I want a Kabutops, I need to track down Super Nerd Miguel and get the Dome Fossil from him. And for all the Eevee lovers out there, a Water Stone is what you need to get a beautiful Vaporeon!
Suicune Overview and Moves
| Pokemon | Level | Pokemon Type | Pokemon Moves | Type Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Suicune |
Level 50 | Water |
|
|
| Ability or Move | Ability or Move Type | Ability or Move Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure | Non-Hidden | The Opponent’s Moves against Entei use 2 PP instead of 1. |
| Bubble Beam | Water | Forcefully sprays bubbles that may lower Speed. |
| Rain Dance | Water | Boosts the power of Water-type moves for 5 turns. |
| Gust | Flying | Strikes the foe with a gust of wind whipped up by wings. |
| Aurora Beam | Ice | Fires a rainbow-colored beam that may lower Attack. |
Suicune, the Aurora Pokemon, has outstanding Defense and Special Defense stats.
Suicune Recommended Pokemon and Moves
| Pokemon | Pokemon Type | Team Role | Recommended Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electabuzz | Electric | Weakness Damage and Status Inflict |
|
| Raichu | Electric | Weakness Damage and Status Inflict |
|
| Jolteon | Electric | Weakness Damage and Status Inflict |
|
| Magneton | Electric/Steel | Weakness Damage and Status Inflict |
|
| Gengar | Ghost | Chip Damage and Status Inflict |
|
| Sneasel (LeafGreen) | Dark/Ice | Chip Damage, Arena Lock, and Status Inflict |
|
| Misdreavus (LeafGreen) | Ghost | Chip Damage and Status Inflict |
|
You can only find Misdreavus and Sneasel in the Pokemon LeafGreen version of the game. To evolve Eevee into Jolteon and Pikachu into Raichu, you’ll need to use Thunder Stones.
Raikou, Entei, and Suicune Recommended Items
| Pokemon Item | Quantity | Item Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Master Ball | 1 only | The best Ball with the ultimate performance. It will catch any wild Pokemon without fail. |
| Ultra Ball | 50 or more | A very high-grade Ball that offers a higher Pokemon catch rate than a Great Ball. |
| Timer Ball | 20 or more | A somewhat different Ball that becomes progressively better the more turns there are in a battle. |
| Max Ether or equivalent | 10 or more | Fully restores a selected move’s PP for one Pokemon. |
| Max Repel or equivalent | 10 or more | Prevents weak wild Pokemon from appearing for 250 steps. |
| Full Restore or equivalent | 5 or more | A medicine that fully restores the HP and heals any status problems of one Pokemon. |
| Max Revive or equivalent | 5 or more | A medicine that revives a fainted Pokemon, restoring HP fully. |
| Leftovers | 1 or more | An item to be held by a Pokemon. The holding Pokemon gradually regains HP during battle. (Recommended for Gengar, Vileplume, Dugtrio, Electabuzz, Crobat, and Sneasel) |
| Quick Claw | 1 or more | An item to be held by a Pokemon. A light and sharp claw. The holder may be able to strike first. (Recommended for Golem, Steelix, Kabutops, Tyranitar, Lapras) |
Besides Super Repel or Max Repel, it’s a good idea to bring other useful items when battling Raikou, Entei, or Suicune. Max Restore and Max Revive can help your Pokémon stay in the fight, particularly if they’re affected by status conditions. Max Ether will ensure your Pokémon always have enough PP to use their moves.
While not required, Held Items are incredibly helpful when trying to catch rare and legendary Pokémon. For example, Leftovers can keep Pokémon like Dugtrio, Gengar, and Crobat healthy by restoring their HP. Quick Claw, on the other hand, gives Pokémon such as Golem, Rhydon, Kabutops, Tyranitar, and Electabuzz a better chance to move first in battle.
Give the Quick Claw item to slower Pokémon, such as Rhydon, Gyarados, and Raichu. This will help them potentially move first in battle.
Raise Pokemon Levels to 49 or above
Before you try to catch Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, it’s important to level up your Pokémon to around level 49 or higher. This will help them withstand the powerful attacks of these Legendary Beasts.
How to Capture Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
If you want to catch Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, here’s how to do it:
- Save the game before facing Raikou, Entei, and Suicune.
- Use Status moves or effects to hinder Raikou, Entei, or Suicune.
- Reduce the HP levels of Raikou, Entei, or Suicune to red.
- Throw the Ultra Balls at Raikou, Entei, or Suicune to capture it.
You can catch Raikou, Entei, and Suicune—even their Shiny forms—right away on the first turn using a Master Ball. But if you’d prefer a tougher challenge, or want to save the Master Ball for a Pokémon like Mewtwo, check out the rest of our guide.
Save the Game Before Facing Raikou, Entei, or Suicune
It’s important to save your game before battling Raikou, Entei, or Suicune. Saving beforehand allows you to fix mistakes with your Pokémon team and their moves, or if you run out of helpful items during the fight. It also lets you try again if one of the Legendary Beasts unexpectedly faints.
Use Anti-Flee Moves Against Raikou, Entei, or Suicune from Running Away
To start a battle against a Legendary Beast, it’s best to use a Pokémon that can stop them from immediately fleeing. Dugtrio with its Arena Trap ability and Wobbufet with Shadow Tag both prevent Raikou, Entei, or Suicune from switching out. You could also begin with Gengar, Crobat, or Misdreavus, as they all learn the move Mean Look, or with Sneasel, who can use Taunt to achieve the same effect.
In the Nintendo Switch version of the game, Raikou and Entei won’t vanish from the map permanently, even if they use their Roar attack during a battle.
Utilize Status Moves to Hinder Raikou, Entei, or Suicune
After that, use Status moves to make the Legendary Beast Pokémon weaker and more susceptible to damage. Moves like Thrash, Confusion Ray, and Psybeam can confuse them, while Hypnosis, Sleep Powder, and Spore can put them to sleep. You can also use Stun Spore, Shock Wave, and Thunder Wave to paralyze them.
As a long-time Pokémon fan, I’ve learned that some moves don’t just change things up strategically – they can actually chip away at your opponent’s health over time! And here’s a cool detail: using these types of moves stops Legendary Pokémon like Raikou, Entei, and Suicune from trying to run away during a battle. For example, moves like Toxic or Sludge Bomb will poison the other Pokémon, causing damage each turn.
Continue lowering the HP of Raikou, Entei, or Suicune to at least 10%
When battling Legendary Pokemon while they have status conditions, slowly lower their HP. Raikou is especially vulnerable to Ground-type attacks. Entei takes extra damage from Ground, Rock, and Water moves. Finally, Suicune is weak against Electric and Grass attacks.
If your strong, same-type attack (STAB) moves are too effective against the Legendary Beasts, switch to a strategy of slowly lowering their health. Moves like Shadow Ball, Mega Drain, and Giga Drain are good choices for chipping away at their HP without dealing massive damage at once.
Throw Ultra Balls or Timer Balls at Raikou, Entei, or Suicune
When Raikou, Entei, or Suicune are close to being defeated, try catching them with an Ultra Ball. It will likely take many tries, but you’ll probably succeed around the 50th attempt.
You can find Ultra Balls by picking them up in different locations around Kanto, or by buying them at Poke Marts in Fuchsia City, Cinnabar Island, Indigo Plateau, and the Sevii Islands.
How to Hunt Shiny Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
Okay, so I’ve been hunting Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, and good news – they aren’t Shiny locked! That means you actually can find their shiny forms. If you want to catch a shiny Beast, here’s what you gotta do…
- Save near the Tall Grass or Pond area. Raikou, Entei, and Suicune in any Kanto Route location.
- Start the battle with Raikou, Entei, and Suicune to determine if they are shiny or not.
- If not, do a Soft Reset by pressing A, B, X, and Y simultaneously to return to the title screen.
- Reload the saved file and attempt to capture Shiny Raikou, Entei, and Suicune again.
Because the Shiny Charm isn’t available in Generation 3 Pokémon games, finding shiny versions of Raikou, Entei, and Suicune relies entirely on luck during battles.
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2026-03-26 14:50