These 8 TMs Are The Best in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen For All Playthroughs

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The recent release of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch and Switch 2 was a pleasant surprise for fans, but these versions are very similar to the original Game Boy Advance games – both in good ways and bad. Some long-standing issues remain, like the Legendary Beasts (Raikou, Suicune, and Entei) consistently having poor stats. However, a few problems have been fixed; for instance, the glitch that prevented you from catching the Legendary Beasts after they used Roar is now resolved. Because these ports are so faithful to the originals, you can relive your past experiences or even approach Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen with a focus on competitive battling.

Taking on the challenge of replaying the original Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen can be surprisingly difficult! While they seem simple, beating the Elite Four without knowing what to expect is tough, especially the big jump in Pokémon levels. Luckily, it’s easier to build strong teams now than it was back in 2004, thanks to all the helpful information available online. This makes it clear which TMs – the items used to teach Pokémon new moves – are truly the most valuable.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen’s Best TMs And How to Get Them

A key thing to remember when playing the remakes of the original Pokemon Red and Blue (FireRed and LeafGreen) is that Technical Machines, or TMs, can only be used once. While there are ways to get extras – like exploiting a glitch in the game – if you want a standard experience, each TM disappears after you use it. This means you need to carefully consider which Pokemon you teach moves to, and the same applies to Move Tutors. Considering this limitation, here are the most valuable TMs you can obtain during a playthrough:

  • TM04 – Calm Mind: Status move that increases the user’s Special Attack and Special Defense by one stage each. Obtained by defeating Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen‘s Sabrina.
  • TM06 – Toxic: Status move that badly poisons the opponent, dealing increased damage with poison each turn, but has 85 accuracy. Obtained by defeating Koga in Fuchsia City’s Gym.
  • TM08 – Bulk Up: Status move that increases the user’s Attack and Defense by one stage each. It’s found on the seventh floor of Silph Co. in Saffron City.
  • TM13 – Ice Beam: Ice-type attack with 95 base power and 100 accuracy, dealing special damage and potentially freezing the opponent. You can get it at the Game Corner in Celadon City for 4,000 coins.
  • TM24 – Thunderbolt: Electric-type attack with 95 base power and 100 accuracy, dealing special damage and potentially paralyzing the opponent. You can get it at the Game Corner in Celadon City for 4,000 coins.
  • TM26 – Earthquake: Powerful 100-base-power Ground-type move that has 100 accuracy. It’s obtained after defeating Giovanni in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen‘s Viridian City Gym.
  • TM29 – Psychic: Psychic-type move that deals damage with 90 base power and 100 accuracy. You get it from Mr. Psychic in Saffron City, which can be reached before beating Erika in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen.
  • TM30 – Shadow Ball: Ghost-type attack with 80 base power and 100 accuracy. You can get it at the Game Corner in Celadon City for 4,500 coins.

Why These 8 TMs Are The Best in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Calm Mind and Bulk Up are powerful moves because they’re the only ones that boost both attack and defense, making them great for preparing Pokémon to sweep through battles. These moves work even better on faster Pokémon; for example, Alakazam benefits greatly from Calm Mind in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, while Hitmonlee is a perfect fit for Bulk Up.

Hitmonchan might seem strong with its ability to learn elemental punches, but it’s actually one of the weakest Pokémon in FireRed and LeafGreen. This is because those punches deal special damage, and Hitmonchan’s Special Attack stat is very low, only 45.

Toxic doesn’t immediately deal a lot of damage, but it’s powerful when used with Pokémon that can endure attacks, like Chansey or Muk. These Pokémon can protect the team while Toxic slowly weakens the opponent. Even Venusaur in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen can be very effective with Toxic, especially when combined with Leech Seed, which allows it to deal damage and heal itself at the same time.

As a longtime fan, I think Ice Beam and Thunderbolt are seriously the strongest attacking moves in the game – Earthquake, Psychic, and Shadow Ball aren’t far behind, though! What makes them so good is that they hit hard even if your Pokémon doesn’t have a type advantage, and some can even cause status problems. They’re basically game-changers when you’re facing the Elite Four and the Champion in FireRed and LeafGreen. Honestly, Starmie is often considered the best Pokémon ever because it can practically sweep through the Elite Four with just Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Surf, and Psychic – it’s amazing!

Psychic and Earthquake are consistently powerful moves with high damage output, and the fact that many Pokémon can learn them makes them incredibly useful TMs. Also, Shadow Ball is a unique option; in Generation 3, Ghost-type moves inflict physical damage, meaning you could even teach a Pokémon like Snorlax Shadow Ball and easily defeat Agatha from the Elite Four.

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2026-03-30 02:04