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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteChoose Bulbasaur for the smoothest opening, Squirtle for a steady Water-type across the campaign, or Charmander if you most want the Charizard line and don’t mind more work against the first two Gyms. None is the universally best pick: your preference and the rest of your team matter.
In Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen, your starter choice shapes matchups through the opening and beyond, but it does not determine whether you can finish the main story. You can build a team that covers your starter’s weak spots. The games begin in Pallet Town and take you through eight Gym Leaders before the Elite Four.
Quick comparison
| Your priority | Pick | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Smoothest opening | Bulbasaur | Strong early matchups, but less consistent through parts of the middle and late game. |
| Steady Water-type utility | Squirtle | Useful across the journey, though it has clear Gym and League disadvantages. |
| Getting the Charizard line | Charmander | A more demanding start, followed by strong midgame potential and some League limitations. |
| A particular roaming Legendary Beast in the postgame | Choose based on the beast you want | The starter is linked to which beast appears: Bulbasaur to Entei, Charmander to Suicune, and Squirtle to Raikou, according to TechRadar’s March 14, 2026 report. |
Gym assessments below reflect strategic matchup analysis, not a controlled test or a universal difficulty ranking. Your team and moves can change how a fight feels.
How each starter fares through the game
Bulbasaur: easiest opening
Bulbasaur’s Grass/Poison typing gives it favorable matchups against the first three Gym Leaders, making it the clearest choice if you want to reduce early friction. It also has good matchups later against Giovanni, Lorelei, and Bruno. However, its advantage does not carry evenly through the whole campaign: Grass is commonly resisted in Kanto, and Bulbasaur can feel less useful for a long stretch. Moves such as Sleep Powder and Leech Seed can help it contribute in some difficult fights. These matchup judgments come from Smogon’s FireRed/LeafGreen in-game analysis.
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Pick Bulbasaur for an easier beginning, not because it is automatically the strongest starter overall. Its good opening does not remove the need to build a team for later opponents.
Squirtle: steady Water-type utility
Squirtle is the dependable choice if you want a Water-type companion through the campaign. Smogon’s matchup analysis lists Water as advantageous against Brock, Misty, Blaine, and Giovanni; disadvantageous against Lt. Surge, Erika, Lorelei, and Lance; and neutral elsewhere. Blastoise has solid all-around stats, and its moves progress through Bubble, Water Gun, Water Pulse, and Surf. Bite can also help in the Misty fight.
Rank #2
- Pokémon Adventures Fire Red & Leaf Green / Emerald Box Set: Includes Volumes 23-29 (Pokemon) Paperback – October 6, 2015 by Hidenori Kusaka (Author), Satoshi Yamamoto (Illustrator)
That spread makes Squirtle flexible, not a shortcut through every Gym. Its unfavorable matchups still call for help from the rest of your party.
Charmander: choose the Charizard line
Charmander is the preference-led pick for players who especially want Charizard. Expect a tougher time against Brock and Misty, then a stronger role later: Smogon describes Charmeleon and Charizard as capable of handling several later Gym Leaders. The analysis notes early move support such as Metal Claw and later strong Fire moves, but no single move makes every matchup easy.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsCharizard’s Elite Four showing is mixed: it has trouble against Lorelei, Lance, and the Champion’s Blastoise. Choose Charmander because you want its evolution line and are willing to support it—not because its later strengths erase the opening challenge.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Make the choice by what you value
- Want the least demanding start? Choose Bulbasaur for its favorable opening Gym matchups.
- Want a Water-type that stays useful across many fights? Choose Squirtle, while planning around its specific bad matchups.
- Want Charizard most? Choose Charmander and be ready to cover its early weaknesses with your team.
- Have a postgame Legendary Beast target? Bulbasaur is linked to Entei, Charmander to Suicune, and Squirtle to Raikou, as reported by TechRadar.
For an official introduction to the three choices, see Pokémon’s FireRed and LeafGreen page. It presents all three positively; the matchup recommendations here are strategic judgments rather than an official verdict.
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