The best starter to choose in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen depends on which type you want on your team: Bulbasaur is Grass/Poison, Charmander is Fire, and Squirtle is Water. If you are asking “which starter should I pick in FireRed and LeafGreen?” or weighing “Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle?”, neither game version has a different starter menu, and Nintendo does not designate one as the strongest or easiest.
What starters can you choose?
Both FireRed and LeafGreen let you begin the Kanto adventure with one of three first-partner Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. Their documented types are:
| Starter | Type | Choose it if… |
|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Grass/Poison | You want a Grass/Poison Pokémon as a central part of your team. |
| Charmander | Fire | Fire is your preferred type and you want to build complementary coverage around it. |
| Squirtle | Water | You want a Water-type Pokémon in that role on your team. |
Pokémon’s FireRed and LeafGreen product page presents all three as first partners. Nintendo’s starter feature identifies their types and notes the trio’s return in these games.
Does FireRed or LeafGreen change which starter is best?
No: the starter choice is the same in both versions. Choose based on the team you want to build, not on the game’s version name. Nintendo says the Switch releases broadly retain the original games’ contents; that general statement does not establish a different starter advantage for either version. Its Switch release FAQ also says the games support local wireless connectivity, not online play, and are digital-only with no physical release.
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Is one starter officially the strongest or easiest?
No official ranking is established by the Pokémon and Nintendo pages cited here. They list the choices and types but do not name a best, strongest, or easiest starter. There is also no supported popularity, win-rate, or difficulty statistic to settle the question. Treat claims that one is universally best as a player’s preference or strategy judgment, not an official verdict.
How should you make the choice?
- Start with type preference. Pick the type you most want to use throughout the adventure.
- Think about your intended team. Consider whether you want your starter to fill a particular role or would rather cover that role with another teammate.
- Choose for enjoyment, not a promised difficulty advantage. The documented information here does not compare early Gym matchups or establish that a starter guarantees an easier run.
Nintendo describes the general idea simply: “At the start of each adventure, you’ll always get to choose a first-partner Pokémon from a choice of three who will accompany you on your travels.” The line appears in its 2016 feature about first-partner Pokémon; it does not endorse any one choice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Optional strategy guide for the original games
If you want maps, Pokédex information, Gym Leader tactics, or broader walkthrough coverage, the Nintendo Power Team’s Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen: Official Nintendo Player’s Guide was published in August 2004. It covers the Game Boy Advance games; it is not a guide edition for the Switch releases. Its publication and contents are recorded in this bibliographic entry.
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