- Pokemon LeafGreen best team: Start Bulbasaur for the smoothest opening Gyms, then build around Venusaur
- Core picks: Nidoking, Jolteon, Lapras, and Snorlax fit almost any starter choice
- Guaranteed gifts: Eevee in Celadon City and Lapras in Silph Co. cost nothing to obtain
- Elite Four prep: Ice and Electric coverage carry the Lorelei and Lance fights
- Level target: Bring a Lv. 50-63 squad with Full Restores to Indigo Plateau
Starter Rankings for a Story Run
Every Kanto starter can finish LeafGreen, but the opening Gyms treat them very differently. Brock fields Rock and Ground types in Pewter City, and Misty follows immediately with Water types in Cerulean, so the first two badges decide how smooth your early game feels. Rank your starter by how much support it needs before Lt. Surge, not just by the strength of its final form.
| Starter | Final Evolution | Early Game | Key Strengths | Main Risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Venusaur | Excellent | Favors Brock and Misty matchups, useful status options | Weaker vs later Poison, Psychic, Fire, Flying, Ice threats |
| Squirtle | Blastoise | Very Good | Strong vs Brock, dependable Surf user, solid defenses | Misty and Lt. Surge are unfavorable |
| Charmander | Charizard | Challenging | Elite Fire/Flying offense, dominates Erika | Brock and Misty are hard, Rock hits hurt Charizard |
Bulbasaur clears the first two Gyms with a type edge, which is why it earns the top story ranking. Charmander becomes the strongest late-game attacker of the three, but you should catch support Pokemon in Viridian Forest and on the routes near Viridian City before challenging Brock.
Three Best Teams by Starter Choice
These six-Pokemon rosters use only Pokemon you can obtain in a single LeafGreen playthrough without rare hunting. Each team covers the eight Gyms, the Team Rocket battles, and the Elite Four through type balance and TM support.
Bulbasaur Run
- Venusaur (Grass/Poison anchor)
- Nidoking (Ground coverage)
- Jolteon (Electric speed)
- Lapras (Water/Ice bulk)
- Snorlax (Tank and attacker)
- Dodrio (Flying offense)
Squirtle Run
- Blastoise (Water anchor)
- Nidoking (Ground coverage)
- Jolteon (Electric speed)
- Snorlax (Tank and attacker)
- Dodrio (Flying offense)
- Kadabra (Psychic power)
Charmander Run
- Charizard (Fire/Flying anchor)
- Nidoking (Ground coverage)
- Vaporeon (Water coverage)
- Raichu (Electric support)
- Snorlax (Tank and attacker)
- Exeggutor (Grass/Psychic)
| Team | Coverage Highlights | Toughest Test |
|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur six | Grass, Poison, Ground, Electric, Water, Ice, Normal, Flying | Sabrina's Psychic squad |
| Squirtle six | Water, Ground, Electric, Normal, Flying, Psychic | Lt. Surge before Ground help levels up |
| Charmander six | Fire, Flying, Ground, Water, Electric, Normal, Grass, Psychic | Brock and Misty back to back |
Every roster keeps a Ground answer for Lt. Surge, an Electric or Grass answer for Water bosses, and an Ice move source for Lance's Dragon Pokemon. You can swap one slot freely, but keep those three roles filled at all times.
Core Picks That Fit Any Starter
Four Pokemon earn a slot on nearly every best team in LeafGreen because each one is guaranteed or early, and each answers a specific boss threat that your starter cannot handle alone.
| Pokemon | Type | When You Get It | Team Role | Standout Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nidoking | Poison/Ground | Early routes as Nidoran | Flexible attacker | Immune to Electric, huge TM pool |
| Jolteon | Electric | Eevee gift, Celadon City | Fast special attacker | Outspeeds Water and Flying threats |
| Lapras | Water/Ice | Gift in Silph Co. | Bulky Ice source | Ice coverage for Lance's dragons |
| Snorlax | Normal | Poke Flute encounters | Tank | Massive HP, wide TM coverage |
Eevee in Celadon Mansion, Lapras from the Silph Co. employee, and both Snorlax on Routes 12 and 16 are guaranteed encounters. Plan your team around them and you will never need to grind for a missing slot.
Step-by-Step Team Building
Choose a Starter and Note Its Weak Gyms
Pick Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander in Pallet Town, then write down the Gyms that resist it. Charmander players should plan Brock support immediately, since Pewter City arrives within the first hour.
Add Nidoran for Ground Insurance
Catch Nidoran on the early routes near Viridian City. Its Ground typing shuts down Lt. Surge in Vermilion City, and Nidoking learns coverage from a wide range of TMs for the rest of the story.
Collect the Guaranteed Gifts
Claim Eevee in Celadon Mansion and evolve it with a Thunder Stone for Jolteon. Rescue Mr. Fuji in Pokemon Tower for the Poke Flute, then catch a Snorlax on Route 12 or Route 16.
Buy the Celadon Game Corner TMs
Exchange coins for Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, and Shadow Ball at the Prize Exchange. These TMs patch almost every coverage gap your roster still has before the late game.
Take Lapras and Level for the League
Accept Lapras from the Silph Co. employee in Saffron City, train the full six to around Lv. 50-60, and stock Full Restores and Revives at Indigo Plateau before challenging the Elite Four.
Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler, and Haunter only evolve when traded. On the current Nintendo Switch release, trading works through local wireless between nearby systems, so arrange a trade partner early if you want Alakazam on your final roster.
Gym and Elite Four Coverage
Match your team slots to the bosses that actually threaten you. The tables below map every major battle in LeafGreen to the best answer available on the recommended rosters.
| Gym Leader | Specialty | Best Answer on These Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Brock | Rock | Venusaur or Blastoise starter edge |
| Misty | Water | Jolteon or Pikachu Electric hits |
| Lt. Surge | Electric | Nidoking Ground immunity |
| Erika | Grass | Charizard Fire or Dodrio Flying |
| Koga | Poison | Kadabra or Exeggutor Psychic |
| Sabrina | Psychic | Snorlax bulk plus strong physical hits |
| Blaine | Fire | Lapras or Blastoise Surf |
| Giovanni | Ground | Lapras Surf plus Psychic for the Nidos |
| Elite Four Opponent | Specialty | Bring These Types | Recommended Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorelei | Ice/Water | Electric, Fighting, Rock | Lv. 50-55+ |
| Bruno | Fighting/Rock | Psychic, Flying, Water | Lv. 52-56+ |
| Agatha | Ghost/Poison | Psychic, Ground | Lv. 54-58+ |
| Lance | Dragon | Ice, Electric | Lv. 56-60+ |
| Champion | Mixed roster | Full team coverage | Lv. 58-63+ |
Jolteon handles Lorelei's Water Pokemon, Lapras carries Ice moves for Lance's Dragonite line, and Snorlax tanks neutral hits across the entire gauntlet. Save your strongest healing items for the Champion, whose roster adapts to your rival's starter choice.
Before Entering Indigo Plateau:
- Train all six Pokemon to at least Lv. 50
- Teach Ice Beam to Lapras or another Water type
- Keep an Electric move ready for Lorelei and Gyarados
- Stock Full Restores, Revives, and status cures
- Confirm coverage for the rival's fully evolved starter
The Champion's team shifts based on the starter your rival picked in Pallet Town, so one slot swaps between Exeggutor, Gyarados, and Arcanine. Keep a flexible sixth Pokemon instead of over-specializing your coverage.
Best Team FAQ
Pokemon LeafGreen Version is available on Nintendo Switch as an official digital re-release of the 2004 Game Boy Advance game, so these team plans work on both the original cartridge and the current Switch version. You can also compare version details on the official Pokemon page.
Q: What is the best starter in Pokemon LeafGreen?
Bulbasaur is the best starter for a smooth story run because it holds type advantages against Brock and Misty, the first two Gym Leaders. Charmander becomes the strongest attacker in the late game but needs caught support to survive the opening Gyms.
Q: Can I beat LeafGreen with just my starter?
A single overleveled starter can clear most of the story, but the Elite Four punishes one-Pokemon teams with status effects and coverage moves. A balanced six-Pokemon team around Lv. 50-60 is far more reliable.
Q: What level should my team be for the Elite Four?
Aim for Lv. 50-55 when you enter, with your Ice and Electric users closer to Lv. 56-60 for Lance. The Champion fight becomes comfortable around Lv. 58-63.
Q: Do I need trading to build the best team?
No. Every Pokemon in the recommended teams is obtainable in a single LeafGreen save file. Trading is only required for trade evolutions such as Alakazam and Golem, and the Switch release handles those through local wireless.