- Pokemon LeafGreen pokemon tier list: Bulbasaur takes S-Tier for the smoothest opening Gyms
- Starter tiers: Squirtle and Charmander both land in A-Tier with different pacing
- Core picks: Nidoking, Jolteon, Lapras, and Snorlax fit almost any team
- Gym coverage: Type matchups decide Kanto runs more than raw levels
- Elite Four prep: Ice and Electric coverage carry the Pokemon League
Pokemon LeafGreen Pokemon Tier List Rankings
This Pokemon LeafGreen pokemon tier list ranks Pokemon by story-mode value: how early you can catch them, how many Gym battles they win, and how they hold up against the Elite Four. Rankings favor Pokemon available in a normal playthrough without trading, so every entry below can be obtained inside a single LeafGreen save file, whether you play the original GBA version or the Nintendo Switch re-release.
| Tier | Pokemon | Type | How to Get | Why It Ranks Here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Venusaur | Grass/Poison | Bulbasaur starter | Beats Brock and Misty, easiest early game |
| A | Blastoise | Water | Squirtle starter | Reliable bulk and Surf coverage all game |
| A | Charizard | Fire/Flying | Charmander starter | Rough start, elite late-game offense |
| A | Nidoking | Poison/Ground | Nidoran early, Moon Stone | Huge TM pool, immune to Electric |
| A | Jolteon | Electric | Eevee + Thunder Stone | Fast answer to Water and Flying threats |
| A | Lapras | Water/Ice | Silph Co. gift | Ice coverage destroys Lance's dragons |
| A | Snorlax | Normal | Poke Flute encounters | Massive HP, flexible TM moves |
| B | Dugtrio | Ground | Diglett's Cave | Electric immunity for Lt. Surge |
| B | Kadabra | Psychic | Abra on Routes 24-25 | Psychic power without trading |
| B | Dodrio | Normal/Flying | Doduo on southern routes | Fast physical Flying damage |
| B | Exeggutor | Grass/Psychic | Exeggcute + Leaf Stone | Strong special attacker |
| B | Raichu | Electric | Pikachu + Thunder Stone | Solid alternative to Jolteon |
Tiers measure story usefulness in LeafGreen specifically, not overall franchise power. A B-Tier Pokemon already on your team usually outperforms an A-Tier pick still sitting in the PC box.
Starter Tier Breakdown
All three Kanto starters can finish the game comfortably. The real difference is pacing: Bulbasaur front-loads its advantages into the first two Gyms, while Charmander back-loads its power into Charizard and the late game.
Bulbasaur - S Tier
- Excellent early game
- Beats Brock and Misty
- Useful status options all story
- Weaker vs late Psychic, Fire, Flying
Squirtle - A Tier
- Very good early game
- Strong vs Brock, Blaine, Giovanni
- Dependable bulk and Surf
- Misty and Lt. Surge stay risky
Charmander - A Tier
- Challenging early game
- Dominates Erika and Grass routes
- Charizard carries the late game
- Brock and Misty demand support
| Starter | Tier | Final Form | Early Game | Best Gym Matchups | Main Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | S | Venusaur | Excellent | Brock, Misty | Later Poison, Psychic, Fire, Flying threats |
| Squirtle | A | Blastoise | Very Good | Brock, Blaine, Giovanni | Misty and Lt. Surge are unfavorable |
| Charmander | A | Charizard | Challenging | Erika, Agatha | Brock and Misty without team support |
Brock's Geodude and Onix punish Charmander hard. Catch a Mankey or Nidoran and raise a secondary attacker before entering Pewter Gym, or the Boulder Badge becomes an early wall.
Core Picks and Where to Catch Them
Four Core Picks appear in nearly every recommended LeafGreen team because they are guaranteed or early, and each one patches a weakness your starter leaves behind. None of them require luck, rare encounters, or trading.
| Pokemon | Location | When Available | Team Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nidoran line | Route 22 and nearby early routes | Before Mt. Moon | Ground damage, Electric immunity |
| Eevee | Celadon Mansion gift | Mid game | Jolteon, Vaporeon, or Flareon |
| Lapras | Silph Co. employee gift | Late mid game | Water and Ice ace |
| Snorlax | Routes 12 and 16 | After Poke Flute | Bulky wall with coverage |
| Pikachu | Viridian Forest | Early story | Electric support vs Misty |
| Abra | Routes 24 and 25 | Early-mid story | Psychic attacker vs Koga |
Eevee and Lapras are single guaranteed gifts, and only two Snorlax encounters exist per save. Save before waking each Snorlax so you can reset for a better catch result.
Gym-by-Gym Matchup Tier Guide
A tier list only matters if it wins badges. This table maps all eight Kanto Gyms to the ranked Pokemon that counter them hardest, with the level range that keeps each fight comfortable.
| Gym Leader | Specialty | Recommended Level | Top Counters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brock | Rock | 12-16 | Venusaur line, Blastoise line |
| Misty | Water | 18-23 | Pikachu, Grass attackers |
| Lt. Surge | Electric | 22-26 | Dugtrio, Nidoking |
| Erika | Grass | 27-31 | Charizard, Flying and Psychic moves |
| Koga | Poison | 38-43 | Kadabra, Psychic coverage |
| Sabrina | Psychic | 39-44 | Fast physical attackers, Bug moves |
| Blaine | Fire | 42-48 | Any strong Surf user |
| Giovanni | Ground | 45-51 | Water, Ice, Psychic attacks |
The Elite Four demands broader coverage than any single Gym:
| Elite Four Member | Specialty | Best Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Lorelei | Ice/Water | Jolteon and Electric moves |
| Bruno | Fighting/Rock | Psychic, Flying, Water |
| Agatha | Ghost/Poison | Psychic moves, status cures |
| Lance | Dragon | Ice attacks, Electric vs Gyarados |
Ice coverage decides the Pokemon League. TM13 Ice Beam is available at the Celadon Game Corner Prize Exchange, and Lapras or any Water type carrying it dismantles Lance's Dragonair pair and Dragonite.
Build a Tier-One Team in Five Steps
If you want a ready-made plan instead of assembling pieces yourself, these three balanced teams come straight from the tier logic above:
| Starter | Recommended Six | Coverage Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Venusaur, Nidoking, Jolteon, Lapras, Snorlax, Dodrio | Grass, Ground, Electric, Water, Ice, Flying |
| Squirtle | Blastoise, Nidoking, Jolteon, Snorlax, Dodrio, Kadabra | Water, Ground, Electric, Flying, Psychic |
| Charmander | Charizard, Nidoking, Vaporeon, Raichu, Snorlax, Exeggutor | Fire, Ground, Water, Electric, Grass, Psychic |
Lock Your Starter
Choose by pacing, not just favorites: Bulbasaur for the smoothest start, Squirtle for balance, Charmander for a stronger finish with extra early support.
Add Ground Insurance
Catch Nidoran on the early routes or grab Diglett in Diglett's Cave so Lt. Surge's Electric Gym never wipes your team.
Claim Every Gift
Collect Eevee in Celadon Mansion and Lapras at Silph Co. These free encounters fill your Electric, Water, and Ice gaps at zero cost.
Buy Coverage TMs
Exchange Game Corner coins for Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, and Shadow Ball to patch type holes before Indigo Plateau.
Wake Both Snorlax
Use the Poke Flute on Routes 12 and 16. Either Snorlax gives any team an immediate bulky backbone with flexible TM options.
Team Building Milestones:
- Choose a starter and plan around its weak Gyms
- Catch Nidoran or Diglett before Vermilion City
- Collect Eevee in Celadon and Lapras in Silph Co.
- Purchase Ice Beam before challenging the Pokemon League
- Catch at least one Snorlax with the Poke Flute
A safe six for most runs: starter final form, Nidoking, Jolteon, Lapras, Snorlax, and one Flying type. That combination covers every Gym and Elite Four weakness using Pokemon you are guaranteed to encounter.
Tier List FAQ
Q: Is Bulbasaur really the best LeafGreen starter?
For story mode, yes. Bulbasaur holds type advantages against Brock's Rock team and Misty's Water team, the two Gyms that end most early runs. Its value tapers against later Psychic, Fire, Flying, and Ice threats, but by then your remaining team slots have filled those gaps.
Q: Do I need trading to make this tier list work?
No. Every S and A Tier pick is obtainable in a single LeafGreen save file. Trading only matters for evolutions such as Kadabra into Alakazam, or version exclusives like Vulpix versus Growlithe. The Nintendo Switch re-release handles these trades through local wireless between nearby systems.
Q: Which single Pokemon carries the Elite Four hardest?
Lapras. Its Water and Ice typing answers Lorelei's Water types, Bruno's Rock duo, and Lance's dragons in one slot. Teach it Ice Beam from the Celadon Game Corner Prize Exchange before heading to Indigo Plateau.
Q: Are legendary Pokemon part of this tier list?
Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Mewtwo outrank everything here in raw power, but they arrive late or post-game. This list focuses on Pokemon available during a normal story run, so legendaries sit outside the main rankings.
Tier lists are a starting point, not a rulebook. LeafGreen is balanced enough that a well-leveled favorite usually outperforms a poorly used S-Tier pick, so build around what you enjoy catching.