Top 10 Tips for People Who Want to Choose Charmander in Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen
In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, there are three different starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander. Each starter represents a different level of difficulty.Bulbasaur is essentially easy mode because it has an advantage over the first three Gyms. Squirtle is medium mode since it has an advantage over the first Gym. Charmander, however, is considered hard mode because the first two Gyms are strong against it.
Here are some tips to make the early game easier if you choose Charmander as your starter Pokémon.
It's best to have some other Pokemon just in case you need them. For the first gym, which is a Rock type gym, it's best to have a fighting type Pokemon like Mankey. Train it until it learns Low Kick or until it reaches level 10.
For the second gym, which is a Water type gym, it's best to have a Grass type or an Electric type Pokemon. Grass and Electric type Pokemon have an advantage over Water type Pokemon. For a Grass type Pokemon, there's Oddish or Bellsprout depending on the version you're playing. It's best to train Oddish or Bellsprout to level 20 or higher. Evolving your Grass type Pokemon would also be a great option.
For an Electric type Pokemon, there's Pikachu. Pikachu has Electric type moves, so it can take down Water types quite easily if it's at a high enough level. It's best to train your Pikachu until it learns Thunderbolt, which is at level 26.
It's not recommended to use Charmander for the first two gyms.
Metal Claw is quite a powerful move that can deal a decent amount of damage to Rock types. Since the first gym is a Rock type gym, it's best to make Charmander learn the move Metal Claw. Steel type moves are strong against Rock type Pokemon. Charmander will learn that move at level 13.
It usually takes three hits of Metal Claw to take down Geodude and four to five hits to take down Onix. Sometimes, the move Metal Claw can raise your Charmander's attack.
Metal Claw isn't tough to learn and comes reasonably early. It also gives variation to your Charmander since you are teaching a fire Pokemon a Steel move.
To take on the first gym, it's best to have a lot of Potions in your bag. The recommended quantity should be five and up. Onix will use the move Rock Tomb to knock your Charmander down. If that's the case, use a lot of Potions and the move Growl to prevent Onix from knocking your Charmander out too quickly. Growl helps reduce the strength of attack moves.
To take on the second gym, it's best to have at least ten Super Potions since Water type Pokemon are strong against Fire type Pokemon.
If you don't want to get other Pokemon to take on the first gym, evolve your Charmander. Evolving your Charmander into a Charmeleon will automatically make your Pokemon stronger and it can take more damage. It will evolve at level 16.
Good idea. Charmeleon is pretty strong.
Flamethrower is a very strong move. If you're at a high enough level, Flamethrower can easily knock down Water type Pokemon even if they resist Fire type moves. For Starmie, it will take about two to three hits to take it down. Charmeleon will learn that move at level 34.
Evolving your Charmeleon to a Charizard is also a great option for the second gym. Charizard can learn Wing Attack, which is a powerful move for taking on Pokemon around level 20-25. Once your Charmeleon evolves into a Charizard, it will learn Wing Attack. Both of these things happen at level 36.
If you have some decent TM moves, use them. They can help you as well. Use the TM move Bullet Seed for your Oddish. It can help you somewhat.
If you save your game before taking on a gym, you won't lose any of your unsaved progress. If you do lose, you can always restart your console and continue from where you left off. Then, you can take on the gym until you win.
If you have a full team of six, it's going to help you win. You can have two to three Pokemon to stall your opponent's team. It can sometimes help you use fewer Potions.
It's best to avoid having Pokemon that are lower than level 10. Most Pokemon below level 10 are very weak and will definitely lose against a level 20 Pokemon. They usually get knocked out in one hit.