These Pokémon Are BROKEN in FireRed & LeafGreen on Switch!

Storyline (Context)

• The video focuses on playing Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen through the main game—building a team that can take you from the early gyms all the way to the Elite Four/Lance.
• A special emphasis is placed on how to avoid “traps” caused by Gen 3 mechanics.

Core Gameplay Mechanic Emphasized (Must-Know Rule)

In Gen 3 (FireRed/LeafGreen), a move’s Physical vs. Special category depends on the move’s type, not the Pokémon’s stats.

• Special types: Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Ice, Psychic, Dragon, Dark
• Physical types: Normal, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Steel

What this changes: many Pokémon “don’t work” the way modern players expect. For example, a Water-type STAB move may feel weak if your Pokémon’s Special Attack is low.

Gameplay Highlights & Key Strategies: “10 Strongest Non-Legendaries” (Ranking)

(Legendaries are excluded. The Gen 3 special/physical split is explained up front as the reason many of these picks are “broken.”)

#10 Dodrio (Three-Headed Menace)

• Why it’s strong: Flying-type moves are physical in Gen 3, so Drill Peck leverages Dodrio’s high Attack.
• Power plan: Use Drill Peck + Return (Normal is physical) to hit hard; Early Bird reduces sleep disruption.

#9 Exeggutor (Sleep + Dual Special)

• Why it’s strong: Exeggutor has high Special Attack and access to two special types:
  • Grass (Giga Drain) and Psychic (Psychic) are both special in Gen 3.
• Control: Sleep Powder can neutralize threats you can’t immediately KO.
• Acquisition: Catch Exeggcute in the Safari Zone, evolve it with a Leaf Stone (later than some early options, but powerful once online).
• Trade note: Exeggutor avoids the “Alakazam/Kadabra trade wall” since it doesn’t require local trading.

#8 Jolteon (Fast Special Deletes Water-Heavy Teams)

• Why it’s strong: Extremely high Speed and strong Special Attack; Thunderbolt STAB is devastating.
• Team impact: Excellent versus Kanto’s many Water-types (gyms, Seafoam/Sevi Islands, and Elite Four coverage).
• Caveat / strategy:
  • Shadow Ball is a trap TM here: Ghost moves are physical in Gen 3, and Jolteon’s Attack is low.
  • Stick to Thunderbolt/Thunder; use Hidden Power or positioning for coverage.
• Evolution constraint: Jolteon is the best Eeveelution pick because Espeon/Umbreon are not accessible (per the video).

#7 Arcanine (FireRed Exclusive Powerhouse)

• Why it’s strong: Fire is special in Gen 3, so Flamethrower benefits from the correct stat profile.
• Damage + tempo: Intimidate reduces incoming physical damage; Extreme Speed provides strong priority.
• Acquisition: Get Growlithe on Route 8, evolve with a Fire Stone (timing matters so it learns good level-up moves first).
• LeafGreen alternative: The video suggests Charizard (if Charmander) or Ninetales as workable stand-ins (less power than Arcanine).

#6 Lapras (Free, Bulky, and BoltBeam)

• Why it’s strong: You’re given a Lapras during the Team Rocket takeover/Silph Co. sequence—no catching grind.
• Bulk + coverage: High HP with strong special coverage:
  • Surf, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Psychic
• Ability tech: Water Absorb heals from water moves, letting it switch into Surf-type pressure.
• Elite Four note: Highlighted as excellent vs Lance and helpful into Lorelei (water threats), with Psychic coverage relevant for Bruno.

#5 Nidoqueen (The Swiss Army Knife)

• Why it’s strong: Not the most extreme in any single stat, but the video claims it has best-in-game move coverage.
• Big payoff: Can learn many TMs/moves covering nearly every matchup:
  • Earthquake, Megahorn, Sludge Bomb, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, etc.
• Timing advantage (key tip):
  • Capture Nidoran before Brock
  • Get Moon Stone in Mount Moon
  • Result: fully evolved Nidoqueen by Misty, earlier than most fully evolved options.
• TM strategy: TMs are single use, so allocate carefully—don’t take TMs another teammate desperately needs.

#4 Gyarados (Physical-Split Abuse)

• Why it’s strong: The video reframes Gyarados:
  • Water moves are weak because Gyarados’s Special Attack is low (Surf “feels bad”).
  • But physical options are massive:
    • Return / Hyper Beam (physical)
    • Earthquake (physical)
• Main win condition: Dragon Dance
  • After 1–2 boosts, it becomes an unstoppable sweeper (speed + attack snowball).
• Access tip: Obtain it by grinding Magikarp—it’s recommended as worth the grind.

#3 Snorlax (Immovable Wall + Physical Shadow Ball)

• Why it’s strong: Huge HP and very high survivability.
• Crucial Gen 3 interaction: Shadow Ball is physical in Gen 3, so Snorlax uses its high Attack to get Ghost/Psychic-relevant coverage against Normal-type walls.
• Tools:
  • Body Slam (reliable STAB)
  • Earthquake (steel/rock coverage)
  • Rest (full healing; also synergizes with sleep turns due to bulk)
• Elite Four highlight: Walls Agatha’s Ghost team and holds up well vs Lorelei’s Ice pressure.

#2 Alakazam (Fast Glass Cannon, But Trade-Gated)

• Why it’s strong: Very high Special Attack and Speed; Psychic-type moves are special in Gen 3, so Psychic often “one-shots.”
• Coverage strategy: Shadow Ball isn’t recommended
  • Ghost moves are physical in Gen 3, and Alakazam’s Attack is poor.
• Damage tech: “Elemental punches”:
  • Thunder Punch / Fire Punch used alongside Calm Mind for amplified special damage.
• Asterisk / key requirement: Requires local trading to evolve Kadabra into Alakazam (no online trading).
  • If you can’t trade locally, Kadabra can still be used but is lower priority.

#1 Starmie (Best Non-Legendary All-Rounder)

• Why it’s #1: Perfect synergy with Gen 3 special typing:
  • Water + Psychic are both special, so STABs correctly use Special Attack.
• Coverage claim (broken set):
  • Surf, Psychic, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt
  • Covers Water/Psychic/Ice/Electric and hits most of the game neutrally or super effectively.
• Utility: Natural Cure heals status when switching out.
• Speed advantage: Outspeeds nearly everything relevant (gyms and most Elite Four threats).
• Version lock: LeafGreen-exclusive
  • FireRed players can’t get it.
  • The video suggests Arcanine as the main FireRed replacement, with alternatives like Alakazam/Kadabra, or Lapras for bulk.

Notable “Almost Made It” Picks (Shout-Outs)

• Slowbro (LeafGreen exclusive): bulkier than Starmie; water/psychic tank role.
• Gengar: trade evolution; Ghost is physical in Gen 3, making Ghost STAB weaker—still usable with special coverage.
• Dragonite: powerful but late (Dratini → level 55 evolution); requires patience/grind.
• Tauros: strong (Intimidate + Attack + speed) but hard to catch (Safari Zone catch rate).
• Vaporeon: good water tank (Surf + Ice Beam), but Jolteon/Lapras are preferred depending on your needs and FireRed/LeafGreen constraints.

Players/Sources Mentioned (End of Video)

• Danner A Drive (creator)