Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen Nuzlocke Tier List (2023 Update)

Preparing for a Nuzlocke challenge in Pokémon FireRed or LeafGreen? Curious to know which Pokémon are deserving of one of your precious team slots as you tackle this challenge? Then take a look at our FireRed/LeafGreen tier list, newly updated for 2023!

Long-time Nuzlocke University readers might remember our previous FR/LG tier list, put together by contributor u/samurott1 and published on our website with their generous permission. However, I’ve decided to create an updated version of the list, with some adjustments to reflect my own recent Nuzlocking experiences in this generation as well as community consensus. The older tier list is still an excellent resource and worth reading, but hopefully this updated list brings a new perspective on some Pokémon you might consider using (or leaving behind).

The criteria for each tier are explained below the tier list. Note that while encounter rarity is not considered, availability is, meaning Pokémon which are available for larger portions of the game will have an advantage, and Pokémon which cannot be obtained until late in the game or after important battles may be ranked lower. Also note that legendary Pokémon are excluded. Here’s the tier list:

S-tier: These Pokémon have excellent typing, stats, and movepools, and have good matchups against important opponents in both the early game (if available) and the late-game. They are capable of single-handedly clearing portions of the game, regardless of team composition. They have few significant flaws, and should be used almost without question if the player can obtain them. These Pokémon are the star of an effective team, and the rest of the team members should be chosen to support and compliment them.

A-tier: These are strong Pokémon with great typing, stats, and movepools, who can provide good offensive and defensive presence to a team. They have generally good matchups against important opponents in either the early or the late-game, or they perform an important niche role better than any other Pokémon. They may not be as individually dominant as an S-tier Pokémon, but they are powerful core members of a balanced and effective team.

B-tier: These are useful Pokémon with generally good typing and stats, but they may have a shallow movepool, be lacking in a key stat, or simply be outclassed by a similar Pokémon in a higher tier. Many B-tier Pokémon provide either good offensive or defensive presence, but not necessarily both. They may have good matchups against important opponents, but may also have severe weaknesses to common or dangerous foes. They are useful for fulfilling a specific role, and can find a place on an effective team, despite one or two significant flaws.

C-tier: These are Pokémon that may have reasonably good stats, typing, and movepools, but may also be lacking in two of these categories. These Pokémon typically have somewhat limited usefulness, but can be valuable in the right situation. Many of these Pokémon have stats that do not compliment their typing well, lack important moves in their type, or are only useful for a limited section of the game, but a thoughtful player can build around their significant flaws and include one or two of these Pokémon on an effective team, provided the player does not ask too much of them.

D-tier: These Pokémon have generally poor stats or typing or are crippled by a bad ability or other severe weakness. These Pokémon offer little to a team, and should be avoided unless no other options are available, or a player desperately needs a Pokémon of a particular type for a difficult battle. Effective teams will generally not use these Pokémon, except in very specific, limited roles.

E-tier: These Pokémon are prohibitively bad, having poor stats, typing, and movepools, or otherwise are completely outclassed by multiple similar Pokémon. They should be replaced as soon as possible, and players should avoid using them, even in situations where they have a type advantage. These Pokémon will not be found on effective Nuzlocke teams.

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That concludes our Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen Nuzlocke viability tier list! Do you agree with the placements? Let me know your thoughts below. Remember that tier lists aren’t an exact science, and in a game with as much variability as Nuzlocking, it’s hard to definitively place a Pokémon in a single tier.

Be sure to check out our other tier lists, including for Pokémon Emerald and Pokémon Platinum, by heading to our Nuzlocke tier lists index, and head to our Guides and Articles section for more Nuzlocke content. Happy Nuzlocking!