21 February 2026

Complete Guide to Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen Gyms, Leaders, and Teams

By newsgame


Like pretty much every Pokemon game that came after (and before) it, FireRed and LeafGreen‘s version of the Kanto region has eight Gym Leaders to beat and eight badges to collect. You can’t become the ultimate Pokemon master and enter the coveted Pokemon League and fight the Elite Four until these badges are earned.

This guide for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen will go over all eight Gym Leaders, their teams, and the reward you’ll get for clearing each one.

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Brock – Pewter City Gym

Rock-Type Leader

fighting brock pokemon firered leafgreen Image via GameRant; Source: The Pokemon Company / Game Freak

The first Gym Leader you’ll have to face is none other than Brock in the Pewter City Gym. Depending on the starter Pokemon you choose at Professor Oak’s lab, Brock can either be one of the easiest fights in the game or one of the hardest. Here’s a tip: if you want to pass his test with ease, just go with Bulbasaur or Squirtle.

The Water-type starter, Squirtle, learns Bubble at level 7 (and Water Gun at level 13). Bulbasaur will learn Vine Whip at level 10, and combining that with Leech Seed (level 7), you can make quick work of the Rock-type trainer.

Team

Type

Weakness(es)

Geodude (Lv 12)

Rock/Ground

Water, Fighting, Grass, Steel, Ground

Onix (Lv 14)

Rock/Ground

Water, Fighting, Grass, Steel, Ground

As a reward for beating Brock’s two Pokemon, you will get TM39: Rock Tomb, and you’ll be able to use the HM for Flash outside of battle to light up dark caves.

Misty – Cerulean City Gym

Water-Type Leader

fighting misty pokemon firered leafgreen Image via GameRant; Source: Game Freak / The Pokemon Company

The second Gym Leader you will face in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen is Misty, the Water-type-using trainer in Cerulean City. Both of her Pokemon are weak to Grass-type moves, so if you went with Bulbasaur at the start, this fight should be easy-peasy.

Team

Type

Weakness(es)

Staryu (Lv 18)

Water

Electric, Grass

Starmie (Lv 21)

Water/Psychic

Electric, Grass, Bug, Dark, Ghost

The reward for beating Misty is TM03: Water Pulse, and you will be able to use the HM for Cut outside of battle to cut down trees in your way.

Lt. Surge – Vermilion City Gym

Electric-Type Leader

lt surge battle (1) Image via GameRant; Source: The Pokemon Company / Game Freak

You’ll find Lt. Surge‘s Electric-type gym in Vermilion City, and the military vet will have three Pokemon on his team, all of which are susceptible to Ground-type moves.

Team

Type

Weakness(es)

Voltorb (Lv 21)

Electric

Ground

Pikachu (Lv 18)

Electric

Ground

Raichu (Lv 24)

Electric

Ground

Once you defeat Surge in battle, you’ll be able to fast travel with the HM for Fly, and you will also get the Electric-type TM for Shock Wave.

GameRant Quiz

GameRant Quiz

Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)

Erika – Celadon City Gym

Grass-Type Leader

leader erika fight (1) Image via GameRant; Source: Game Freak / The Pokemon Company

Next up on the list is Celadon City’s Erika. She has three Grass-type Pokemon on her team, two of which are dual Grass/Poison. Bring along some Fire- and Flying-type Pokemon with you, and you should have no issues taking her down.

Team

Type

Weakness(es)

Victreebel (Lv 29)

Grass/Poison

Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic

Tangela (Lv 24)

Grass

Fire, Flying, Ice, Bug, Poison

Vileplume (Lv 29)

Grass/Poison

Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic

After she’s been taken down, you will get TM19: Giga Drain, and you’ll have permission to use the HM for Strength, allowing you to slide boulders around.

Koga – Fuchsia City Gym

Poison-Type Leader

koga battle pokemon firered leafgreen (1) Image via GameRant; Source: The Pokemon Company / Game Freak

Koga of the Fuchsia City Gym has four Poison-type Pokemon in his arsenal. Bring along some Pokemon with Psychic or Ground-type moves, and you can defeat him with no problem. Just watch out for his Poison attacks and maybe bring along some Antidotes.

Team

Type

Weakness(es)

Koffing (Lv 37)

Poison

Ground, Psychic

Muk (Lv 39)

Poison

Ground, Psychic

Koffing (Lv 37)

Poison

Ground, Psychic

Weezing (Lv 43)

Poison

Ground, Psychic

Taking down Koga will give you TM06: Toxic, and you can finally travel across water with the HM for Surf.

You can actually take on Koga after defeating Sabrina and vice versa, but we recommend fighting Koga first, as Sabrina can be a little more challenging.

Sabrina – Saffron City Gym

Psychic-Type Leader

sabrina battle pokemon firered leafgreen Image via GameRant; Source: The Pokemon Company / Game Freak

Sabrina is best known for messing with Ash and his friends in the Pokemon anime, causing Ash to have to catch a Ghost-type Pokemon to help take her team of Psychic types down.

Team

Type

Weakness(es)

Kadabra (Lv 38)

Psychic

Bug, Dark, Ghost

Mr. Mime (Lv 37)

Psychic

Bug, Dark, Ghost

Venemoth (Lv 38)

Bug/Poison

Fire, Flying, Rock, Psychic

Alakazam (Lv 43)

Psychic

Bug, Dark, Ghost

Defeating Sabrina in Saffron City will reward players with the TM for Calm Mind, and you will be able to use Rock Smash outside of battle.

Blaine – Cinnabar Island Gym

Fire-Type Leader

blaine battle pokemon firered leafgreen (1) Image via GameRant; Source: The Pokemon Company / Game Freak

Blaine’s gym on Cinnabar Island will test your knowledge with a series of trivia questions, and once you get to the end of the line, you’ll have to face off with his team of powerful Fire-type monsters. His level 47 Arcanine will prove to be the most troubling, but just bring some Water or Rock-type moves, and you’ll beat him at his own game.

Team

Type

Weakness(es)

Growlithe (Lv 42)

Fire

Water, Rock, Ground

Ponyta (Lv 40)

Fire

Water, Rock, Ground

Rapidash (Lv 42)

Fire

Water, Rock, Ground

Arcanine (Lv 47)

Fire

Water, Rock, Ground

You will get the all-powerful TM for Fire Blast after beating Blaine, and you’ll also be able to use Waterfall outside of battle.

Giovanni – Viridian City Gym

Ground-Type Leader

giovanni battle pokemon firered leafgreen (1) Image via GameRant; Source: The Pokemon Company / Game Freak

And last but not least, you will get to battle against the big boss of Team Rocket himself, Giovanni, back in Viridian City. His team of Ground and Rock-type Pokemon are nothing to scoff at. Bring along some Water and Grass-types, and it should be smooth sailing towards the Elite Four.

Team

Type

Weakness(es)

Rhyhorn (Lv 45)

Ground/Rock

Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Steel, Ground,

Dugtrio (Lv 42)

Ground

Water, Grass, Ice,

Nidoqueen (Lv 44)

Poison/Ground

Water, Ground, Psychic

Nidoking (Lv 45)

Poison/Ground

Water, Ground, Psychic

Rhyhorn (Lv 50)

Ground/Rock

Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Steel, Ground,

Once Giovanni has been dealt with, you’ll be able to finally access the Indigo Plateau to enter the Pokemon League, and you will get the TM for Earthquake, a very powerful Ground-type attack that will be very useful against the Elite Four.


Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Tag Page Cover Art

Systems


Released

September 7, 2004

ESRB

e

Publisher(s)

Nintendo