Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch aren't exactly the type of games modern fans would expect, as they were made during Gen 3 and not only lack many of the current quality-of-life features, but also have a few lingering glitches. One example is how Raikou and Entei disappeared from the game whenever they used Roar in battle before you caught them, but this is thankfully fixed in the Switch versions. Still, the games are mechanically fundamentally different from modern titles, and to that extent Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenThe type chart is a bit all over the place.
Not only does the game not include Fairy as a type, but Dark and Steel are mostly absent until the post-game section due to the trainer-gym encounters with the 1v1 ports, and only a handful of Kanto creatures received a type change with the addition of Dark or Steel. Even worse, the types work differently Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen. The moves are not divided into physical and special damage, but the types themselves are:
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Physical types in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen:
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Normal
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Fighting
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Poison
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Country
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Flying
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Bug
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Rock
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Spirit
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Steel
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Special types in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen:
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Fire
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Water
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Electric
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Grass
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Ice
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Mental
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Dragon
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Dark
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It follows that some Pokemon's battle performance is better or worse FireRed and LeafGreen compared to other games. The most egregious example is Gyarados, which goes from typically great to terrible.
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Say goodbye to Gyarados in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenThe best team should never include Gyarados if you care about maximizing combat potential. The reason is simple, Gyarados' incredible Attack stat does very little for you. This is because while Gyarados has a BST of 540 and its Attack stat is 125, water is a special type in FireRed and LeafGreenand Gyarados' Special Attack stat is only 60.
But it's even worse. Gyarados doesn't have access to any Flying moves in its training set, meaning its Water/Flying type will never benefit you other than making you immune to Earth. Gyarados also learns Bite, which is normally a good cover for it, but since Dark is also a special type in the game, it also deals very low damage. As such, the best move in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen for Gyarados are:
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Thrash (90 Base Power, 100 Accuracy, Normal Type, Physical)
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Hyper Beam (150 Base Power, 90 Accuracy, Normal Type, Physical)
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Earthquake (100 Base Strength, 100 Accuracy, Ground Type, Physical)
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Return/Frustration (damage based on friendship level, accuracy 100, normal type, physical)
Why you shouldn't use Gyarados in FireRed and LeafGreen
It's a pretty sad moveset for Gyarados Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenand does not take advantage of its types at all. You can use some water-type moves, but the damage is mediocre at best and you'll at least need some EV investment into Sp. Attack. Even with Intimidate, these games have a much better selection than Gyarados for water pokemon in v FireRed and LeafGreensuch as Vaporeon.
Additionally, Earthquake is a rare TM that you only get once from Giovanni Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenwhich means you can't reuse it. There are bugs for this, but in casual play, Earthquake is a much better candidate for one use than Gyarados. In addition, Gyarados learns Dragon Dance, which increases the user's attack stats and speed by one stage, but since water is special, it does not benefit from this unique and powerful move.
If you are looking for ways to engage your Route 4 Magikarp Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen ok sorry to be the bearer of bad news. You can choose to build Gyarados as a special attack mon if you really want to use it, and it would at least be a good move coverage option. You can still do decent damage with Surf, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Flamethrower — but if that's your strategy, please invest in Sp. Offensive EV.

- Released
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September 7, 2004
- ESRB
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All 10+ / mild fantasy violence, simulated gambling
- Multiplayer
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Online multiplayer
