These 2 Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen "exclusive versions" make one version better than the other

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen having over 40 exclusives between the two, and that alone has always been a good reason to debate which game is better and which one should pick. One might argue that this is true for the majority Pokemon games, although version exclusivity has improved slightly over the years. In addition to the Paradox Pokémon that can do Pokemon Scarlet overall better version of Gen 9 if you are looking at VGC, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet they did a better job of making the exclusives more manageable and less FOMO inducing if one didn't buy both games. This is not the case at all with the Gen 3 Kanto remakes.

That's the problem Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen not only do they have current version exclusives, with some pets being much better than their counterparts in another version, but also instances where a given Pokemon is easier to find in one version than another. A great early game example is the Nidor male and female in route 3, the Nidor male spawns 14% and the Nidor female spawns 1% FireRedand vice versa for LeafGreen. Since Nidoking is better than Nidoqueen in Gen 3 remakes, this could be important. However, this applies to another set of Pokemon, namely Koffing and Grimer (as well as Weezing and Muk), and this can be for Pokemon Champions.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen opening screen showing Nidorin battling Gengar and Lorelei and Lance from the Elite Four

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen rare exclusives are not the same (and one version is much better than the other)

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have two rare exclusives that should be balanced, but one is more accessible and powerful.

Pokemon FireRed's Koffing and Weezing are better than LeafGreen's Grimer and Muk

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenExclusive versions of the version are normally only available through the second version's store, while Koffing and Grimer are more likely to only appear in one version than the other. Their evolutions, Weezing and Muk, are something completely different as they only appear in one game. The locations of these Pokemon are:

Koffing
- Pokemon Mansion, all floors, 30% in FireRed and 5% in LeafGreen
- Celadon City via fishing, 1% in both versions
Weezing
- Pokemon Mansion, all floors, 5% in FireRed and no spawn in LeafGreen
Grimer
- Pokemon Mansion, all floors, 5% in FireRed and 30% in LeafGreen
- Celadon City via fishing, 1% in both versions
Torture
- Pokemon Mansion, all floors, no spawn in FireRed and 5% in LeafGreen

While rarer in one version and more common in another, the Koffing and Weezing series and the Grimer and Muk series share this “exclusivity” of their kind, which also applies to Nidoking and Nidoqueen in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen. In the Gen 3 Kanto remakes, Weezing is overall better than Muk despite his high Attack and HP because he learns better moves and is more versatile in how you can build him. The same goes for VGC, though for more important reasons.

The history of Pokemon's VGC and why Weezing is better than Muk

Alolan Muk saw a lot of use and love in competitive Gen 7 Pokemon over the years, but its basic form is rather bland. On the other hand, both Weezing and Galarian Weezing can be very good in VGC due to their abilities and move pool. In the case of Weezing vs. It's torture for several reasons:

Weezing has a Neutralizing Gas ability that renders all other Pokémon's abilities null or untriggerable. This is especially good for damaging abilities like Regigigas' Slow Start or Slaking's Truant, resulting in a Weezing + Regigigas combo in VGC having very good moments.
Weezing has a more varied move pool for a support role, while Muk is more focused on dealing damage. As an attacker, you have better options in terms of type, move pool, and abilities.
Muk has three possible abilities: Stench, Sticky Hold, and Poison Touch. Stench allows Muk's attack to have a 10% chance to dodge the target (or increase existing Flinch rate by 10%). Sticky Hold makes Muk's held item impossible to remove or change. Poison Touch causes Muk's contact moves to have a 30% chance to poison the target. They're not terrible options, but they're very narrowly focused and don't really support a whole new strategy like Neutralizing Gas.

Prior to the release of Scarlet and Violet's Ogerpon and Loyal Three in The Indigo Mask DLC, Galarian Weezing was the only Poison and Fairy-type Pokémon, now joined by Fezandipiti.

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While Pokemon ChampionsAvailable Pokemon do not currently include Weezing and Muk, at the time they become available, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen should have his Home of Pokemon online support. in that case Pokemon FireRed's rare exclusive will be better than LeafGreen's, at least as far as competing uses are concerned. However, in regular Gen 3 Kanto remake games, it mostly boils down to which Pokémon you like better.