Fire Red · Ultimate Team & Secrets
Encounters

Every wild Pokémon, route by route.

Where each species actually lives in Kanto — grass, caves, surfing and every rod — with level ranges, how common it is, and exactly what changes between FireRed and LeafGreen. Use it to plan a catch, hunt a specific mon, or dodge a route until you're strong enough.

On this page
  1. How to read these tables
  2. Route 1
  3. Route 2
  4. Viridian Forest
  5. Route 22
  6. Route 3
  7. Mt. Moon
  8. Route 4
  9. Route 24
  10. Route 25
  11. Route 5
  12. Route 6
  13. Route 7
  14. Route 8
  15. Route 9
  16. Route 10
  17. Rock Tunnel
  18. Route 11
  19. Diglett's Cave
  20. Route 12
  21. Route 13
  22. Route 14
  23. Route 15
  24. Route 16
  25. Route 17
  26. Route 18
  27. Pokémon Tower
  28. Power Plant
  29. Route 19
  30. Route 20
  31. Route 21
  32. Safari Zone
  33. Seafoam Islands
  34. Route 23
  35. Victory Road
  36. Cerulean Cave
  37. Surfing (island-wide)
  38. Fishing — Old, Good & Super Rod

1 How to read these tables

Each area lists the Pokémon you can meet, the level range you'll see them at, roughly how common they are (the in-game encounter rate), and which version they appear in. A slot marked Both shows up in FireRed and LeafGreen; FireRed / LeafGreen means it only appears (or is far more common) in that game.

Rarity at a glanceAnything 30%+ is what you'll trip over constantly; 10–25% is a steady find; 5% takes a little patience; 1% is a genuine rare (Chansey, Clefairy, Ditto, Kangaskhan). Multi-floor caves list a combined range — exact rates shift a little floor to floor.
Static & gift Pokémon aren't hereFixed encounters you walk up to and press A on — the legendary birds (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres), Mewtwo, the two Snorlax (Routes 12 & 16), gift/fossil Pokémon and in-game trades — aren't random wild slots, so they're noted in context but not in the rarity tables. The roaming beast (Raikou/Entei/Suicune, keyed to your starter) is also a special encounter.
See alsoThe Walkthrough tells you when you reach each area; the Pokédex shows each species' stats and what to hit it with; Versions covers the full FireRed vs LeafGreen exclusive list.

2 Route 1

Pallet Town to Viridian. Your very first grass — nothing but the two starters of every Kanto adventure.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Pidgey2–550%Both
Rattata2–450%Both

3 Route 2

Viridian to the mouth of Viridian Forest (and later, with Cut, back-patches near Diglett's Cave).

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Pidgey2–545%Both
Rattata2–545%Both
Caterpie4–55%Both
Weedle4–55%Both

4 Viridian Forest

The classic bug maze. It's also the only reliable early Pikachu — but at 5% you'll do a lot of rustling.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Caterpie3–540%Both
Weedle3–540%Both
Metapod4–6~10%Both
Kakuna4–6~10%Both
Pikachu3–55%Both
Pikachu huntIf you want Pikachu (or a Raichu via Thunder Stone), stock Poké Balls before entering and don't burn through Repels — you need the 5% slot to trigger. Let it use Thunder Wave on itself and it can't run.

5 Route 22

West of Viridian — the road to Victory Road's gate and your two rival battles.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Rattata2–545%Both
Mankey2–545%Both
Spearow3–510%Both

Surfing/fishing on the little pond here uses the freshwater table — see Surfing and Fishing.

6 Route 3

Pewter to Mt. Moon. The first place the Nidoran lines split by version — grab whichever your game favours (or trade later for the other).

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Spearow6–835%Both
Pidgey6–730%Both
Nidoran♂6–714% (FR) · 1% (LG)Both
Nidoran♀61% (FR) · 14% (LG)Both
Jigglypuff3–710%Both
Mankey710%Both

7 Mt. Moon

Two floors of Zubat plus the rare Clefairy (Moon-Stone bait) and Paras. Rates below are combined across floors.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Zubat7–11~65%Both
Geodude7–10~25%Both
Paras8–125–15%Both
Clefairy8–121–6%Both
Fossil, not wildThe Dome Fossil (Kabuto) or Helix Fossil (Omanyte) is a one-time pick-up here, not a wild slot — you can only take one, so choose before you touch it.

8 Route 4

Down from Mt. Moon into Cerulean. First appearance of the Ekans / Sandshrew version split.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Rattata8–1235%Both
Spearow8–1235%Both
Ekans6–1225%FireRed
Sandshrew6–1225%LeafGreen
Mankey10–125%Both

9 Route 24

Nugget Bridge, north of Cerulean. The first easy Abra (teleport-in and catch fast).

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Caterpie720%Both
Weedle720%Both
Abra8–1215%Both
Pidgey11–1315%Both
Oddish12–1425%FireRed
Bellsprout12–1425%LeafGreen
Metapod81% (FR) · 4% (LG)Both
Kakuna84% (FR) · 1% (LG)Both

10 Route 25

The path to Bill's house. Same cast as Route 24, a level or two higher.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Caterpie820%Both
Weedle820%Both
Abra9–1315%Both
Pidgey11–1315%Both
Oddish12–1425%FireRed
Bellsprout12–1425%LeafGreen
Metapod91% (FR) · 4% (LG)Both
Kakuna94% (FR) · 1% (LG)Both

11 Route 5

Cerulean to Saffron's north gate. First Meowth (in both games here) and the Oddish / Bellsprout split.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Pidgey13–1640%Both
Meowth10–1635%Both
Oddish13–1625%FireRed
Bellsprout13–1625%LeafGreen

12 Route 6

Saffron's south gate down to Vermilion — a mirror of Route 5.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Pidgey13–1640%Both
Meowth10–1635%Both
Oddish13–1625%FireRed
Bellsprout13–1625%LeafGreen

13 Route 7

Celadon's east gate. The best early Growlithe / Vulpix route — a strong Fire-type either way.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Meowth17–2040%Both
Pidgey19–2230%Both
Oddish19–2220%FireRed
Bellsprout19–2220%LeafGreen
Growlithe18–2010%FireRed
Vulpix18–2010%LeafGreen

14 Route 8

Between Lavender and Saffron's east gate. Both version splits at once: Ekans/Sandshrew and Growlithe/Vulpix.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Pidgey18–2030%Both
Meowth18–2030%Both
Ekans17–1920%FireRed
Sandshrew17–1920%LeafGreen
Growlithe15–1820%FireRed
Vulpix15–1820%LeafGreen

15 Route 9

East of Cerulean toward Rock Tunnel.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Rattata14–1740%Both
Spearow13–1735%Both
Ekans11–1725%FireRed
Sandshrew11–1725%LeafGreen

16 Route 10

The Rock Tunnel / Power Plant approach — first wild Voltorb.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Voltorb14–1740%Both
Spearow13–1735%Both
Ekans11–1725%FireRed
Sandshrew11–1725%LeafGreen

The pond by the Pokémon Center uses the sea fishing table — see Fishing.

17 Rock Tunnel

Pitch black without Flash. A great Machop and Onix source before Fighting/Rock become scarce.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Geodude15–1735%Both
Zubat15–1630%Both
Machop16–1710–15%Both
Mankey16–1715%Both
Onix13–175–10%Both

18 Route 11

East of Vermilion. First Drowzee — and a superb Special-Defence EV spot if you're training.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Ekans12–1540%FireRed
Sandshrew12–1540%LeafGreen
Spearow13–1735%Both
Drowzee11–1525%Both

19 Diglett's Cave

Between Vermilion and Route 2. Almost nothing but Diglett — a fantastic Speed EV spot and easy Dugtrio.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Diglett15–2295%Both
Dugtrio29–315%Both

20 Route 12

Silence Bridge, south of Lavender — home of the sleeping Snorlax (a static Lv 30 encounter, not a wild slot).

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Oddish22–2635%FireRed
Bellsprout22–2635%LeafGreen
Pidgey23–2730%Both
Venonat24–2630%Both
Gloom28–305%FireRed
Weepinbell28–305%LeafGreen

21 Route 13

Toward Fuchsia. First wild Ditto and evolved Pidgeotto in the grass.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Oddish22–2635%FireRed
Bellsprout22–2635%LeafGreen
Venonat24–2630%Both
Pidgey25–2720%Both
Ditto255%Both
Pidgeotto295%Both
Gloom28–305%FireRed
Weepinbell28–305%LeafGreen

22 Route 14

More of the same, with a higher Ditto rate — the easiest place to farm one.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Oddish22–2635%FireRed
Bellsprout22–2635%LeafGreen
Venonat24–2630%Both
Ditto2315%Both
Pidgey2710%Both
Pidgeotto295%Both
Gloom305%FireRed
Weepinbell305%LeafGreen

23 Route 15

The road to Fuchsia. Same set as Route 13.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Oddish22–2635%FireRed
Bellsprout22–2635%LeafGreen
Venonat24–2630%Both
Pidgey25–2720%Both
Ditto255%Both
Pidgeotto295%Both
Gloom28–305%FireRed
Weepinbell28–305%LeafGreen

24 Route 16

West of Celadon — the second sleeping Snorlax (static Lv 30) blocks the road, and the Cycling Road birds start here.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Doduo18–2235%Both
Rattata18–2230%Both
Spearow20–2230%Both
Raticate23–255%Both

25 Route 17

Cycling Road proper. Fast, bird-heavy grass with evolved Fearow and Raticate.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Doduo24–2835%Both
Spearow20–2230%Both
Raticate25–2925%Both
Fearow25–275%Both
Rattata225%Both

26 Route 18

The short stretch into Fuchsia. More Fearow.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Doduo24–2835%Both
Spearow20–2230%Both
Raticate25–2915%Both
Fearow25–2915%Both
Rattata225%Both

27 Pokémon Tower

Lavender's haunted tower (floors 3–7). Wall-to-wall Gastly plus Cubone and the odd Haunter — a top Special-Attack EV spot.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Gastly13–19~85%Both
Cubone15–19~9%Both
Haunter20–251–15%Both
Ghosts on the top floorThe Marowak on 7F is a scripted ghost you must calm with the Silph Scope, not a catchable wild — you can't throw a ball at it.

28 Power Plant

Off Route 10. The only wild Electabuzz (FireRed) and a reliable Magnemite/Voltorb farm. Zapdos waits at the back as a static Lv 50.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Voltorb22–2530%Both
Magnemite22–2530%Both
Pikachu22–2625%Both
Magneton31–3410–15%Both
Electabuzz32–355%FireRed
Watch the VoltorbMany of the item balls in here are disguised Voltorb / Electrode that Self-Destruct — that's a bonus catch, but bring something that survives the blast.

29 Route 19

Open sea south of Fuchsia — pure water. You need Surf.

MethodPokémonLevelRarity
SurfingTentacool5–40Very common

Fishing here uses the sea tables (Krabby/Horsea/Magikarp → Kingler/Seadra/Gyarados) — see Fishing.

30 Route 20

Sea leading to the Seafoam Islands. Same open-water cast as Route 19.

MethodPokémonLevelRarity
SurfingTentacool5–40Very common

Sea fishing tables apply — see Fishing.

31 Route 21

The water between Pallet Town and Cinnabar. A thin strip of grass on the north end hides the only wild Tangela.

MethodPokémonLevelRarity
GrassTangela17–28Common
SurfingTentacool5–40Very common

Sea fishing tables apply — see Fishing.

32 Safari Zone

North of Fuchsia. Safari Balls only — no weakening, and Pokémon can flee. The single best spot for rares: Chansey, Kangaskhan, Tauros, Scyther (FireRed) or Pinsir (LeafGreen), plus Dratini on the Super Rod.

MethodPokémonLevelRarityVersion
GrassNidoran♂ / Nidorino22–33CommonBoth
GrassNidoran♀ / Nidorina22–33CommonBoth
GrassExeggcute23–25CommonBoth
GrassRhyhorn20–25UncommonBoth
GrassVenonat / Venomoth22–32UncommonBoth
GrassParas / Parasect22–32UncommonBoth
GrassDoduo26UncommonBoth
GrassCubone / Marowak16–24RareBoth
GrassTauros25–28RareBoth
GrassKangaskhan25–28RareBoth
GrassScyther23–25RareFireRed
GrassPinsir23–25RareLeafGreen
GrassChansey7–231% (very rare)Both
SurfingPsyduck20–40Very commonFireRed
SurfingSlowpoke20–40Very commonLeafGreen
Super RodDratini15–25UncommonBoth
Super RodDragonair25–35RareBoth
Dratini the easy wayThe Safari Zone's Super Rod is the only in-game source of the Dratini line — and it's easier than the Game Corner's pricey Dratini. Old/Good Rod here give Magikarp, Poliwag and Goldeen.

Rarity for the grass here varies by which of the Center/East/North/West areas you're in; the tags above are a whole-zone summary. No level-up rates differ between versions except the exclusives shown.

33 Seafoam Islands

The frozen cave between Routes 19 and 20. Articuno sits on the bottom floor as a static Lv 50. The Psyduck / Slowpoke split shows up here too.

MethodPokémonLevelRarityVersion
CavePsyduck26–33~40–55%FireRed
CaveSlowpoke26–33~40–55%LeafGreen
CaveZubat22–26~34%Both
CaveGolbat26–30~11%Both
CaveSeel28–3210–20%Both
CaveGolduck33–355%FireRed
CaveSlowbro33–355%LeafGreen
SurfingTentacool5–40Very commonBoth

The Super Rod inside pulls Staryu, Horsea/Krabby, Seel, Shellder and their evolutions — the water fishing tables apply (see Fishing).

34 Route 23

The long climb to Victory Road, past the badge checkpoints. High-level birds and the Ekans/Arbok vs Sandshrew/Sandslash split.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Mankey32–3430%Both
Fearow40–4425%Both
Spearow32–3415%Both
Ekans32–3420%FireRed
Sandshrew32–3420%LeafGreen
Primeape425%Both
Arbok445%FireRed
Sandslash445%LeafGreen

Surfing on the water stretch gives Psyduck (FireRed) or Slowpoke (LeafGreen).

35 Victory Road

The three-floor gauntlet before the Elite Four. Everything is Lv 30s–40s — good final XP. The Ekans/Sandshrew split appears one last time as Arbok / Sandslash.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Onix40–4820–30%Both
Machop25–3420%Both
Geodude32–3420%Both
Zubat32–3410%Both
Machoke40–485%Both
Golbat44–465%Both
Marowak44–485%Both
Primeape42~10%Both
Arbok44–465%FireRed
Sandslash44–465%LeafGreen

36 Cerulean Cave

Post-game only — the guard steps aside once you've restored the Sevii Islands' Network Machine. Mewtwo waits on the bottom floor at Lv 70 (static). The wild slots here are the highest-level in the game (~Lv 46–67), which makes it the best XP in Kanto.

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Golbat46–59Very commonBoth
Marowak52–55CommonBoth
Rhydon52–62CommonBoth
Graveler45–55UncommonBoth
Electrode52–55UncommonBoth
Dodrio49–51UncommonBoth
Venomoth49–51UncommonBoth
Kadabra49–51UncommonBoth
Hypno46UncommonBoth
Magneton46UncommonBoth
Parasect52–64UncommonBoth
Chansey55–64RareBoth
Ditto53–67RareBoth
Raichu64RareBoth
Wigglytuff54RareBoth
Arbok57UncommonFireRed
Sandslash52–57UncommonLeafGreen
Gloom58RareFireRed
Weepinbell55–58RareLeafGreen
One shot at MewtwoThere's only one Mewtwo. Save before you reach it, bring a stack of Ultra Balls (and ideally a False Swipe / status user), and don't let it faint.

37 Surfing (island-wide)

Surf water comes in two flavours in Kanto, and which one a route uses is fixed:

Water typeWherePokémonLevelVersion
Open seaRoutes 19, 20, 21, and the coastal edges of most townsTentacool5–40Both
FreshwaterRoutes 22, 23, 24, 25 & the Safari Zone pondsPsyduck20–40FireRed
FreshwaterRoutes 22, 23, 24, 25 & the Safari Zone pondsSlowpoke20–40LeafGreen
Rule of thumbSalt water (the big ocean routes) is basically all Tentacool; inland ponds and rivers give the version-split Psyduck / Slowpoke. Their evolutions (Tentacruel, Golduck, Slowbro) turn up rarely at the high end of the level range.

38 Fishing — Old, Good & Super Rod

Rods share two standard tables (sea vs freshwater), just like Surf. The Old Rod is the same everywhere. Get the Old Rod in Vermilion, the Good Rod on Route 12, and the Super Rod on Route 18.

Old Rod (everywhere)

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Magikarp5100%Both

Good Rod — sea

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Krabby5–1560% (FR) · 20% (LG)Both
Horsea5–1520% (FR) · 60% (LG)Both
Magikarp5–1520%Both

Good Rod — freshwater

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Poliwag5–1560%Both
Goldeen5–1520%Both
Magikarp5–1520%Both

Super Rod — sea

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Krabby15–25CommonFireRed
Kingler25–35RareFireRed
Horsea15–25CommonLeafGreen
Seadra25–35RareLeafGreen
Gyarados15–2515%Both
Psyduck25–351%FireRed
Slowpoke25–351%LeafGreen

Super Rod — freshwater

PokémonLevelRarityVersion
Poliwag15–25CommonBoth
Poliwhirl20–30CommonBoth
Gyarados15–2515%Both
Psyduck15–35RareFireRed
Slowpoke15–35RareLeafGreen
Special fishing spotsThe Safari Zone Super Rod is the only place to reel in the Dratini line. Seafoam Islands and Cerulean Cave add Staryu, Seel, Shellder, Slowbro and their evolutions to their local Super-Rod pools. Everywhere else follows the sea/freshwater tables above.
Version split, not exclusivityOn the Good Rod, Krabby and Horsea both appear in both games — one is just far more common than the other depending on your version. Only the Super-Rod evolutions (Kingler vs Seadra) and the 1% Psyduck/Slowpoke are truly one-version-only.
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