Published on December 19, 2021
Updated on December 3, 2022

Pokémon Red / Blue Starters

About Blue

Release Date
Oct 15, 1996
Developer
Game Freak
Publisher
Nintendo
Country of Origin
Japan
Franchise
Pokémon™

About Red

Release Date
Feb 27, 1996
Developer
Game Freak
Publisher
Nintendo
Country of Origin
Japan
Franchise
Pokémon™

More Blue / Red Content

Blue / Red Starters

The Pokémon Red starters have been engraved into most Pokémon fans’ memories as the most iconic starting Pokémon, with Bulbasaur, Charmander & Squirtle forming the first-ever player choice into the franchise!

Pokémon Red & Blue take place in the Kanto region, habitat of the 1st generation of Pokémon. It’s worth mentioning that the Yellow version will also let you obtain the same 3 starters, but only later in the game, since your starting Pokémon will be Pikachu!

Below you can reference all the Pokédex entries of the Red & Blue version starters, their complete move lists, as well as min / max stats, helping you figure out what’s the best choice for your team, and the sweet evolution levels for each starter Pokémon.

Table of Contents

What is the Best Starter in Pokémon Red / Blue?

Pokédex Entries for Bulbasaur, Charmander & Squirtle in Pokémon Red / Blue

Choosing the Fire Pokémon, Charmander, is the best early-game choice, and what became the staple of the Pokémon franchise, since in pretty much every generation, starting areas are filled with Pokémon that are weak to fire.

That doesn’t make Bulbasaur & Squirtle any less stronger, but they will definitely make your early game a bit more challenging. Squirtle will be very strong against Brock (the first gym leader) though, so he definitely gets an advantage there.

In the post-game, Charizard still has a small advantage over Venusaur & Blastoise (purely from a Base Stats perspective), but the difference is so small, that the choice should really be made based on your personal preference:

Venusaur Charizard Blastoise
Base Min Max Base Min Max Base Min Max
HP 80 270 364 78 266 360 79 268 362
Attack 82 152 289 84 155 293 83 153 291
Defense 83 153 291 78 144 280 100 184 328
Special 100 85 85
Speed 80 148 284 100 184 328 78 144 280
Total 425 425 425

Grass-Type Starter – Bulbasaur, Ivysaur & Venusaur

Pokédex Entries for Bulbasaur, Ivysaur & Venusaur in Pokémon Red / Blue

Bulbasaur evolves to Ivysaur at Level 16, and Venusaur at Level 32.

Lv Move Power Acc Type Category
Bulbasaur Moveset
1 Growl 100 Normal Status
1 Tackle 40 100 Normal Physical
7 Leech Seed 90 Grass Status
13 Vine Whip 45 100 Grass Special
20 Poison Powder 75 Poison Status
27 Razor Leaf 55 95 Grass Special
34 Growth Normal Status
41 Sleep Powder 75 Grass Status
48 Solar Beam 120 100 Grass Special
Ivysaur Moveset
22 Poison Powder 75 Poison Status
30 Razor Leaf 55 95 Grass Special
38 Growth Normal Status
46 Sleep Powder 75 Grass Status
54 Solar Beam 120 100 Grass Special
Venusaur Moveset
43 Growth Normal Status
55 Sleep Powder 75 Grass Status
65 Solar Beam 120 100 Grass Special
Bulbasaur Ivysaur Venusaur
Base Min Max Base Min Max Base Min Max
HP 45 200 294 60 230 324 80 270 364
Attack 49 92 216 62 116 245 82 152 289
Defense 49 92 216 63 117 247 83 153 291
Special 65 80 100
Speed 45 85 207 60 112 240 80 148 284
Total 253 325 425

Fire-Type Starter – Charmander, Charmeleon & Charizard

Pokédex Entries for Charmander, Charmeleon & Charizard in Pokémon Red / Blue

Charmander evolves to Charmeleon at Level 16, and Charizard at Level 36.

Lv Move Power Acc Type Category
Charmander Moveset
1 Growl 100 Normal Status
1 Scratch 40 100 Normal Physical
9 Ember 40 100 Fire Special
15 Leer 100 Normal Status
22 Rage 20 100 Normal Physical
30 Slash 70 100 Normal Physical
38 Flamethrower 90 100 Fire Special
46 Fire Spin 35 85 Fire Special
Charmeleon Moveset
24 Rage 20 100 Normal Physical
33 Slash 70 100 Normal Physical
42 Flamethrower 90 100 Fire Special
56 Fire Spin 35 85 Fire Special
Charizard Moveset
36 Slash 70 100 Normal Physical
46 Flamethrower 90 100 Fire Special
55 Fire Spin 35 85 Fire Special
Charmander Charmeleon Charizard
Base Min Max Base Min Max Base Min Max
HP 39 188 282 58 226 320 78 266 360
Attack 52 98 223 64 119 249 84 155 293
Defense 43 81 203 58 108 236 78 144 280
Special 50 65 85
Speed 65 121 251 80 148 284 100 184 328
Total 249 325 425

Water-Type Starter – Squirtle, Wartortle & Blastoise

Pokédex Entries for Squirtle, Wartortle & Blastoise in Pokémon Red / Blue

Squirtle evolves to Wartortle at Level 16, and Blastoise at Level 36.

Lv Move Power Acc Type Category
Squirtle Moveset
1 Tackle 40 100 Normal Physical
1 Tail Whip 100 Normal Status
8 Bubble 40 100 Water Special
15 Water Gun 40 100 Water Special
22 Bite 60 100 Dark Special
28 Withdraw Water Status
35 Skull Bash 130 100 Normal Physical
42 Hydro Pump 110 80 Water Special
Wartortle Moveset
24 Bite 60 100 Dark Special
31 Withdraw Water Status
39 Skull Bash 130 100 Normal Physical
47 Hydro Pump 110 80 Water Special
Blastoise Moveset
42 Skull Bash 130 100 Normal Physical
52 Hydro Pump 110 80 Water Special
Squirtle Wartortle Blastoise
Base Min Max Base Min Max Base Min Max
HP 44 198 292 59 228 322 79 268 362
Attack 48 90 214 63 117 247 83 153 291
Defense 65 121 251 80 148 284 100 184 328
Special 50 65 85
Speed 43 81 203 58 108 236 78 144 280
Total 250 325 425

All stats & move lists are compiled from the Pokémon Database.

How to Get All 3 Starters in Pokémon Red / Blue?

Getting all 3 starter Pokémon to your team is obviously the best choice, but it’s also going to “cost” you extra.

Since there are two different versions of Red & Blue available (the physical cartridges for Game Boy, as well as the Virtual Console versions for Nintendo 3DS), the process is going to be quite different.

I definitely suggest you follow the Virtual Console method, since this way you can also transport your starters into Poké Transporter, and later on to Pokémon Bank & Pokémon Home. This way, you can effectively bring them over to any later generations.

Getting a starter Pokemon deposited in a box and eligible for transfer, will only take 8 minutes in the Red or Blue version:

  1. Go through Professor Oak’s intro and choose your Trainer name as well as your Rival’s.
  2. Walk north of your house to the grass, and Professor Oak will bring you back to the lab where you can choose your Starter Pokémon.
  3. After your choice, try to leave and you will be forced to fight with your Rival (just spam your attacks and you will win every time).
  4. Then you can successfully leave, and go north until you reach Viridian City. You can safely Run from any Pokémon you encounter.
  5. Visit the Poké Mart, and you will be given a Parcel for Professor Oak, so go back to his lab in Pallet Town, and speak with him (you can jump from the ledges as a quick shortcut).
  6. After that’s done too, go to Viridian City again, visit the Poké Mart, and buy a couple of Poké Balls.
  7. Then go south, encounter any Pokémon on the grass, hit it once, and catch it.
  8. If you want to trade in later generations:
    1. Go to the Poké Centre, and Deposit your Starter Pokémon to Someone’s PC.
    2. Now you can use the Poké Transporter app on your 3DS to transfer the Pokémon into Pokémon Bank, then repeat the process two more times for the other two starter Pokemon!
  9. Or if you want to trade between the Red & Blue versions, read on below!

How to Trade Between the Physical Versions of Red & Blue (Game Boy)

Keep in mind that if you want to trade from the physical versions of the games, you are limited only to Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver & Crystal, since there is no way to connect the Game Boy / Game Boy Color with the Game Boy Advance, in order to bring them in later generations. You can bring them with the digital versions though, so just skip to the next section if that’s what you want to do.

In order to trade with the physical versions, you will need to have at least two Game Boy / Game Boy Color consoles, and connect them with a Game Link Cable.

Once you have done that, you can visit the Pokémon Center in both games, and talk to the girl on the right, next to the PC (or in the second floor if you’re on Gold, Silver or Crystal), and initiate the Trade between the two consoles.

How to Trade Between the Digital Versions of Red & Blue (3DS)

Even though you can use the free Poké Transporter app for a one-way transfer to Pokémon Bank (in order to withdraw them in X, Y, Alpha Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon), as well as a one-way transfer from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon Home (in order to withdraw them in Sword or Shield), if you want to trade between them, the only way is with two separate systems.

Therefore you will need to have at least two 2DS / 3DS consoles, and each one should be using a unique NNID (since you can’t attach your Nintendo Network ID to more than one 3DS console).

Keep in mind that you can use this method with Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver & Crystal virtual console versions (even though the Gold, Silver & Crystal versions can only battle with each other, but you can still trade to the older games).

What’s more, since the virtual console versions are digital, you need to own the required games in separate systems / accounts.

Once you have unlocked Pokémon trading in both games / systems, you can simply:

  1. Open both 2DS / 3DS consoles, and visit the Pokémon Center.
    1. If you are in Generation 1, talk to the girl on the right, next to the PC.
    2. If you are in Generation 2, go to the second floor and talk to the one on the left.
  2. Choose “Invite a partner” in one game, and “Accept an invitation” in the other game.
  3. Then simply initiate the trade!
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Babalon, Mother of Abominations

16-hours / day in front of the screen entrepreneur, of which 6+ are spent on gaming. MMOs, CCGs, RPGs and many more, Steam-addict & achievement-w***e. Currently wasting life on BDO & Gacha Games.

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