The release of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch marks the first instance of a classic Pokemon title being released on the handheld/home console hybrid. However, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are only a slice of the Gen 3 games originally released on GBA, and feature a limited Pokedex of the original 150, plus a few Gen 2 mons available in the post-game. As such, it won’t be possible for Switch players to complete their National Dex in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, unless more retro Pokemon games make their way to the console.
Completing the Pokedex is always one of the most exciting challenges in the franchise, and the early generations make this task much more achievable with their smaller dex sizes. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen‘s Kanto Pokedex consists of the original 150 Pokemon, but players who defeat the Elite Four and become Champion will gain access to the National Dex, allowing them to obtain all 386 Pokemon available in Gen 3. The problem with Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen‘s Switch release is that 166 of these critters will likely be unobtainable for the foreseeable future, meaning completing the National Dex will be impossible.
PSA: Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Players Can Easily Fail a Legendary Encounter Due to an Annoying Glitch
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen players hoping to add one Legendary to their Pokedex should be careful to avoid a common glitch that can ruin their day.
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Have 166 Unobtainable Pokemon of 386 in Gen 3
With only the original 150 Pokemon and a handful of Gen 2 mons available in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, players looking to complete the Gen 3 Pokedex back during their original launch windows had to turn to the other Gen 3 games for support. Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald contained the other half of the Gen 3 equation, allowing players to transfer their Pokemon between games so that they could collectively achieve a full National Pokedex of 386 critters. Completing this task in 2026 on the Nintendo Switch version of the games may be impossible, especially since FireRed and LeafGreen‘s eShop pages have pulled any mention of Pokemon Home compatibility.
GameRant Quiz
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)
Every Missing Pokemon from Gen 3 in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Mew
- Chikorita
- Bayleef
- Meganium
- Cyndaquil
- Quilava
- Typhlosion
- Totodile
- Croconaw
- Feraligatr
- Hoothoot
- Noctowl
- Chinchou
- Lantern
- Mareep
- Flaaffy
- Ampharos
- Sudowoodo
- Sunkern
- Sunflora
- Espeon
- Umbreon
- Girafarig
- Pineco
- Forretress
- Gligar
- Snubbull
- Granbull
- Teddiursa
- Ursaring
- Corsola
- Houndour
- Houndoom
- Miltank
- Celebi
- Treecko
- Grovyle
- Sceptile
- Torchic
- Combusken
- Blaziken
- Mudkip
- Marshtomp
- Swampert
- Poochyena
- Mightyena
- Zigzagoon
- Linoone
- Wurmple
- Silcoon
- Beautifly
- Cascoon
- Dustox
- Lotad
- Lombre
- Ludicolo
- Seedot
- Nuzleaf
- Shiftry
- Taillow
- Swellow
- Wingull
- Pelipper
- Ralts
- Kirlia
- Gardevoir
- Surskit
- Masquerain
- Shroomish
- Breloom
- Slakoth
- Vigoroth
- Slaking
- Nincada
- Ninjask
- Shedinja
- Whismur
- Loudred
- Exploud
- Makuhita
- Hariyama
- Nosepass
- Skitty
- Delcatty
- Sableye
- Mawile
- Aron
- Lairon
- Aggron
- Meditite
- Medicham
- Electrike
- Manectric
- Plusle
- Minun
- Volbeat
- Illumise
- Roselia
- Gulpin
- Swalot
- Carvanha
- Sharpedo
- Wailmer
- Wailord
- Numel
- Camerupt
- Torkoal
- Spoink
- Grumpig
- Spinda
- Trapinch
- Vibrava
- Flygon
- Cacnea
- Cacturne
- Swablu
- Altaria
- Zangoose
- Seviper
- Lunatone
- Solrock
- Barboach
- Whiscash
- Corphish
- Crawdaunt
- Baltoy
- Claydol
- Lileep
- Cradily
- Anorith
- Armaldo
- Feebas
- Milotic
- Castform
- Kecleon
- Shuppet
- Banette
- Duskull
- Dusclops
- Tropius
- Chimecho
- Absol
- Snorunt
- Glalie
- Spheal
- Sealeo
- Walrein
- Clamperl
- Huntail
- Gorebyss
- Relicanth
- Luvdisc
- Bagon
- Shelgon
- Salamence
- Beldum
- Metang
- Metagross
- Regirock
- Regice
- Registeel
- Latias
- Latios
- Kyogre
- Groudon
- Rayquaza
- Jirachi
A large portion of Gen 2 Pokemon, along with the entirety of the new Gen 3 critters, are unavailable in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen without trading from another game. While some Gen 2 Pokemon, like Mareep, are obtainable in Pokemon Emerald, they still can’t natively be found in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen. Additionally, some of these critters require players to snag them in Pokemon Colosseum or Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness and then transfer them to one of the Gen 3 GBA games in order to register them in their Pokedex. Without access to these other games, completing the National Dex in FireRed and LeafGreen on the Switch will remain out of reach.
There are three event Pokemon, Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Deoxys in FireRed and LeafGreen that are only accessible via event tickets. It remains unclear if the Switch releases of these games will include these event tickets.
Nintendo Switch Fans, Say Hello to Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen’s Hardest Gym Leader
With the release of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, Nintendo Switch players can experience one of the hardest Gym Leader battles in the series.
Other Gen 3 Pokemon Games Could Be Released on Nintendo Switch to Fix This Problem
- Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
- Pokemon Colosseum
- Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
The easy solution to this National Dex problem is for the other Gen 3 Pokemon games to get Switch releases as well. Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are obvious choices after FireRed and LeafGreen, as Nintendo has shown its willingness to release GBA Pokemon games as standalone titles. While it’s unclear if Nintendo would ever release other GBA games outside of NSO, the other Gen 3 Pokemon games seem like the most likely candidates. The addition of online connectivity for these games would also greatly help players complete their Pokedexes, as only local co-op is currently confirmed for FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch.
Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness also hold some important critters that are required for completing the Gen 3 Pokedex. The Johto starters, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile, are the most notable examples from these games, as only one of these three can be obtained as a gift in Emerald. Without access to their event tickets, the only other way to obtain Lugia and Ho-Oh in Gen 3 is through Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness, making their release on the Switch crucial if these event tickets aren’t included in FireRed and LeafGreen‘s Switch releases.
Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness are confirmed to be coming to the Switch via Nintendo Switch Online in 2026, potentially even being shadow-dropped during the Pokemon Day presentation. However, it’s unclear if they will have any compatibility with the Switch ports of FireRed and LeafGreen.
- Released
-
September 7, 2004
- ESRB
-
e
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
