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Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (FRLG)

How to Beat Brock: Pewter City Gym Guide

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Pokemon FRLG - How to Beat Brock

This is a guide for Pewter City's Gym Leader, Brock, in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (FRLG). Learn how to beat Brock, his Pokemon team and specialty, and the recommended Pokemon to use against Brock!

Previous Gym Next Gym
- Misty

List of Contents

Brock's Pokemon Team and Types

Type and Suggested Level

Type Specialty Pokemon FRLG - Rock
Rec. Level Lv. 14 ~ Lv. 17

Brock specializes in Rock-type Pokemon, which are known for their high Defense and resistance to several common attack types such as Normal and Flying. However, Rock-types have several major weaknesses, particularly to Water, Grass, Fighting, and Ground moves.

Because Brock is the first Gym Leader, his Pokemon are relatively low level, but their strong defenses can still make the battle challenging for unprepared Trainers. Bringing Pokemon around Level 14 to Level 17 with the right type advantage will make the battle much easier.

Weakness and Type Chart

Brock's Pokemon

Pokemon Type Abilities Moves
Pokemon FRLG - Geodude Geodude
(Lvl. 12) 		Pokemon FRLG - Rock Pokemon FRLG - Ground ・Rock Head
・Sturdy
・Defense Curl
・Tackle
Pokemon FRLG - Onix Onix
(Lvl. 14) 		Pokemon FRLG - Rock Pokemon FRLG - Ground ・Rock Head
・Sturdy
・Bind
・Harden
・Rock Tomb
・Tackle

Brock uses two Rock/Ground-type Pokemon, Geodude and Onix, both of which have strong physical defense but major weaknesses to Water, Grass, and Fighting attacks. Their shared typing makes them especially vulnerable to these types, allowing the right Pokemon to defeat them quickly.

However, Brock’s Onix can still be dangerous with moves like Rock Tomb, which deals damage while lowering your Pokemon’s Speed.

How to Beat Brock

Use Grass and Water Type Pokemon

Water Gun

Brock's Pokemon has weak defense against Water-type and Grass-type Pokemon. If you have Squirtle or Bulbasaur as your Starter Pokemon, this won't be a problem. You can easily defeat Brock by using either a Water-type or Grass-type move. However, make sure you are at least three levels higher than all of his Pokemon.

How to Level Up Fast

Learn Metal Claw on Charmander

Brock's Pokemon are strong against Charmander because it is a Fire-type Pokemon. It would be best to train Charmander until it reaches at least level 13 to learn Metal Claw, a Steel-type move. Brock's Pokemon has weak defense against Steel-type moves, which is why Metal Claw would help defeat Brock.

But with Charmander's type disadvantage against Brock's Pokemon, it would still be better to level it until it has evolved to Charmeleon at level 16 or higher.

Best Team to Beat Brock

Recommended Pokemon to Bring

Pokemon Recommended Moves
Pokemon FRLG - Mankey Mankey
Pokemon FRLG - Fighting
・Karate Chop
・Leer
・Low Kick
・Scratch
・Fighting-type moves deal super effective damage to Rock-types.
・Can be caught early on Route 22 before reaching Pewter City.
Pokemon FRLG - Butterfree Butterfree
Pokemon FRLG - Bug Pokemon FRLG - Flying
・Confusion
・Gust
・Poison Powder
・Sleep Powder
・Sleep Powder can disable Brock’s Pokemon.
・Confusion provides reliable early-game damage.
Pokemon FRLG - Oddish Oddish
Pokemon FRLG - Poison Pokemon FRLG - Grass
・Absorb
・Acid
・Stun Spore
・Sweet Scent
・Grass-type moves are super effective against Rock/Ground Pokemon.
・Can weaken Brock’s team while healing using Absorb.

※ Move recommendations for solo experience only and may not be reflective of the Pokemon's use in competitive play.

You can challenge Brock with a full team of six Pokemon, but the ones listed above are some of the best early-game counters to his Rock-type team.

These Pokemon either exploit Brock’s major weaknesses or provide useful support moves such as Sleep Powder and Paralysis, making the first Gym battle significantly easier for new Trainers.

When Starting with Bulbasaur

Pokemon FRLG - Ivysaur Ivysaur Pokemon FRLG - Mankey Mankey

Since Bulbasaur has a natural type-advantage over Brock's team, having one at level 14 at least and learning Vine Whip should be enough to take on Brock's whole team. Reaching Level 16 to evolve it into Ivysaur will make the encounter easier.

In case you need a back-up option, we also recommend getting a Mankey from Route 22, west of Viridian City. Its Fighting-type Low Kick and Karate Chop can deal massive damage to these Rock-type foes.

Bulbasaur Location, Evolution, and Stats

When Starting with Charmander

Pokemon FRLG - Charmeleon Charmeleon Pokemon FRLG - Mankey Mankey

Trainers who chose Charmander as their starter may have the hardest time with the first gym battle. As suggested above, it would be best to let Charmander learn Metal Claw at level 13 to have a reliable move against the Rock-type team.

We also recommend evolving Charmander into Charmeleon at level 16 or higher just to pad its stats for survivability.

Alternatively, you may want to catch and train a Mankey from Route 22, west of Viridian City. This should equip you with a strong Fighting-type to deal with Brock's team. Ideally you would let Mankey reach level 11 to gain access to Karate Chop.

Charmander Location, Evolution, and Stats

When Starting with Squirtle

Pokemon FRLG - Wartortle Wartortle Pokemon FRLG - Mankey Mankey

Much like Trainers with Bulbasaur, Squirtle Trainers should have a relatively easy time with the Pewter Gym. Having Squirtle at level 14 or higher and having Water Gun will make the encounter easy. Trainers may opt to evolve Squirtle into Wartortle to increase its offensive and defensive stats.

In case you need a back-up option, we also recommend getting a Mankey from Route 22, west of Viridian City. Its Fighting-type Low Kick and Karate Chop can deal massive damage to these Rock-type foes.

Squirtle Location, Evolution, and Stats

Previous and Next Gym Leaders

Previous Gym Next Gym
- Misty

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (FRLG) Related Guides

Pokemon FRLG - Walkthrough

100% Walkthrough Guide

Walkthrough Guides by Type

Gym Leader Guides Elite Four Guide
Giovanni Fights and Teams Rival Fights and Teams

All Gym Leader Guides

1 Brock 2 Misty
3 Lt. Surge 4 Erika
5 Koga 6 Sabrina
7 Blaine 8 Giovanni

Comment

2 Anonymous Anonymous 17 days

yes you can, you just go west of the pokemon center above the tree that requires cut- you can access 2 patches of grass that have wild pokemon and there is a 2nd battle with your rival

1 Anonymous Anonymous 17 days

You can't get to route 22 before you beat Brock, so you can't get a Mankey...

Post (2 Comments)

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