Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (FRLG)

How to Beat The Champion

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (FRLG) Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: March 10, 2026 04:11 AM

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Pokemon FRLG - How to Beat the Champion

This is a guide for the Champion in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (FRLG). Learn how to beat the Champion, their Pokemon team and specialty, and the recommended Pokemon to use against the Champion!

Previous Elite Four	Next
Lance	-

List of Contents

Pokemon Team and Types
How to Beat
Best Team
Previous and Next Elite Four
Related Guides

The Champion's Pokemon Team and Types

Type and Suggested Level

Type Specialty	All Around
Rec. Level	Lv. 65 ~ Lv. 67

The Champion has a well-balanced and diverse team that covers most Pokemon types. No matter which starter you choose, his team will always have a Water, Grass, and Fire-type covered. Additionally, he will also have Pokemon that are Flying, Normal, Psychic, Rock, and Ground-type, having a total of at least 8-9 types covered.

Weakness and Type Chart

The Champion's Pokemon

Your Chosen Starter
Bulbasaur	Charmander	Squirtle

When Starting with Bulbasaur

Pokemon	Abilities	Moves
Pidgeot (Lvl. 59)	・Keen Eye	・Aerial Ace ・Feather Dance ・Sand Attack ・Whirlwind
Alakazam (Lvl. 57)	・Synchronize ・Inner Focus	・Future Sight ・Psychic ・Recover ・Reflect
Rhydon (Lvl. 59)	・Lightning Rod ・Rock Head	・Earthquake ・Rock Tomb ・Scary Face ・Take Down
Exeggutor (Lvl. 59)	・Chlorophyll	・Egg Bomb ・Giga Drain ・Light Screen ・Sleep Powder
Gyarados (Lvl. 61)	・Intimidate	・Bite ・Dragon Rage ・Hydro Pump ・Thrash
Charizard (Lvl. 63)	・Blaze	・Aerial Ace ・Fire Blast ・Fire Spin ・Slash

If your chosen starter is Bulbasaur, then the Champion's ace will be Charizard, whose high offensive stats can deal strong damage to Pokemon that don't resist it.

Charizard is teamed up with Gyarados, which can outspeed you to deal strong Water-type moves and Dragon-type moves, and Exeggutor, which can increase its SP. Def with Light Screen and use Sleep Powder to get a free turn.

Pidgeot only has one offensive move with Aerial Ace, but can lower your Pokemon's Accuracy with Sand Attack. Alakazam may have the lowest level, but it is still very fast and can deal strong damage with the move Psychic. Lastly, Rhydon is also very fast and has moves like Rock Tomb and Earthquake to deal overwhelming damage.

When Starting with Charmander

Pokemon	Abilities	Moves
Pidgeot (Lvl. 59)	・Keen Eye	・Aerial Ace ・Feather Dance ・Sand Attack ・Whirlwind
Alakazam (Lvl. 57)	・Synchronize ・Inner Focus	・Future Sight ・Psychic ・Recover ・Reflect
Rhydon (Lvl. 59)	・Lightning Rod ・Rock Head	・Earthquake ・Rock Tomb ・Scary Face ・Take Down
Exeggutor (Lvl. 61)	・Chlorophyll	・Egg Bomb ・Giga Drain ・Light Screen ・Sleep Powder
Arcanine (Lvl. 59)	・Intimidate ・Flash Fire	・Bite ・Extreme Speed ・Flamethrower ・Roar
Blastoise (Lvl. 63)	・Torrent	・Bite ・Hydro Pump ・Rain Dance ・Skull Bash

With Blastoise as the Champion's ace, it can stand on its own even against Grass and Electric-types with his high defensive stats.

Exeggutor is also part of his team that can increase SP. Def with Light Screen, inflict sleep with Sleep Powder, and do good damage with Giga Drain and Egg Bomb. Arcanine will be the Champion's Fire-type stand-in that will use Flamethrower and Extreme Speed to deal with faster Pokemon.

When Starting with Squirtle

Pokemon	Abilities	Moves
Pidgeot (Lvl. 59)	・Keen Eye	・Aerial Ace ・Feather Dance ・Sand Attack ・Whirlwind
Alakazam (Lvl. 57)	・Synchronize ・Inner Focus	・Future Sight ・Psychic ・Recover ・Reflect
Rhydon (Lvl. 59)	・Lightning Rod ・Rock Head	・Earthquake ・Rock Tomb ・Scary Face ・Take Down
Gyarados (Lvl. 59)	・Intimidate	・Bite ・Dragon Rage ・Hydro Pump ・Thrash
Arcanine (Lvl. 61)	・Intimidate ・Flash Fire	・Bite ・Extreme Speed ・Flamethrower ・Roar
Venusaur (Lvl. 63)	・Overgrow	・Growth ・Solar Beam ・Sunny Day ・Synthesis

The Champion's Venusaur mainly uses moves that can increase its own power and attacks. With the move Growth, it increases its own SP. Atk, while Sunny Day increases the power and effect of both Synthesis and Solar Beam.

Gyarados will deal strong damage with Dragon Rage, Hydro Pump, and Thrash to counter your Fire-type. Then, Arcanine will cover the Champion's Fire-type moves with Flamethrower.

How to Beat The Champion

Bring A Well-Rounded Team

Since you have to use the same party for battling the Champion and against the four members of the Elite Four, it is important to bring a versatile team that is effective against all of the Elite Four members and gives coverage to the Champion's team as well.

Make sure to have at least an Electric and Psychic Pokemon on your team and it will cover most of your bases. Having a Pokemon that can use Ice-type moves will also help against Lance and the Champion's Pidgeot.

Grind and Level Up Your Pokemon

Since this is the battle against the Champion, make sure to level up your Pokemon appropriately. The Champion's Pokemon levels range from Level 57 to 63, so your Pokemon should at least be Level 65 or higher to have the best chances of taking the Champion down.

EXP Farming Guide: How to Level Up Fast

Best Team to Beat The Champion

Recommended Pokemon to Bring

Pokemon	Recommended Moves
Lapras	・Confuse Ray ・Ice Beam ・Surf ・Thunderbolt ・Water and Ice-type moves like Surf and Ice Beam can benefit Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) against type advantages. ・Can also learn Thunderbolt to have an extra Electric-move coverage.
Magneton	・Hyper Beam ・Thunder Wave ・Thunderbolt ・High Sp. ATK, and since Electric attacks are Special type attacks in Generation III, this makes Magneton's Electric moves even stronger. ・Easily clears the Champion's Water-type Pokemon, Lorelei, and Lance of the Elite Four.
Alakazam	・Calm Mind ・Psychic ・Recover ・Reflect ・Calm Mind boosts Special Attack to strengthen Psychic even more against the Champion's Alakazam. ・Great Pokemon to bring against Agatha and Bruno of the Elite Four.
Arcanine	・Bite ・Extreme Speed ・Flamethrower ・High HP, Atk, and SP. Atk stats that are boosted with the Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) when using Flamethrower. ・Good Fire-type coverage for FireRed players.
Ninetales	・Confuse Ray ・Flamethrower ・Sunny Day ・High Speed and Defensive stats that can survive strong attacks. ・Good Fire-type coverage for LeafGreen players.
Dragonite	・Aerial Ace ・Ice Beam ・Outrage ・Thunder ・High overall stats and can learn different move-types to have a versatile moveset. ・Mostly neutral against the Champion's team, except Rhydon's Rock-type moves.
Snorlax	・Body Slam ・Rest ・Shadow Ball ・Great HP and Defensive stats that can tank overwhelming damage from the Champion's team, making it hard to defeat Snorlax. ・Since Shadow Ball is a Physical move in Generation III, it can also help clear out Agatha from the Elite Four and the Champion's Alakazam.
Dodrio	・Aerial Ace ・Drill Peck ・Fly ・Tri Attack ・Strong Flying-type Pokemon against the Champion's Grass-type Pokemon and Bruno of the Elite Four.

You can bring a full party of six Pokemon into the Pokemon League battles, but the team shown here focuses on the best counters for the Champion's lineup.

The remaining slots can be filled with any other strong Pokemon you’ve trained including your starter, but these are the core picks that make the fight much more manageable.