If you exclude Charizard (because it isn’t available to all players) and trades from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, the consensus is that Dodrio is the best flying Pokemon in Fire Red. However, ‘best’ does depend on how you like to play and build your team!
Other strong flying Pokemon in Fire Red include Zapdos, Fearow, Aerodactyl and Crobat. Read on below to find out more about each Pokemon, including base stats and best movesets.
The best Flying Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green
We’ve analyzed the pros and cons for every flying Pokemon that natively features in FireRed/LeafGreen (18 in total, excluding Charizard) and I rate Dodrio as the best.
Dodrio
Dodrio is, rather curiously for a Flying type Pokemon, wingless. It evolves from the two-headed Doduo from level 31 and its three heads apparently represent joy, sadness and anger.
Dodrio has excellent attack and speed stats and, although its move pool is relatively limited, it’s a dual Normal/Flying type Pokemon so there’s still plenty of moves available that benefit from same type attack bonus (STAB).
Dodrio base stats (Fire Red/Leaf Green)
Dodrio’s base stat total is 460:
- HP: 60
- Attack: 110
- Defense: 70
- Sp. Attack: 60
- Sp. Defense: 60
- Speed: 110
With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Dodrio’s max base stat total at level 100 is 1526.
Best Dodrio Fire Red/Leaf Green moveset
As a dual Normal/Flying type, Dodrio can take advantage of a good STAB on a wide range of strong moves.
Tri Attack, for example, should be in your Dodrio moveset as it has a one in five chance of inflicting a status condition (paralyzing, burning or freezing) as well as dishing out some decent damage.
Dodrio learns Drill Peck by level up. It’s one of, if not the, strongest flying type single-turn move in the game so it’s also a must have.
Return is a strong Normal type move that will increase in power the more your Pokemon likes you, while Tri Attack is another Normal type option for Dodrio that benefits from STAB.
Alternatively, you could use something like Steel Wing for a bit more flexibility against Rock and Steel (which Flying type Pokemon and moves are otherwise weak against).
What is Dodrio strong against?
Dodrio is fast and has a high base attack stat of 110. It also gets STAB on any Flying or Normal moves.
Flying type Pokemon are naturally strong against Bug and Grass type Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green. Flying moves are also super effective against Fighting type, which in Dodrio’s case should make up for the fact that Fighting is super effective against Normal.
Dodrio’s abilities, Early Bird and Tangled Feet, mean moves that cause the status conditions Sleep and Confusion aren’t as effective against it as you might expect.
What is Dodrio weak against?
Rock type Pokemon are slow in general so a Dodrio will almost always move first each turn, but both Normal and Flying type moves are nevertheless weak against Rock.
Ice and Steel type Pokemon are also likely to cause problems for Dodrio and it will be especially useless against the faster Electric pokemon like Raichu, Electrode and Jolteon (Jolteon in particular has a huge special attack stat as well as a higher speed stat than Dodrio).
Dodrio Fire Red location
The simplest way to get a Dodrio is to catch and level up a Doduo. You can find Doduo on routes 16 to 18 or in the Safari Zone.
The easiest way to get to the Route 16 grassy area is to head west from Celadon City and use Cut on the first tree on your right. You can then evolve Doduo into Dodrio from level 31.
Other strong Flying Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green
I think Dodrio is the best Flying Pokemon in Fire Red if you discount trades from other Pokedexes and our fiery friend Charizard. However, it’s by no means the only good Flying option in the game.
Zapdos
Zapdos is one of the three legendary bird Pokemon and is known as the ‘Electric Pokemon’.
Zapdos is not as fast as Dodrio, nor does it have as strong an attack. However, it has a much higher base stat total owing largely to its monstrous special attack.
Zapdos base stats (Fire Red)
Zapdos’ base stat total is 580:
- HP: 90
- Attack: 90
- Defense: 85
- Sp. Attack: 125
- Sp. Defense: 90
- Speed: 100
With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Zapdos’ max base stat total at level 100 is 2002.
Best Zapdos Fire Red moveset
The best strategy for building a crushing Zapdos moveset is to include special type moves to take full advantage of Zapdos’ crazy special attack stat.
One special type move to definitely include in your moveset is Thunder (the high damage and STAB makes up for the low accuracy). Add Rain Dance to your moveset so that Thunder ignores accuracy.
Drill Peck is worth considering as one of your four for the STAB and for countering Grass and Ground types and we’d finish off the moveset with Thunder Wave, which paralyzes with 100% accuracy.
What is Zapdos strong against?
With its huge special attack and decent speed stat, Zapdos makes for a very useful special sweeper option.
It’s super effective against Water Pokemon and, of the Water types, only Starmie and Tentacruel have better speed stats so it’s easy pickings for Zapdos.
Electric type moves are also effective against Flying type Pokemon so even though Zapdos is also a Flying type, it can be effective against them.
With STAB, Flying type moves like Drill Peck make Zapdos a formidable opponent to any Grass, Fighting, or Bug Pokemon.
What is Zapdos weak against?
If you can get in first using a special attack with Zapdos, most Pokemon other than Grass, Dragon and Ground types are going to have a bad time.
Ground in particular is the achilles heel of any Electric type. Ice and Rock types will deal damage to Zapdos, with Rock also soaking up Flying type moves easily. Golem – a Rock/Ground Pokemon with a good special defense stat – would likely make short work of Zapdos.
How to catch Zapdos (Fire Red)
You can get hold of a Zapdos fairly early in the game. You’ll need to be able to access Rock Tunnel and have a Pokemon that knows Surf.
- Use surf to reach the Power Plant on Route 10.
- Enter the Power Plant. It’s worth using a Max Repel and making sure you have strong Pokemon to avoid random encounters.
- Follow the path through the Power Plant first until the wall on the far right, then up to the top of the building and back round to the left.
- You’ll find a level 50 Zapdos in the small room with a turbine-like feature.
- Weaken Zapdos and use an Ultra Ball to catch it.
- You don’t need to walk back through the Power Plant to exit – you can simply leave via the door in the room that you found Zapdos in.
Fearow
We’re not sure you’d want to meet a Fearow in the wild without being properly prepared for it. Its Keen Eye ability means its accuracy cannot be lowered.
Ash’s Pokedex in the Pokemon anime series says that it can fly for an entire day and that the crushing power of its beak is tremendous. Fearsome indeed.
Fearow base stats (Fire Red/Leaf Green)
Fearow’s base stat total is 442:
- HP: 65
- Attack: 90
- Defense: 65
- Sp. Attack: 61
- Sp. Defense: 61
- Speed: 100
With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Fearow’s max base stat total at level 100 is 1705.
Best moveset for Fearow (Fire Red/Leaf Green)
Thanks to STAB, Drill Peck is a powerful choice for Fearow and is the strongest move it learns via level up.
Sticking with the physical category moves (as Fearow has a pretty poor special attack and a fairly good attack stat), we’d also go with Return which packs a punch if your Pokemon is happy.
Steel Wing would be a good option to cover for the ineffectiveness of Flying moves against Steel and Rock as well as Flying Pokemons’ vulnerability to Rock types in general.
Tri Attack can be learned via breeding, otherwise something like Agility might be helpful to increase Fearow’s speed.
What is Fearow strong against?
Fearow is not one of the strongest on this list and was probably not one of the most popular Gen I Pokemon either.
However, don’t sleep on it. Its relatively high attack and speed stats, coupled with STAB Flying type moves, make it a great option as a physical sweeper against Grass, Bug or Fighting Pokemon.
What is Fearow weak against?
Like any Flying Pokemon, Fearow is going to struggle against Electric, Ice or Rock Pokemon.
Compared to some of the other options on this list, Fearow has a somewhat limited move pool. That means it’s not the most adaptable pick and so you could very quickly get stuck in a difficult spot with no way out against a strong opponent.
Where do you catch Fearow in Fire Red/Leaf Green?
Fearow can be found on Route 18 near Fuschia City.
It doesn’t have a high encounter rate but otherwise is not particularly difficult to catch.
Aerodactyl
Aerodactyl is a prehistoric Pokemon that has been resurrected using Pokemon DNA taken from a chunk of amber. It’s got a great base speed stat (130).
With its large fangs plus useful abilities like Pressure (raises the opponent’s PP usage) and Rock Head, it’s another Pokemon that can be very useful with the right moveset.
Aerodactyl base stats (Fire Red/Leaf Green)
Aerodactyl’s base stat total is 515:
- HP: 80
- Attack: 105
- Defense: 65
- Sp. Attack: 60
- Sp. Defense: 75
- Speed: 130
With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Aerodactyl’s max base stat total at level 100 is 1861.
Best Aerodactyl Fire Red Moveset
In Fire Red/Leaf Green, you’ll definitely want to find the move tutor that can teach Rock Slide (near the Lavender exit of Rock Tunnel). It’s a high damage move that can cause the opponent to flinch (and is also boosted by STAB with Aerodactyl).
Earthquake is a Ground type move that Aerodactyl can learn by TM and is destructive against Rock, Electric and Steel types, which Flying Pokemon typically struggle against.
Two other moves we’d probably go for to complete the moveset are Double Edge and Wing Attack.
Double Edge is a super high damage move that usually inflicts one third damage on the Pokemon that uses it. However, Aerodactyl’s Rock Head ability means it isn’t affected by Recoil.
Wing Attack is worth having so that you have a STAB Flying move in the Aerodactyl arsenal.
What is Aerodactyl strong against?
Aerodactyl is a more than useful Flying type Pokemon as its Rock type means it can plow through Fire and Ice type Pokemon as well as being handy against the Grass, Fighting and Bug types that all Flying Pokemon excel against.
If you have Earthquake in your Aerodactyl moveset, you can also do some damage to Rock, Electric and Steel types, which is something that cannot often be said of Flying Pokemon.
What is Aerodactyl weak against?
Water and Ice are good types to go at Aerodactyl with. In the Elite 4, Lance has an Aerodactyl which will cut through most teams like butter. However, moves like Ice Beam used by strong Pokemon with STAB will be useful against it.
Otherwise, the other standard Flying type weaknesses – Electric and Rock – are generally bad news for Aerodactyl.
Another thing to point out is that Aerodactyl is only at level 5 when you obtain it in FireRed/LeafGreen, so it’s weak against pretty much everything until you’ve grinded a bit!
How to get Aerodactyl (Fire Red)
Aerodactyl is resurrected from Pokemon DNA found in a chunk of Amber. You will need Cut and Surf to obtain Aerodactyl.
- Head to Pewter City and enter the Pewter City Museum using the door on the right of the building (you’ll need Cut to access this).
- Walk straight ahead and talk to the scientist standing near the back wall.
- The scientist tells you that he thinks the chunk of amber beside him contains Pokemon DNA and asks you to help him confirm by taking the amber to a Pokemon lab.
- Once you’ve got the Old Amber, go to Cinnabar Island and enter the Cinnabar lab next door to the Poke Center.
- Head down the corridor to the right and enter the final doorway.
- Speak to the scientist standing in the top right corner of the room. He will use his Resurrection Machine to bring the Aerodactyl fossil in the amber back to life.
- The scientist says the process will take a little time and tells you to go for a walk (just exit the room and then walk straight back in).
- Talk to the scientist again and you’ll get a level 5 Aerodactyl.
Crobat
Zubat may get on your nerves early on at Mt. Moon, but if you catch one and persevere with it, you could end up with a mighty handy Flying Pokemon in Crobat.
Crobat, known as the ‘Bat Pokemon’ is a dual Poison/Flying type Pokemon with a high speed stat and an Inner Focus ability that protects it from flinching.
Crobat base stats (Fire Red/Leaf Green)
Crobat’s base stat total is 535:
- HP: 85
- Attack: 90
- Defense: 80
- Sp. Attack: 70
- Sp. Defense: 80
- Speed: 130
With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Crobat’s max base stat total at level 100 is 1904.
Best Crobat Fire Red moveset
Sludge Bomb is definitely a must have for Crobat because of the STAB it gets to its already high power, plus the 30% chance to poison the opponent.
Aerial Ace also gets a STAB when used by Crobat and is also not affected by changes to accuracy or evasion stats, while having Steel Wing available would help cover Crobat’s weakness against Ice and Rock.
Shadow Ball is worth considering, especially if you have a special category move in your moveset, as it can lower the opponent’s special defense.
An alternative to Shadow Ball could be Bite, which could help against the best psychic Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green (it’s a Dark type move so is super effective against Psychic).
What is Crobat strong against?
Crobat is a useful Flying type Pokemon to use against Grass and Fairy type Pokemon thanks to its Poison/Flying dual type status.
Crobat’s great speed stat means it can be a very effective Pokemon to use against opponents much stronger than it as it will almost always get to move first.
Strike first and then, if necessary, swap Crobat out for a more suitable team member.
What is Crobat weak against?
Crobat will struggle against Ground and Psychic type Pokemon and its Poison type moves will have no effect against Steel type opponents (Flying moves aren’t very effective against Steel either).
You should also avoid using Crobat against Electric, Ice or Rock Pokemon.
How to get Crobat (Fire Red/Leaf Green)
Crobat evolves from Golbat, which itself evolves from Zubat. However, it’s not as straightforward as most other evolutions in FireRed/LeafGreen.
In order to get a Golbat to evolve into a Crobat, you need to make it as happy as possible (battle with it, never let it die, always carry it with you, take it to Daisy the Pokemon groomer, give it vitamins). If it’s happy, it will evolve eventually.
You can catch a Zubat in plenty of different locations, including Mt. Moon. Caves like at Seafoam Island, or Victory Road are good places to catch a Golbat.
The best Flying Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green – Conclusion
I think the best Flying Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green are:
- Dodrio
- Zapdos
- Fearow
- Aerodactyl
- Crobat
Overall, Dodrio is the best native Flying Pokemon (excluding Charizard) in these games – it’s faster and has a stronger attack than even legendary bird Pokemon Zapdos.
Whether or not Fire Red and Leaf Green are your favorite GBA Pokemon games, I hope you’ll be more successful using Flying Pokemon after reading the tips above.
