Summary

• Pokemon strength is not just about stats; efficiency and timing play a key role in battles.
• Some legendary species excel in offense, defense, or speed, while others are common yet powerful.
• The original 151 Pokemon from Pokemon Red & Blue still hold up in battles, evolving with the game.

The strength of a Pokemon is not determined exclusively by its stats or type. Any species can shine brilliantly one moment and fail the next, for the battlefield of this world is ever-changing and unforgiving. Each has strengths and weaknesses, many of which can be exploited.

Some have a higher success rate due to superior offense, defense, or speed. A few species stand out as legendary, others as more common but powerful. The secret of true strength in battle is efficiency and timing, in addition to other variables such as type advantage, better stats, and a versatile movepool.

Updated February 5, 2025 by Ben Painter: There are now over 1000 different species of Pokemon, but to some fans, nothing holds a candle to the original 151 Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Red & Blue. Although their designs may be simple, a lot of the Pokemon are timeless, and they still hold up in battle to this day. Pokemon used to be a lot simpler.

In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, a few of these Kanto Pokemon leap over to Paldea, including the starters, which can be found in the Indigo Disk DLC in the Blueberry Academy. This comes after boosting the biodiversity in each biome by collecting 3000 BP from completing requests. This update adds five more new entries that feature some of the strongest Gen 1 Pokemon.

33 Ninetales

#0038

• Type: Fire
• Best Moves: Flamethrower, Will-O-Wisp, Nasty Plot, Extrasensory
• Level It Evolves: When exposed to a Fire Stone
• Location In Red & Blue: Evolve from Vulpix (Blue only)
  • Vulpix: Routes 7 and 8, Pokemon Mansion

There aren't too many Fire-type Pokemon to work within the Original 151, especially if gamers did not pick Charmander in a Kanto playthrough. Ninetales is a fine choice for this option with terrific Special Attack and Speed. A superpowered Sunny Day-boosted Flamethrower will tear through Grass, Bug, or Ice types.

Only for players of the Blue version, Ninetales is fairly easy to pick up, being found as early as Route 7, just beyond Fushica City. Players will need to pick up a Fire Stone to evolve it, which is easily purchased from the Celadon City department store.

Ninetales's Base Stats:

32 Poliwrath

#0062

• Type: Water/Fighting
• Best Moves: Belly Drum, Rain Dance, Dynamic Punch, Hydro Pump
• Level It Evolves: Level 25, then when exposed to a Water Stone
• Location In Red & Blue: evolve from Poliwhirl,
  • Poliwag: Routes 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, Pallet Town, Viridian City, Cerulean City, Cerulean Gym, Cerulean Cave, Vermilion City, Celadon City, Fuchsia City, Safari Zone, Seafoam Islands, Cinnabar Island, Indigo Plateau (Good Rod), Pallet Town, Viridian City, Route 22 (Super Rod)
  • Polwhirl: Route 10 and Celadon City (Super Rod)

There are a lot of Water-type Pokemon in the original roster, but there are a few Fighting types. This is where Poliwrath steps in as it checks off both entries.

The only way to obtain the Tadpole Pokemon is to evolve from Poliwhirl with a Water Stone, which can be bought at the Celadon City department store. Gamers will have an awesome Pokemon with great all-around stats that shine in Attack and Defense. This Pokemon is famous for being the starter Pokemon of Red in the Pokemon Adventures manga, where it evolved on the SS Anne to rescue its trainer.

Poliwrath's Base Stats:

31 Pinsir

#0127

• Type: Bug
  • Mega: Bug/Flying

• Best Moves: X-Scissor, Swords Dance, Superpower, Guillotine
• Level It Evolves: N/A
• Location In Red & Blue: Safari Zone, Celadon City (Rocket Game Corner) (Blue only)

For players of the Blue version, the Bug titan of choice is Pinsir. It is a tricky Pokemon to acquire, being rare to find in the Safari Zone and costing 2500 coins to purchase in the Rocket Game Corner.

However, if players do pick up the Stag Beetle Pokemon then they will have an epic batter. Its best stat is a staggering 125 Attack, which makes it one of the highest out of the Original 151. It can learn a variety of Bug, Fighting, and Ground-type moves and, in a pinch, a one-hit-KO move in Guillotine. Pinsir is all-out attack. If players are playing a Generation 6 game, then they have access to Mega Pinsir, who gains a boost in stats and also gains the Flying secondary typing.

Pinsir's Base Stats:

30 Omastar

#0139

• Type: Rock/Water
• Best Moves: Ancient Power, Protect, Hydro Pump, Shell Smash
• Level It Evolves: Level 40
• Location In Red & Blue: Evolve from Omanyte
  • Omastar: Revive from Helix Fossil at the Pokemon Lab on Cinnabar Island (found in Mt. Moon)

The first of the fossil Pokemon available in the Kanto games, Omastar is a decent option for a playthrough, although it takes a large chunk of the story to use it.

Its best stat is a top 125 Defense, but it also can hit back with a 115 Special Attack stat. Hydro Pump will no doubt do serious damage to opposing Pokemon. Omastar has the unique status of being an internet star, thanks to the popular Twitch Plays Pokemon series in which it played a significant role and became known as "Lord Helix."

Omastar's Base Stats:

29 Kabutops

#0141

• Type: Rock/Water
• Best Moves: Aqua Jet, Stone Edge, Liquidation, Protect
• Level It Evolves: Level 40
• Location In Red & Blue: Evolve from Kabuto
  • Kabuto: Revive from Dome Fossil at the Pokemon Lab on Cinnabar Island (found in Mt. Moon)

Where Omastar shines in Special Attack, Kabutops is the more Physical out of the two with a very respectable 115 Attack. Moves like Slash, Stone Edge and Liquidation are best to make use of their strengths.

Gamers have a big choice to make in a Kanto playthrough, as only one of Kabutops and Omastar can be used in a single playthrough. It is up to the player which they prefer. One isn't really better than the other as they focus on different stats. For an all-out attack and the quicker Pokemon then Kabutops will be the preference.

Kabutops' Base Stats:

28 Golem

#0076

• Type: Rock/Ground
• Best Moves: Stone Edge, Earthquake, Explosion, Stealth Rock
• Level It Evolves: Level 25, then traded
• Location In Red & Blue: Evolve from Graveler
  • Geodude: Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel, Victory Road
  • Graveler: Victory Road

When it comes to Rock-type Pokemon, there are a few to consider in Kanto, but not many are better than Golem. The final form of Geodude evolves from Graveler when traded. Gamers are greeted with a strong Pokemon that has an amazing Attack and Defense stat, although it is lacking in most other areas.

Watch out for Grass and Water Pokemon, as Golem, being a Rock/Ground-type, has a 4x weakness to both of their moves. If gamers are in a pickle, Explosion can be used, which is a 250-base-powered move, and it will do serious damage with the Megaton Pokemon's high Attack.

Golem's Base Stats:

27 Kingler

#0099

• Type: Water
• Best Moves: Crabhammer, Swords Dance, Hammer Arm, Guillotine
• Level It Evolves: Level 28
• Location In Red & Blue: Evolve from Krabby, Route 23, Cerulean Cave (Super Rod), Seafoam Islands (Blue only)
  • Krabby: Routes 6, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 24, and 25, Cerulean City, Vermilion City, Fuchsia City, Safari Zone (Super Rod)

Kingler was made iconic for his anime appearances as part of Ash Ketchum's team for the Indigo League finals as he came out of nowhere to be a star. However, the Pincer Pokemon is also useful in the games and is one of the strongest out of the original 151.

With a nice attack stat, Kingler can hit hard with Physical moves such as Crabhammer or Hammer Arm, but can also take hits nicely with a decent Defense stat. It is also quick too. What gives Kingler an extra edge is the ability to learn the one-hit-KO move Guillotine, which ensures the enemy Pokemon is defeated no matter what. However, it is only 30% accurate.

Kingler's Base Stats:

26 Electrode

#0101

• Type: Electrode
• Best Moves: Thunderbolt, Explosion, Rollout, Light Screen
• Level It Evolves: Level 30
• Location In Red & Blue: Evolve from Voltorb, Power Plant (Two), Cerulean Cave, Trade Raichu at the Pokémon Lab on Cinnabar Island (Red Only)
  • Voltorb: Route 10, Power Plant

Speed is the name of the game when it comes to Electrode, as it is the fastest Pokemon out of the Original 151, and one of the fastest Pokemon in the entire franchise. This is deadly when combined with its iconic move, Explosion, to end the battle before it has even started.

As a pure Electric-type, only Ground moves are its true weakness. Adding this to its decent defense stats, then there is not a lot that can really rock the Ball Pokemon. Its design is also iconic, being based on a Poke Ball, the main item of the franchise. Electrode certainly earns its merits.

Electrode's Base Stats:

25 Kangaskhan

#0115

• Type: Normal