The 5 Best Psychic Pokemon: FireRed

It is generally agreed that the best Psychic Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green (not including trades from Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald) is Mewtwo. However, which Psychic Pokemon is ‘best’ depends on your playstyle and team build!

Other strong Psychic Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green include Alakazam, Mr Mime, Slowbro and Hypno. Read on to find out more about each option, including each Pokemon’s most effective move set!

The best Psychic Pokemon in FireRed/LeafGreen

There are 14 Psychic-type Pokemon in the FireRed/LeafGreen Pokedex. We’ve run the rule over them all and undertaken a deep dive on the five best options, starting with the best – Mewtwo.

Mewtwo

Mewtwo was created after many years of humans conducting experiments to manipulate the genetics of Pokemon. The result was an incredibly powerful Pokemon but one that is lacking in a key feature: the capacity for compassion.

Mewtwo is arguably the strongest Pokemon in the game overall, let alone the best Psychic Pokemon in FireRed/LeafGreen.

What is Mewtwo’s base stat total in Fire Red/Leaf Green?

Mewtwo’s base stat total is 680:

• HP: 106
• Attack: 110
• Defense: 90
• Sp. Attack: 154
• Sp. Defence: 90
• Speed: 130

With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Mewtwo’s max base stat total at level 100 is 2219.

What is the best moveset for Mewtwo in Fire Red/Leaf Green

Any moveset you build out for Mewtwo will want to take maximum advantage of that enormous special attack stat. In FireRed/LeafGreen, that means any move of the following type:

Psychic, Fire, Grass, Water, Electric, Ice, Dark, Dragon.

Psychic (the move) is an obvious choice for the x1.5 same type attack bonus (STAB). Other strong special-type moves that Mewtwo can learn by TM include Thunderbolt, Ice Beam and Flamethrower.

If you complement these with Calm Mind, which raises the special attack and special defense, and Recover, which restores up to 50% of maximum HP, you’re looking at a pretty unstoppable Pokemon.

What is Mewtwo strong against?

Thanks to that outrageous special attack, Mewtwo is strong against pretty much any Pokemon in FireRed/LeafGreen. In particular, Mewtwo is super effective against Fighting type Pokemon and Poison types.

What is Mewtwo weak against?

The only types of Pokemon that realistically stand a fighting chance against Mewtwo are:

• Bug
• Ghost
• Dark

How to catch Mewtwo: Fire Red/Leaf Green

It takes a bit of effort to find Mewtwo in FireRed/LeafGreen, which is understandable given how good it is. Mewtwo can be found on a platform in Cerulean Cave. To unlock Cerulean Cave, you need to:

1. Get all eight gym badges and beat the Elite Four
2. Collect at least 60 Pokemon so you can get a National Dex from Professor Oak
3. Go to One Island and talk to Celio about gem stones
4. Help Celio by finding the gem stones he needs
5. Once you’ve given the ruby and sapphire to Celio, the Cerulean cave entrance will be open.

Note: You’ll need HM 03 Surf to reach Mewtwo’s platform inside Cerulean cave.

Other strong Psychic Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green

Mewtwo isn’t the only strong Psychic Pokemon in FireRed/LeafGreen. If you want some other options that are slightly easier to obtain, check out Alakazam, Mr Mime, Slowbro, or Hypno.

Alakazam

Alakazam is the ‘Psi Pokemon’. It holds a spoon in each hand, with every spoon it makes using its Psychic powers being a unique, one of a kind item.

It’s a super strong Psychic Pokemon (possibly the strongest non-legendary Psychic Pokemon) to have on your FireRed/LeafGreen team thanks in part to its high speed stats.

Alakazam base stats (Fire Red/Leaf Green)

Alakazam’s base stat total is 500:

• HP: 55
• Attack: 50
• Defense: 45
• Sp. Attack: 135
• Sp. Defence: 95
• Speed: 120

With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Alakazam’s max base stat total at level 100 is 1833.

Best Alakazam Fire Red/Leaf Green moveset

Psychic should be one of your four moves – it’s powerful even before you take into account the x1.5 STAB bonus.

Calm Mind is a great move for Alakazam to boost its special attack (as well as special defense) stats.

Given that Alakazam’s defense and HP are so low, there isn’t too much reason to take up space with Recover (with its speed, your tactic with Alakazam should be to one or two hit KO opponents before they get the chance to damage you too much).

To fill the other two slots, I recommend you pick two of the three elemental punches – Fire Punch, Ice Punch, or Thunder Punch. Each has 75 power and 100 accuracy and is strong against a useful set of other types.

What is Alakazam strong against?

If you can get in there first with Alakazam’s speed and a well-thought out move set, Alakazam is a formidable opponent for any Pokemon with relatively low speed stats.

As a Psychic type Pokemon, Alakazam is super effective against Fighting and Poison type opponents.

What is Alakazam weak against?

Alakazam’s base speed stat of 120 is not bettered by many Pokemon in the Gen III games, but opponents like Swellow, Aerodactyl, Jolteon and Electrode are faster and could cause some problems.

Otherwise, as a Psychic type, Alakazam is weak against Bug, Ghost and Dark types.

How to catch Alakazam: Fire Red/Leaf Green

Alakazam is the final form in the Abra/Kadabra/Alakazam evolution line.

Abra is relatively easy to find in the wild on Routes 24 and 25. The earliest place you can find it is in the long grass just to the left of the North end of the Nugget Bridge. Abra evolves into Kadabra from level 16.

How to evolve Kadabra in Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green

The only way to evolve Kadabra into Alakazam is by trading with another FireRed/LeafGreen player. Trade your Kadabra from one game to the other, and it should evolve in the second player’s game. You can then trade it back to the original player.

Another way to get an Alakazam is by using the breeding system. There are plenty of different combinations that can hatch an Alakazam egg. For a comprehensive overview of the breeding system in FireRed/LeafGreen, check out this walkthrough.

Mewtwo vs Alakazam Fire Red/Leaf Green

Alakazam is an excellent Psychic Pokemon option in Fire Red/Leaf Green, however Mewtwo is stronger than Alakazam on every single base stat other than special defense (Alakazam’s is 95, Mewtwo’s is 90). It’s well worth putting the effort in to catch Mewtwo.

Mr Mime

Mr. Mime is the ‘Barrier Pokemon’. It has oversized hands which are particularly useful for its pantomime habits.

Mr Mime has a handy ability in Soundproof, which makes it immune to any ‘sound’ based move (like Roar, Growl, and Supersonic).

Mr Mime base stats (Fire Red/Leaf Green)

Mr Mime’s base stat total is 460:

• HP: 40
• Attack: 45
• Defense: 65
• Sp. Attack: 100
• Sp. Defence: 120
• Speed: 90

With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Mr Mime’s max base stat total at level 100 is 1703.

Mr Mime Fire Red/Leaf Green best moveset

Like other Psychic type Pokemon, the Psychic move should almost certainly be in your Mr Mime Fire Red/Leaf Green moveset.

Add Calm Mind to the above to give a special attack boost to make Mr Mime a very tricky Pokemon to overcome.

What is Mr Mime strong against?

Mr Mime has high special attack and special defense plus reasonably good speed which makes it a great special sweeper. That means most Pokemon with a low special defense stat will have a bad time against Mr Mime.

Fighting and Poison type Pokemon are particularly vulnerable to Mr Mime’s Psychic type abilities.

What is Mr Mime weak against?

As a Psychic type, Mr Mime is inherently weak against Bug, Ghost and Dark types.

In addition to that, to counter Mr Mime you might consider using Pokemon with high HP and high special defense stats such as Snorlax, Dragonite, Gyrados, Vaporeon or Lapras.

Mr Mime Fire Red/Leaf Green location

The only way to get a Mr Mime in Fire Red/Leaf Green (other than trading with other players or by breeding) is to trade with the NPC just outside the Pewter City end of Diglett cave.

Make sure that you have an Abra and head to the northern entrance of Diglett cave on Route Two.

Walk into the house just to the south of the cave entrance and talk to the NPC standing by the window.

He’s looking for an Abra and offers to trade you his Mr Mime for one.

Slowbro

Slowbro is the ‘Hermit Crab Pokemon’. Slowbro has a strange looking Shellder biting down on its tail and its abilities include Own Tempo which prevents it from becoming confused.

Slowbro base stats (Fire Red/Leaf Green)

Slowbro’s base stat total is 490:

• HP: 95
• Attack: 75
• Defense: 110
• Sp. Attack: 100
• Sp. Defence: 80
• Speed: 30

With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Slowbro’s max base stat total at level 100 is 1703.

Best Slowbro Fire Red/Leaf Green moves

Slowbro has lower speed and power than Alakazam but has a deeper move pool owing to its dual Water/Psychic type.

One advantage in particular that Slowbro has over many other Psychic types in Fire Red/Leaf Green is the ability to use Shadow Ball which deals 80 damage with 100% accuracy and has a one in five chance of lowering the opponent’s special defense.

Slowpoke’s dual Water/Psychic type means the moves Psychic and Surf benefit from STAB and this means that, given Slowpoke’s high base special attack stat, they are brutally effective.

Combine the above with Amnesia, which gives a big boost to Slowbro’s special defense when used, and you can see why some players argue that Slowbro is the best in-game Pokemon overall.

What is Slowbro strong against?

When you take into account the diverse move pool that Slowbro has access to, it’s strong against a lot of Pokemon, in particular Fighting, Poison, Fire, Ground and Rock type Pokemon.

What is Slowbro weak against?

As a dual Water/Psychic type Slowbro also leaves itself vulnerable to special attacks from a wider range of other Pokemon.

It does have good defense and special defense base stats, but the following types of Pokemon will be effective against Slowbro: Bug, Dark, Ghost, Grass and Electric.

Slowbro Leaf Green location

Slowpoke is a Leaf Green version exclusive, so you’ll only be able to find it in the wild in that version. If you want to use it in Fire Red, you’ll need to obtain it via trade.

In Leaf Green, Slowbro evolves from Slowpoke, which can be found using a Super Rod.

Slowpoke can be found in a small water area on Route 6 just north of Vermillion City. In that specific water area, it has a 100% encounter rate. You’ll be glad you spent the time fishing if you do manage to snag one and evolve it into a Slowbro.

Hypno

Hypno is, unsurprisingly, known as the ‘Hypnosis Pokemon’.

It once abducted a child that it had hypnotized with the pendulum device it carries (you save this child from Hypno as part of the story in FireRed/LeafGreen).

Its Insomnia ability means it cannot be put to sleep by other Pokemon’s moves.

Hypno base stats (Fire Red/Leaf Green)

Hypno’s base stat total is 483:

• HP: 85
• Attack: 73
• Defense: 70
• Sp. Attack: 73
• Sp. Defence: 115
• Speed: 67

With beneficial nature plus EVs and IVs, Hypno’s max base stat total at level 100 is 1703.

Best moves for Hypno: Fire Red/Leaf Green

Like Slowbro, Hypno can learn Shadow Ball, which should be a nailed on pick for your moveset as it can lower the opponent’s special defense while also dealing some decent damage.

Psychic with a STAB bonus is always a powerful option for any Psychic Pokemon and Hypnosis will give you some good opportunities to deal damage without taking any yourself if you can put your opponent to sleep.

For the final slot we’d go for either Calm Mind to boost special attack or Brick Break for another high damage option.

What is Hypno strong against?

Hypno has a great special defense base stat so it is a good option against special sweepers.

What is Hypno weak against?

Hypno is weak against Bug, Ghost, and Dark type Pokemon.

In particular, Bug, Ghost and Dark Pokemon with a high base speed stat will be effective against Hypno as it is not particularly quick and has a pretty average base HP.

Where to find Hypno in Fire Red/Leaf Green

You can find Hypno in the wild in Berry Forest, where the random encounter rate is 5%.

Otherwise, you can catch a Drowzee, which evolves into Hypno from level 26. You can find a Drowzee in the wild on Route 11, where it has a one in four (25%) encounter rate.

Best Psychic Pokemon: Fire Red/Leaf Green – Conclusion

Some of the best Psychic Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green are:

• Mewtwo
• Alakazam
• Mr Mime
• Slowbro
• Hypno

It’s hard to argue against the assertion that Mewtwo is the best Psychic Pokemon in Fire Red/Leaf Green and the other third generation Pokemon games on Game Boy Advance. However, if we’re discounting legendary Pokemon, we’d say it’s a very tight race between Alakazam and Slowbro for the best Psychic Pokemon in FIre Red.