Pokemon LeafGreen Player beats Elite Four with only version exclusives

This article was updated by Andrea Trama on April 29, 2026, with a list of exclusive FireRed products and ways to get Pokémon used in this article. It was first published on April 21.

A Pokemon LeafGreen the trainer defeated the Elite Four and the champion with a team consisting of only version-exclusive Pokemon that can be found throughout the game. The Pokemon LeafGreen the player shared evidence of their victory, saying that one member of their version-exclusive squad stood out above the rest.

The version-exclusive challenge is just one of several self-imposed challenges that Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen players have committed throughout 2026. Since the February 2026 relaunch of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch consoles, several Pokémon trainers have taken it upon themselves to become Kanto Pokémon League champions by using unconventional strategies or limitations to add some difficulty to the games. Such a challenge arises Pokémon trainers to beat Kanto's Elite Four without catching any wild Pokemon, instead relying on their starters and some Pokemon from NPCs throughout Kanto.

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Pokemon LeafGreen Player uses version exclusive list to beat the game

Even if Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen players have long used their chosen starter to gain victory, a trainer chose six other Pokemon to become the Pokemon League champion. On Pokemon LeafGreen subreddit, a Redditor named ImSoRad87 shared a screenshot from Pokemon LeafGreen of their Hall of Fame team, which consisted entirely of six version-exclusive Pokémon not available in Pokemon FireRed without trade. ImSoRad87's team consisted of Slowbro, Starmie, Sandslash, Victreebel, Pinsir and Ninetales. ImSoRad87 said their challenge had no other clauses to follow, other than benching other team members, including their starter Pokemon. Although ImSoRad stated that it was “a bit too much of a grind”, they said they had fun with their challenge.

There are 24 Pokémon that are exclusive to Pokemon LeafGreencompared to the 23 exclusive animals in Pokemon FireRed. Although version exclusive options for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen can affect which version of the remakes to play, most of the games best Pokemon can be caught in both versions. Although ImSoRad87 had a full team of Pokemon LeafGreens exclusive animals to choose from, they stated that one member of the team stood out above the rest.

List of version-exclusive Pokemon in Pokemon LeafGreen (listed in national Pokedex order)

• Sand bar

• Sandslash

• Vulpix

• Ninetales

• Bellspire

• Weepinbell

• Victreebel

• Slouch

• Slow bridge

• Staryu

• Starmie

• Magma

• Pinsir

• Marill

• Azumarill

• Slowking

• Misdreavus

• Sneasel

• Remoraid

• Octillery

• Mantine

• Magby

• Azure

• Deoxys (Defense Form)

In short, Starmie was the MVP for ImSoRad87's Pokemon LeafGreen squad. As a dual-type Water and Psychic Pokemon with high speed and decent special attack power, Starmie can use attacks like Psychic, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Surf to defeat most of Pokemon LeafGreens final challenges with ease. ImSoRad87 said their Starmie swept through all but part of the Elite Four board, with their Pinsir taking down Lorelei's Jynx instead. Given that Starmie is a top class Pokemon to use in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenusing it to defeat Kanto's Elite Four is a strategy for players to consider.

In response to ImSoRad87's post, some Pokémon trainers praised them for conducting an interesting Pokemon LeafGreen challenge. Like more Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen players take on different challenges to show the different ways both games can be beaten, it remains to be seen what challenges The Pokemon Company has planned for the next generation of Pokémon game.

System

Released

September 7, 2004

ESRB

All 10+ / Mild fantasy violence, simulated gambling

Multiplayer

Local multiplayer, online multiplayer

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