Is Growlithe Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?
Only available in Red version. Growlithe needs a Fire Stone to reach Arcanine, so plan around when you want to evolve. Worth the wait if you need a Fire-type and didn't pick Charmander.
Growlithe trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.
Misty's team hits Growlithe's weaknesses hard.
Growlithe has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.
Arcanine resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.
Arcanine has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.
Lance's team hits Arcanine's weaknesses hard.
Arcanine trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.
Catch Growlithe on Route 8 (walking, Lv 15-18, uncommon).
- STARTING (Lv 15)
- LV 15DarkBite60100%25
- After Brock
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- After Misty
- TM08NormalBody Slam85100%15
- After Erika
- TM40NormalSkull Bash130100%10
- TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- LV 30NormalTake Down9085%20
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- LV 50FireFlamethrower135100%15
You can usually obtain this item before you reach Erika.
- STARTING (Lv 24)
- LV 24FireEmber60100%25
- LV 24NormalTake Down9085%20
- After Brock
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- After Misty
- TM08NormalBody Slam85100%15
- After Erika
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- TM40NormalSkull Bash130100%10
- TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
How to Get Growlithe in Red & Blue
Growlithe's scattered across 6 spots in early-game routes with decent spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Where To Catch Growlithe in RB
The path to Growlithe starts with Growlithe at Lv. 15-35 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Growlithe ✓Route 8Lv.15-18GrassRedRate 25%Route 7Lv.18-20GrassRedRate 10%Pokémon Mansion - 2FLv.32FloorRedRate 20%Pokémon Mansion - 3FLv.33FloorRedRate 20%Pokémon Mansion - 1FLv.34FloorRedRate 10%Pokémon Mansion - B1FLv.35FloorRedRate 10%
Step 2Evolve into Arcanine
Growlithe Weakness
Type-wise, Growlithe takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Standard number of weaknesses for the Fire typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug |
- Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
- Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
- Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
What is Growlithe Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Growlithe
 Squirtle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Geodude builds →Dig 2x131-156%KO Rock Throw 2x69-81% | ||
 Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Wartortle builds →Bubble Beam 2x73-88% Dig 2x77-92% | ||
 Sandshrew Ground | C | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Geodude builds →Dig 2x131-156%KO Rock Throw 2x69-81% | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Wartortle builds →Bubble Beam 2x73-88% Dig 2x77-92% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | C | |
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandslash builds →Dig 2x154-182%KO Rock Slide 2x77-91% | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Graveler builds →Dig 2x148-175%KO Rock Slide 2x113-133%KO | ||
 Dugtrio Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Dugtrio builds →Dig 2x154-182%KO Rock Slide 2x77-91% | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x157-186%KO Rock Slide 2x81-95% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Nidorino (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x161-189%KO Rock Slide 2x81-95% Bubble Beam 2x58-69% | ||
 Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Nidorina (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x148-175%KO Rock Slide 2x74-88% Bubble Beam 2x52-62% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x163-192%KO Rock Slide 2x82-97% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | B | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Nidorino (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x163-192%KO Surf 2x83-99% Rock Slide 2x82-97% | ||
 Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x157-185%KO Rock Slide 2x78-93% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x194-229%KO Rock Slide 2x147-173%KO Surf 2x50-60% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) | ||
Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x162-192%KO Rock Slide 2x81-95% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x202-238%KO Rock Slide 2x152-180%KO Surf 2x52-62% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) | ||
Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x162-190%KO Rock Slide 2x81-96% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Growlithe View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x203-239%KO Rock Slide 2x153-180%KO Surf 2x51-61% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) | ||
Growlithe Evolutions
Growlithe starts a line toward Arcanine. Can't breed this Fire type (330 stats), so keep the evolution path going. Evolving adds up to 225 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
RB Growlithe Best Moveset
Fire pre-evolution facing the same problems every Fire-type deals with: MoveEarthquake everywhere and Water-types at the top. The moves point toward Arcanine, not toward winning at this stage.
Best Build
Screens Setter Moveset
- Reflect
- Bite
- Body Slam
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
TMs carry this one. Growlithe learns Fire Blast and Flamethrower naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Dark and Normal and beyond give it real matchup play.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
Very protective of its territory. It will bark and bite to repel intruders from its space.
Growlithe Red & Blue Guide
For Red & Blue, you can run Growlithe through the first few routes without issues. 330 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Arcanine as fast as you can.
Yes. Hisuian Growlithe is a regional variant with different typing and a reworked stat spread. Introduced in Gen 8. Plays completely differently from the original.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Growlithe has appeared in 21 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received a Hisuian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves