Mixed
Trick Room
30Speed · Very Slow

Is Parasect Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Parasect exists for MoveSpore. Putting anything to sleep with 100% accuracy is one of the most useful things any Pokemon can do in Red and Blue, especially for catching Mewtwo or the legendary birds. As an actual team member though, the stats don't hold up and the typing creates too many bad matchups to rely on.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTEGGEGESGGETEBrockGym 1ParasCatchableMistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ParasectEvolveErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Paras's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
Defense CurlTackle
Avoid
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreech
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Paras trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
Water GunTackle
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHarden
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Good

Paras has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
Sonic BoomTackleScreech
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveGrowlThunder Shock
You Win
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
GrowlThunder ShockThunder Wave
Erika
Gym 4
Good

Parasect has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

You Win
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sleep PowderPoison PowderWrapAcid
Easy KO
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
BindConstrict
You Win
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sleep PowderStun SporePoison PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Parasect trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
SmokescreenSludgeTackleSmog
Even
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
SludgeMinimizePoison GasPound
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
SmokescreenSludgeTackleSmog
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
Self DestructSmokescreenSludgeTackle
Sabrina
Gym 6
Good

Parasect has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.

You Win
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
PsychicRecoverPsybeamDisable
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
PsychicFairy
Soundproof
Double SlapLight ScreenConfusionConfusion
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
PsybeamStun SporeLeech LifePoison Powder
Even
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
ReflectPsychicRecoverPsybeam
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Parasect trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
AgilityTake DownLeerEmber
Even
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Fire SpinGrowlStompTail Whip
Even
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Fire SpinGrowlStompTail Whip
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
Take DownLeerRoarEmber
Giovanni
Gym 8
Strong

Parasect resists most of Giovanni's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Horn DrillFury AttackTail WhipStomp
Easy KO
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashSand AttackDigGrowl
Easy KO
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
Body SlamPoison StingScratchScratch
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ThrashPoison StingHorn AttackHorn Attack
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Horn DrillFury AttackTail WhipStomp
Lorelei
Elite Four
Good

Parasect has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
Easy KO
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Easy KO
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
You Win
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Parasect has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Risky
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Parasect trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Risky
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Tough

Lance's typing presses Parasect's defenses.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Avoid
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Parasect trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Risky
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
Mirror MoveAgilityWing AttackWhirlwind
You Win
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
ReflectPsychicRecoverPsybeam
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
LeerHorn DrillFury AttackTail Whip
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
StompHypnosisBarrage
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 63
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Hyper BeamHydro PumpLeerDragon Rage
Avoid
Charizard
Lv 65
FireFlying
Blaze
Fire SpinFlamethrowerSlashRage
Catch Paras
Available after Badge 1
Type
BugGrass
Tier
E

Catch Paras on Mt. Moon (walking, Lv 8, uncommon).

View Paras locations

Recommended Moves
  • After Brock
    • TM28GroundDig80100%10
    • LV 20BugLeech Life120100%10
  • After Misty
    • TM08NormalBody Slam85100%15
  • After Erika
    • TM40NormalSkull Bash130100%10
    • TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
    • LV 34NormalSlash70100%20
  • After Sabrina
    • TM22GrassSolar Beam180100%10
  • After Koga
    • TM09NormalTake Down9085%20
Evolve Paras to Parasect
Level 24
Type
BugGrass
Tier
E

Your Paras should hit Level 24 before you reach Erika, at typical leveling pace.

View Parasect locations

Recommended Moves
  • STARTING (Lv 24)
    • LV 24BugLeech Life120100%10
  • After Brock
    • TM28GroundDig80100%10
  • After Misty
    • TM08NormalBody Slam85100%15
  • After Erika
    • TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
    • TM40NormalSkull Bash130100%10
    • TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
    • LV 30GrassSpore100%15
  • After Sabrina
    • TM22GrassSolar Beam180100%10

How to Get Parasect in Red & Blue

8 encounter spots for Parasect at moderate rates starting from mid-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.

Where To Catch Parasect in RB

To get Parasect, start by catching Paras through walking encounters at Lv. 8-64. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Paras
    Step 1Catch Paras
    Mt. Moon - B2F
    Lv.10-12Cave
    Rate 15%
    Mt. Moon - B1F
    Lv.10Cave
    Rate 10%
    Mt. Moon - 1F
    Lv.8Cave
    Rate 5%
    Safari Zone - East
    Lv.22Floor
    Rate 10%
    Safari Zone - North
    Lv.23Floor
    Rate 10%
  2. Parasect
    Step 2Parasect
    Safari Zone - East
    Lv.25Floor
    Rate 5%
    Safari Zone - Center
    Lv.30Floor
    Rate 5%
    Cerulean Cave - B1F
    Lv.64Cave
    Rate 10%
    Cerulean Cave - 1F
    Lv.52Cave
    Rate 5%
    or evolve from Paras (Step 1)

Parasect Weakness

Parasect's Bug/Grass typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Poison, Flying, Ice, Bug, and Rock. Fire, Poison, and Flying hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. The Bug/Grass typing picks up 5 resistances to work with.

Parasect Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Fire, Poison, Flying
2x (Weak)Ice, Bug, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Water, Electric, Fighting
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Ground
Gen I Type Chart
  • 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 Parasect Weak Against

Fragile
6Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Score-11
¼xResist
0xImmune
None

What is Parasect Strong Against

5Strong
2Resisted
0Immune
Score+3
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Parasect

Parasect Evolutions

Evolve Paras at level 24 to get Parasect. At 425 stats, this Bug/Grass type caps the chain without any egg option. The evolution from Paras pushed Parasect to 425 total stats. Special saw the largest single gain at +35. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Paras
BugGrass
Parasect
BugGrass
HP
35
60+25
ATK
70
95+25
DEF
55
80+25
SP.ATK
45
60+15
SP.DEF
55
80+25
SPE
25
30+5
BST
285D-Tier
405C-Tier+120
ROLE
Balanced
Trick Room
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Parasect Best Moveset

MoveSpore at 100%% accuracy is the best sleep move in the game, period. Everything else about Parasect is terrible, but guaranteed sleep justifies a slot. Leads with Spore and contributes whatever it can before going down.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Parasect
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • SporeUtility
  • Mega DrainSTAB
  • SlashCoverage
  • Swords Dance

Recommended Teammates

Moves List

The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Parasect's Normal and Ground coverage all comes from technical machines, built on top of Solar Beam and Leech Life for same-type damage. Double-Edge and Hyper Beam are the payoff moves.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leech Life
A3010010Bug
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Stun Spore
C7530Grass
Lv 13
Stun Spore
C7530Grass
Lv 20
Leech Life
A3010010Bug
Lv 30
Spore
B10015Grass
Lv 39
Slash
B7010020Normal
Lv 48
Growth
D20Normal

TM Moves

TM
TM34
Bide+1
D10Normal
TM08
Body Slam
A8510015Normal
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM28
Dig
C10010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
A150905Normal
TM21
Mega Drain
B6010010Grass
TM31
Mimic
D10Normal
TM20
Rage
D2010020Normal
TM33
Reflect
C20Psychic
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM40
Skull Bash
B10010010Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
B18010010Grass
TM50
Substitute
A10Normal
TM03
Swords Dance
A30Normal
TM09
Take Down
C908520Normal
TM06
Toxic
C9010Poison

Egg Moves

Parasect doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Parasect can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP60
C
Attack95
B
Defense80
C
Sp. Atk80
C
Sp. Def80
C
Speed30
F
Total425
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging75 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.0 m
Weight29.5 kg
Base XP142
EV Yield
HPAtk+2Def+1SpASpDSpe
Strong Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

A host-parasite pair in which the parasite mushroom has taken over the host bug. Prefers damp places.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Parasect Red & Blue Guide

  • Where in the Red & Blue Safari Zone can I find Parasect?

    See the Locations section above for where to find Parasect in Red & Blue.

    Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:

    • Throw bait to keep Parasect from fleeing (flee rate cut to 1/4) but it becomes harder to catch (catch factor halved).
    • Throw a rock to make Parasect easier to catch (catch factor doubled) but it flees twice as often.
    • Each effect lasts 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other.
  • In Red & Blue, watch for Arcanine (Fire), Nidoking (Poison), and Aerodactyl (Flying) when using Parasect. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Arcanine is the most dangerous since Fire moves deal 4x damage. Ice, Bug, and Rock-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. At base 30 Speed, Parasect won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.

  • For Red & Blue, it depends on your team. Parasect at 425 BST isn't a powerhouse, but the Bug/Grass coverage might be exactly what you're missing.

  • In Red & Blue, Parasect works as a trick room with 425 BST behind it. C-Tier on our list: a niche pick in Red & Blue's meta. Spore anchors the moveset.

  • Parasect is a mixed attacker with base 95 Attack and 80 Special. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 30 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the trick room role.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Parasect appears in 19 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Parasect have the longest track record of availability in the series.

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