Rarest Pokémon from Red & Blue's Kanto Region (2024)

For years, the Pokémon franchise's tagline encouraged players to complete their Pokédexes, and the Generation I games had several elusive species. It was certainly more manageable since the series debuted with "only" 151 creatures, as Scarlet and Violet brought the roster count to an astonishing 1,000+. Even so, the classic games still made players work for that achievement.

The iconic Legendary species, like the Bird Trio, are expectedly among the rarest Pokémon in the mainline games. However, from the game's only Dragon-Type family to the end-game boss Mewtwo and everything in between, the Generation I titles for the original Game Boy had a diverse pool of rare Pokémon scattered across the Kanto region.

15 Snorlax Blocks the Path to Success

The Sleepy Giant That Tests Your Patience

Snorlax is not only one of the most iconic Pokémon from Generation I but also one of the hardest to catch. Known for its large size and massive appetite, Snorlax appears as an obstacle blocking key routes. Players will first encounter this sleepy giant on Route 12 or Route 16, lying across the path and preventing passage. Players need to use the Poké Flute to awaken Snorlax, which they obtain from Mr. Fuji in Lavender Town after rescuing him from Team Rocket.

The battle against Snorlax can be challenging, as it often uses the move Rest to heal itself during the fight, prolonging the encounter and testing the player's patience and strategy. Once caught, Snorlax proves to be a powerful addition to any team, with its high HP (160) and impressive Attack (110), making it a resilient tank in battles. Its versatile move pool includes powerful attacks like Hyper Beam and Body Slam, ensuring that Snorlax remains a valuable ally throughout the game.

14 Kangaskhan, the Elusive Parent Pokémon

A Rare Safari Zone Challenge

Kangaskhan is a powerful and rare Normal-Type Pokémon found exclusively in the Safari Zone, known for its protective nature and strong maternal instincts. With an encounter rate of only 4%, Kangaskhan is a challenging catch, requiring patience and strategy. Players must navigate the Safari Zone's unique mechanics, where they can only use bait, rocks, and Safari Balls to capture Pokémon. Kangaskhan's propensity to flee from battles makes it even more difficult to add to one's collection.

Despite these challenges, capturing Kangaskhan is a rewarding endeavor. This Pokémon boasts impressive stats, with high HP (105) and Attack (95), making it a formidable fighter. Kangaskhan can learn various powerful moves, including Hyper Beam, Earthquake, and Rock Slide, providing versatility in battle. Its signature move, Mega Punch, highlights its physical strength.

13 Scyther and Pinsir, Safari Zone Rivals

Bug-Type Warriors of Kanto

Scyther and Pinsir are two formidable Bug-Type Pokémon exclusive to the Safari Zone, and each version of the game offers one of the pairs. Scyther is available in Pokémon Red, while Pinsir can be found in Pokémon Blue. Both species are tricky to catch due to their low encounter rates (1% for Scyther and 4% for Pinsir) and the Safari Zone's challenging capture mechanics. With its dual Bug/Flying typing, Scyther enjoys high Attack and Speed stats, making it a fast and powerful fighter. It delivers swift, cutting attacks with moves like Slash and Wing Attack.

Pinsir, on the other hand, is a pure Bug-Type with high Attack and Defense, making it a resilient combatant in battles. Its signature move, Vice Grip, showcases its immense strength and ability to deal significant damage. Capturing either Pokémon requires strategy and luck, as they can flee easily from Safari Balls. Once obtained, however, Scyther and Pinsir provide unique advantages in battles with their distinctive move sets and combat roles, making them prized additions to any trainer's collection.

12 Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan: Choose Your Fighter

The Ultimate Fighting Dojo Decision

In Saffron City, players can choose between two unique Fighting-Type Pokémon: Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan. After defeating the trainers in the Fighting Dojo, the player can pick one of the two. Hitmonlee, known for its powerful kicks, has high Attack and Speed stats, making it a formidable offensive force. Its signature move, High Jump Kick, delivers devastating damage but comes with the risk of self-injury if it misses.

Hitmonchan, on the other hand, excels with its diverse punching moves and balanced stats. Its signature moves include Fire Punch, Ice Punch, and Thunder Punch, allowing it to exploit various type weaknesses and adapt to different battle scenarios. This one-time gift forces players to make a strategic decision based on their team needs, as they won't get a chance to catch the other without trading.

11 Kabuto and Omanyte: Fossilized Rivals

Ancient Pokémon of Mt. Moon

Kabuto and Omanyte are two ancient Pokémon revived from fossils found in Mt. Moon. Players choose between the Dome Fossil (Kabuto) and the Helix Fossil (Omanyte) during their first trip through the cave. Both Pokémon are Rock/Water-Type and must be revived at Cinnabar Island's Pokémon Lab. Kabuto evolves into Kabutops, known for its swift attacks and high Attack stat. Kabutops is a formidable combatant with access to moves like Slash and Hydro Pump, making it a versatile and powerful addition to any team.

Omanyte evolves into Omastar, which has impressive Defense and Special stats, providing strong defensive support with moves like Surf and Ice Beam. This choice adds an element of strategy, as players must decide which fossil Pokémon best suits their team dynamics. The decision between the aggressive Kabutops and the defensive Omastar can shape the player's approach to battles. This makes the revival of these fossil Pokémon a significant milestone in their journey through the Kanto region.

10 Lapras Can Only be Found Once Per Playthrough

A Singular Gift with Huge Potential

Lapras is one of the most memorable Pokémon from the Kanto region, and while it's not a Legendary species, players get one chance to obtain one. Oddly enough, it's also not found anywhere in the wild. Rather, the player receives it as a one-time gift in Saffron City.

Lapras is a dual Water/Ice-Type Pokémon with a base stat total of 535 in the Game Boy games. In battle, its best attributes are its defensive bulkiness (130 HP, 80 Defense, 95 Special) and its fearsome and diverse attacks, including Surf, Thunderbolt, and Blizzard. Unfortunately, players won't get it until the late-game portion of the story at Lv. 15. A Silph Co. employee on the company building's 7th floor will offer a Lapras as a gift.

9 Tauros is Among the Toughest Finds in the Safari Zone

A Rare and Powerful Normal-Type

Despite Normal-Type Pokémon having one of the more unassuming if reliable typings, they're some of the strongest species in the Gen I games. Tauros is no exception, as it's capable of bulldozing its way through opponents for players with the patience to capture one.

The Normal-Type Tauros is a powerhouse, with its Attack (100), Defense (95), and Speed (110) being its highlights. Wild species can be found in unlimited numbers, but it's arguably rarer than one-time gifts or even Legendary creatures. That's because Tauros can only be found in the Safari Zone with a mere 1% or 4% encounter rate -- in Red and Blue -- and has a decent chance to run from the player. Since it's the Safari Zone's rules, players can't even weaken it before attempting a capture.

8 Porygon is the Most Expensive Prize

The Game Corner's Digital Reward

For a time, the Game Corner was a staple in the mainline Pokémon games, with certain species able to be redeemed for coins. Porygon was offered as one of the Game Corner's prizes, but it forced players to do an arduous amount of grinding.

Porygon is another pure Normal-Type Pokémon, and while it's far from the strongest species in the games, the combination of its typing and defensive stats give it a respectable supporting role in battle. It's debatable whether that's worth the grind in the Game Corner, as it's the only way to obtain one and costs an astonishing 9,999 coins in Pokémon Red and Yellow​​​​​​ (6,500 in Blue).

7 Aerodactyl is the Strongest of Kanto's Fossil Pokémon

Reviving Power from Old Amber

The final member of Generation I's Fossil Pokémon, Aerodactyl was a powerful partner for those willing to train it. As with its contemporaries -- the Omanyte and Kabuto evolutionary lines --, this creature had to be revived at Cinnabar Island's Pokémon Lab.

Aerodactyl is a dual Rock/Flying-Type, boasting an impressive 515 base stat total in Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow. While it has access to some of the most powerful attacks available, players must train it extensively since it's revived at Lv. 5. Aerodactyl's fossil isn't found as early as the Helix or Dome Fossils. The Old Amber can't be obtained until tracking back to the Pewter City Museum after getting the HM attack Cut.

6 Dragonite Was the Only Final-Stage Dragon of Its Generation

The Pseudo-Legendary Powerhouse

Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon are the closest to the power and status of Legendary species without ranking among them. Dragonite was the first in this category and the Dragon typing in general. It remains a highly sought-after Dragon creature in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The Dragon-Type was meant to be equally powerful and elusive in the Generation I games, and the 600 base-stat Dragonite lives up to that reputation.

Unless players know where to find the first two species in its evolutionary line — Dratini and Dragonair — they won't see Dragonite until Lance of the Elite Four. It's the second-to-last trainer battle in the main story, with only Ice-Type and its fellow Dragon-Type having super-effective advantages against it. Both Dratini and Dragonair are rare wild encounters in the waters of the Safari Zone in Fushia City.

5 Zapdos is the Strongest of the Legendary Bird Trio

The Electric Titan of the Power Plant

Several Pokémon generations have their own "Legendary Trio," with the Legendary Birds being the first to start this trend. Zapdos is generally the strongest of the three and is found after backtracking with the HM move Surf.

This Legendary Bird is a dual Electric/Flying-Type and is easily the strongest Electric species in the games thanks to Zapdos' high stats and access to powerful moves. Like many creatures classified as "Legendary," only one can be found in a playthrough and lives at the end of the abandoned Power Plant dungeon. Zapdos' low catch rate and high damage output make it a difficult catch.

4 Articuno is Deep in One of the Game's Best Dungeons

The Ice Guardian of Seafoam Islands

Ice-Type Pokémon are generally seen as defensively fragile, but Articuno can compensate for this in certain areas. This Legendary Bird is also found at the end of a dungeon and requires the HMs Strength and Surf. Articuno is a dual Ice/Flying-Type Pokémon, and it's weaker than Zapdos since its typing leaves it especially susceptible to Rock attacks.

Still, it has the highest defensive stats (100 Defense, 125 Special) among the trio and can use several powerful attacks like Ice Beam, Blizzard, Hyper Beam, and Double-Edge. It makes the trip through the winding Seafoam Islands worth it, which requires Strength and Surf to traverse. Players have to solve puzzles involving pushing boulders to change the cave's water currents, rewarding them one chance to catch a Lv. 50 Articuno.

3 Moltres is Found Along the Way to the Elite Four

The Fiery Bird of Victory Road

Moltres is overlooked compared to its counterparts but can still deal heavy damage in a battle. There isn't much flexibility for when players can find it, as the earliest player can catch it is on the way to the endgame content.

Moltres is a dual Fire/Flying-Type and like the starter Pokémon Charizard, it's particularly vulnerable to Rock-Type moves. Its natural learnset of moves is perhaps the least impressive. But by teaching Moltres TM moves, it can complement the powerful Sky Attack with other abilities like Fire Blast and Rest for healing. Unlike Zapdos and Articuno, Moltres doesn't appear in a dungeon dedicated to it. Rather, players' one chance to find it is inside Victory Road leading to the Elite Four -- the final gauntlet to finish the story.

2 Mewtwo is Found at the End of the Toughest Dungeon

The Genetic Mastermind of Cerulean Cave

While it may not be the strongest Legendary Pokémon anymore, the fact that Mewtwo is still a force to be reckoned with is impressive in and of itself. A fearsome creature, the intriguing lore surrounding its creation as a genetic off-shoot of Mew can be found in the abandoned Pokémono Mansion on Cinnabar Island.

Players have one chance to find Mewtwo in Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow. The Psychic-Type Pokémon is deep in Cerulean Cave -- the game's strongest and only post-game dungeon. After wading through the various high-level wild species living there, players will take on a menacing Lv. 70 Mewtwo. Backed by powerful moves and stunning base stats totaling 680, catching this beast any earlier would severely break the game.

1 Mew is Only Obtainable Through Exploits

The Mythical Enigma of Generation I

Part of the reason Game Freak and The Pokémon Company marketed the generation as the original 150 as opposed to the true 151 is due to how elusive Mew is. The first Pokémon to fall under the "Mythical" subcategory, this species is expectedly among the strongest Generation I has to offer.

Mew is a pure Psychic-Type Pokémon, and the creature is so rare that players can't legitimately find it in a playthrough of Pokémon Red, Blue, Green, or Yellow. Players would have to put in a cheat code or trigger one of the most elaborate glitches in the history of the mainline games. Its stats are perfectly balanced (100 across the board) and it can learn every TM move.

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