Nuzlocke Tracker

Pokémon Radical Red Nuzlocke Guide

This guide covers the Normal mode of the ROM Hack Radical Red Nuzlockes. It details some of the game's unique features, lists available Pokémon, the number of encounters, and detailed overviews of all Boss battles.

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Radical Red Logo

Pokémon Radical Red is a fan-made ROM hack of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen that introduces new features, gameplay mechanics, and challenges to provide a unique and exciting nuzlocking experience. This guide focuses on the game's Normal mode, which offers a unique challenge and rewarding way to play the FireRed & LeafGreen games.

Whether you're a Pokémon fan looking for a new challenge or a nuzlocke enthusiast seeking a unique experience, Radical Red's Hardcode mode is designed to be fair and accessible for players of all levels, so you can experience the thrill of the nuzlocke challenge without feeling overwhelmed.

Want the pinacle of Nuzlocke challenge? A guide for the extreme Hardcode mode can be found here.

Difficulty & Bosses

Be prepared for a real challenge in Radical Red! Bosses have max IVs with proper EV spreads and optimized movesets/hold items, and you'll face tough team compositions and unfair obstacles. The battle style is forced to Set, and you won't be able to access your bag against Gym Leaders and other select bosses. Additionally, there's a soft level cap based on the next boss, which prevents you from overleveling your Pokémon and encourages you to re-evaluate your team and strategy to defeat them.

You can find a guide for all of the boss fights below to help you beat this difficult challenge.

☠️ Hardcore Mode

This is the most challenging mode in Radical Red for players who want an extreme challenge. This guide details the Boss teams for Hardcode Mode so that you don't get caught off guard.

You can check out the insane teams of Hardcore mode over at the Radical Red Hardcore guide page.

❤️ Easy Mode

While still being more difficult than FireRed, Easy Mode is the most accessible way to play Radical Red. It provides a challenge but is designed for players who want a less intense experience.

New Boss Mechanics

Bosses in Radical Red have some new tricks up their sleeves. Some optional side bosses will have their levels scale according to your team, while bosses near the end of the game will randomly choose between one of three teams. Gym Leaders have access to Mega Evolution before you do, and Elite Four Members each have a Legendary Pokémon.

Pokémon Buffs and Changes

Swathes of deserving Pokémon have been patched & iproved to make them more viable, as well as adding back Megas Evolution! These changes may include type changes, stat changes, ability changes, and additional learnsets. You'll also encounter brand new abilities, amove moves exclusive to this game.

Additional Content

Radical red introduces lots of new content, including some Johto Gym Leaders as additional mini bosses. The game also features Brendan as an additional rival, as well as Archer and Ariana present as Admins of Team Rocket. Lastly, there is an additional Team Rocket event right before the 8th gym that adds a new twist to the storyline!

New Pokémon

Flying Pikachu Ursaluna

Several new Pokémon have been added to the game, including those all Pokémon up to Generation 8. Over 200 Pokémon have been retyped or had their stats adjusted to provide better balance and variety in battle.

You can also find som new forms, such as Pikachu's Surfing and Flying forms as well as the new Sevii forms of favourites like Milotic.

Follower Pokémon

Everyone's favourite feature is back in Radical Red, allowing a Pokémon to follow you around as you travel through the game. To enable this feature speak with the Tamer in the Viridian City Pokémon Center who will ask if you want the first Pokémon in your party to follow you. The feature can be disabled or re-enabled by speaking with the same Tamer. It's important to note that the feature may be buggy, so it's recommended to disable and re-enable it periodically to avoid any issues.

Radical Red Encounters

A fun aspect of Nuzlocke runs is the variety of encounters forcing you to try out new Pokémon you've never used before. That is why it's important to know which Pokémon will be available during a run. We've compiled a list of every encounter for Pokémon Radical Red so you can quickly see who you might want on your team!

Pokémon Radical Red has 54 different encounter locations with 614 different Pokémon available as wild encounters. Hover over a Pokémon to see where to encounter it!

29 Dragon Pokémon encounters

35 Fairy Pokémon encounters

37 Ice Pokémon encounters

39 Steel Pokémon encounters

41 Fighting Pokémon encounters

42 Rock Pokémon encounters

42 Dark Pokémon encounters

44 Ghost Pokémon encounters

49 Fire Pokémon encounters

49 Electric Pokémon encounters

52 Ground Pokémon encounters

52 Psychic Pokémon encounters

57 Poison Pokémon encounters

57 Flying Pokémon encounters

60 Bug Pokémon encounters

64 Grass Pokémon encounters

78 Normal Pokémon encounters

110 Water Pokémon encounters

29Dragon Pokémon
DRAGON

35Fairy Pokémon
FAIRY

37Ice Pokémon
ICE

39Steel Pokémon
STEEL

41Fighting Pokémon
FIGHTING

42Rock Pokémon
ROCK

42Dark Pokémon
DARK

44Ghost Pokémon
GHOST

49Fire Pokémon
FIRE

49Electric Pokémon
ELECTRIC

52Ground Pokémon
GROUND

52Psychic Pokémon
PSYCHIC

57Poison Pokémon
POISON

57Flying Pokémon
FLYING

60Bug Pokémon
BUG

64Grass Pokémon
GRASS

78Normal Pokémon
NORMAL

110Water Pokémon
WATER

Radical Red Boss Battles

In order to complete a Radical Red Nuzlocke and become the Champion, you will need to win 49 Boss battles throughout the Kanto region - ranging from bickering Rival & Evil team fights, to Gym Leaders & ultimately the Elite Four.

These can be a challenge, especially when your dear nicknamed nuzlocke mons are at risk. So below we've listed detailed overviews of all these fights! Giving you all the information you'll need to face everything from Gary's Squirtle to Lance (Team B)'s Salamence.

12 Gym Leader fights

9 Elite Four fights

10 Rival fights

7 Evil Team fights

11 Mini Boss fights

Starter-dependent boss data

Some boss teams change depending on your starter. The static guide below uses the default fire-starter path so the page can be served as plain HTML for search engines and readers.

Gym Leader fights

  • Brock - Pewter City Gym

    Brock has a team of 4, made up of a level 13 geodude, a level 14 vulpix, a level 12 archen & a level 14 onix. The level cap for this fight is level 14.

  • Misty - Cerulean City Gym

    Misty has a team of 4, made up of a level 25 frogadier, a level 25 floatzel, a level 27 starmie & a level 25 lanturn. The level cap for this fight is level 27.

  • Lt. Surge - Vermillion City Gym

    Lt. Surge has a team of 5, made up of a level 32 pincurchin, a level 33 raichu, a level 33 vikavolt, a level 33 boltund & a level 34 manectric. The level cap for this fight is level 34.

  • Erika - Celadon City Gym

    Erika has a team of 5, made up of a level 43 rillaboom, a level 44 meganium, a level 43 serperior, a level 44 electrode & a level 44 venusaur. The level cap for this fight is level 44.

  • Sabrina - Saffron City Gym

    Sabrina has a team of 6, made up of a level 57 hatterene, a level 57 indeedee, a level 58 crawdaunt, a level 59 ursaluna, a level 58 porygon2 & a level 59 gardevoir. The level cap for this fight is level 59.

  • Koga - Fuschia City Gym

    Koga has a team of 6, made up of a level 67 swellow, a level 68 accelgor, a level 68 drapion, a level 68 greninja, a level 68 dragapult & a level 68 toxtricity. The level cap for this fight is level 68.

  • Blaine - Cinnabar Island Gym

    Blaine has a team of 6, made up of a level 75 torkoal, a level 76 sunflora, a level 75 cinderace, a level 76 typhlosion, a level 76 exeggutor & a level 76 charizard. The level cap for this fight is level 76.

  • Clair - Viridian City Gym

    Clair has a team of 6, made up of a level 80 aerodactyl, a level 81 magearna, a level 80 dracovish, a level 80 dragonite, a level 81 naganadel & a level 81 duraludon. The level cap for this fight is level 81.

  • Brock (Rematch) - Pewter City Gym

    Brock (Rematch) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 gigalith, a level -2 tyranitar, a level -2 lycanroc, a level -2 omastar, a level -2 sandslash & a level -2 aerodactyl. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Misty (Rematch) - Cerulean City Gym

    Misty (Rematch) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 politoed, a level -2 greninja, a level -2 gorebyss, a level -2 kingdra, a level -2 inteleon & a level -2 gyarados. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Lt. Surge (Rematch) - Vermillion City Gym

    Lt. Surge (Rematch) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 pachirisu, a level -2 dracozolt, a level -2 dedenne, a level -2 rotom, a level -2 rotom & a level -2 manectric. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Erika (Rematch) - Celadon City Gym

    Erika (Rematch) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 tsareena, a level -2 hawlucha, a level -2 bellossom, a level -2 rillaboom, a level -2 serperior & a level -2 venusaur. The level cap for this fight is level null.

Elite Four fights

  • Lorelei (Rain Team) - Indigo Plateau

    Lorelei (Rain Team) has a team of 6, made up of a level 84 poliwrath, a level 84 politoed, a level 85 swampert, a level 85 kingdra, a level 85 kyogre & a level 85 dracovish. The level cap for this fight is level 85.

  • Lorelei (Hail Team) - Indigo Plateau

    Lorelei (Hail Team) has a team of 6, made up of a level 84 ninetales, a level 84 glaceon, a level 85 calyrex, a level 85 rotom, a level 85 azumarill & a level 85 abomasnow. The level cap for this fight is level 85.

  • Bruno (Team A) - Indigo Plateau

    Bruno (Team A) has a team of 6, made up of a level 84 infernape, a level 85 conkeldurr, a level 85 urshifu, a level 85 zacian, a level 85 kommo-o & a level 85 lucario. The level cap for this fight is level 85.

  • Bruno (Team B) - Indigo Plateau

    Bruno (Team B) has a team of 6, made up of a level 84 urshifu, a level 85 scizor, a level 85 terrakion, a level 85 zacian, a level 85 conkeldurr & a level 85 lucario. The level cap for this fight is level 85.

  • Agatha (Team A) - Indigo Plateau

    Agatha (Team A) has a team of 6, made up of a level 84 zoroark, a level 85 spectrier, a level 85 marshadow, a level 85 silvally, a level 85 aegislash & a level 85 gengar. The level cap for this fight is level 85.

  • Agatha (Team B) - Indigo Plateau

    Agatha (Team B) has a team of 6, made up of a level 84 grimmsnarl, a level 85 spectrier, a level 85 marshadow, a level 85 dragapult, a level 85 hydreigon & a level 85 gengar. The level cap for this fight is level 85.

  • Lance (Team A) - Indigo Plateau

    Lance (Team A) has a team of 6, made up of a level 85 garchomp, a level 85 dragonite, a level 85 dracozolt, a level 85 melmetal, a level 85 dialga & a level 85 salamence. The level cap for this fight is level 85.

  • Lance (Team B) - Indigo Plateau

    Lance (Team B) has a team of 6, made up of a level 85 aerodactyl, a level 85 dracovish, a level 85 dragonite, a level 85 melmetal, a level 85 dialga & a level 85 salamence. The level cap for this fight is level 85.

  • Champion Gary - Champion

    Champion Gary has a team of 6, made up of a level 85 pheromosa, a level 85 metagross, a level 85 groudon, a level 85 yveltal, a level 85 eternatus & a level 85 ditto. The level cap for this fight is level 85.

Rival fights

  • Gary - Oak's Laboratory

    Gary has a team of 1, made up of a level 5 squirtle. The level cap for this fight is level 5.

  • Gary - Route 1

    Gary has a team of 2, made up of a level 9 starly & a level 9 squirtle. The level cap for this fight is level 9.

  • Brendan - Virdian Forest

    Brendan has a team of 2, made up of a level 7 corphish & a level 8 treecko. The level cap for this fight is level 8.

  • Gary - Route 24

    Gary has a team of 4, made up of a level 19 kirlia, a level 19 staravia, a level 20 rockruff & a level 21 wartortle. The level cap for this fight is level 21.

  • Brendan - S.S. Anne

    Brendan has a team of 4, made up of a level 28 loudred, a level 28 lunatone, a level 29 crawdaunt & a level 29 grovyle. The level cap for this fight is level 29.

  • Gary - Silph Co. Rival

    Gary has a team of 5, made up of a level 54 staraptor, a level 55 electivire, a level 55 darmanitan, a level 55 jumpluff & a level 55 blastoise. The level cap for this fight is level 55.

  • Brendan - Safari Zone

    Brendan has a team of 6, made up of a level 61 metagross, a level 62 medicham, a level 62 crawdaunt, a level 63 exploud, a level 63 gardevoir & a level 63 sceptile. The level cap for this fight is level 63.

  • May - Pokémon Mansion Entrance

    May has a team of 6, made up of a level 71 solrock, a level 71 breloom, a level 72 manectric, a level 72 relicanth, a level 72 flygon & a level 73 blaziken. The level cap for this fight is level 73.

  • Gary - Route 22

    Gary has a team of 6, made up of a level 80 staraptor, a level 80 electivire, a level 81 darmanitan, a level 81 hatterene, a level 81 kartana & a level 81 blastoise. The level cap for this fight is level 81.

  • Brendan - Indigo Plateau

    Brendan has a team of 6, made up of a level 81 deoxys, a level 81 jirachi, a level 82 landorus, a level 81 zapdos, a level 81 huntail & a level 82 sceptile. The level cap for this fight is level 82.

Evil Team fights

  • Admin Archer - Mt. Moon

    Admin Archer has a team of 3, made up of a level 18 impidimp, a level 19 houndour & a level 21 mightyena. The level cap for this fight is level 21.

  • Giovanni - Celadon City Game Corner

    Giovanni has a team of 5, made up of a level 45 nidoking, a level 45 honchkrow, a level 45 infernape, a level 45 rotom & a level 46 kangaskhan. The level cap for this fight is level 46.

  • Archer & Ariana - Silph Co.

    Archer & Ariana has a team of 6, made up of a level 54 gothitelle, a level 55 aegislash, a level 55 houndoom, a level 54 incineroar, a level 55 primarina & a level 55 mawile. The level cap for this fight is level 55.

  • Giovanni - Silph Co.

    Giovanni has a team of 5, made up of a level 54 hippowdon, a level 55 excadrill, a level 56 kangaskhan, a level 56 garchomp & a level 55 polteageist. The level cap for this fight is level 56.

  • Admin Archer - Cerulean Cave

    Admin Archer has a team of 4, made up of a level 77 mamoswine, a level 78 durant, a level 79 mimikyu & a level 79 houndoom. The level cap for this fight is level 79.

  • Admin Ariana - Cerulean Cave

    Admin Ariana has a team of 4, made up of a level 77 hatterene, a level 78 rhyperior, a level 78 honchkrow & a level 79 mawile. The level cap for this fight is level 79.

  • Giovanni - Cerulean Cave

    Giovanni has a team of 7, made up of a level 80 scrafty, a level 80 tapu-lele, a level 80 excadrill, a level 80 tyranitar, a level 80 celesteela, a level 80 mewtwo & a level 80 mewtwo. The level cap for this fight is level 80.

Mini Boss fights

  • Falkner - Pewter City Museum

    Falkner has a team of 3, made up of a level 13 rufflet, a level 13 emolga & a level 14 corvisquire. The level cap for this fight is level 14.

  • Bugsy - Bill's House

    Bugsy has a team of 4, made up of a level -2 ariados, a level -2 scyther, a level -2 ledian & a level -2 scizor. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Whitney - Route 11

    Whitney has a team of 5, made up of a level -2 wigglytuff, a level -2 miltank, a level -2 vigoroth, a level -2 indeedee & a level -2 drampa. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Morty - Lavender Town

    Morty has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 mimikyu, a level -2 zoroark, a level -2 dusknoir, a level -2 gengar, a level -2 weavile & a level -2 typhlosion. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Chuck - Saffron City Dojo

    Chuck has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 hitmontop, a level -2 poliwrath, a level -2 breloom, a level -2 lucario, a level -2 gallade & a level -2 sneasler. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Pryce (Team A) - Seafoam Islands

    Pryce (Team A) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 vanilluxe, a level -2 weavile, a level -2 crabominable, a level -2 dewgong, a level -2 arctovish & a level -2 glalie. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Pryce (Team B) - Seafoam Islands

    Pryce (Team B) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 jynx, a level -2 mr-rime, a level -2 mamoswine, a level -2 walrein, a level -2 arctovish & a level -2 glalie. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Prye (Team C) - Seafoam Islands

    Prye (Team C) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 ninetales, a level -2 sandslash, a level -2 beartic, a level -2 arctozolt, a level -2 frosmoth & a level -2 glalie. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Jasmine (Team A) - Cinnabar Island

    Jasmine (Team A) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 steelix, a level -2 melmetal, a level -2 aegislash, a level -2 durant, a level -2 duraludon & a level -2 aggron. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Jasmine (Team B) - Cinnabar Island

    Jasmine (Team B) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 bronzong, a level -2 melmetal, a level -2 excadrill, a level -2 magnezone, a level -2 scizor & a level -2 aggron. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Jasmine (Team C) - Cinnabar Island

    Jasmine (Team C) has a team of 6, made up of a level -2 forretress, a level -2 melmetal, a level -2 magnezone, a level -2 metagross, a level -2 lucario & a level -2 aggron. The level cap for this fight is level null.

Now that you're ready to take on the Pokémon Radical Red Nuzlocke Challenge, why not keep track of all your encounters with the Nuzlocke Tracker?
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