Should You Pick the Dome or Helix Fossil at Mt. Moon in…

After beating the first Gym Leader in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, Brock of Pewter City, your adventure will continue east to Route 3 and then subsequently, Route 4. Once you reach the Pokemon Center on Route 4, you'll then have to go into Mt. Moon and then come out the other side to make your way to the second Gym Leader, Misty of Cerulean City.

However, as you progress through Mt. Moon for the first time, you will eventually meet a trainer known as Super Nerd Miguel, who has found two strange fossils: the Dome Fossil and the Helix Fossil. He will be gracious enough to let you in on the fossilized Pokemon, but you can only choose one. So, which one should you pick?

TheBestWarGames Quiz

Should You Choose the Helix or Dome Fossil in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen?

Kabuto or Omanyte?

choosing dome or helix in mt moon firered leafgreen pokemon

The first thing you need to know about the Helix vs Dome Fossil choice is that you will not be able to revive the fossils until much later in the story (specifically, around your seventh gym battle). Secondly, once you choose a fossil, there's no way to get the other Pokemon organically in your game without trading with a friend, so the decision really matters.

If you choose the Helix Fossil, you'll be able to revive it into the Water/Rock Pokemon, Omanyte (pictured below). If you go with the Dome Fossil, you can get yourself the Water/Rock-type Kabuto. Both of these Pokemon will evolve into their second form, Omastar and Kabutops, once they reach level 40.

Helix Fossil	Image via Bulbapedia Omanyte	Image via Bulbapedia Omastar
Dome Fossil	Image via Bulbapedia Kabuto	Image via Bulbapedia Kabutops

Where to Take the Helix/Dome Fossil in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen?

As we mentioned before, you will not be able to revive the Helix and Dome Fossils until you reach Cinnabar Island. This is the location of Blaine's gym, the seventh leader. You won't get here until you learn Surf and defeat Koga/Sabrina, so you'll need to hold the items tight until then.

Once you get to Cinnabar Island, you'll want to visit the Pokemon Lab next to the island's Pokemon Center.

Head inside, go through the last door on the right, and speak to the professor in the back by the Resurrection Machine. Give him the fossil, leave the room for a second, and then come back, and the fossil Pokemon will be ready for you.

However, you should know that the Omanyte/Kabuto will only be level 5. So if you were wanting a kick-ass Pokemon to take down the Elite Four with, maybe think again. Of course, you can always grind or use Rare Candies to level them up, but it'll take a minute.

Is Kabutops or Omastar Better for Your Team in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen?

If you still plan on using Omastar or Kabutops in your main party in Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen, there are a couple of things you should know to succeed in battle:

Both Pokemon are Rock and Water-types, so they will take four times as much damage from Grass-type moves. If you're sending them out in a battle against a Grass Pokemon, it might be best to pull them back unless you want to see them faint quickly.
Omastar is a bit tankier than Kabutops (higher defense and a high special attack, but slower to attack).
Kabutops is faster and has a higher regular attack power than Omastar, so you can hit harder and, in a perfect world, get your attacks in before your opponent strikes.
At the end of the day, it really depends on which Pokemon you like more, design-wise, and whether you already have a tank or a fast attacker on your team. Have fun with it!