The Best Gen 1 Grass-Type Pokemon

Grass Pokemon are often overlooked in the Pokemon franchise. It's hard to imagine why, other than the type seeming a little common and basic. After all, grass Pokemon have some very important type advantages — for example, players will need a good one to take down a water Pokemon, and they're much easier to find than Electric-types.

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Grass types make for a good addition to just about any team, so why not save a slot for one of them? A trainer playing the Gen One games will want to think about which awesome Grass-type Pokemon can be found in Kanto. It's important to consider the power and strength of each and, for those who care about cosmetics, perhaps think a little about how cute they are too.

Updated on June 2, 2024, by Chad Thesen: This article has been updated for the purpose of adding information relating to alternate forms of existing entries on this list. Each entry has also had its abilities added alongside descriptions of what those abilities are capable of. It is worth noting that these abilities were added in Generation 3, and will not be present in the original Red and Blue — but are present in the remakes Firered and Leafgreen.

14 Paras

Base Stat Total: 285

• Where to Find Paras in Pokemon Red & Blue: Mt. Moon or the Safari Zone

Paras is distinctly unimpressive — sorry, Paras! Although it might do the job against a lower-level Pokemon, especially a water one, it's a very common Pokemon that won't give players any extremely great advantages in battle that can't be found elsewhere. Catch one to register it in the Pokedex, but then leave it in the PC box or trade it for candy.

Paras does have access to some useful moves such as Stun Spore, Giga Drain, and Sludge Bomb. It also gets the amazing ability that is Effect Spore, having a chance of giving the opponent the statuses Sleep, Paralysis, and Poison just by attacking it physically.

13 Bellsprout

Base Stat Total: 300

• Where to Find Bellsprout in Pokemon Red & Blue: Routes 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 24, and 25

Bellsprout is another unimpressive specimen. Those who've played Pokemon Gold & Silver will remember the pain of fighting many of them at the tower in the very first city, and the opportunity to trade one for an Onix — which is worth taking, sorry Bellsprout! Even its voice is kind of annoying.

While Chlorophyll is a good ability, it can only be activated in sunlight, making it very situational. Bellsprout does make good use of moves like Stun Spore, Sludge Bomb, and Giga Drain, though, which can make it an incredibly frustrating Pokemon to come up against in battle.

12 Oddish

Base Stat Total: 320

• Where to Find Oddish in Pokemon Red & Blue: Routes 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 24, and 25

Oddish is no more impressive than Paras or Bellsprout in terms of power, but it definitely has the edge in terms of how cute it is. The moves it has can be a little more useful too, with the status moves being better than other first grass evolutions. It's a little harder to find in most of the games than Paras or Bellsprout, but worth searching out — especially to evolve it into later evolutions.

Moves like Moonlight, Stun Spore, and Petal Dance are really good for Oddish, but its ability isn't anywhere near as helpful. Its Chlorophyll, just like Belllsprout above. Even so, the status effects that Oddish is able to inflict make it a very useful Pokemon to have on one's team.

11 Exeggcute

Base Stat Total: 325

• Where to Find Exeggcute in Pokemon Red & Blue: Safari Zone

Exeggcute is a dual-type grass/psychic, which makes it a little more useful to have on the team than some of the other Pokemon here. Of course, that doesn't mean it's particularly powerful — it's still the first evolution, and it's literally just a bunch of eggs. It isn't particularly cute either. Shame.

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For all of its flaws, Exeggcute does have some very strong moves, such as Light Screen, Psychic, and Leech Seed. Its ability is, once again, Chlorophyll. Those searching for the best Gen 1 Grass-type Pokemon will probably want to look elsewhere, but that's not to say that Exeggcute and its evolution can't still be useful in battle.

10 Parasect

Base Stat Total: 405

• Where to Find Parasect in Pokemon Red & Blue: Safari Zone

Parasect is the evolution of Paras, so it's safe to say it's a little more impressive and powerful. The potential moves to learn are much better, and it should be able to take down a water Pokemon of the same level or even a little higher with ease. Parasect, however, is still pretty easy to get and isn't exactly an impressive-looking Pokemon, so it's not worth holding onto. Look for a better option.

Parasect does learn some better moves than its previous form, like Dig, Aerial Ace, and Growth. It also keeps the great ability that is Effect Spore. Wild Parasect can be caught in the Safari Zone, but evolving a Paras is a much easier option. Paras evolves at Level 24, so players shouldn't have to put in too much work, particularly once they have EXP share.

9 Weepinbell

Base Stat Total: 390

• Where to Find Weepinbell in Pokemon Red & Blue: Routes 12, 13, 14, and 15

Weepinbell evolves from Bellsprout and is a middle evolution. Here, we're getting a little more powerful and a little more useful — Weepinbell isn't a terrible choice in battle to go against a mid-level Pokemon. Still, it only ranks around the middle of the list because it's a fairly common grass type and Bellsprout isn't exactly difficult to find or evolve.

Weepinbell makes good use of moves like Stun Spore, Sludge Bomb, and Giga Drain, but once again is limited with the situational ability, Chlorophyll. Weepinbell is catchable in Blue and LeafGreen only. Players can also evolve a Bellsprout to get one, which simply requires leveling the Pokemon up to Level 21 or higher.

8 Gloom

Base Stat Total: 395

• Where to Find Gloom in Pokemon Red & Blue: Routes 12, 13, 14, and 15

Gloom is another middle evolution, and actually worth having. Gloom has some pretty cool moves and has two evolution options (though one isn't generation one), which gives it the edge over a Pokemon like Weepinbell on this list. It's a bit miserable looking, sure, but that doesn't mean it can't be very useful in battle — especially with some handy status moves.

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Gloom does make good use of moves like Stun Spore, Sludge Bomb, and Giga Drain, but sadly, it is once again only given the Chlorophyll ability. Gloom appears on Routes 12, 13, 14, and 15, or, alternatively, players could just evolve an Oddish. Either way, this evolutionary line is well worth investing in for those who have the opportunity to do so.

7 Victreebel

Base Stat Total: 480

• Where to Find Victreebell in Pokemon Red & Blue: N/A (Evolve Weepinbell by Using a Leaf Stone)

For sheer power alone, Victreebel is pretty high up the pecking order when it comes to the strongest Gen 1 Grass-types. Perhaps known in the show for swallowing James of Team Rocket constantly — er, despite him being its owner — it's a pretty useful grass type to have around for the sheer fact it's a final evolution and therefore, hard to beat in battle unless there's a type advantage.

Victreebel has the same ability and moves as Weepinbell. Additionally, players can only obtain a Victreebel by evolving a Weepinbell, which requires a Leaf Stone. These can be purchased at the Celadon Department Store or found in certain locations around Kanto.

6 Tangela

Base Stat Total: 435

• Where to Find Tangela in Pokemon Red & Blue: Route 21

Tangela is a grass type that isn't hugely powerful but still useful to have around — and it has some pretty neat lore surrounding it. If it gets caught in something, it can snap off its vines and painlessly regrow them! It's also pretty rare to find in any of the games, including Pokemon GO, which edges it up the list.

Tangela's only ability is Chlorophyll. However, it does have access to solid moves like Sleep Powder, Growth, and Giga Drain. It's far from the best option when it comes to the best Gen 1 Grass-Type Pokemon, though, for those who opt for a Water or Fire-type starter, it's not a bad option to have.

5 Exeggutor

Base Stat Total: 520

• Where to Find Exeggutor in Pokemon Red & Blue: N/A (Evolve Exeggcute by Using a Leaf Stone)

Exeggutor has some different forms in the later generations and has always remained a pretty powerful Pokemon. Its dual type gives it some advantages in battle — and, admittedly, some disadvantages, but it's generally still a pretty cool addition to the team and can do some serious damage to an opponent.

Exeggutor has some very strong moves, such as Light Screen, Psychic, and Leech Seed. Unfortunately, the only way to get an Exeggutor is by evolving an Exeggcute, which needs a Leaf Stone. Luckily, Leaf Stones are purchasable at the Celadon Department Store.

Alternate Forms For Exeggutor