Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen: The ultimate queer-coded team for your playthrough

Pokémon fans are returning (yet again!) to Kanto with the release of classic games FireRed and LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch.

The iconic games, remakes of the original Gen I games released in Japan, have become available to mark Pokemon Day 2026, which also coincides with the brand’s 30th anniversary.

Now, if you were a small child when the games first came out, and have since evolved into a joyous, queer individual, or you’re playing them for the first time and want to inject your team with some big gay energy, we’ve thought up the perfect team for you.

Spoiler alert: queer icon Ditto is not included because, well, it’s just not that useful in battles. But we still love you, Ditto!

Squirtle

We hear you – what about floral femme Bulbasaur, or brooding twink Charmander? Both great options, and we’re not prepared to get into the “Best Starter Pokémon” debate.

But for our run-through, Squirtle is the only choice. He’s bringing some clear himbo vibes, especially if you remember the iconic Squirtle Squad from the anime.

Evolve him into Blastoise, and you’ve got a beefy daddy. Gay Pokémon fans have even been editing their bodies over pictures of Blastoise‘s shells on social media in a show of body positivity. Honestly, he’s the perfect choice.

Butterfree

Almost everyone’s first introduction to evolution. Catch a Caterpie in the early game, evolve it to Metapod at lvl7, then at lvl10 you get a beautiful (and actually quite useful) Butterfree.

Butterfree is there to bring some early razzle-dazzle and is the embodiment of transformation and finding yourself, and she’s got the added appeal of glitter and sparkles.

Yes, your Butterfree might find itself stuck in a box pretty soon, but no queer-coded team is complete without its stunning sparkling eyes and tricky moves. Don’t forget, it learns Psybeam itself and can learn moves like Giga Drain, SolarBeam and Psychic via TM.

So don’t count out that little butterfly.

Rapidash

Honestly, we wanted to include Ninetales. She’s giving camp, she’s giving burlesque, she’s bringing the fire. But she’s exclusive to LeafGreen, and we’re all about inclusivity.

So we looked instead to Rapidash because, well, it’s a literal unicorn. A flaming unicorn.

Need we say more?

Jynx

Admit it, you saw this one coming.

She is camp personified. The psychic-ice queen in full drag. Yes, she’s had her controversies and continues to be a topic of debate, but you can’t ignore she’s one of the most overtly queer Pokémon, well, ever!

Jynx has a pretty unique way to obtain her too. You have to trade an NPC in Cerulean City a Poliwhirl, and get a Jynx in return. She’s not getting her hair messed up in the wild. It’s giving diva.

Plus, her shiny form (if you’re lucky enough) is completely pink. Camp!

Clefable

Yes, elusive chanteuse Jigglypuff might be more obvious, but we want your queer-coded team to at least have a shot at beating the Elite 4.

Clefairy is an obvious swap-out. She’s, well, a fairy (though fairy type is not a thing in the Gen I games, sadly) and can be caught early on in Mt Moon. Give her a Moon Stone, and you’ve got your Clefable.

Evolve her too soon, though, and you lose the move pool available to Clefairy. She’s not one of those queens who peaked in high school, she needs to find herself first.

If you ignore our advice, though, there are an abundance of powerful moves you can teach Clefable via TM such as Blizzard, Hyper Beam, Thunder, Flamethrower and Brick Break. Or just have your Clefairy learn Metronome at lvl29 and you can use any move (at random). Clefable proves time and time again that she’s vers.

You can also breed her (probably with a Ditto, let’s be honest) and you’ll get the adorable baby Pokémon Cleffa. Did somebody say: “MOTHER!”

Cubone

Maybe not an obvious choice, but please, let us explain.

Cubone is every little gay boy who loves his mum. It loves its mum so much that it wears the skull of its dead mother on its head. No, we don’t understand necessarily how that’s possible when Pokémon can’t die in the games, and Cubone has its skull armour when it hatches from an egg, but that’s what official Pokémon game text tells us.

Almost every gay man has that one diva they worship – and the first female icon in their lives is usually always their own mum.

So as an ode to that special relationship between a gay son and his mum, we had to include Cubone. We also, ahem, just needed a bit more balance and type coverage. And you can evolve him into a Marowak if you must. You’re welcome.

Special shout-outs to camp Hollywood icon Mr Mime, ultra femme Starmie (exclusive to LeafGreen), angsty teen evolving into its best self Vileplume (exclusive to FireRed) and Eevee, who proves you can be anything you want to be.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.