In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, there are three legendary Pokemon: Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Articuno is an "Ice / Flying" type pokemon and you will find it inside the "Foam Sea Islands", along route 20. Zapdos is an "Electric / Flying" type pokemon and you can catch it inside the "Power Plant", at the entrance located in the "Rocky Tunnel". Moltres is a "Fire / Flying" type pokemon and you will find it at the top of "Mount Ember", located on "Primisola". These wild Pokemon are very strong, so make sure you bring at least 30 "Ultra Balls" with you.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Articuno
Step 1. You will find Articuno within the "Spumarine Islands"
Articuno is a legendary "Ice / Flying" type pokemon. He is the weakest of the three legendary pokemon, but unlike Moltres, he is not as easy to catch. Fly to the city of "Fuchsia City", then use the "Surf" move to head south and access Route 19. Once at your destination, use the "Surf" move to head left and take Route 20 towards " Spumarine Islands ". Once there, enter the archipelago. To reach Articuno, you will have to go through a labyrinth of ice and rapids.
To reach Articuno, you need your pokémon to know the "Strength" and "Surf" moves. Along the way you will have to solve a complicated environmental puzzle that involves moving some rocks
Step 2. Be ready
Bring some units of "Repellent" with you to avoid being attacked by other wild pokemon. Also make sure you have at least 30 "Ultra Balls". Even though Articuno is the weakest Legendary Pokemon of the three, it still remains very strong. If in the middle of the fight you run out of "Ultra Ball", you will no longer be able to catch Articuno.
Before starting the fight, always save your game progress. After spotting Articuno, be sure to save your game before trying to catch it. This will ensure that you can try again if the first attempt is unsuccessful
Step 3. Consider adding "Seel" or "Dewgong" to your team
These two pokemon take 1/8 of the damage normally dealt by "Ice" attacks, and Articuno only has the "Ice Beam" attack. Try to catch a specimen of "Seel" inside the cave you encounter along the way to get to Articuno.
To make the battle easier, give "Seel" or "Dewgong" the "Leftover" tool. When a pokemon has the "Leftover" tool, it is able to gradually recover the health points lost during the fight. You can find the "Advance" tool along routes 12 and 16, hidden where you will encounter a sleeping "Snorlaxes"
Step 4. Capture Articuno
The safest way to catch this legendary pokemon is to weaken it until its health bar turns red and then use an attack that causes its status to alter. Attacks that cause "Freeze" or "Sleep" are best. However, the attacks that cause the "Paralysis" may be the easiest way to go because it is an alteration of state that does not change during the course of the fight. Keep throwing your "Ultra Balls" until it blocks and make sure you don't weaken it too much or knock it out before you can catch it.
Avoid attacks that generate a "Poison" or "Burn" status alteration as it causes continuous damage to the pokemon in question. Otherwise you run the risk of killing Articuno before you can catch it
Part 2 of 3: Zapdos
Step 1. Find Zapdos inside the "Power Plant"
Zapdos is the hardest Legendary Pokemon to catch, but it's relatively easy to find. Once you have the "Surf" special move inside the "Safari Zone", fly to the entrance located in the "Rock Tunnel", then walk up towards the grassy patch. Now go through the open fence and use the "Surf" move to head down the river to the "Power Plant". Once you reach your destination, enter the "Power Plant" and proceed anticlockwise inside the building until you reach Zapdos.
You'll know you've spotted Zapdos when you see a pokemon bird appear standing along the path, outside the fight screen
Step 2. Prepare for the fight
Make sure you have at least 35 "Ultra Balls" with you, also consider using a "Master Ball" if you want Zapdos to be absolutely part of your pokemon team. Since you will encounter many very strong "Electric" type pokemon, also bring a couple of units of "Repellent" with you to be able to move more easily around the plant.
Step 3. Take a pokemon with you that can resist the "Perforbick" move
This is the only attack used by Zapdos, so having a pokemon resistant to this move will greatly simplify the fight. The pokemon "Geodude" and "Graveler" are perfect for this purpose: they are resistant to all "Flying" attacks, have strong defenses and are immune to the "Thunder Wave" move. Do not use this pokemon to make your way inside the "Power Plant", save it for the fight with Zapdos.
- Give your pokemon the "Leftover" tool. It will allow him to recover the energy lost during the battle.
- If you have the pokemon "Geodude" or "Graveler", use the move "RicciolScudo" several times. This will further increase their defenses.
Step 4. Capture Zapdos
This fight will prove to be very difficult indeed, but don't despair, you will succeed! Once you've spotted Zapdos, be sure to save your game progress before taking on him in combat. During the fight you must bring his energy bar into the red zone and then use an attack that provides a status alteration of the type "Sleep", "Paralysis" or "Freezing". When the pokemon is weak enough, start throwing your "Ultra Balls", without stopping, until you have captured it.
When the battle is over, save your game so you don't lose all the work you've done so far
Part 3 of 3: Moltres
Step 1. Look for Moltres on the summit of "Monte Brace"
Moltres is the easiest Legendary Pokemon to catch, but it takes a long time to spot and the road to it is lined with obstacles. First make sure you beat the seventh gym boss of "Cinnamon Island" and get the "Tri-Pass" from Bill. Find the road to "Primisola" (starting from "Settipelago"), then head to the top of "Monte Brace". In order to overcome the obstacles scattered along the way, you will need to bring pokemon with you that know the moves "Surf", "Strength" and "Rock Smash".
- Moltres is the only legendary pokemon whose position differs from the original one in the "Red" and "Blue" versions of the game. In such versions you can find Moltres along "Via Vittoria".
- The special moves "Surf", "Strength" and "Rock Smash" can only be learned by certain pokemon. If you haven't acquired them yet, find out where to find all the special moves in the game.
Step 2. Get ready
Make sure you have at least 30 "Ultra Balls". Also bring some units of "Max Repellent" with you, as the road to Moltres is long and dotted with many very strong wild pokemon.
Step 3. Bring a pokemon with the "Flame Flare" ability
This trick will make the pokemon in question immune to the only two types of attacks used by Moltres. This will make the fight much easier and Moltres will no longer be able to harm you!
The "Vulpix" pokemon possesses the "Flame Flare" ability, as does "Ponyta". You can catch the latter just outside the "Mount Ember", where you will meet Moltres. The pokemon "Ponyta" is immune to Moltres' attacks for the duration of the fight, so its level and number of energy points will not matter
Step 4. Capture Moltres
Make sure you save your game progress before starting the fight. The most effective way to capture Moltres is to bring its energy level up to the red zone of its gauge, and then use an attack that provides a status alteration of the type "Freeze", "Sleep" or "Paralysis". Once Moltres is weakened enough, you can start throwing your "Ultra Balls" until you have captured him.
Advice
- Don't be afraid to use the "Master Balls". Just make sure you want these Pokemon at all costs!
- To be able to catch these Pokemon, you will need to know some special moves: "Rock Smash", "Strength" and "Surf".
- If, before giving yourself a chance to catch it, one of the Pokemon in question should die, turn off the video game, restart it and try again by loading your last save. Now you know why it is very important to always save your game progress before facing every single Legendary Pokemon.
- Failing to catch these Pokemon on the first try can be very frustrating, but if you persevere you will be able to achieve your goal. Catching these special Pokemon is a process that takes a lot of time and patience.
- Zapdos' "Thunder Wave" can Paralyze your Pokémon. Moltres's "Flamethrower" move can burn it, while Articuno's "Ice Beam" move can freeze it.
Warnings
- Watch out for Zapdos' "Thunder Wave" move, it causes your Pokemon to paralyze.
- Watch out for Articuno's "Ice Beam" move, it could freeze your Pokemon.
- Watch out for Moltres' "Flamethrower" move, it can burn your Pokemon.
- Don't use a type of attack that can poison or burn Pokemon. These moves could knock out Legendary Pokemon before giving you a chance to catch them!
- Always save your game progress before facing a legendary Pokemon. In this case, if you have to leave the game because you are feeling too frustrated, you will not lose any unsaved data! Also, if you fail to catch the Pokemon on the first try, this will give you the option to restart the game at any time and try again. In addition, be sure to save your game immediately as soon as you have captured each of the Legendary Pokemon. That way your hard work won't be in vain!
- During official competitions, the use of Gameshark codes to catch a Pokemon will be immediately evident. Therefore only use them if you are not interested in participating.
