You finally made it to Route 7 or 8. You're playing Pokémon Red or Blue, and you see that orange, tiger-striped puppy pop up in the tall grass. It’s Growlithe. It looks cool, it’s a Fire-type—which are surprisingly rare in Kanto—and you want it on your team. But then you look at the Growlithe Gen 1 learnset and realize you’ve walked into a massive trap.
Back in 1998, Game Freak didn't exactly make things easy for us. The mechanics were clunky, the move pools were shallow, and if you used a Fire Stone too early, you basically bricked your Pokémon. Honestly, Growlithe is the poster child for "evolutionary regret" in the original games. It’s a great Pokémon trapped in a terrible system.
The Moves Growlithe Actually Learns (And What It Doesn't)
Let's get real about the numbers. In the original Red, Blue, and Yellow versions, Growlithe starts with just two moves: Bite and Roar. That’s it. If you catch one at level 18, you’re looking at a Pokémon that can't even deal STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) damage yet.
You have to grind. Hard.
Growlithe doesn't even learn Ember until level 18. Think about that for a second. In a world where Charmander starts with a Fire move, the "Fire Mouse" or "Puppy" Pokémon is just biting things for the first twenty levels of its life. If you’re playing the Yellow version, the levels shift slightly, but the struggle remains the same.
The Growlithe Gen 1 learnset is a slow burn—literally. After Ember, you have to wait until level 23 for Leer, which is basically a wasted turn in a casual playthrough. Then comes Take Down at level 30. Take Down is a risky move because of the recoil damage, and in a game where healing items cost money and bag space is limited, hurting yourself is rarely the play.
The big prize is Agility at level 39 and, finally, Flamethrower at level 50.
Wait. Level 50?
Yes. If you want the best Fire-type move in the game without burning a TM, you have to keep Growlithe in its unevolved form until level 50. Most people finish the Elite Four around level 55. This meant that for 90% of your journey through Kanto, your Growlithe was either underpowered or you were desperately saving a Fire Stone in your bag, praying you wouldn't accidentally use it.
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The Fire Stone Dilemma
In Gen 1, stones were permanent. They were also "move-pool killers."
If you used a Fire Stone on Growlithe to get Arcanine, the learning stopped. Period. Arcanine learns exactly zero moves by leveling up in Red, Blue, and Yellow. If you evolved your level 18 Growlithe because you wanted that cool legendary dog silhouette, you were stuck with Ember and Bite forever, unless you used TMs.
This is where the Growlithe Gen 1 learnset becomes a psychological test. Do you keep the cute, weaker puppy until level 50 just to get Flamethrower? Or do you evolve it for the base stat boost and settle for a mediocre moveset?
Most kids in the 90s made the mistake. They saw a Fire Stone in Celadon Mansion, used it immediately, and ended up with a level 30 Arcanine that couldn't beat a Weepinbell. It was tragic. Arcanine has a massive Base Stat Total of 555—higher than the starters and just below the Legendaries—but its move pool in Gen 1 is like a Ferrari with no gas.
TM Compatibility: Saving the Arcanine
Since the natural learnset was so restrictive, TMs were the only way to make Growlithe (or Arcanine) viable before the endgame.
You had a few options.
- TM 28 (Dig): This was a godsend. It gave Growlithe coverage against Poison and Rock types, and in Gen 1, Dig had a power of 100. It was actually better than it is in modern games.
- TM 23 (Dragon Rage): It deals a fixed 40 HP. Early on, this is a one-shot machine.
- TM 38 (Fire Blast): You get this from Blaine at the Cinnabar Island Gym. For many, this was the only way to get a powerful Fire move on an Arcanine that was evolved too early.
But even with TMs, the Growlithe Gen 1 learnset felt lacking compared to someone like Magmar or even Ninetales (who at least got Confuse Ray). Arcanine was meant to be a physical powerhouse, but in Gen 1, all Fire moves were Special. Because the Special stat was unified back then, Growlithe actually had a decent Special stat (80), but it wasn't the monster it would become in later generations once the Physical/Special split happened.
Why Yellow Version Changed the Game (Slightly)
If you were playing Pokémon Yellow, things were a bit different. Game Freak realized that waiting until level 50 for Flamethrower was insane. In Yellow, Growlithe learns Flamethrower at level 34.
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That’s a massive difference.
Suddenly, Growlithe went from a liability to a powerhouse. You could get your Flamethrower, use the Fire Stone at level 35, and have a fully powered Arcanine before you even stepped foot into Saffron City.
However, even in Yellow, the Growlithe Gen 1 learnset missed out on some key tools. It didn't get Extreme Speed (that didn't exist yet). It didn't get Flare Blitz. It was basically a vessel for Flamethrower and Fire Blast.
Comparing Growlithe to the Kanto Competition
Why bother with Growlithe at all?
If you didn't pick Charmander, your Fire-type options were slim. You had Ponyta (evolves way too late), Magmar (version exclusive and rare), Ninetales (requires a stone and has a similarly restrictive learnset), and Flareon (the "false prophet" with no moves).
Growlithe was arguably the best of the bunch because of its access to Dig and its high Attack stat, which made Body Slam (TM 08) hit like a truck. If you were smart, you taught your Growlithe Body Slam. The 30% paralysis chance combined with Arcanine's speed made it a genuine threat in link cable battles.
But let’s be honest: the Growlithe Gen 1 learnset is a relic of a time when games were designed to be cryptic and punishing. There was no move reminder. There was no "forgetting" moves easily. You made a choice, and you lived with it.
Technical Breakdown of the Moveset
To really understand the frustration, you have to look at the gaps.
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- Bite (Level 1): In Gen 1, Bite was a Normal-type move. It didn't become Dark-type until Gen 2. This meant no STAB, just a basic 60-power flinch move.
- Roar (Level 1): Completely useless in trainer battles. It literally did nothing. It only worked in the wild to end an encounter.
- Ember (Level 18/20): Weak. By the time you get it, you're fighting high-level foes.
- Leer (Level 23): Defense drop. Fine, but boring.
- Take Down (Level 30): High power, but the recoil in Gen 1 was unforgiving.
- Agility (Level 39): Great for the "Speed/Crit" glitch in Gen 1, but Growlithe was already fast.
- Flamethrower (Level 50 in RB / 34 in Y): The only reason we stayed in the fight.
If you look at that list, you realize that for thirty levels, a Growlithe is basically just a dog that knows how to tackle and bite. It’s not the fire-breathing legend the Pokédex makes it out to be.
How to Actually Use Growlithe Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re booting up an old cartridge or playing on a Virtual Console, here is the expert way to handle the Growlithe Gen 1 learnset so you don't end up with a useless Arcanine.
First, do not evolve it until you hit level 50 (Red/Blue) or level 34 (Yellow). It’s tempting to get that stat boost, but a high-stat Pokémon with Ember is worse than a mid-stat Pokémon with Flamethrower.
Second, utilize the TM for Body Slam. Since Growlithe’s Attack is higher than its Special in Gen 1, Body Slam is actually its most consistent damage dealer for the mid-game.
Third, understand the "Special" stat. In Gen 1, Special Attack and Special Defense were one single stat. Growlithe’s Special is 80. That’s okay, but it means it can’t take a Surf from a Blastoise or a Psychic from an Alakazam. You have to play it as a glass cannon.
The Verdict on Gen 1 Growlithe
Growlithe is iconic. Arcanine is legendary. But the Growlithe Gen 1 learnset is a mess. It reflects the experimental nature of the first 151 Pokémon, where move pools were often nonsensical and "stone evolutions" were essentially a trap for players who didn't have a strategy guide.
Despite the flaws, there’s something nostalgic about that struggle. The grind to level 50, the careful management of TMs, and the eventual payoff of having a massive fire dog that can sweep Blue’s Exeggutor is what made the original games special.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
- Check your version: If you’re playing Yellow, evolve Growlithe at level 34. If you’re on Red or Blue, wait until level 50.
- Don't waste the Fire Blast TM: Save it for Arcanine if you accidentally evolved Growlithe too early and missed Flamethrower.
- Prioritize Speed and Attack: Since Fire is Special in Gen 1, but Arcanine’s Attack is 110, use TMs like Double-Edge or Hyper Beam to capitalize on its raw power.
- Watch out for Ground types: With the prevalence of Earthquake and Dig in the Kanto meta, Growlithe is a liability against Giovanni or Bruno. Switch out immediately.