If you’re running through Kanto or Hoenn in the mid-2000s classics, you’ve probably felt that itch. You have a Growlithe. You have a Fire Stone. The temptation to instantly transform that cute orange puppy into the legendary-status beast, Arcanine, is almost unbearable. But if you pull that trigger too early in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, or Emerald, you might just ruin your Pokémon.
Gen 3 was a weird time for the Growlithe learnset. It wasn’t like the modern games where you can just visit a Move Relearner and fix your mistakes for the price of a Heart Scale. Back then, stones were "evolutionary dead ends" for level-up moves. If you evolved Growlithe at level 15, your Arcanine would basically stop learning anything new forever, except for ExtremeSpeed at level 49.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a trap for new players.
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The Level-Up Grind: When to Evolve?
In the third generation, Growlithe's level-up pool is surprisingly deep, but it’s a slow burn. Most people want that sweet Flamethrower. In Gen 3, Growlithe doesn't pick that up until Level 49. Yeah, you read that right. If you want the most reliable Fire-type move in the game without burning a high-value Technical Machine (TM35), you’re stuck with a puppy until the doorstep of the Elite Four.
Here is the breakdown of what actually matters in the level-up path:
- Bite (Level 1): In Gen 3, all Dark moves are Special. Since Growlithe has a decent base 70 Special Attack, this is actually okay for early-game coverage against Psychic and Ghost types.
- Flame Wheel (Level 31): This is your bread and butter for a long time. It’s Physical in Gen 3 (since all Fire moves were Special back then—wait, no, actually Fire is Special in Gen 3, but Flame Wheel feels like it should be physical. My bad, it's Special. Everything Fire is Special until Gen 4). It has 60 power. It’s... fine.
- Agility (Level 43): Great for competitive sets, but usually overkill for a standard playthrough.
- Flamethrower (Level 49): The holy grail. 95 Power, 100 Accuracy.
If you use that Fire Stone at Level 20, you lose access to all of this. Arcanine only learns ExtremeSpeed (Normal, 80 Power) at Level 49. If you evolve early, you better have some TMs ready, or you'll be stuck with Ember for a very long time.
Breeding and the "Egg Move" Secret
If you want a truly terrifying Growlithe, you aren't looking at the level-up list. You’re looking at breeding. Gen 3 introduced some massive buffs through the Egg Move system.
Basically, if you pair a female Growlithe or Arcanine with a compatible male from the Field Egg Group, you can inherit moves the puppy could never learn otherwise. The big one? Crunch.
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By breeding with something like a Girafarig or Seaward, you can pass down Crunch (80 Power, Special in Gen 3). This gives Growlithe a massive leg up against the Elite Four's Agatha. You can also snag Body Slam or Heat Wave if you’re playing on Emerald and have access to specific Tutors or breeding chains.
The Physical vs. Special Struggle
One thing that trips up Gen 3 players is the Physical/Special split—or rather, the lack of one. In FireRed and Emerald, move types determine if they use the Attack or Special Attack stat.
Fire = Special.
Dark = Special.
Normal = Physical.
Ground/Steel = Physical.
Growlithe has equal base 70 Attack and Special Attack. Arcanine jumps to 110 Attack and 100 Special Attack. This means your Flamethrower is hitting hard, but your ExtremeSpeed and Return (TM27) are actually your strongest options.
A lot of experts, like those over at Smogon, suggest a "Mixed Attacker" build for Gen 3. You want enough Fire power to melt Skarmory, but enough Physical beef to crush anything else.
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The "I Can't Wait" Moveset (TM Dependent)
If you have zero patience and want to evolve your Growlithe immediately, you have to lean on TMs. It’s expensive, but it works.
- Flamethrower (TM35): You can buy this at the Celadon Game Corner. It costs 4,000 coins, which is a grind, but it saves you from waiting until level 49.
- Dig (TM28): Essential for coverage against Rock and Poison types.
- Iron Tail (TM23): It has shaky accuracy (75%), but it’s one of the few ways to hit Rock types for heavy damage.
- Aerial Ace (TM40): Never misses. Perfect for those annoying Double Team spammers.
Hidden Power: The Pro Strategy
If you are playing competitively or just want to min-max your Kanto journey, you have to look at Hidden Power (TM10). Since Growlithe struggles against Water and Rock, a Hidden Power type like Grass or Electric is a godsend.
Calculating the IVs to get the right Hidden Power in Gen 3 is a nightmare, but if you happen to luck into a Grass-type Hidden Power, your Growlithe becomes an absolute monster that can actually stay in against a Blastoise.
Actionable Steps for Your Team
Stop and think before you use that stone. If you're playing through the game right now, here is the most efficient way to handle the Growlithe learnset in Gen 3:
- Check your TMs first. If you don't have the 4,000 coins for the Flamethrower TM in Celadon City, do not evolve until level 49.
- Breed for Crunch if you are at the start of your journey. It makes the mid-game much smoother.
- Visit the Move Tutor in FireRed/LeafGreen (Two Island) if you need Double-Edge, but remember the recoil damage can be nasty on a Pokémon with average HP.
- Prioritize Intimidate. While Flash Fire is okay, the Intimidate ability is arguably the best ability in Gen 3 for domesticating physical attackers before they can touch you.
The "Puppy Pokémon" is a powerhouse, but only if you have the discipline to let it grow up at its own pace. Once you hit level 49 and see that "Growlithe learned Flamethrower" message, slap that Fire Stone on, teach it ExtremeSpeed immediately via the Move Relearner or level up, and you'll have the best Fire type in the Kanto dex.