Where to Find and Catch Dratini In Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

If you are a Pokémon fan with a deep-seated love for the first generation like me, you already know the unwritten rule: Dragonite is a non-negotiable must-have in your party.

As one of the coolest Dragon-type Pokémon in existence, its iconic status remains unmatched, which just got reinforced by the re-release of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch 1 and 2.

However, getting your hands on a Dragonite always starts with finding a Dratini, meaning that the hunt for one of them is back on, repeating the history of how the first form of Kanto’s only Dragon-type evolutionary line became one of the most coveted captures in this classic duo of games, back in the 2000s.

This guide covers how exactly to obtain one for your team, since it is quite a powerful Pokémon for late-game challenges. But be warned that it may require a good deal of patience, or a very deep pocket full of PokéDollars. So let’s walk through the two primary ways to secure a Dratini and also how to eventually evolve it into the mighty Dragonite.

The Earliest Way to Get Dratini in FireRed and LeafGreen

For players who don't want to wait until the end of the game, it is possible to obtain Dratini before you even earn your fourth Gym Badge, meaning it is possible to catch one quite early in the story.

This is literally the fastest method of guaranteeing a Dratini and is through the Rocket Game Corner in Celadon City, where the Pokémon is available at the prize exchange counter for 2,800 coins. In FireRed, it will be Level 18. In LeafGreen, it will be Level 24.

It indeed is a high price, but there are some ways of quickly getting all these coins. One of the most efficient ways is buying the coins directly at the counter, but you will need a hefty 56,000 PokéDollars to complete the transaction. To boost your earnings, you can sell valuable items like Nuggets and Tiny Mushrooms, and battle every possible trainer along the way to earn cash from your victories. But it is truly possible to gather all this money at this point in the story. You just need a bit of financial organization, a touch of patience, and a little encouragement from this guide writer: yes, you can do it!

But hey, if you’d rather not spend your hard-earned cash, you can try your luck at the slot machines or explore the casino floor. There are also hidden coins scattered on the ground and certain NPCs who may gift you a few units, though these alternative methods are significantly more time-consuming and far from guaranteed.

How to Catch a Wild Dratini

If you prefer the thrill of the hunt, the only place to find a wild Dratini is within the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City.

The good news is that the only requirement is owning the Super Rod. However, the bad news is that the Super Rod is only obtained once you have progressed considerably through the game.

That’s because the Super Rod in FireRed & LeafGreen is found after obtaining the Poké Flute and waking up the sleeping Snorlax. After that, fly to Lavender Town and head south down Route 12 until you find a small cottage with a blue rooftop located on a small island between two bridges. Inside lives the Master Fisherman NPC, who will grant you the Super Rod if you speak with him.

With the Super Rod in hand, Dratini can be fished out of any pond of water within the Safari Zone. However, your chances of success for an encounter are considerably higher in the deeper areas, specifically Zones 2 and 3. It is highly recommended to use a Repel to traverse the tall grass and reach these fishing spots without being interrupted by wild encounters, keeping your focus on the Dragon-type Pokémon.

Just keep in mind that since this is the Safari Zone, catching Dratini can be tricky as it tends to flee quickly. Since you cannot use status effects like Sleep or Paralysis here, using Bait may help keep it in the encounter longer, though it makes the catch itself harder. It is a test of persistence and patience, but one that pays off in the end!

How to Evolve Dratini into Dragonite

Training a Dratini requires extra dedication, as it requires many experience points, because it evolves into Dragonair upon reaching Level 30 and only achieves its final, imposing form, Dragonite, at the high Level 55.

To speed up this process, using the Exp. Share item is fundamental, allowing Dratini to gain experience passively while your stronger Pokémon handle the heavy lifting in battle. Another smart strategy is to save your Rare Candies for those final levels after Level 50, when natural progression becomes a bit exhausting. Good luck!