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Daily Red tips: how to beat Red

Red's team never changes, so you can prepare. Here is what every Red Pokémon does, which of the 30 Daily Red sets counter each one best, and the habits that keep your streak alive.

Ten quick tips

  1. Plan before turn one. Look at your six, decide who handles each of Red's Pokémon, and keep that plan — our daily page does it for you.
  2. Lead with something that beats Pikachu. Ground types are immune to its Electric moves; Levitate and Volt Absorb also work.
  3. Switching uses your turn. Only switch when the incoming Pokémon resists or is immune to the attack you expect.
  4. Don't waste your Snorlax answer. Snorlax is the biggest wall; keep a strong physical or Fighting attacker healthy for it.
  5. Espeon is faster than all but 5 of the 30 sets (Jolteon, Alakazam, Gengar, Starmie, Sceptile). Hit it with Dark, Ghost or Bug moves, or take its Psychic with a Dark or Steel type.
  6. Rock moves do 4× to Charizard. If you have Rock Slide, that's your Charizard plan.
  7. Mind accuracy. Thunder, Hydro Pump and Fire Blast miss often; in a close race take the 100% move.
  8. Status changes the math. Paralysis from Body Slam or Static can flip a matchup you were winning on Speed.
  9. Use practice runs. They don't count, so test the risky lines first and play the official battle with a plan.
  10. Check the matchup rating. On Brutal days, aim to take down as many of Red's six as you can — every KO shows on your share grid.

How to beat Red's Pikachu

Red always opens with Pikachu holding Light Ball, which doubles its Special Attack. Thunderbolt and Thunder hit very hard, but Ground types take nothing from them, and Levitate or Volt Absorb also blank them. Watch for Iron Tail on Rock types and Quick Attack to finish weakened Pokémon.

Best counters from the Daily Red pool:

  1. Rhydon — Earthquake 416–490%; takes 19–22% from Iron Tail
  2. Donphan — Earthquake 393–462%; takes 10–12% from Iron Tail
  3. Flygon — Earthquake 347–408%; takes 18–21% from Iron Tail, moves first
  4. Swampert — Earthquake 337–397%; takes 6–7% from Quick Attack
  5. Camerupt — Earthquake 251–295%; takes 7–8% from Quick Attack

How to beat Red's Espeon

Espeon is the fastest thing on Red's team and hits hard with Psychic, plus Shadow Ball and Bite for coverage. Dark types shrug off Psychic entirely; Steel types resist it. Kill it fast — it rarely gets a second chance to hurt you if you hit it super effectively.

Best counters from the Daily Red pool:

  1. Scizor — Silver Wind 121–142%; takes 32–37% from Psychic
  2. Houndoom — Crunch 90–106%; takes 13–16% from Bite
  3. Rhydon — Megahorn 160–188%; takes 66–78% from Psychic
  4. Metagross — Meteor Mash 94–110%; takes 24–28% from Bite
  5. Tyranitar — Crunch 64–76%; takes 10–11% from Bite

How to beat Red's Snorlax

Snorlax has by far the most HP and great Special Defense, plus Leftovers. Special attacks bounce off; bring your strongest physical move, ideally Fighting. Body Slam can paralyze, and Earthquake, Shadow Ball and Rock Slide mean almost nothing walls it for free.

Best counters from the Daily Red pool:

  1. Machamp — Cross Chop 98–115%; takes 39–46% from Body Slam, moves first
  2. Breloom — Sky Uppercut 76–89%; takes 43–51% from Body Slam, moves first
  3. Donphan — Earthquake 46–54%; takes 28–33% from Body Slam, moves first
  4. Heracross — Brick Break 65–77%; takes 52–62% from Body Slam, moves first
  5. Rhydon — Earthquake 49–57%; takes 41–48% from Earthquake, moves first

How to beat Red's Venusaur

Venusaur (Grass/Poison) is weak to Fire, Ice, Flying and Psychic. Its Miracle Seed Giga Drain heals it, and Earthquake catches the Fire and Electric types that come in to beat it.

Best counters from the Daily Red pool:

  1. Camerupt — Eruption 116–137%; takes 48–56% from Earthquake
  2. Gardevoir — Psychic 87–102%; takes 42–50% from Sludge Bomb, moves first
  3. Gengar — Psychic 54–64%; takes 22–26% from Giga Drain, moves first
  4. Alakazam — Psychic 91–108%; takes 62–73% from Sludge Bomb, moves first
  5. Metagross — Psychic 52–61%; takes 32–38% from Earthquake, moves first

How to beat Red's Charizard

Charizard takes 4× from Rock moves and 2× from Water and Electric. Its Earthquake punishes Electric types that switch in, and Dragon Claw is its answer to Dragons.

Best counters from the Daily Red pool:

  1. Rhydon — Rock Slide 223–263%; takes 35–41% from Dragon Claw
  2. Tyranitar — Rock Slide 209–246%; takes 34–40% from Earthquake
  3. Aggron — Rock Slide 198–234%; takes 66–78% from Flamethrower
  4. Machamp — Rock Slide 149–176%; takes 45–53% from Flamethrower
  5. Starmie — Surf 109–129%; takes 34–40% from Dragon Claw, moves first

How to beat Red's Blastoise

Blastoise is Red's last Pokémon. Electric and Grass are super effective; Ice Beam, Earthquake and Brick Break give it a hit against nearly everything, so finish it before it chips you down.

Best counters from the Daily Red pool:

  1. Ludicolo — Giga Drain 45–53%; takes 26–30% from Ice Beam, moves first
  2. Starmie — Thunderbolt 46–54%; takes 28–33% from Surf, moves first
  3. Gardevoir — Thunderbolt 59–69%; takes 41–49% from Surf, moves first
  4. Gyarados — Double-Edge 35–42%; takes 19–22% from Ice Beam, moves first
  5. Jolteon — Thunderbolt 80–94%; takes 69–81% from Earthquake, moves first

Daily Red FAQ

What is Daily Red?

Daily Red is a free, Wordle-style daily Pokémon battle at daily-red.com. Everyone gets the same six level 100 Pokémon each day and gets one official battle against Red, then shares a result grid with #DailyRed.

Does Red's team change?

No. Red always uses Pikachu, Espeon, Snorlax, Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise with the same sets, and always leads with Pikachu. Only your six change.

What battle rules does Daily Red use?

Battles run on the Pokémon Showdown simulator with Generation 3 rules — so Gen 3 abilities, items and the physical/special split by type apply.

Can I practise before my official battle?

Yes. Practice runs are not recorded and never touch your streak. Only the first official battle each day counts.

What happens if I close the tab mid-battle?

Daily Red saves an unfinished official battle so you can pick it up where you stopped. A battle that is never finished counts as a loss.

When does the new Daily Red team come out?

At midnight in your own local time zone, so players in different countries switch days at different moments.

See the Daily Red tier list, every Daily Red Pokémon set, or today's team and counter plan.