Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Guide | How to Catch Moltres and Shiny Moltres

You can start hunting Moltres after beating Blaine and getting access to the Sevii Islands. In Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen, Moltres is on One Island, not in Victory Road like in the original games. This is the earliest point where you can shiny hunt it.

Before heading out, make sure you are fully prepared. Bring plenty of healing items, lots of Ultra Balls, and many Max Repels. You also need a Pokémon that knows Strength because a few boulders block the path. You can come back later after beating the Elite Four if you want stronger Pokémon and better items, but it is not required.

How to Reach Mount Ember

Once you are ready, head to the top area of One Island. Max Repels matter a lot here, since there are many wild encounters along the way. There are also several trainers along the route. Some can be avoided, but others are difficult to dodge.

Keep following the path up. There are trainer battles on the route, including a pair with Machop and Machoke. A strong Flying-type or Psychic-type helps here. After that, continue surfing and move toward Mount Ember.

The Correct Path to Moltres

Inside Mount Ember, go in the direction shown by the route. You will need to push boulders, which is why Strength is necessary. There are also breakable rocks in the area, but you do not need Rock Smash at all. Only Strength is required.

Move deeper into the cave and keep climbing. Use another Repel when one runs out. Go up the steps, continue through the cave, and keep heading higher. After leaving through the next cave exit, climb again until you reach the ladder area near the top.

There is a small Strength puzzle here. It is simple. Push the boulders to clear the path, and you will reach Moltres.

How to Shiny Hunt Moltres

When you reach Moltres, save the game right in front of it. This is the key step. To check for a shiny, press A and start the encounter. If it is not shiny, hold X, Y, A, and B to perform a soft reset. Then load your save and try again.

The shiny odds for Moltres are 1 in 8,192, and there is no way to increase them in this game. That makes this a full odds hunt, so patience matters. Make sure you have enough items for the battle so you do not lose the shiny if it appears.