More than two decades after release, one of the most frustrating bugs in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen has finally been fixed. Players have confirmed that the infamous Roaming Roar bug, which could permanently delete Legendary Pokémon from the game, no longer happens in the latest Switch version of the classic titles.
This silent fix surprised many fans because the new release was expected to be a simple port without major changes. Instead, the update removes a glitch that has annoyed players since 2004.
Game Freak Fixes Legendary Despawn Bug in FireRed & LeafGreen
In the original Game Boy Advance versions, players could lose Raikou or Entei permanently due to a bug triggered during roaming encounters.
These Legendary Pokémon appear after the main story and move randomly across the map. The problem happened when the Pokémon used the move Roar, which ended the battle.
Instead of escaping normally, the game treated the encounter as if the Pokémon was defeated. Once this happened, the Legendary disappeared forever from the save file.
For many players, this meant restarting the entire game just to try catching them again.
What Was the Roaming Roar Bug?
The bug affected roaming Legendary encounters in the post-game.
Here is how the glitch worked:
- After finishing the main story, players unlock roaming Legendary beasts
- The Legendary depends on the starter you choose
- During battle, the Pokémon may use Roar
- The game mistakenly removes the Pokémon from the world
- The Legendary never appears again in that save
Starter choice determined which Pokémon you encountered:
| Starter | Legendary |
|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Entei |
| Squirtle | Raikou |
| Charmander | Suicune |
Only Entei and Raikou were affected because they can use Roar.
How Players Avoided the Bug in the Original Games
Veteran players learned ways to reduce the risk.
Common methods included:
- Saving the Master Ball for roaming Legendaries
- Using abilities like Soundproof
- Using moves that prevent fleeing
- Resetting the game after failed encounters
Even with these tricks, the bug made post-game hunting stressful.
Because of this, the fix is considered a huge improvement for the modern release.
Bug Confirmed Fixed in Switch Version
Players testing the new Switch port noticed that the bug no longer occurs.
Gameplay footage shows Raikou using Roar, but the Pokémon still appears later on the map instead of disappearing permanently. This confirms the issue has been corrected in the updated version.
This change allows players to hunt Legendaries without fear of losing them forever.
Other Changes Found in the New Port
The Switch release also includes small quality-of-life updates.
Reported improvements include:
- More stable roaming encounters
- Easier access to post-game content
- Event tickets unlocked after Hall of Fame
- Minor bug fixes not listed officially
These changes make the classic games smoother while keeping the original gameplay.
The Roar bug was one of the most famous issues in Pokémon history. Fixing it after 22 years shows that the developers are willing to improve old games even in simple re-releases.
For new players, the change removes one of the biggest frustrations in the post-game. For longtime fans, it finally makes catching Raikou and Entei safe without needing workarounds.
It may be a small change, but for longtime fans, this fix makes the new port feel far more polished than expected. Play Now!
