Pokémon fans are well accustomed to the difficult choice of selecting a partner Pokémon at the start of any main game, but Fire Red and Leaf Green have additional decisions to make, including the choice between the Helix Fossil and Dome Fossil.
The Game Boy classic was re-released on Nintendo Switch platforms on February 27, 2026, opening the door to Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green for a new generation. While it results in an abundance of nostalgia, it also leads to some tough decisions throughout.
If you’re on the fence and can’t decide between the Helix Fossil or Dome Fossil in Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green, Insider Gaming is here to help.
Should You Choose Helix Or Dome Fossil?
The choice between the Helix and Dome Fossil in Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green is largely a personal one, as both Pokémon they lead to have their own strengths or weaknesses.
Choosing the Helix Fossils leads to the revival of Omanyte, which evolves into Omastar at level 40. Omastar has a higher defence and higher special attack than its Dome Fossil counterpart, but is considerably slower.
Meanwhile, choosing the Dome Fossil results in Kabuto’s revival, which evolves into Kabutops at level 40. Kabutops’ main strength compared to Omastar is its speed, and it also boasts a higher regular attack stat. Ultimately, it depends what you’re looking for on team composition.
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Both Fossil Pokémon have the Rock/Water typing, giving them the same strengths and weaknesses. This includes a four-times weakness to Grass-type moves, so you need to be extremely careful who you select them to battle against.
Whichever option you choose, you won’t be able to utilize the Pokémon they lead to until much later in the story. Reviving fossils is only available when you reach Cinnabar Island, a long while after you select the fossil of choice in Mt. Moon.
Can You Get Both Fossils In Pokémon Fire Red & Leaf Green?
No, you cannot obtain both the Helix Fossil and Dome Fossil in Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green. Instead, it’s a simple choice of one or the other.
This means trading is required with another player who selected the opposite fossil to you to complete the Pokédex. Fortunately, both Fossil Pokémon can be bred with Ditto at the Daycare to provide eggs, making it easier than it was in the original Red and Blue games to mark all the Pokémon off your list.
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While you can’t get your hands on the Helix and Dome Fossil, you can at least revive another Fossil Pokémon, Aerodactyl, at Cinnabar Island by handing in the Old Amber.
Which fossil did you select in your Fire Red and Leaf Green playthrough? Share your decision in the Insider Gaming Discord.
For more Pokémon, read about Pokopia being the highest-rated game in the franchise’s history, and take a look at the complete Fire Red and Leaf Green Pokédex.
