Game Boy · 1998
Pokémon Yellow
Region: Kanto · Generation 1
Pick your starter
Walkthrough
- 01
Pikachu Edition twist
Your starter is Pikachu, your rival picks Eevee, and you can collect all three Kanto starters as gifts.
- Bulbasaur: Cerulean City — talk to the woman with high Pikachu happiness.
- Charmander: Route 24 — from a trainer just past Nugget Bridge.
- Squirtle: Vermilion City — Officer Jenny gives him to you after earning the Cascade Badge.
- 02
Gym order is identical to Red/Blue
Brock → Misty → Surge → Erika → Koga → Sabrina → Blaine → Giovanni.
- Brock now uses Geodude/Onix at Lv. 10/12 — slightly easier.
- Misty's Starmie has BubbleBeam — Bulbasaur (Vine Whip) is the cleanest answer if you grabbed it.
- Erika: brings a Tangela; Charmander handles her whole team if you have it.
- 03
Surge becomes harder
Pikachu can't beat Surge — pick up Sandshrew, Diglett, or use Charmander before challenging him.
- Diglett's Cave is just west of Vermilion — Diglett (Lv. 15+) with Dig wins easily.
- Sandshrew is a trade in Cerulean (give Spearow to NPC).
- Surge: Raichu Lv. 28 with Mega Kick — fast but frail. Ground move ends it in one.
Pro tips
- Talk to Pikachu often — high friendship unlocks animations and a happiness gift.
- Pikachu learns Surf from a Stadium minigame in Pokémon Stadium — otherwise it can't.
- All three starters are obtainable in one playthrough — no version exclusives early.
Post-game
- Same as Red/Blue: Mewtwo + Cerulean Cave + completing the Kanto dex.