Pokemon Yellow is a role-playing video game developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld console. It was first released in Japan in 1998, and later in North America, Europe, and Australia in 1999.
The game is an enhanced version of the original Pokemon Red and Blue games, and is based on the anime series. In Pokemon Yellow, the player takes on the role of a young trainer who sets out on a journey to become the best Pokemon trainer in the world. Along the way, they must capture and train various Pokemon creatures, battle other trainers, and ultimately face off against the Elite Four and the Champion to become the new Pokemon Master.
Pokemon Yellow Starters
In Pokemon Yellow, the player starts with Pikachu as their starter Pokemon instead of the traditional three starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle) from Pokemon Red and Blue. However, the player can still obtain all three of the traditional starters throughout the game.
Here’s how to obtain each of the three traditional starters in Pokemon Yellow:
- Bulbasaur: After defeating the Cerulean City gym leader Misty, the player can backtrack to Cerulean City and enter a small building on the north side of town. Inside, they will find a man who will offer to give them a Bulbasaur.
- Charmander: After defeating the gym leader Lt. Surge in Vermilion City, the player can make their way to Route 24 and 25, which lead to the entrance of the underground Diglett’s Cave. Just before the entrance to the cave, the player will find a trainer named “Gentleman” who will offer to give them a Charmander.
- Squirtle: After defeating the gym leader Koga in Fuchsia City, the player can make their way to Vermilion City and enter the Pokemon Fan Club building. Inside, the player can talk to the chairman of the fan club, who will offer to give them a Squirtle as a reward for listening to his long speech.
Pokemon Yellow Starters Pokedex
| Pokemon | Type(s) | Pokedex Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Pikachu | Electric | When several of these Pokemon gather, their electricity could build and cause lightning storms. |
| Bulbasaur | Grass/Poison | A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokemon. |
| Charmander | Fire | Obviously prefers hot places. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail. |
| Squirtle | Water | After birth, its back swells and hardens into a shell. Powerfully sprays foam from its mouth. |
Pokemon Yellow Starters Stats
| Pokemon | Type(s) | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pikachu | Electric | 35 | 55 | 30 | 50 | 40 | 90 |
| Bulbasaur | Grass/Poison | 45 | 49 | 49 | 65 | 65 | 45 |
| Charmander | Fire | 39 | 52 | 43 | 60 | 50 | 65 |
| Squirtle | Water | 44 | 48 | 65 | 50 | 64 | 43 |
Pokemon Yellow Starters Evolution
| Pokemon | Evolution | Level or Condition for Evolution |
|---|---|---|
| Pikachu | Raichu | Use Thunder Stone |
| Bulbasaur | Ivysaur | Level 16 |
| Ivysaur | Venusaur | Level 32 |
| Charmander | Charmeleon | Level 16 |
| Charmeleon | Charizard | Level 36 |
| Squirtle | Wartortle | Level 16 |
| Wartortle | Blastoise | Level 36 |
Note that Pikachu does not evolve through leveling up, but instead evolves with the use of a Thunder Stone. Also, while it is not a starter Pokemon, Eevee can also be obtained in Pokemon Yellow and has multiple evolutions depending on the use of different evolution stones, including Vaporeon (Water Stone), Jolteon (Thunder Stone), and Flareon (Fire Stone).
Pokemon Yellow Starters Comparison
| Pokemon | Type(s) | Strengths | Weaknesses | Unique Traits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pikachu | Electric | Water, Flying, Flying types | Ground | Starts with high friendship, can follow player outside of Pokeball |
| Bulbasaur | Grass/Poison | Water, Ground, Rock types | Fire, Ice, Flying | Dual-type, learns Sleep Powder and Poison Powder early |
| Charmander | Fire | Grass, Ice, Bug types | Water, Ground, Rock | Learns powerful Fire-type moves like Flamethrower and Fire Blast |
| Squirtle | Water | Fire, Ground, Rock types | Electric, Grass | High Defense, can learn powerful moves like Hydro Pump and Ice Beam |
best Pokemon Yellow Starter
There is no one “best” starter Pokemon in Pokemon Yellow, as each of them has their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Pikachu is a popular choice for its high speed and special attack, as well as its ability to follow the player outside of its Pokeball. However, its low defenses and limited movepool may make it difficult to use in certain battles.
Bulbasaur is a great choice for its dual typing, which gives it an advantage against many early game trainers and gym leaders. It also learns Sleep Powder and Poison Powder early, which can be useful for catching and weakening wild Pokemon.
Charmander is a strong choice for its powerful Fire-type moves and its final evolution, Charizard, which gains a Flying-type in addition to its Fire-type. However, Charmander may struggle against certain gym leaders, such as Lt. Surge and Misty, who have Pokemon with type advantages.
Squirtle is a solid choice for its high defense and access to powerful Water-type moves like Hydro Pump and Surf. Its final evolution, Blastoise, has high stats across the board and can learn a variety of different moves.
Ultimately, the best starter Pokemon in Pokemon Yellow depends on the player’s individual playstyle and preferences.
Also see Pokemon Blue Starters
