Pokémon Yellow

Trainers:

• Bug Catcher: Weedle (Lv.16), Caterpie (Lv.16), Weedle (Lv.16) - Reward: $160
• Jr. Trainer♂: Weepinbell (Lv.16) - Reward: $320
• Jr. Trainer♀: Cubone (Lv.20) - Reward: $400
• Bug Catcher: Butterfree (Lv.20) - Reward: $200
• Jr. Trainer♀: Pidgey (Lv.16), Pidgey (Lv.16), Pidgey (Lv.16) - Reward: $320
• Jr. Trainer♂: Spearow (Lv.16), Raticate (Lv.16) - Reward: $320

Wild Pokémon:

• Pidgey: Levels 15-17 (40%)
• Rattata: Levels 14, 16 (30%)
• Abra: Level 7 (15%)
• Jigglypuff: Levels 3, 5, 7 (10%)
• Pidgeotto: Level 17 (5%)

Alright, so you've made it through the early routes and you're probably wondering what's next. The first big hurdle is Brock, the Gym Leader in Pewter City. He's a Rock-type specialist, which means he's gonna hit hard and be tough to take down if you're not prepared. Don't worry, though – with the right Pokémon and a solid strategy, you'll have him beat in no time!

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Geodude: Level 12, Rock/Ground type. Weak to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground, Steel. Resists Poison, Fire, Flying, Electric.
• Onix: Level 14, Rock/Ground type. Weak to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground, Steel. Resists Poison, Fire, Flying, Electric.

Phases:

1. Geodude: This is Brock's opener. It's not too tough, but it can hit surprisingly hard with its Rock Throw.
2. Onix: This is the main event. Onix is bulky and hits like a truck. It has high Defense, so special attacks are generally more effective if you can land them.

Strategy:

• Water and Grass Types: Your best bet is to have a Pokémon that's strong against Rock and Ground types. A Water-type like Staryu (if you fished one up) or a Grass-type like Bellsprout or Oddish will absolutely wreck Brock's team. If you picked Bulbasaur as your starter, you're in a great position!
• Physical Powerhouses: If you don't have a Water or Grass type, focus on Pokémon with high Attack stats. Mankey, for example, can hit hard with its Fighting-type moves. Just be prepared to heal up after taking hits, as Brock's Pokémon can pack a punch.
• Defense is Key: Brock's Pokémon have high Defense. This means that moves that rely on your Attack stat might not do as much damage as you'd hope. If you have Pokémon with good Special Attack, they'll be more effective.
• Watch Out for Rock Throw: Both of Brock's Pokémon can use Rock Throw, which is a powerful STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move. It can deal a lot of damage, especially to Flying or Fire-type Pokémon. Try to keep your team healthy!
• Healing Items: Make sure you stock up on Potions before heading into the Gym. You'll likely need them to keep your Pokémon in fighting shape.

Once you defeat Brock, you'll earn the Boulder Badge, which allows you to use the HM Cut outside of battle, and TM34 (Bide). Congrats on beating the first Gym!

While all three versions of the original Pokémon games share the same core story and region, Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition offers a unique experience that sets it apart from Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue. Understanding these differences is crucial for any trainer looking to optimize their playthrough or simply enjoy the subtle nuances each version provides.

Starter Pokémon & Early Game

• Pokémon Yellow: Your adventure begins with an unevolvable Pikachu as your starter, who follows you outside its Poké Ball. Unlike Red and Blue, you cannot choose from Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle at the start.
• Pokémon Red/Blue: You are given the choice of Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle by Professor Oak in Pallet Town.
• Acquiring Other Starters (Yellow):
  • Bulbasaur: Obtain a high-happiness Pikachu and speak to the girl in the house on Route 12 (just before the Cycling Road entrance).
  • Charmander: After defeating Lt. Surge in Vermilion City, speak to the trainer on Route 24 (north of Cerulean City, Nugget Bridge).
  • Squirtle: After defeating Misty in Cerulean City, speak to Officer Jenny in Vermilion City.

Wild Pokémon Encounters

The availability and encounter rates of wild Pokémon vary significantly across versions, impacting team composition and Pokedex completion.

• Yellow Exclusive Wild Pokémon:
  • Mankey and Primeape (Route 5, 6, 7, 8)
  • Meowth and Persian (Route 5, 6, 7, 8)
  • Growlithe and Arcanine (Route 7, 8) - Red exclusive in R/B
  • Ekans and Arbok (Route 4, 10, 11, 23) - Red exclusive in R/B
  • Koffing and Weezing (Pokémon Mansion) - Blue exclusive in R/B
  • Magmar (Pokémon Mansion) - Blue exclusive in R/B
  • Jynx (Seafoam Islands) - Blue exclusive in R/B
  • Electabuzz (Power Plant) - Red exclusive in R/B
  • Scyther (Safari Zone) - Red exclusive in R/B
  • Pinsir (Safari Zone) - Blue exclusive in R/B
• Pokémon Unavailable in Yellow (without trading):
  • Jigglypuff and Wigglytuff (Route 3) - Found in R/B
  • Vulpix and Ninetales (Route 7, 8) - Blue exclusive in R/B
  • Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill (Viridian Forest, Route 2) - Found in R/B
  • Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel (Route 5, 6, 7, 8) - Blue exclusive in R/B
  • Staryu and Starmie (Fishing in various locations) - Found in R/B
  • Porygon (Celadon Game Corner) - Found in R/B, but only one per game
• Version-Specific Exclusives (Red/Blue):
  • Red: Ekans, Arbok, Sandshrew, Sandslash, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Mankey, Primeape, Growlithe, Arcanine, Scyther, Electabuzz.
  • Blue: Vulpix, Ninetales, Meowth, Persian, Psyduck, Golduck, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Magby, Jynx, Pinsir.

Trainer Battles & Pokémon Teams

Some trainers, especially Gym Leaders, have altered Pokémon teams in Yellow to reflect the anime's influence.

• Brock (Pewter Gym):
  • Red/Blue: Geodude (Lv. 10), Onix (Lv. 12)
  • Yellow: Geodude (Lv. 10), Onix (Lv. 12) - No significant change here, but your Pikachu will struggle!
• Misty (Cerulean Gym):
  • Red/Blue: Staryu (Lv. 18), Starmie (Lv. 21)
  • Yellow: Staryu (Lv. 18), Starmie (Lv. 21) - Again, similar, but Pikachu's electric attacks are super effective.
• Lt. Surge (Vermilion Gym):
  • Red/Blue: Voltorb (Lv. 21), Pikachu (Lv. 18), Raichu (Lv. 24)
  • Yellow: Voltorb (Lv. 21), Raichu (Lv. 24) - No Pikachu on his team in Yellow!
• Jesse & James Encounters: In Yellow, you'll frequently encounter Jessie and James of Team Rocket throughout your journey, often battling them in pairs with their signature Pokémon (Meowth, Ekans/Arbok, Koffing/Weezing). These encounters are exclusive to Yellow and add a fun, narrative touch.

Graphics & Sound

• Pokémon Yellow: Features updated sprites for many Pokémon, making them more closely resemble their anime counterparts. Pikachu, in particular, has a unique sprite that reflects its following animation. The game also includes some minor graphical tweaks to environments and character designs.
• Pokémon Red/Blue: Utilize earlier, often cruder, sprite designs.
• Sound: Yellow features slightly altered sound effects and a few new musical tracks, though the majority of the soundtrack remains consistent across all three versions.

Other Notable Changes

• Pikachu's Happiness: In Yellow, your starter Pikachu has a happiness mechanic. Its reactions and expressions change based on your actions (e.g., healing it, battling with it). This doesn't directly affect gameplay significantly but adds to the immersion.
• Game Corner Prizes: The Pokémon available at the Celadon Game Corner for purchase with Coins differ.
  • Red/Blue: Abra, Clefairy, Nidorina (Red), Nidorino (Blue), Dratini, Porygon.
  • Yellow: Abra, Clefairy, Scyther (Yellow), Pinsir (Yellow), Dratini, Porygon.
• Trade Evolution Requirements: While not a version difference in terms of gameplay mechanics, remember that to complete your Pokédex in any version, you will need to trade with players of other versions to obtain version-exclusive Pokémon and to evolve certain Pokémon that require trading (e.g., Kadabra to Alakazam, Machoke to Machamp).