Kanto route, gift starters and what Yellow changes
Collect Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle as gifts, and learn which parts of Kanto play differently in Yellow.
International Game Boy Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, released in North America in 1999 and Europe in 2000. It plays in colour on Super Game Boy and Game Boy Color. This guide covers the original cartridge, not Let's Go, Pikachu! or the Virtual Console notes.
The three Kanto starters are gifts
Bulbasaur is offered by a girl in Cerulean City if Pikachu is happy enough with you. Charmander is given away by a Trainer on Route 24 near Nugget Bridge. Squirtle comes from Officer Jenny in Vermilion City once you hold Lt. Surge's Thunder Badge. Together they cover the Grass, Fire and Water types Pikachu cannot.
The same Kanto, a different order of challenges
The towns, routes and HM moves match Red and Blue, but Gym teams were rebuilt and some wild encounters changed. Brock's Rock and Ground team blocks Pikachu's Electric attacks, and later leaders such as Koga and Sabrina field noticeably higher-level teams than in Red and Blue.
Collection and trading
Some Pokémon are missing from Yellow's wild encounters and can only be added by trading with Red or Blue over a Game Link Cable. Plan Pokédex completion around the cartridges you can actually link.
Keep Pikachu happy by battling with it and avoiding fainting; you want it in a good mood by the time you reach Cerulean City.
Picture details
Game artwork belongs to its respective rights holders.
References
Covered edition: International Game Boy Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, released in North America in 1999 and Europe in 2000. It plays in colour on Super Game Boy and Game Boy Color. This wiki covers the original cartridge, not Let's Go, Pikachu! or the Virtual Console notes.