Gen I · Kanto
Pokémon Yellow Nuzlocke guide
Level caps, boss teams and trainer levels for your next run — 13 main-story battles from Brock (Lv 12) to Blue (Lv 65).
- Nuzlocke
- SoulLink
- Randomizer
Pokémon Yellow follows the anime: your starter is a Pikachu that walks behind you, your rival starts with an Eevee and several gym leaders use new teams. It is also the only Generation I game in which all three Kanto starters can be received as gifts.
- Region
- Kanto
- Generation
- I
- First cap
- Lv12
- Final cap
- Lv65
- Main battles
- 13
- Areas tracked
- 51
Yellow level caps
A level cap is the level of the opponent’s strongest Pokémon. In a Hardcore Nuzlocke, no Pokémon in your party may be above the cap when the battle starts.
The biggest jump in the main story is +18 levels, from Erika (Lv 32) to Koga (Lv 50). Plan your training before it.
| # | Battle | Type | Ace | Level cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Brock | Gym |  Onix | Lv12 |
| 02 | Misty | Gym |  Starmie | Lv21 |
| 03 | Lt. Surge | Gym |  Raichu | Lv28 |
| 04 | Erika | Gym |  Gloom | Lv32 |
| 05 | Koga | Gym |  Venomoth | Lv50 |
| 06 | Sabrina | Gym |  Alakazam | Lv50 |
| 07 | Blaine | Gym |  Arcanine | Lv54 |
| 08 | Giovanni | Gym |  Rhydon | Lv55 |
| 09 | Lorelei | League |  Lapras | Lv56 |
| 10 | Bruno | League |  Machamp | Lv58 |
| 11 | Agatha | League |  Gengar | Lv60 |
| 12 | Lance | League |  Dragonite | Lv62 |
| 13 | Blue | League |  Vaporeon | Lv65 |
Rivals, villains and other story battles
| Battle | Type | Ace | Level cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giovanni | Boss |  Persian | Lv29 |
| Giovanni | Boss |  Nidoqueen | Lv41 |
Yellow boss teams
Every gym leader, trial and League battle of the main story with levels and known movesets. Tap a battle to open its team.
01 Brock Gym Cap12
Gym Leader Brock
-
Geodude Lv10 Tackle -
Onix Lv12 Tackle · Screech · Bide · Bind
02 Misty Gym Cap21
Gym Leader Misty
-
Staryu Lv18 Tackle · Water Gun -
Starmie Lv21 Tackle · Water Gun · Harden · Bubblebeam
03 Lt. Surge Gym Cap28
Gym Leader Lt. Surge
-
Raichu Lv28 Thunderbolt · Growl · Mega Punch · Mega Kick
04 Erika Gym Cap32
Gym Leader Erika
-
Weepinbell Lv32 Wrap · Stun Sporte · Sleep Powder · Razor Leaf -
Tangela Lv30 Bind · Mega Drain · Vine Whip · Constrict -
Gloom Lv32 Acid · Petal Dance · Stun Spore · Sleep Powder
05 Koga Gym Cap50
Gym Leader Koga
-
Venonat Lv44 Tackle · Toxic · Sleep Powder · Psychic -
Venonat Lv46 Toxic · Psybeam · Supersonic · Psychic
-
Venonat Lv48 Toxic · Psychic · Sleep Powder · Double-Edge
-
Venomoth Lv50 Toxic · Psychic · Leech Life · Double Team
06 Sabrina Gym Cap50
Gym Leader Sabrina
-
Abra Lv50 Teleport · Flash -
Kadabra Lv50 Psychic · Recover · Kinesis · Psywave -
Alakazam Lv50 Psychic · Psywave · Reflect · Recover
07 Blaine Gym Cap54
Gym Leader Blaine
-
Ninetales Lv48 Confuse Ray · Quick Attack · Tail Whip · Flamethrower -
Rapidash Lv50 Take Down · Stomp · Growl · Fire Spin -
Arcanine Lv54 Reflect · Flamethrower · Take Down · Fire Blast
08 Giovanni Gym Cap55
Gym Leader Giovanni
-
Dugtrio Lv50 Sand Attack · Dig · Fissure · Earthquake -
Persian Lv53 Screech · Slash · Fury Swipes · Double Team
-
Nidoqueen Lv53 Tail Whip · Double Kick · Poison Sting · Thunder
-
Nidoking Lv55 Thunder · Leer · Earthquake · Thrash -
Rhydon Lv55 Rock Slide · Fury Attack · Earthquake · Horn Drill
09 Lorelei League Cap56
Elite Lorelei
-
Dewgong Lv54 Bubblebeam · Aurora Beam · Rest · Take Down -
Cloyster Lv53 Supersonic · Clamp · Ice Beam · Spike Cannon -
Slowbro Lv54 Surf · Psychic · Withdraw · Amnesia -
Jynx Lv56 Doubleslap · Ice Punch · Lovely Kiss · Thrash -
Lapras Lv56 Body Slam · Confuse Ray · Hydro Pump · Blizard
10 Bruno League Cap58
Elite Bruno
-
Onix Lv53 Rock Throw · Dig · Slam · Screeh
-
Hitmonchan Lv55 Ice Punch · Fire Punch · Thunderpunch · Double Team -
Hitmonlee Lv55 Double Kick · Double Team · Hi Jump Kick · Mega Kick -
Onix Lv56 Rock Slide · Screech · Earthquake · Slam
-
Machamp Lv58 Leer · Strength · Karate Chop · Submission
11 Agatha League Cap60
Elite Agatha
-
Gengar Lv56 Confuse Ray · Lick · Substitute · Mega Drain
-
Golbat Lv56 Supersonic · Leech Life · Wing Attack · Toxic -
Haunter Lv55 Confuse Ray · Lick · Hypnosis · Dream Eater -
Arbok Lv58 Wrap · Glare · Screech · Acid -
Gengar Lv60 Confuse Ray · Psychic · Hypnosis · Dream Eater
12 Lance League Cap62
Elite Lance
-
Gyarados Lv58 Hydro Pump · Dragon Rage · Leer · Hyper Beam -
Dragonair Lv56 Thunderbolt · Slam · Thunder Wave · Hyper Beam -
Dragonair Lv56 Wrap · Bubblebeam · Ice BEam · Hyper Beam
-
Aerodactyl Lv60 Wing Attack · Fly · Swift · Hyper Beam -
Dragonite Lv62 Blizzard · Fire Blast · Thunder · Hyper Beam
13 Blue League Cap65
Champion Blue · With Magneton
-
Sandslash Lv61 Earthquake · Slash · Poison Sting · Fury Swipes -
Alakazam Lv59 Psybeam · Psychic · Kinesis · Recover
-
Exeggutor Lv61 Barrage · Hypnosis · Stomp · Leech Seed -
Magneton Lv63 Thunderbolt · Thunder Wave · Screech · Swift -
Ninetales Lv61 Fire Spin · Tail Whip · Quick Attack · Confuse Ray
-
Vaporeon Lv65 Hydro Pump · Aurora Beam · Quick Attack · Mist
Champion Blue · With Ninetales
-
Sandslash Lv61 Earthquake · Slash · Poison Sting · Fury Swipes
-
Alakazam Lv59 Psybeam · Psychic · Kinesis · Recover
-
Exeggutor Lv61 Barrage · Hypnosis · Stomp · Leech Seed
-
Ninetales Lv63 Fire Spin · Tail Whip · Quick Attack · Confuse Ray
-
Cloyster Lv61 Ice Beam · Spike Cannon · Aurora Beam · Clamp
-
Jolteon Lv65 Thunder · Thunderbolt · Quick Attack · Pin Missile
Champion Blue · With Cloyster
-
Sandslash Lv61 Earthquake · Slash · Poison Sting · Fury Swipes
-
Alakazam Lv59 Psybeam · Psychic · Kinesis · Recover
-
Exeggutor Lv61 Barrage · Hypnosis · Stomp · Leech Seed
-
Cloyster Lv63 Ice Beam · Spike Cannon · Aurora Beam · Clamp
-
Magneton Lv61 Thunderbolt · Thunder Wave · Screech · Swift
-
Flareon Lv65 Flamethrower · Quick Attack · Smog · Fire Spin/a>
Story battles
01 Giovanni Boss Cap29
Boss Giovanni
-
Onix Lv25 Rock Throw · Bind · Rage · Screech
-
Rhyhorn Lv24 Horn Attack -
Persian Lv29 Pay Day · Scratch · Bite · Growl
02 Giovanni Boss Cap41
Boss Giovanni
-
Nidorino Lv37 Double Kick · Poison Sting · Focus Energy · Fury Attack -
Rhyhorn Lv37 Horn Attack · Stomp · Tail Whip
-
Persian Lv35 Scratch · Growl · Pay Day · Bite
-
Nidoqueen Lv41 Double Kick · Tail Whip · Poison Sting · Body Slam
Trainer levels by location
First battles against route trainers in Yellow, sorted by the typical level of their strongest Pokémon — a quick way to see where the level curve climbs. Rematches are not included.
| Location | Trainers | Levels | Typical ace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pallet Town | 1 | 5 | Lv5 |
| Viridian Forest | 5 | 6–10 | Lv7 |
| Route 3 | 8 | 9–14 | Lv11 |
| Pewter City | 2 | 9–12 | Lv12 |
| Mt. Moon | 11 | 10–14 | Lv12 |
| Route 25 | 9 | 13–17 | Lv15 |
| Route 24 | 7 | 14–18 | Lv15 |
| Route 6 | 5 | 16–20 | Lv16 |
| S.S. Anne | 17 | 16–22 | Lv18 |
| Route 11 | 10 | 17–21 | Lv18 |
| Cerulean City | 4 | 16–21 | Lv19 |
| Route 9 | 9 | 18–24 | Lv20 |
| Rock Tunnel | 15 | 19–25 | Lv21 |
| Route 10 | 5 | 19–21 | Lv21 |
| Route 8 | 9 | 19–26 | Lv22 |
| Celadon City | 9 | 20–32 | Lv23 |
| Pokémon Tower | 17 | 20–27 | Lv24 |
| Vermilion City | 4 | 20–28 | Lv24 |
| Route 12 | 4 | 21–27 | Lv24 |
| Route 13 | 11 | 24–30 | Lv28 |
| Route 17 | 10 | 25–33 | Lv29 |
| Route 14 | 7 | 26–33 | Lv29 |
| Route 15 | 11 | 26–33 | Lv29 |
| Route 16 | 6 | 26–33 | Lv29 |
| Route 18 | 3 | 26–34 | Lv29 |
| Sea Route 19 | 10 | 27–30 | Lv29 |
| Sea Route 20 | 9 | 28–35 | Lv31 |
| Route 4 | 1 | 31 | Lv31 |
| Sea Route 21 | 9 | 27–37 | Lv32 |
| Pokémon Mansion | 6 | 29–38 | Lv34 |
| Saffron City | 13 | 30–50 | Lv34 |
| Fuchsia City | 7 | 31–50 | Lv34 |
| Cinnabar Island | 8 | 34–54 | Lv37 |
| Viridian City | 9 | 38–55 | Lv43 |
| Victory Road | 11 | 40–48 | Lv43 |
| Victory Road | 11 | 40–48 | Lv43 |
| Route 22 | 4 | 8–53 | Lv53 |
| Indigo Plateau | 7 | 53–65 | Lv62 |
Nuzlocke tips for Yellow
- Pikachu refuses the Thunder Stone and its Electric moves do nothing against Brock’s Rock types. Look for an early answer on Route 22 or in Viridian Forest.
- Gift starters: Bulbasaur in Cerulean City (your Pikachu must be happy), Charmander on Route 24 and Squirtle from Officer Jenny in Vermilion City after the Thunder Badge.
- Gym teams differ from Red and Blue, so check the caps below instead of relying on memory.
New to the challenge? Start with the Nuzlocke rules, or bring friends with the Soul Link rules.
FAQ
What is the first level cap in Pokémon Yellow?
The first cap is level 12: Brock’s strongest Pokémon is Onix at level 12. Keep every party member at or below level 12 for that battle.
What level is the Champion in Pokémon Yellow?
Blue sets the final main-story cap at level 65, with Vaporeon as the ace.
How many boss battles are there in Pokémon Yellow?
This guide lists 13 main-story battles, 2 optional story battles against rivals and villains.
Can I randomize Pokémon Yellow?
Yes. The PokéRuns Randomizer supports Pokémon Yellow and runs entirely in your browser. When you send the randomized world to your tracker, it uses your ROM’s real boss teams and level caps.
Sources
Caps and teams come from the PokéRuns tracker data (updated 2026-09-07), compiled from:
Start your Yellow run.
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