how do i get squirtle in pokemon yellow

For many trainers embarking on their journey through the Kanto region in Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, a particular question often arises. Unlike the straightforward starter choices in other games, obtaining certain classic Pokémon requires specific knowledge and action. The title query, "how do I get Squirtle in Pokémon Yellow," speaks to this very quest. This article provides a comprehensive guide to adding the Water-Type Turtle Pokémon to your team, detailing the method, its context within the game's unique design, and strategic considerations for your adventure.

Table of Contents

The Rival's Choice and Professor Oak's Gift
The Path to Cerulean City: A Key Location
Completing the Sub-Quest: The Beaten Down Squirtle
Strategic Value: Why Squirtle is a Worthwhile Addition
Evolution and Long-Term Potential
Conclusion: A Rewarding Side Quest

The Rival's Choice and Professor Oak's Gift

Pokémon Yellow distinguishes itself by casting the player as the iconic Ash Ketchum, beginning the game with a Pikachu that follows behind you. This design choice removes the standard starter selection from Professor Oak. Your rival, based on Gary Oak, chooses the Pokémon strong against yours. In a twist reflecting the anime, he selects an Eevee, which later evolves based on his battle performance. Consequently, the traditional Kanto starters—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—are not available at the start. They are instead distributed as unique gifts at specific points in the game, tied to narrative conditions that must be fulfilled. Understanding this framework is essential to knowing where and when Squirtle becomes accessible.

The Path to Cerulean City: A Key Location

The opportunity to obtain Squirtle presents itself in Cerulean City, a location north of Mt. Moon. Before you can claim this Pokémon, you must first defeat Misty, the Cerulean City Gym Leader, to earn the Cascade Badge. This badge is a prerequisite for the event that leads to Squirtle. After securing the badge, your next objective lies on the route east of Cerulean City, Route 24. Here, you will encounter a series of trainers on the nugget bridge. Defeating them is part of a mini-quest that culminates in a meeting with a member of Team Rocket, who flees southward. Following this path south to Route 25, which runs along the coast north of Cerulean City, is where the crucial encounter takes place.

Completing the Sub-Quest: The Beaten Down Squirtle

On Route 25, you will find a small house belonging to a character known as Bill, the inventor of the Pokémon storage system. Just outside Bill's house, a short scene is triggered. You will see your rival battling and defeating a Trainer known as the "Melon Head" or "Captain." After your rival departs, you can approach this dejected Trainer. He will explain that his Squirtle, which he nicknamed "LAPRAS" in his frustration, was beaten badly by your rival's Pokémon. Disheartened, he will offer you the Squirtle, stating he no longer wants it. When you speak to him, he will ask if you would like to have the Squirtle. Agreeing to take it results in the Squirtle being added directly to your party. This is the singular, scripted method to obtain Squirtle in Pokémon Yellow, and it cannot be missed if you complete the events on Route 24 and 25.

Strategic Value: Why Squirtle is a Worthwhile Addition

Acquiring Squirtle at this stage, typically around the third or fourth badge, provides significant strategic advantages. Squirtle and its evolved forms, Wartortle and Blastoise, are formidable Water-Type Pokémon. Their Water-type moves are super effective against Rock, Ground, and Fire-type Pokémon. This is particularly useful for the upcoming Gym Leaders: Lt. Surge in Vermilion City (whose Electric types are weak to Ground, but whose Raichu can be handled with level advantage), the Rock-type specialists in Pewter City (if you revisit), and especially Blaine, the Fire-type master of Cinnabar Island. Furthermore, Squirtle's solid defensive stats allow it to function as a durable team member capable of weathering hits while dealing consistent damage. Adding a powerful Water-type to a team that started with Pikachu helps cover several key weaknesses early on.

Evolution and Long-Term Potential

The Squirtle you receive will be at a relatively low level, usually around level 10. With training, it evolves into Wartortle at level 16 and finally into the powerhouse Blastoise at level 36. Blastoise is a standout Pokémon for the latter half of the game and the Elite Four. Its movepool, while not excessively diverse in Generation I, includes essential HM moves like Surf (a powerful Water-type attack) and Strength, making it both a combatant and a field utility. Its high Special stat (which governed both special attack and defense in Generation I) and HP make it exceptionally resilient against special attacks. In a playthrough where your starter is a Pikachu with famously mixed stats, having a reliable, fully-evolved Water-type like Blastoise provides a stable and powerful cornerstone for your team through the endgame.

Conclusion: A Rewarding Side Quest

The process of obtaining Squirtle in Pokémon Yellow is more than a simple transaction; it is a woven part of the game's narrative and world-building. It reinforces your rivalry, provides a moment of character interaction, and rewards exploration off the main path. The answer to "how do I get Squirtle" involves defeating a Gym Leader, completing a trainer gauntlet, and offering a home to a Pokémon abandoned by its trainer. This journey results in gaining a loyal and powerful companion that can significantly shape the success of your Kanto challenge. For any trainer seeking to experience the full spectrum of what Pokémon Yellow offers, taking the time to rescue and train this Squirtle is an endeavor rich with both strategic and role-playing reward.

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