Pokemon Team Builder - Red/Blue/Yellow

Blue tally marks indicate resistances, immunities, or STAB coverage. Red tally marks indicate weakness.

About Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow

Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow are the original Pokemon games that started the franchise. Released for the Game Boy in 1996 (Japan) and 1998 (North America), these games introduced the world to the Kanto region and the original 151 Pokemon. Our Pokemon Team Builder helps you navigate the classic Kanto Pokedex and build the perfect team for your journey.

Game Overview

Red and Blue were released as the first games in the Pokemon series, with Yellow (also known as Pokemon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition) following in 1998 (Japan) and 1999 (North America). These games established the core gameplay mechanics that would become the foundation for all future Pokemon games, including catching Pokemon, battling trainers, and challenging gym leaders to become the Pokemon Champion.

Generation 1 Legacy

The first generation of Pokemon games introduced many features that remain central to the series:

The Original 151 Pokemon - The classic roster from Bulbasaur to Mew, each with unique designs and battle strategies
Type System - The foundation of Pokemon battles with 15 types and their complex interactions
Gym Leaders and Elite Four - Eight gym badges required to challenge the Elite Four and become Champion
Pokemon Evolution - The evolution mechanic that allows Pokemon to grow stronger and change forms
Version Exclusives - Different Pokemon available in Red vs Blue, encouraging trading and social interaction
Special Edition - Yellow version featured Pikachu as a starter that follows you, along with various gameplay improvements

Impact and Significance

Red, Blue, and Yellow are legendary games that launched the Pokemon franchise into global popularity. They established the formula for Pokemon gameplay that continues to this day. Our Pokemon Team Builder helps you experience these classic games with modern tools, making it easier to plan and optimize your team from the original 151 Pokemon.

Building Your Team in the Original 151 Pokemon

The Kanto regional Pokedex in Red, Blue, and Yellow contains exactly 151 Pokemon, with each version offering different exclusive Pokemon. This Pokemon Team Builder provides complete access to the original Pokedex, making it easy to understand which Pokemon are available in each version and plan your perfect team using our comprehensive tools.

The Original 151 Pokemon

The first generation features the classic roster that started it all:

Wild Encounters - Over 140 Pokemon can be found in the wild throughout the Kanto region
Version Exclusives - Each version (Red, Blue, Yellow) has unique Pokemon that require trading to obtain
Trade Evolutions - Some Pokemon like Machamp, Gengar, and Alakazam can only evolve through trading
Special Encounters - Legendary Pokemon like Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Mewtwo are found in special locations

Version Differences: Red vs Blue vs Yellow

Each version has unique Pokemon exclusives that affect team planning:

Pokemon Red Exclusives - Pokemon like Ekans, Arbok, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Mankey, Primeape, Growlithe, Arcanine, Scyther, and Electabuzz are only available in Red version
Pokemon Blue Exclusives - Pokemon like Sandshrew, Sandslash, Vulpix, Ninetales, Meowth, Persian, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Magmar, and Pinsir are only available in Blue version
Pokemon Yellow Features - Yellow version includes Pokemon from both Red and Blue, but with different encounter rates. Pikachu is your starter and follows you, and you can obtain all three Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) through story events. The game also includes improved graphics and animations

Team Planning Considerations

When building your team in the original games, consider:

Trading Requirements - Some powerful Pokemon require trading to evolve, so plan accordingly if you're playing solo
Version Selection - Choose Red or Blue based on which exclusive Pokemon you prefer, or Yellow for the unique Pikachu experience
Legendary Availability - All three legendary birds (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres) and Mewtwo are available in every version
Limited Move Sets - Generation 1 has fewer moves compared to later games, so type coverage is crucial

Kanto Region Team Building Strategies

Building an effective team in Red, Blue, and Yellow requires understanding the classic battle system, type matchups, and the unique characteristics of the original 151 Pokemon. Our Pokemon Team Builder offers advanced filtering and type analysis tools to help you create a balanced team. Here are strategic considerations for planning your perfect team.

Gym Challenge Recommendations

The Kanto region features eight gym leaders with diverse type specializations:

Rock Type (Pewter City) - Water or Grass types are highly effective. Consider Squirtle's evolution line or Oddish/Bellsprout
Water Type (Cerulean City) - Electric or Grass types work well. Pikachu or Oddish/Bellsprout evolution lines are excellent choices
Electric Type (Vermilion City) - Ground types are immune to Electric moves. Geodude, Diglett, or Onix are great options
Grass Type (Celadon City) - Fire, Flying, or Bug types excel here. Charmander's evolution line or Butterfree work well
Poison Type (Fuchsia City) - Psychic or Ground types handle Poison effectively. Abra's evolution line or Diglett are powerful choices
Psychic Type (Saffron City) - Bug or Ghost types can counter Psychic, though both are limited in Generation 1. Dark type doesn't exist yet, making Psychic very powerful
Fire Type (Cinnabar Island) - Water, Rock, or Ground types are essential. Blastoise, Golem, or Rhydon are excellent choices
Ground Type (Viridian City) - Water, Grass, or Ice types provide excellent coverage. Blastoise, Venusaur, or Lapras work well

Elite Four Team Recommendations

The Elite Four in Kanto features specialists in different types, followed by the Champion:

Lorelei (Ice/Water) - Electric or Rock types can handle both Ice and Water Pokemon effectively
Bruno (Fighting) - Psychic or Flying types are highly effective. Alakazam or Pidgeot excel here
Agatha (Ghost/Poison) - Psychic types handle Ghost and Poison well, though Bug types can also be effective
Lance (Dragon) - Ice types are crucial for this battle. Ice Beam or Blizzard on multiple Pokemon is recommended
Champion Blue (Varied) - A versatile team is essential. Consider Pokemon with diverse type coverage and strong movesets

Note that in Generation 1, Psychic type has few weaknesses (only Bug), making Psychic Pokemon like Alakazam extremely powerful.

Important Battle Considerations

Type Coverage - With only 15 types in Generation 1, ensuring diverse type coverage is essential for success
Psychic Dominance - Psychic type is extremely powerful in Generation 1 with only Bug as a weakness. Consider including a Psychic Pokemon like Alakazam or Slowbro
Move Availability - Some powerful moves like Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Flamethrower are obtained through TMs and greatly enhance team strength
Stat Limits - Understanding Special stat (combines Special Attack and Special Defense) is important for team planning
Trade Evolutions - Pokemon like Gengar, Alakazam, and Machamp are powerful but require trading to obtain
Legendary Pokemon - Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and Mewtwo are available and can be powerful additions, though they're not necessary to complete the game

Frequently Asked Questions - Red/Blue/Yellow

What Pokemon are version-exclusive in Red, Blue, and Yellow?: Red version has exclusive Pokemon like Ekans, Arbok, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Mankey, Primeape, Growlithe, Arcanine, Scyther, and Electabuzz. Blue version has Sandshrew, Sandslash, Vulpix, Ninetales, Meowth, Persian, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Magmar, and Pinsir. Yellow version includes Pokemon from both versions with different encounter rates, and features Pikachu as a starter. Our Pokemon Team Builder allows you to filter by version to see only the Pokemon available in your chosen game, making team building easier and more efficient.
Which starter Pokemon is best for team building?: Each starter (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) has different strengths. Bulbasaur's Grass/Poison typing helps early against Rock and Water gyms. Charmander's Fire typing struggles early but excels later. Squirtle's Water typing provides good overall coverage. Yellow version starts with Pikachu and allows you to obtain all three starters. The "best" choice depends on your preferred playstyle and the rest of your planned team composition.
How do trade evolutions work in Generation 1?: Some Pokemon like Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler, and Haunter evolve when traded to another player. In Generation 1, these evolutions are powerful but require a second Game Boy and link cable. If playing solo, you'll need to decide whether to plan around these trade requirements or use alternative Pokemon.
Are there any special mechanics I should know about in Generation 1?: Generation 1 has some unique mechanics: the Special stat combines Special Attack and Special Defense, there's no Dark or Steel type yet, Psychic type is extremely powerful with only Bug as a weakness, and some moves have different effects compared to later generations. Understanding these mechanics helps when planning your team.
What makes Yellow version different from Red and Blue?: Yellow version features Pikachu as a starter that follows you (similar to future games), improved graphics and animations, the ability to obtain all three Kanto starters through story events, Pokemon availability from both Red and Blue versions, and unique dialogue referencing the anime series. These features make Yellow a great choice for players who want a more complete Kanto experience.
How do I catch Mewtwo and the legendary birds?: Articuno is found in Seafoam Islands, Zapdos is found in the Power Plant, Moltres is found in Victory Road, and Mewtwo is found in Cerulean Cave (only accessible after defeating the Elite Four). All four are available in every version (Red, Blue, Yellow) and can be added to your team, though they're not necessary to complete the main story.