Pokemon Yellow Walkthrough

Silph Co.

Silph Co is the largest building in Saffron City. This company is the maker of many Pokemon-based items, such as Poke Balls and the Silph Scope. Unfortunately, Team Rocket has taken over the building!

There are a total of eleven floors in Silph Co. Many of these floors have offices with locked doors. The first step to rescuing the employees and defeating Team Rocket is getting the key card. Take the elevator to the ninth floor and walk to the office at the southeast corner. A member of Team Rocket will challenge you to a battle here.

Scientist
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Voltorb 28 Electric Tackle, Screech, SonicBoom, SelfDestruct
Koffing 28 Poison Tackle, Smog
Magneton 28 Electric Tackle, SonicBoom, ThunderShock

After the match, step on the warp tile on the left side of the office. This will warp you to the fifth floor. Take a step south to battle another member of Team Rocket.

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Hypno 33 Psychic Disable, Confusion, Headbutt, Poison Gas

With the Rocket out of the way, you’re finally free to grab the Card Key on the right! Step back on the warp tile to return to the ninth floor.

I recommend clearing out this floor before starting from the bottom and making your way to the top. You will need the experience here to prepare for upcoming gyms and the incredibly difficult Pokemon League. After defeating the head of Team Rocket you won’t be able to return to Silph Co. Make sure you battle everyone and pick up every item!

Ninth Floor

There are some beds on the southwest corner of the ninth floor. Speak with the nurse near these beds to fully restore your Pokemon. You can rest as many times as you like, and you won’t have to waste too many items or return to the Pokemon Center. One Rocket can be found before entering the room, and another can be found to the north of the beds.

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Golbat 28 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Drowzee 28 Psychic Hypnosis, Disable, Confusion, Headbutt
Hypno 28 Psychic Hypnosis, Disable, Confusion, Headbutt
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Drowzee 28 Psychic Hypnosis, Disable, Confusion, Headbutt
Grimer 28 Poison Pound, Disable
Machop 28 Fighting Karate Chop, Low Kick, Leer

With this floor cleared out, take the elevator to the second floor to start from the bottom. Use the stairs to go up each floor after getting all items and defeating all Rockets.

Second Floor

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Golbat 25 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Zubat 25 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Zubat 25 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Raticate 25 Normal Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Hyper Fang
Zubat 25 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Scientist
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Magnemite 28 Electric Tackle, SonicBoom, ThunderShock
Voltorb 28 Electric Tackle, Screech, SonicBoom, SelfDestruct
Magneton 28 Electric Tackle, SonicBoom, ThunderShock
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Cubone 29 Ground Bone Club, Growl, Leer
Zubat 29 Poison/Flying Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray, Wing Attack
Scientist
Pokemon Level Type Move
Grimer 26 Poison Pound, Disable
Weezing 26 Poison Tackle, Smog, Sludge
Koffing 26 Poison Tackle, Smog
Weezing 26 Poison Tackle, Smog, Sludge

The office at the northwest corner of the floor contains TM36 Selfdestruct. This is the third strongest attack in the game, but it’ll cause the user to faint after using it.

Third Floor

The second office on the west side of the floor contains a Hyper Potion.

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Move
Raticate 28 Normal Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Hyper Fang
Hypno 28 Psychic Hypnosis, Disable, Confusion, Headbutt
Raticate 28 Normal Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Hyper Fang
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Move
Electrode 29 Electric Screech, SonicBoom, SelfDestruct, Light Screen
Weezing 29 Poison Tackle, Smog, Sludge

Fourth Floor

The only items on the fourth floor are located in the far west office. There is an Escape Rope, Max Revive, and Full Heal. The Team Rocket members on this floor are listed below.

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Move
Ekans 29 Poison Leer, Poison Sting, Bite, Glare
Zubat 28 Poison/Flying Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray, Wing Attack
Cubone 28 Ground Bone Club, Growl, Leer
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Move
Machop 29 Fighting Karate Chop, Low Kick, Leer
Drowzee 29 Psychic Hypnosis, Disable, Confusion, Headbutt
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Move
Electrode 33 Electric Screech, SonicBoom, SelfDestruct, Light Screen

Fifth Floor

You’ve returned to the fifth floor! Since the Card Key is already in your hands, the only items left are TM09 Take Down and a Protein. Take Down is a powerful physical attack that will also cause damage to the user. They’re in two different offices on the west side of the floor.

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Move
Hypno 33 Psychic Disable, Confusion, Headbutt, Poison Gas
Juggler
Pokemon Level Type Move
Kadabra 29 Psychic Teleport, Confusion, Disable, Psybeam
Mr. Mime 29 Psychic Barrier, Confusion, Light Screen
Scientist
Pokemon Level Type Move
Magneton 26 Electric Tackle, SonicBoom, ThunderShock
Koffing 26 Poison Tackle, Smog
Weezing 26 Poison Tackle, Smog, Sludge
Magnemite 26 Electric Tackle, SonicBoom, ThunderShock
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Move
Arbok 33 Poison Leer, Poison Sting, Bite, Glare

Sixth Floor

The only items on this floor are located in the southwest office. They are HP Up and X Accuracy. The Team Rocket members around here are actually guarding some Silph Co employees.

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Move
Machop 29 Fighting Karate Chop, Low Kick, Leer
Machoke 29 Fighting Karate Chop, Low Kick, Leer
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Move
Zubat 28 Poison/Flying Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray, Wing Attack
Zubat 28 Poison/Flying Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray, Wing Attack
Golbat 28 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Scientist
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Voltorb 25 Electric Tackle, Screech, SonicBoom, SelfDestruct
Koffing 25 Poison Tackle, Smog
Magneton 25 Electric Tackle, SonicBoom, ThunderShock
Magnemite 25 Electric Tackle, SonicBoom, ThunderShock
Koffing 25 Poison Tackle, Smog

Seventh Floor

The northwest office on the seventh floor cannot be reached from the stairs or elevator, so we’ll comeback to that later. A Calcium can be found at the southwest side of the floor, and TM03 Swords Dance can be found on the southeast side. This will increase the user’s attack by two stages instead of just one.

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Cubone 29 Ground Bone Club, Growl, Leer
Cubone 29 Ground Bone Club, Growl, Leer
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Raticate 26 Normal Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Hyper Fang
Arbok 26 Poison Wrap, Leer, Poison Sting, Bite
Koffing 26 Poison Tackle, Smog
Golbat 26 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Scientist
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Electrode 29 Electric Screech, SonicBoom, SelfDestruct, Light Screen
Muk 29 Poison Pound, Disable, Poison Gas
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Sandshrew 29 Ground Tackle, Sand-Attack, Slash, Poison Sting
Sandslash 29 Ground Tackle, Sand-Attack, Slash, Poison Sting

Eighth Floor

No items can be found on this floor, but there are a few members of Team Rocket.

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Raticate 26 Normal Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Hyper Fang
Golbat 26 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Golbat 26 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Rattata 26 Normal Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Hyper Fang, Focus Energy
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Weezing 28 Poison Tackle, Smog, Sludge
Golbat 28 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Koffing 28 Poison Tackle, Smog
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Grimer 29 Poison Pound, Disable
Electrode 29 Electric Screech, SonicBoom, SelfDestruct, Light Screen

Tenth Floor

This floor has two Team Rocket members and three items. The items are TM26 Earthquake, a Rare Candy, and a Carbos. All three are in the southwest office.

Scientist
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Magnemite 29 Electric Tackle, SonicBoom, ThunderShock, Supersonic
Koffing 29 Poison Tackle, Smog
Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Machoke 33 Fighting Karate Chop, Low Kick, Leer

Eleventh Floor

The top floor of Silph Co from the elevator and staircase only has one Team Rocket member.

Rocket
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Rattata 25 Normal Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Hyper Fang, Focus Energy
Rattata 25 Normal Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Hyper Fang, Focus Energy
Zubat 25 Poison/Flying Leech Life, Supersonic, Bite, Confuse Ray
Rattata 25 Normal Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Hyper Fang, Focus Energy
Ekans 25 Poison Leer, Poison Sting, Bite, Glare

Rival Battle

Now that all the floors have been cleared, rest up once more before taking on the real challengers! First up is your Rival. He can be found on the seventh floor, but only through warp tile. To reach him, go down to the third floor and take the warp tile in the first office on the west side. You should immediately warp to the seventh floor where your Rival will be waiting.

Rival Option 1
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Sandslash 38 Ground Sand-Attack, Slash, Poison Sting, Swift
Ninetales 37 Fire Ember, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Roar
Magneton 35 Electric Tackle, Sonicboom, ThunderShock, Supersonic
Kadabra 35 Psychic Confusion, Disable, Psybeam, Recover
Vaporeon 40 Water Quick Attack, Water Gun, Bite, Aurora Beam
Rival Option 2
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Sandslash 38 Ground Sand-Attack, Slash, Poison Sting, Swift
Ninetales 37 Fire Ember, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Roar
Cloyster 37 Water/Ice Withdraw, Supersonic, Clamp, Aurora Beam
Kadabra 35 Psychic Confusion, Disable, Psybeam, Recover
Jolteon 40 Electric Quick Attack, Thundershock, Double Kick, Pin Missile
Rival Option 3
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Sandslash 38 Ground Sand-Attack, Slash, Poison Sting, Swift
Cloyster 37 Water/Ice Withdraw, Supersonic, Clamp, Aurora Beam
Magneton 35 Electric Tackle, Sonicboom, ThunderShock, Supersonic
Kadabra 35 Psychic Confusion, Disable, Psybeam, Recover
Flareon 40 Fire Ember, Sand-Attack, Bite, Fire Spin

After defeating your Rival, speak with the employee to the left. He’ll give you the incredibly rare Pokemon, Lapras! It’s the only way to capture this species, so don’t forget. It’s a Water/Ice-type at level 15.

Step on the warp tile to the south to reach the top floor. Before you can face the boss, you have to deal with Jesse and James.

Jesse and James
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Weezing 31 Poison Tackle, Smog, Sludge
Arbok 31 Poison Bite, Leer, Poison Sting, Glare
Meowth 31 Normal Growl, Bite, Pay Day, Screech

Open up the last office to find the leader of Team Rocket having a conversation with the President of Silph Co! Use special attacks (water and psychic are best) against Nidorino, Nidoqueen, and Rhyhorn. Giovanni might use a Guard Spec. on Persian. It’s best to attack straight on with a fighting-type.

Giovanni
Pokemon Level Type Moves
Nidorino 37 Poison Double Kick, Poison Sting, Focus Energy, Fury Attack
Rhyhorn 37 Ground/Rock Horn Attack, Stomp, Tail Whip
Persian 35 Normal Scratch, Growl, Bite, Pay Day
Nidoqueen 37 Poison/Ground Scratch, Tail Whip, Body Slam, Double Kick

Giovanni will disappear after being defeated. Speak with the President of Silph Co to receive the Master Ball. This is the ultimate capture device! It will capture any Pokemon without fail. You might want to save it for later when you reach the Legendary Pokemon. If you don’t have anymore room in your bag, clear up some space by depositing items at the PC within the President’s office.