Yellow Vermilion City
A southern port city where the S.S. Anne docks, home to Lt. Surge's Electric-type Gym and the Pokemon Fan Club.
Vermilion City is in Kanto, with Route 11 to the east and the entrance to Vermilion Gym. In the story you arrive from Route 6 to the north and continue through its entrance to S.S. Anne.
VERMILION CITY MAP
Vermilion City Walkthrough
Vermilion City
A hidden Max Ether that requires SurfMoveSurfWaterClassSpecialPower95Accuracy100%PP15A strong water-type attack. sits east and slightly north of the Fan Club house entrance.
- Enter Vermilion City from Route 6 and follow the east boardwalk down to the harbor gangway.
- Show the gangway sailor your ship ticket, board the S.S. Anne and take HM01 CutMoveCutNormalClassPhysicalPower50Accuracy95%PP30Cuts using claws, scythes, etc. from its captain.
Max EtherPokémon Fan Club
- Walk through the Pokemon Fan Club door at the west end of the main street to the chairman.
- Sit through his tale to receive the Bike VoucherBike VoucherReceived from the Pokémon Fan Club Chairman, which the Cerulean bike shop swaps for a Bicycle.
Bike VoucherOld Rod House
- Enter the Old Rod House door in the northwest corner, where the Fishing Guru waits inside.
- Tell the Fishing Guru you like to fish, then take the Old RodOld RodGives Old Rod he offers.
Vermilion Gym
- Use CutMoveCutNormalClassPhysicalPower50Accuracy95%PP30Cuts using claws, scythes, etc. on the lone tree south of the main street, then enter the Vermilion Gym door.
- Among the cans, the SailorSailor₱720
MagnemiteLv 24Weak toGround battles you by the west wall, the RockerRocker₱500
VoltorbLv 20VoltorbLv 20VoltorbLv 20Weak toGround spots you mid-gym, and the GentlemanGentleman₱1,540VoltorbLv 22MagnemiteLv 22Weak toGround fights you below the door. - Once both switches click, face Leader Lt. SurgeLeader Lt. Surge₱2,772
RaichuLv 28Weak toGround past the open door to win the Thunder Badge and TM24 ThunderboltMoveThunderboltElectricClassSpecialPower95Accuracy100%PP15An attack that may cause paralysis..
Gym Leader · fight 1Leader Lt. SurgeRaichuLv 28₱2,772RaichuLv 28Pokemon Encounters
Beat Lt. Surge for the Thunder Badge and Officer Jenny rewards you with a Squirtle at level 10, the last of Yellow's three gift starters. The harbor fishes well too: Shellder and Staryu both come up on the Super Rod.
Old Rod1
Good Rod2
Super Rod2
Old Rod1Good Rod2Super Rod3
Squirtle
ITEMS & SHOP
Vermilion's Pokemon Fan Club chairman gives you the Bike Voucher to trade for the Bicycle over in Cerulean. The Old Rod is a freebie from a fisherman, and a Max Ether hides by the docks.
Bike Voucher
Trade in Cerulean bike shop for a Bicycle.
Bike Voucher
Trade in Cerulean bike shop for a Bicycle.
Old Rod
Used to catch Pokémon in bodies of water.
Max Ether
Restores PP to full for one move.
Awakening
Cures sleep.
Ice Heal
Cures freezing.
Paralyze Heal
Cures paralysis.
Poke Ball
Tries to catch a wild Pokémon.
Repel
For 100 steps, prevents wild encounters of level lower than your party’s lead Pokémon.
Super Potion
Restores 50 HP.
TRAINERS
Lt. Surge locks the Vermilion Gym behind a trash-can switch puzzle, his Electric-types waiting at level 28. A Rocker, a Sailor, and a Gentleman are the only other battles in town.
Vermilion City Guide
Beat Lt. Surge for the Thunder Badge first. After that, Officer Jenny near the Pokemon Center gives you a Squirtle she caught and didn't want to keep. A wild Squirtle never turns up anywhere in Kanto, so this hand-off is the only way to run the Water starter, which covers the Fire and Rock matchups Pikachu struggles with.
His Raichu got a serious upgrade for Yellow. Rather than the weaker squad he runs in Red and Blue, he leans on one strong Raichu that can flatten an underleveled team. Bring a Ground type like the Diglett from the cave near Vermilion, since Ground attacks ignore Electric moves completely.
Mostly just one. Lt. Surge is the leader Yellow retuned toward the anime, and his upgraded Raichu can stop an underprepared team cold. Brock and Misty play about the same as in Red and Blue. The difficulty isn't a steady climb, more a couple of spikes you can plan around once you know they're coming.