The Scratch Cat Pokemon. A Blue version exclusive with Pay Day for farming extra cash. Meowth evolves into Persian at level 28.
290HP40Attack45Defense35Speed90Sp.Def40Sp.Atk40
Meowth
Persian
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
90Speed · Above Avg

Is Meowth Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Blue version only. Meowth's biggest contribution is MovePay Day, which generates extra money per fight. As a team member though, the stats are weak across the board. Persian is better but still replaceable.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTEEEEEGGGGTEGBrockGym 1MeowthCatchableMistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4PersianEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Meowth's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Risky
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Risky
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
Even
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Risky
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Persian trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Risky
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Persian trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Even
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Persian has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Persian has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

You Win
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Good

Persian has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Persian has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Tough

Agatha's typing presses Persian's defenses.

Avoid
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Risky
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Avoid
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Persian trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

You Win
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Good

Persian has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.

You Win
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 61
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberLeerTake Down
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 63
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStomp
Even
Blastoise
Lv 65
Water
Torrent
BiteWithdrawBlizzardHydro Pump

Catchable

Available after Badge 1
Type
Normal
Tier
E

Catch Meowth on Route 5 (walking, Lv 10-16, common).

View Meowth locations

Evolve Meowth to Persian

Level 28
Type
Normal
Tier
A

Meowth evolves into Persian at Level 28. Your Meowth should hit Level 28 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Meowth in Red & Blue

Blue exclusive, common on four central routes. Meowth never appears in Red, where Mankey takes the same grass, so a trade is the Red player's only option.

Blue Exclusive: Trade with Red for Mankey. See every Red & Blue version exclusive

4 locations to catch Meowth

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 2
Badge 3

Where To Catch Meowth in RB

Meowth is where the line starts, caught through walking encounters at Lv. 10-20. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

  1. Persian
    Step 2Evolve into Persian

To plan your throws, open the Red & Blue catch rate calculator with Meowth preloaded.

Meowth Weakness

Meowth is weak to Fighting. On the flip side, it's immune to Ghost-type moves entirely. Just 1 weak spot to worry about, which keeps teambuilding straightforward.

Meowth Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fighting
0x (Immune)Ghost
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Meowth Weak Against

Good
1Weak
0Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
½xResist
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Meowth Strong Against

0Strong
1Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
2xStrong
None
½xResisted
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Meowth

Meowth Evolutions

Meowth evolves into Persian, but can't breed. At 290 stats as a Normal type, evolution is the only path. Evolving adds up to 150 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Meowth
Normal
Persian
Normal
HP
40
65+25
ATK
45
70+25
DEF
35
60+25
SP.ATK
40
65+25
SP.DEF
40
65+25
SPE
90
115+25
BST
290E-Tier
440A-Tier+150
ROLE
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Meowth Best Moveset

90 Speed with low Attack, but MoveSlash crits frequently from the Speed-based critical hit formula. The crit rate is the one niche, though the base damage is still underwhelming. Heading toward Persian where the Speed and crits actually become dangerous.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Meowth
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Body SlamSTAB
  • SlashSTAB
  • RageSTAB
  • BiteCoverage

Moves List

TMs carry this one. Meowth learns Skull Bash and Double-Edge naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Dark and Water and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
D—10040Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
—6010035Normal
Lv 12
Bite
B9010025Normal
Lv 17
Pay Day
A6010020Normal
Lv 24
Screech
D—8540Normal
Lv 33
Fury Swipes
—278015Normal
Lv 44
Slash
B10510020Normal

TM Moves

All 17 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
S12710015Normal
TM11A6510020Water
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B18010015Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM16
Pay DayRoute 12badge 5
A6010020Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
B3010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
C15010010Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D90—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D1358520Normal
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
D1107010Electric
TM24A9510015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
D4010025Water

Tutor Moves

Meowth can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP40
D
Attack45
D
Defense35
F
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def40
D
Speed90
B
Total290
Details
Catch Rate
Guaranteed255 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.4 m
Weight4.2 kg
Base XP58
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

Adores circular objects. Wanders the streets on a nightly basis to look for dropped loose change.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Meowth Red & Blue Guide

  • For Red & Blue, you can run Meowth through the first few routes without issues. 290 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Persian as fast as you can.

  • Meowth has 2 regional forms: Alolan and Galarian. Each one changes the typing and stat distribution. Added Alolan in Gen 7 and Galarian in Gen 8.

Game Availability

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Meowth has appeared in 21 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7 and Gigantamax and Galarian forms in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

Explore

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