Not available in Yellow without trading from Red or Blue. Team Rocket's Meowth may star in the anime, but you won't find one in the wild.
290HP40Attack45Defense35Speed90Sp.Def40Sp.Atk40
Meowth
Persian
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
90Speed · Above Avg

Is Meowth Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Not available in Yellow without trading. Team Rocket's Meowth appears in the story but never as something you can catch. Trade from Red or Blue if you want one, though Persian is average at best.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTETEEEEEEETEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8MeowthTradeLoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Meowth's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Avoid
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
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 GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's typing presses Meowth's defenses.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Even
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Even
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Even
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

Even
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Risky
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

Even
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Even
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Risky
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Even
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

You Win
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Risky
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Risky
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Tough

Agatha's typing presses Meowth's defenses.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Avoid
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Avoid
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Meowth 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
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Meowth trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Risky
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Even
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Trade

Transfer-only
Type
Normal
Tier
E

Meowth cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.

View Meowth locations

How to Get Meowth in Yellow

Yellow pulled Meowth from the wild to match the anime's Team Rocket, so it has no encounter anywhere. Bring one over from Red or Blue to register it.

How to Obtain Meowth in Y

  1. Meowth
    Step 1Meowth ✓
    CARTRIDGE TRADE
    Available
    Catch in Red & Blue via Walking · Route 7, then trade to the current game via link cable.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Gold & Silver via Walking · Route 38. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    from Crystal
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Crystal via Walking · Route 39. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    from Emerald
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Emerald via In-game trade · Battle Frontier · Trade for (give Skitty). Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Walking · Route 7. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
  2. Persian
    Step 2Evolve into Persian

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

Hitmonlee
Hitmonlee
Fighting
B
Machoke
Machoke
Fighting
C
Primeape
Primeape
Fighting
C

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
Meowth
#052Meowth
28
Transfer Only
Persian
#053Persian
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

Y Meowth Best Moveset

Low Attack limits the moves to small damage, but 90 Speed puts MoveSlash at a high critical hit rate from the Speed-based formula. The crits add inconsistent spikes to otherwise weak damage. Persian does the same trick at a speed tier where it actually threatens.

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

Appears to be more active at night. It loves round and shiny things. It can’t stop from picking them up.

Pokemon Yellow

Meowth Yellow Guide

  • No. Meowth isn't catchable in Yellow. Catch one in Blue, then trade it over.

  • In Yellow, Meowth has 290 BST and evolves into Persian. Compare the two forms before you give either one a team slot.

  • 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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