Yellow Move Database

Pokémon Yellow Moves

The same 165 moves as Red and Blue. Pikachu starts with Thundershock and picks up Thunder Wave early, giving you paralysis coverage from the first route.

YELLOW MOVE LIST

Move Spotlight

Thunder Wave

—

#1 PickStatus

Thunder Wave

ElectricStatus

Power—

Accuracy90%

PP20

Used by

Paralysis was the single most important status in Gen 1 because it halved Speed permanently. Thunder Wave spread it with 100% accuracy, and its wide TM distribution meant almost any team could build around Speed control. The Pikachu you started Yellow with came packing it from the beginning.

Thunder Wave (Electric / Status)

Paralysis was the single most important status in Gen 1 because it halved Speed permanently. Thunder Wave spread it with 100% accuracy, and its wide TM distribution meant almost any team could build around Speed control. The Pikachu you started Yellow with came packing it from the beginning.

Swords Dance

—

#2 PickStatus

Swords Dance

NormalStatus

Power—

Accuracy—

PP20

Used by

The ultimate endgame in Yellow was Swords Dance on Tauros. After one boost, its already-high Attack combined with the Gen 1 critical hit formula that favored fast Pokemon. A boosted Slash almost always scored a critical hit, and nearly nothing survived the result.

Swords Dance (Normal / Status)

The ultimate endgame in Yellow was Swords Dance on Tauros. After one boost, its already-high Attack combined with the Gen 1 critical hit formula that favored fast Pokemon. A boosted Slash almost always scored a critical hit, and nearly nothing survived the result.

Earthquake

100

#3 PickPhysical

Earthquake

GroundPhysical

Power100

Accuracy100%

PP10

Used by

Earthquake was the strongest reliable physical attack in Yellow with zero drawbacks. 100 base power, 100% accuracy, no recoil. Rhydon and Golem built their entire offensive identity around it, punishing the Electric and Poison-types scattered across Kanto.

Earthquake (Ground / Physical)

Earthquake was the strongest reliable physical attack in Yellow with zero drawbacks. 100 base power, 100% accuracy, no recoil. Rhydon and Golem built their entire offensive identity around it, punishing the Electric and Poison-types scattered across Kanto.

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Game Rules

How Moves Work in Yellow

Electric moves run off Special

Move categories follow the type in Gen 1, and Electric is a special type. Your partner Pikachu scales Thunderbolt from the Special stat, not Attack, and the same logic applies to every Electric attacker in Kanto.

HM moves are forever

Nothing in Yellow can delete a move once an HM teaches it. Cut and Flash stay on the Pokémon that learned them until the end of the save. Route that utility onto a backup member you don't plan to battle with.

Debuts

New in Yellow

164 moves introduced in Generation 1

Yellow shares its move pool with Red and Blue, so the debut chips here read as a tour of where it all started. Treat the list as a menu of what Kanto can teach, and remember the type-based damage rules make some of these hit far harder than their numbers suggest.

Questions

Pokémon Moves: Frequently Asked

Are there any move differences between Pokémon Yellow and Red/Blue?

Yes. Several Pokémon have updated starting movesets in Yellow to better match the anime. Pikachu starts with Thundershock instead of just Growl and Thunder Wave, and various Pokémon like Charizard learn different level-up moves compared to Red and Blue.

Can Pikachu learn Surf in Pokémon Yellow?

Pikachu can only learn Surf through a special event distribution or the Pokémon Stadium transfer method. A Surfing Pikachu also unlocks a hidden minigame on the beach south of Fuchsia City in Pokémon Yellow.

Are TMs still single-use in Pokémon Yellow?

Yes. TMs remain single-use in Yellow, just like Red and Blue. The TM list and locations are mostly the same, though some TM placements in the overworld have shifted slightly.

Did any moves get changed mechanically in Pokémon Yellow compared to Red and Blue?

The core move mechanics are identical to Red and Blue, including the type-based physical/special system and the trapping move behavior. However, a few moves had minor accuracy or effect rate corrections applied in Yellow.

What HMs does the starter Pikachu learn in Yellow?

Pikachu can learn Flash via HM05 but cannot learn Cut, Fly, Surf, or Strength through normal gameplay. You will need other Pokémon on your team to handle those HM requirements for progression.