Pidgey appears on Johto's early routes just like Kanto. Reliable Normal/Flying Fly carrier in Gold & Silver, evolving into the C-Tier Pidgeot.
251HP40Attack45Defense40Speed56Sp.Def35Sp.Atk35
Pidgey
Pidgeotto
Pidgeot
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
56Speed · Slow

Is Pidgey Good in Gold & Silver Playthrough?

Route 29, same as the first catch in Kanto. Pidgey fills the early Flying slot and the line sticks around through Johto if you let it. Pidgeot is a reliable all-game companion that never asks for much attention.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEGEGGTEEEESGEEEEGGGGEPidgeyCatchFalknerGym 1BugsyGym 2PidgeottoEvolveWhitneyGym 3MortyGym 4ChuckGym 5JasmineGym 6PryceGym 7PidgeotEvolveClairGym 8SurgeGym 9SabrinaGym 10ErikaGym 11JanineGym 12MistyGym 13BrockGym 14BlaineGym 15BlueGym 16WillE4KogaE4BrunoE4KarenE4LanceChamp*
Falkner
Gym 1
Even

Pidgey trades roughly evenly with Falkner's team.

Even
Pidgey
Lv 7
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud Slap
Even
Pidgeotto
Lv 9
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud SlapGust
Bugsy
Gym 2
Good

Pidgey has the type edge here and should clean up Bugsy's team.

You Win
Metapod
Lv 14
Bug
Shed Skin
TackleString ShotHarden
You Win
Kakuna
Lv 14
BugPoison
Shed Skin
Poison StingString ShotHarden
Even
Scyther
Lv 16
BugFlying
Swarm
Quick AttackLeerFury Cutter
Whitney
Gym 3
Even

Pidgeotto trades roughly evenly with Whitney's team.

You Win
Clefairy
Lv 18
Normal
Cute Charm
Double SlapMimicEncoreMetronome
Risky
Miltank
Lv 20
Normal
Thick Fat
RolloutAttractStompMilk Drink
Morty
Gym 4
Good

Pidgeotto has the type edge here and should clean up Morty's team.

You Win
Gastly
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
LickSpiteMean LookCurse
You Win
Haunter
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
HypnosisMimicCurseNight Shade
Risky
Gengar
Lv 25
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
HypnosisShadow BallMean LookDream Eater
You Win
Haunter
Lv 23
GhostPoison
Levitate
SpiteMean LookMimicNight Shade
Chuck
Gym 5
Good

Pidgeotto has the type edge here and should clean up Chuck's team.

You Win
Primeape
Lv 27
Fighting
Vital Spirit
LeerRageKarate ChopFury Swipes
You Win
Poliwrath
Lv 30
WaterFighting
Water Absorb
HypnosisMind ReaderSurfDynamic Punch
Jasmine
Gym 6
Tough

Jasmine's team hits Pidgeotto's weaknesses hard.

Even
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
Even
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
Risky
Steelix
Lv 35
SteelGround
Rock Head
ScreechSunny DayRock ThrowIron Tail
Pryce
Gym 7
Even

Pidgeotto trades roughly evenly with Pryce's team.

You Win
Seel
Lv 27
Water
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
Even
Dewgong
Lv 29
WaterIce
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
Even
Piloswine
Lv 31
IceGround
Oblivious
Icy WindFury AttackMistBlizzard
Clair
Gym 8
Even

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.

You Win
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSurfSlamDragon Breath
Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveThunderboltSlamDragon Breath
Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveIce BeamSlamDragon Breath
Even
Kingdra
Lv 40
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenSurfHyper BeamDragon Breath
Lt. Surge
Gym 9
Even

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

Even
Raichu
Lv 44
Electric
Static
Thunder WaveQuick AttackThunderboltThunder
Even
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
Even
Magneton
Lv 40
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
Lock OnDouble TeamSwiftZap Cannon
Even
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
Even
Electabuzz
Lv 46
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder PunchLight ScreenThunder
Sabrina
Gym 10
Even

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Espeon
Lv 46
Psychic
Synchronize
Sand AttackQuick AttackSwiftPsychic
Even
Mr Mime
Lv 46
Psychic
Soundproof
BarrierReflectBaton PassPsychic
Even
Alakazam
Lv 48
Psychic
Synchronize
RecoverFuture SightPsychicReflect
Erika
Gym 11
Strong

Pidgeot resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Tangela
Lv 42
Grass
Chlorophyll
Vine WhipBindGiga DrainSleep Powder
Easy KO
Jumpluff
Lv 41
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Mega DrainLeech SeedCotton SporeGiga Drain
Easy KO
Victreebel
Lv 46
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisAcidRazor Leaf
Easy KO
Bellossom
Lv 46
Grass
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisPetal DanceSolar Beam
Janine
Gym 12
Good

Pidgeot has the type edge here and should clean up Janine's team.

You Win
Crobat
Lv 36
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
ScreechSupersonicConfuse RayWing Attack
Even
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
Even
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
Easy KO
Ariados
Lv 33
BugPoison
Swarm
Scary FaceGiga DrainString ShotNight Shade
Easy KO
Venomoth
Lv 39
BugPoison
Shield Dust
ForesightDouble TeamGustPsychic
Misty
Gym 13
Even

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

You Win
Golduck
Lv 42
Water
Damp
SurfDisablePsych UpPsychic
You Win
Quagsire
Lv 42
WaterGround
Damp
SurfAmnesiaEarthquakeRain Dance
Even
Lapras
Lv 44
WaterIce
Water Absorb
SurfPerish SongBlizzardRain Dance
Even
Starmie
Lv 47
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
SurfConfuse RayRecoverIce Beam
Brock
Gym 14
Even

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.

Even
Graveler
Lv 41
RockGround
Rock Head
Defense CurlRock SlideRolloutEarthquake
Even
Rhyhorn
Lv 41
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackScary FaceEarthquakeHorn Drill
Even
Omastar
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
BiteSurfProtectSpike Cannon
Even
Onix
Lv 44
RockGround
Rock Head
BindRock SlideBideSandstorm
Even
Kabutops
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
SlashSurfEndureGiga Drain
Blaine
Gym 15
Even

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Magcargo
Lv 45
FireRock
Magma Armor
CurseSmogFlamethrowerRock Slide
You Win
Magmar
Lv 45
Fire
Flame Body
Thunder PunchFire PunchSunny DayConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
Quick AttackFire SpinFury AttackFire Blast
Blue
Gym 16
Even

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Pidgeot
Lv 56
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
Quick AttackWhirlwindWing AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 54
Psychic
Synchronize
DisableRecoverPsychicReflect
Risky
Rhydon
Lv 56
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackSandstormRock SlideEarthquake
Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
TwisterHydro PumpRain DanceHyper Beam
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 58
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayLeech SeedEgg BombSolar Beam
Even
Arcanine
Lv 58
Fire
Intimidate
RoarSwiftFlamethrowerExtreme Speed
Will
Elite Four
Good

Pidgeot has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.

You Win
Xatu
Lv 40
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
Even
Jynx
Lv 41
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapLovely KissIce PunchPsychic
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 41
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
ReflectLeech SeedEgg BombPsychic
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 41
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
CurseAmnesiaBody SlamPsychic
You Win
Xatu
Lv 42
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
Koga
Elite Four
Good

Pidgeot has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

Easy KO
Ariados
Lv 40
BugPoison
Swarm
Double TeamSpider WebBaton PassGiga Drain
Easy KO
Venomoth
Lv 41
BugPoison
Shield Dust
SupersonicGustPsychicToxic
Risky
Forretress
Lv 43
BugSteel
Sturdy
ProtectSwiftExplosionSpikes
You Win
Muk
Lv 42
Poison
Stench
MinimizeAcid ArmorSludge BombToxic
Even
Crobat
Lv 44
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
Double TeamQuick AttackWing AttackToxic
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

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

Easy KO
Hitmontop
Lv 42
Fighting
Intimidate
PursuitQuick AttackDigDetect
Easy KO
Hitmonlee
Lv 42
Fighting
Limber
SwaggerDouble KickHigh Jump KickForesight
Easy KO
Hitmonchan
Lv 42
Fighting
Keen Eye
Thunder PunchIce PunchFire PunchMach Punch
Even
Onix
Lv 43
RockGround
Rock Head
BindEarthquakeSandstormRock Slide
You Win
Machamp
Lv 46
Fighting
Guts
Rock SlideForesightVital ThrowCross Chop
Karen
Elite Four
Good

Pidgeot has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.

You Win
Umbreon
Lv 42
Dark
Synchronize
Sand AttackConfuse RayFeint AttackMean Look
Easy KO
Vileplume
Lv 42
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Stun SporeAcidMoonlightPetal Dance
You Win
Gengar
Lv 45
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
LickSpiteCurseDestiny Bond
You Win
Murkrow
Lv 44
DarkFlying
Insomnia
Quick AttackWhirlwindPursuitFeint Attack
You Win
Houndoom
Lv 47
DarkFire
Early Bird
RoarPursuitFlamethrowerCrunch
Lance
Champion
Even

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 44
WaterFlying
Intimidate
FlailRain DanceSurfHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterThunderHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterBlizzardHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 46
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackAncient PowerRock SlideHyper Beam
Even
Charizard
Lv 46
FireFlying
Blaze
FlamethrowerWing AttackSlashHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 50
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Fire BlastSafeguardOutrageHyper Beam

Catchable

Available before Badge 1
Type
NormalFlying
Tier
F

Catch Pidgey on Route 29 (walking, Lv 2-4, common).

View Pidgey locations

Evolve Pidgey to Pidgeotto

Level 18
Type
NormalFlying
Tier
E

Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto at Level 18. Your Pidgey should hit Level 18 before you reach Whitney, at typical leveling pace.

View Pidgeotto locations

Recommended Moves

  • STARTING (Lv 18)
    • LV 18FlyingGustPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 35
    • LV 18NormalQuick AttackPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 30
  • After Falkner
    • TM39NormalSwiftPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 20Union Cave
  • After Whitney
  • After Chuck
    • LV 33FlyingWing AttackPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 35
  • After Jasmine
  • After Lt. Surge
    • TM47SteelSteel WingPower 70Accuracy 90%PP 25Route 28

Evolve Pidgeotto to Pidgeot

Level 36
Type
NormalFlying
Tier
C

Pidgeotto evolves into Pidgeot at Level 36. Your Pidgeotto should hit Level 36 before you reach Clair, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

  • STARTING (Lv 36)
    • LV 36FlyingWing AttackPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 35
    • LV 36FlyingGustPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 35
    • LV 36NormalQuick AttackPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 30
  • After Falkner
    • TM39NormalSwiftPower 90Accuracy 100%PP 20Union Cave
  • After Chuck
  • After Jasmine
  • After Lt. Surge

How to Get Pidgey in Gold & Silver

Pidgey is everywhere. 36 grass encounters spread from the opening Johto routes clear through Kanto, common at almost every one. You will trip over it long before you go looking.

12 locations to catch Pidgey

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

Where To Catch Pidgey in GS

The line opens with Pidgey at Lv. 2-15 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Pidgeot
    Step 3Evolve into Pidgeot
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Goldenrod Pokemon Day Care to receive a Pidgey egg.

Not landing the catch? Calculate Pidgey catch rates for Gold & Silver by ball, status, and HP.

How to Get Shiny Pidgey in Gold & Silver

Pidgey turns up constantly in the grass on Route 29, Route 30, and in the National Park, so lean on that heavy spawn rate and keep the encounters rolling until one comes up shiny. Compare Shiny Pidgey odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Pidgey in Gold & SilverNormal
Shiny Pidgey in Gold & Silver Shiny
Color ShiftBrown
Shiny TierC Tier Shiny

Shiny Pidgey Evolution

3 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Gold & Silver Shiny Pidgey Calculator

2 Methods
Fastest Path

The best route is Breed w/ Shiny Parent, about 1 in 64 on each try.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Gold & Silver

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breed w/ Shiny Parent: Eggs inherit stats from a shiny parent, so about 1 in 64 hatch shiny. A shiny Ditto helps every egg, and any other shiny parent (the red Gyarados works) helps only eggs of the opposite gender.

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 64Breed w/ Shiny Parent
Chance By Now50.8%at 45 eggs hatchedAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few7----
25%one in four19----
50%coin flip45----
90%very likely147----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Want exact numbers for your session? Calculate your shiny odds in Gold & Silver with Pidgey preloaded.

Pidgey Weakness

Pidgey is weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock. On the flip side, it's immune to Ground and Ghost-type moves entirely.

Pidgey Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Ice, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Bug
0x (Immune)Ground, Ghost
Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def

What is Pidgey Weak Against

Good
3Weak
2Resist
2Immune
Score+2
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Pidgey Strong Against

3Strong
2Resisted
0Immune
Score+1
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Pidgey

Geodude
Geodude
RockGround
C

Pidgey Evolutions

Three stages ahead. Pidgey grows into Pidgeotto, then pushes on to Pidgeot. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, quick to hatch with a decent partner pool via one egg group. Evolving adds up to 228 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Pidgey
NormalFlying
Pidgeotto
NormalFlying
Pidgeot
NormalFlying
HP
40
63+23
83+20
ATK
45
60+15
80+20
DEF
40
55+15
75+20
SP.ATK
35
50+15
70+20
SP.DEF
35
50+15
70+20
SPE
56
71+15
101+30
BST
251F-Tier
349E-Tier+98
479C-Tier+130
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Pidgey easily with 19 breeding partners from the Flying egg group. Pass egg moves like Feint Attack, Foresight, Pursuit and 1 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Flying
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
15 cycles·3,855 steps
Quick~4 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
4moves
Breed With (best first)
togeticfarfetchdcrobatpidgeotdodrioxatufearowgolbatnoctowlmurkrowpidgeottonatu

GS Pidgey Best Moveset

Normal/Flying pre-evolution with nothing competitive. Doduo exists and handles the physical flying role better at every stage.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
Hard Stone
Best Nature for Pidgey
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • AgilitySetup
  • FlySTAB
  • CurseSetup
  • SwiftSTAB

Moves List

Breeding opens up real options for Pidgey. Feint Attack and Foresight come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Fly and Wing Attack and Ground and Steel coverage.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
D5210035Normal
Lv 5
Sand Attack
D—10015Ground
Lv 9
Gust
—6010035Flying
Lv 15
Quick Attack+1
D6010030Normal
Lv 21
Whirlwind-6
C——20Normal
Lv 29
Wing Attack
D9010035Flying
Lv 37
Agility
S——30Psychic
Lv 47
Mirror Move
D——20Flying

TM Moves

15 of 20 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45D—10015Normal
TM43
Detect+4Lake of Ragebadge 6
D——5Fighting
TM32———15Normal
TM20
Endure+4Burned Towerbadge 4
D——10Normal
HM02
FlyCianwood Citybadge 5
S1059515Flying
TM10D9010015Normal
TM31D2010010Ground
TM17C——10Normal
TM44
RestIce Pathnot until badge 7
C——10Psychic
TM35
Sleep TalkItem ball in the Goldenrod Underground Warehouse, the storage area linked to the Dept Store basementnot until badge 7
C——10Normal
TM13
SnoreMoomoo Farmbadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM47
Steel WingRoute 28
D709025Steel
TM11
Sunny DayGift on Radio Tower 3F after Team Rocket is cleared outnot until badge 7
C——5Fire
TM34
SwaggerOlivine Lighthousebadge 4
C—8515Normal
TM39
SwiftUnion Cavebadge 1
S90—20Normal
TM46D6010025Dark
TM06C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Feint Attack
D60—20Dark
Egg
Foresight
——10040Normal
Egg
Pursuit
D4010020Dark
Egg
Steel Wing
D709025Steel

Tutor Moves

Pidgey can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP40
D
Attack45
D
Defense40
D
Sp. Atk35
F
Sp. Def35
F
Speed56
D
Total251
Details
Catch Rate
Guaranteed255 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.3 m
Weight1.8 kg
Base XP50
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

It usually hides in tall grass. Because it dislikes fighting, it protects itself by kicking up sand.

Common in grassy areas and forests, it is very docile and will chase off enemies by flapping up sand.

Pidgey Gold & Silver Guide

  • For Gold & Silver, you can run Pidgey through the first few routes without issues. 251 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Pidgeotto as fast as you can.

Game Availability

One of the original 151, Pidgey has appeared in 19 games: most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.

Explore

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