One of Yellow's earliest catches. Pidgey earns a spot on most teams by default since it evolves twice and learns Fly.
251HP40Attack45Defense40Speed56Sp.Def35Sp.Atk35
Pidgey
Pidgeotto
Pidgeot
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
56Speed · Slow

Is Pidgey Good in Yellow Playthrough?

With Pikachu as your starter, Pidgey from Route 1 is probably the second Pokemon you add to the team. Normal/Flying fills a gap Pikachu can't cover, and the line sticks around the whole game. A quiet early pick that never asks to be replaced.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTETGSEEEEGEEEPidgeyCatchBrockGym 1PidgeottoEvolveMistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4PidgeotEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Pidgey's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Avoid
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Pidgeotto 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 team hits Pidgeotto's weaknesses hard.

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

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

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

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

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

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

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

Pidgeot 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
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

You Win
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
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Avoid
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Pidgeot 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
Good

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

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

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

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

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Pidgeot trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
You Win
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Cloyster
Lv 61
WaterIce
Shell Armor
Ice BeamClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Ninetales
Lv 63
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Risky
Jolteon
Lv 65
Electric
Volt Absorb
Pin MissileThunder WaveQuick AttackThunder

Catchable

Available before Badge 1
Type
NormalFlying
Tier
F

Catch Pidgey on Route 1 (walking, Lv 2-7, 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 Misty, at typical leveling pace.

View Pidgeotto locations

Recommended Moves

Evolve Pidgeotto to Pidgeot

Level 36
Type
NormalFlying
Tier
E

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

Recommended Moves

How to Get Pidgey in Yellow

Pidgey is everywhere. 13 walking spots stretch from Route 1 outside your front door all the way to the late routes, mostly common. You'll trip over one without trying.

13 locations to catch Pidgey

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6

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 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 Pidgey Weak Against

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

What is Pidgey Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Pidgey

Pikachu
Pikachu
Electric
C
Geodude
Geodude
RockGround
C

Pidgey Evolutions

Pidgey evolves into Pidgeot, but can't breed. At 251 stats as a Normal/Flying type, evolution is the only path. 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
479E-Tier+130
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Mixed
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Pidgey Best Moveset

Available immediately and immediately outclassed. Normal/Flying offers no useful TermStab at these stat levels, and Doduo fills the same role from a stronger starting point. Route 1 filler.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Pidgey
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • GustSTAB

Moves List

TMs carry this one. Pidgey learns Sky Attack and Double-Edge naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. And beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Gust
S6010035Normal
Lv 5
Sand Attack
D—10015Ground
Lv 12
Quick Attack+1
D6010030Normal
Lv 19
Whirlwind-6
———20Normal
Lv 28
Wing Attack
D5210035Flying
Lv 36
Agility
C——30Psychic
Lv 44
Mirror Move
D——20Flying

TM Moves

All 15 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C18010015Normal
HM02—1059515Flying
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D3010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM43
Sky AttackVictory Roadnot until badge 8
C210905Flying
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D90—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D1358520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison
TM04
Whirlwind-6Route 4badge 1
———20Normal

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

Very docile. If attacked, it will often kick up sand to protect itself rather than fight back.

Pokemon Yellow

Pidgey Yellow Guide

  • For Yellow, 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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