Aggressive from the start, Spearow outperforms Pidgey as a Flying attacker in Yellow. Evolving into Fearow makes the gap even wider.
262HP40Attack60Defense30Speed70Sp.Def31Sp.Atk31
Spearow
Fearow
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
70Speed · Below Avg

Is Spearow Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Found later than Pidgey in Yellow, which gives the Pidgey line a head start on your team. Spearow hits harder right away, but you've already invested in a Flying-type by then. Worth it only if you're replacing Pidgeotto entirely.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTTGSEEEEGEEEBrockGym 1SpearowCatchableMistyGym 2FearowEvolveSurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Spearow's defenses.

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

Misty's typing presses Spearow's defenses.

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 Fearow's weaknesses hard.

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

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

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

Fearow 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

Fearow 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

Fearow 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

Fearow 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

Fearow 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

Fearow 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

Fearow 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

Fearow 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
Avoid
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Fearow 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
You Win
Ninetales
Lv 63
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Risky
Jolteon
Lv 65
Electric
Volt Absorb
Pin MissileThunder WaveQuick AttackThunder

Catchable

Available after Badge 1
Type
NormalFlying
Tier
F

Catch Spearow on Route 3 (walking, Lv 8-12, common).

View Spearow locations

Evolve Spearow to Fearow

Level 20
Type
NormalFlying
Tier
C

Spearow evolves into Fearow at Level 20. Your Spearow should hit Level 20 before you reach Lt. Surge, at typical leveling pace.

View Fearow locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Spearow in Yellow

Only 6 routes carry Spearow, common where it shows but absent everywhere else. The encounters cluster around the northern and western edges rather than spreading map-wide.

6 locations to catch Spearow

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8

Where To Catch Spearow in Y

Spearow is where the line starts, caught through walking encounters at Lv. 2-23. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Yellow for Spearow.

Spearow Weakness

Electric, Ice, and Rock moves hit Spearow for super-effective damage. The upside? Ground and Ghost-type moves can't touch it at all.

Spearow 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 Spearow Weak Against

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

What is Spearow Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Spearow

Geodude
Geodude
RockGround
C
Pikachu
Pikachu
Electric
C

Spearow Evolutions

You'll evolve Spearow into Fearow the traditional way. This Normal/Flying type doesn't breed despite having a chain ahead. The evolved forms gain up to 180 total stats over Spearow. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Spearow
NormalFlying
Fearow
NormalFlying
HP
40
65+25
ATK
60
90+30
DEF
30
65+35
SP.ATK
31
61+30
SP.DEF
31
61+30
SPE
70
100+30
BST
262F-Tier
442C-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Spearow Best Moveset

60 Attack on Normal and Flying moves that don't threaten anything evolved. Fearow picks up where Spearow falls short, though even Fearow sits a tier below Dodrio in the same role.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Spearow
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Drill PeckSTAB
  • BideQUICK +1
  • SubstituteUtility
  • Double EdgeSTAB

Moves List

Without TMs, Spearow's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get limited coverage on top of Sky Attack and Double-Edge for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
D—10040Normal
Lv 1
Peck
D5210035Flying
Lv 9
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 15
Fury Attack
D228520Normal
Lv 22
Mirror Move
D——20Flying
Lv 29
Drill Peck
S12010020Flying
Lv 36
Agility
C——30Psychic

TM Moves

All 14 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34S——10Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
S18010015Normal
HM02—1059515Flying
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D3010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM43
Sky AttackVictory Roadnot until badge 8
C210905Flying
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
S——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D90—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C1358520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison
TM04
Whirlwind-6Route 4badge 1
———20Normal

Tutor Moves

Spearow can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP40
D
Attack60
C
Defense30
F
Sp. Atk31
F
Sp. Def31
F
Speed70
C
Total262
Details
Catch Rate
Guaranteed255 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.3 m
Weight2.0 kg
Base XP52
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

Inept at flying high. However, it can fly around very fast to protect its territory.

Pokemon Yellow

Spearow Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, Spearow does the job early-game if you need a Normal/Flying type on your team. Evolve it into Fearow before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Spearow has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 18 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Explore

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