Pokémon Storage System (PC)

The Pokémon Storage System, affectionately known as the PC, is an invaluable tool for any aspiring Pokémon Trainer in Kanto. Found in every Pokémon Center and occasionally in other buildings like Professor Oak's Lab in Pallet Town, the PC allows you to manage your growing collection of Pokémon, store items, and even link with other Trainers.

Accessing the PC

To use the PC, simply interact with the computer terminal located in the Pokémon Center. You'll be presented with a menu offering several options:

Bill's PC: This is where you store and retrieve your Pokémon.
Someone's PC: This option is for storing and retrieving items.
Professor Oak's PC: This option becomes available after you've delivered the Parcel to Professor Oak. It allows you to check your Pokédex progress.
Log Off: Exits the PC system.

Bill's PC: Managing Your Pokémon

Bill's PC is your primary interface for Pokémon storage. You can store up to 30 Pokémon per Box, and there are 14 Boxes available, giving you a total capacity of 420 Pokémon! This is crucial as you can only carry six Pokémon in your active party at any given time.

Depositing Pokémon

Select "Bill's PC" from the main PC menu.
Choose "Deposit Pokémon."
Select the Pokémon you wish to deposit from your current party.
Choose the Box you want to place it in. If a Box is full, you'll need to select another.

Strategy Tip: Early in your adventure, you might not need many Boxes. However, as you catch more Pokémon, consider organizing them. You could have a "Training Box," a "HM User Box," or even Boxes dedicated to specific types for future team planning.

Withdrawing Pokémon

Select "Bill's PC" from the main PC menu.
Choose "Withdraw Pokémon."
Select the Box containing the Pokémon you want to retrieve.
Choose the Pokémon you wish to withdraw. Remember, your active party can only hold six Pokémon. If your party is full, you'll need to deposit one first.

Actionable Step: If you're heading into a gym battle, always check your PC to ensure you have the most advantageous type matchups in your party. For example, before facing Brock's Rock-type Pokémon in Pewter City, you'll want to withdraw a Water-type like Squirtle or a Grass-type like Bulbasaur if you chose them as your starter.

Moving Pokémon Between Boxes

Select "Bill's PC" from the main PC menu.
Choose "Move Pokémon."
Select the Pokémon you want to move.
Choose the destination Box.

This is invaluable for organization. You can also use the "Move Items" option within Bill's PC to transfer held items between Pokémon in different Boxes without withdrawing them first.

Changing Box Names and Wallpaper

To help with organization, you can customize your Boxes:

Change Box Name: Select "Bill's PC," then "Change Box." You'll be prompted to rename the current Box. This is useful for labeling your themed Boxes (e.g., "Water Types," "HM Slaves").
Change Wallpaper: Also under "Change Box," you can select "Change Wallpaper" to give your Boxes a visual theme. While purely cosmetic, it can aid in quick identification.

Someone's PC: Item Storage

This PC option is for storing your items, separate from your Bag. While your Bag has ample space, certain items like rare candies, evolution stones, or TMs you don't immediately need can be safely stored here to declutter your inventory.

Select "Someone's PC" from the main PC menu.
Choose "Deposit Item" or "Withdraw Item."
Select the item and the quantity you wish to move.

Strategy Tip: Keep your Bag streamlined for battle and exploration. Store excess Potions, Antidotes, and other common recovery items here until you need them. This also helps prevent accidental use of valuable items like Master Balls.

Professor Oak's PC: Pokédex Progress

Once you've delivered the Parcel to Professor Oak early in the game, this option becomes available. It allows you to check your Pokédex progress, showing you how many Pokémon you've seen and caught. This is a quick way to track your journey to "Catch 'em all!"