Pokémon Yellow
Pokémon Yellow

Trading & Link Cable Features — Pokémon Yellow Guide

Trade Pokémon and complete your Pokédex using the Link Cable in Pokémon Yellow. Learn how to trade with friends and access version-exclusive Pokémon.

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Trading & Link Cable Features

While the core adventure of Pokémon Yellow can be completed solo, some of the most exciting and essential features require connecting with another player. This involves using a Game Boy Link Cable and another Game Boy system running either Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Red, or Pokémon Blue. Trading is crucial for completing your Pokédex and obtaining Pokémon not naturally found in Yellow, while battling allows you to test your team against a friend's!

What You'll Need

  • Two Game Boy systems (original, Pocket, Color, or Advance are all compatible).
  • Two copies of Pokémon Yellow, or one Yellow and one Red/Blue.
  • One official Nintendo Game Boy Link Cable.
  • Both players must have at least two Pokémon in their party (one to offer, one to keep).
  • Both players must have reached a Pokémon Center.

Setting Up a Link Cable Connection

Connecting two Game Boy systems is straightforward:

  1. Ensure both Game Boy systems are powered OFF.
  2. Carefully plug one end of the Link Cable into the EXT. port of the first Game Boy.
  3. Plug the other end of the Link Cable into the EXT. port of the second Game Boy.
  4. Power ON both Game Boy systems.
  5. Load your respective Pokémon Yellow (or Red/Blue) game files.

Important: Always connect the Link Cable before turning on the Game Boys to prevent potential data corruption or connection issues.

Trading Pokémon

Trading is the only way to obtain all 150 (or 151 with Mew) Pokémon in Pokémon Yellow, as certain Pokémon are exclusive to Red or Blue versions, and some evolve only through trading.

Steps to Trade:

  1. Both players must go to any Pokémon Center.
  2. Head to the second floor.
  3. Speak to the attendant behind the counter on the left side. This is the "TRADE CENTER" attendant.
  4. Select "TRADE" from the options presented.
  5. Both players will enter a waiting room. Once both are ready, the trading interface will appear.
  6. Each player selects a Pokémon from their party to offer for trade.
  7. A confirmation screen will appear, showing the Pokémon being exchanged. Confirm the trade to proceed.
  8. The Pokémon will be exchanged! You'll see a brief animation, and the new Pokémon will appear in your party (or PC if your party is full).

Essential Trades for Pokédex Completion:

To complete your Pokédex in Pokémon Yellow, you'll need to trade for the following Pokémon, which are not found in the wild or as in-game gifts:

  • Version Exclusives from Red/Blue:
    • Ekans / Arbok (Red/Blue)
    • Meowth / Persian (Red/Blue)
    • Koffing / Weezing (Red/Blue)
    • Jynx (Red/Blue)
    • Magmar (Red/Blue)
    • Electabuzz (Red/Blue)
    • Scyther (Red/Blue)
    • Pinsir (Red/Blue)
  • Trade Evolutions: These Pokémon will only evolve when traded between games. You can trade them back to their original owner after they evolve, or keep the evolved form.
    • Kadabra (evolves into Alakazam)
    • Machoke (evolves into Machamp)
    • Graveler (evolves into Golem)
    • Haunter (evolves into Gengar)

Strategy Tip: Coordinate with your trading partner! Decide beforehand which Pokémon you'll exchange to ensure both players benefit and can fill gaps in their Pokédex.

Link Cable Battles

Beyond trading, the Link Cable allows you to battle against a friend's Pokémon team. This is a fantastic way to test your training, strategy, and team composition.

Steps to Battle:

  1. Both players must go to any Pokémon Center.
  2. Head to the second floor.
  3. Speak to the attendant behind the counter on the right side. This is the "COLOSSEUM" attendant.
  4. Select "BATTLE" from the options presented.
  5. Both players will enter a waiting room.
  6. Once both are ready, you'll be prompted to select your battle rules:
    • Lv. 50: All Pokémon above Level 50 are temporarily reduced to Level 50 for the battle. Pokémon below Level 50 remain at their current level.
    • Lv. 100: All Pokémon above Level 100 are temporarily reduced to Level 100. Pokémon below Level 100 remain at their current level.
    • ANY: No level restrictions. All Pokémon battle at their current level.
  7. After selecting rules, the battle will begin!

Battle Strategies:

  • Team Composition: Consider type matchups carefully. A balanced team with diverse types is often more effective than focusing on a single powerful type.
  • Move Sets: Ensure your Pokémon have several moves, including STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves and coverage moves against common threats.
  • Item Usage: While you can't use items during a Link Cable battle, the items held by your Pokémon (if any) in your party will not affect the battle.
  • Experience: Link Cable battles do not award experience points or money. They are purely for competitive fun and bragging rights!

In-Game Trades (NPC Trades)

While not requiring a Link Cable, Pokémon Yellow also features several non-player character (NPC) trades. These are one-time opportunities to exchange one of your Pokémon for a specific Pokémon from an NPC. These Pokémon often have unique nicknames and sometimes different stats or moves than their wild counterparts.

Notable In-Game Trades:

  • Mr. Mime: In a house on Route 2 (just before Diglett's Cave), a man will trade you a Mr. Mime named "MIMIEN" for your Abra.
  • Jynx: In Cerulean City, in a house near the Pokémon Center, a trainer will trade you a Jynx named "ZYNX" for your Poliwhirl.
  • Farfetch'd: In Vermilion City, in a house near the Gym, a man will trade you a Farfetch'd named "DUX" for your Spearow.
  • Lickitung: On Route 18 (west of Fuchsia City), in the gatehouse, a trainer will trade you a Lickitung named "LICKY" for your Slowbro.
  • Seel: In Cinnabar Island's Pokémon Lab, a scientist will trade you a Seel named "SEELOR" for your Ponyta.

These in-game trades are a great way to acquire Pokémon that might be harder to find or to get a Pokémon with a unique flair for your team.