How to Get Bulbasaur in Pokémon Yellow

Last Updated: August 7, 2019

In Pokémon Red and Blue, the player has the opportunity to choose Bulbasaur as their starter Pokémon, but in Pokémon Yellow, Pikachu is your only option. Luckily, the character, Melanie, in Cerulean city will give you a Bulbasaur for free as long as your Pikachu is happy enough and you have the space in your party. You can manage Pikachu’s happiness with items and proper care. Don’t forget, you can always trade for Bulbasaur if you find a willing friend.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making Pikachu Happy

1
Understand Pikachu’s happiness rating. Pikachu’s happiness is measured by an invisible scale depending on how you treat him. The number is invisible but is rated from 0 to 255. Keeping your Pikachu with you and safe will increase the number, while stowing it away and losing it in battle will lower the number.^{[1]
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- You can hit the “A” button when facing Pikachu and his response will help reveal how happy it is.
2
Use items on Pikachu. This is the fastest way to increase happiness (though perhaps also the most tedious). Health potions can be purchased from the store and used repeatedly on Pikachu to increase happiness.
- Potions will increase happiness even when Pikachu is at full health.
- Different items will increase happiness by the same amount.
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3
Level up Pikachu. Pikachu will become happier anytime it levels up. This can be from combat out in the world or from using rare candies.
4
Identify when Pikachu is happy enough. Pikachu much have at least 1 heart hovering above its head (a happiness rating above 145) when you interact with it. This indicates high happiness and will be enough to get Bulbasaur.
5
Use Pikachu in battle against gym leaders. Using Pikachu during these battle is enough to get a happiness bonus. However, gym leaders are finite and it’s difficult to find enough to consistently increase happiness.
- You can put Pikachu and the head of your party then immediately swap it out at the start of the fight and still receive the bonus happiness.
- The happiness increase from this method is slightly lower than using items or leveling up.
6
Avoid making Pikachu unhappy. Pikachu’s happiness rating will be lowered if it faints in battle or is stored at a Pokémon center in town. Leave it in your party and keep it safe to prevent lowering his happiness.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Getting Bulbasaur

1
Ensure that you have space in your party. You cannot carry more than 6 Pokémon with you at once, but you will need at least one free space to get Bulbasaur. You can go to a Pokémon center in any city and deposit one of your Pokémon if you need to make room.
- You must also make sure Pikachu is in your party when you speak with Melanie.
2
Travel to Cerulean City. This is the first town you reach after travelling through Mt. Moon, and the gym-leader is Misty.
3
Go to Melanie's house. Her house is located next to the Pokémon Center. You will see Melanie and a Bulbasaur standing by the back wall.
4
Speak to Melanie. She will notice that you look after Pikachu well and will ask if you would look after Bulbasaur. Say yes and she will add Bulbasaur to your empty party slot.^{[2]
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Community Q&A

Question

Why a heart above his head? It'll take too long.

Community Answer

A way to get Pikachu's happiness to rise is to use potions on him when he is at full health. The potion will not go away once used (because he is at full health), but it will increase his happiness level.
Question

She won't give me bulbasaur even though my Pokemon is happy

Community Answer

Make sure you have space in your party when speaking to Melanie. Also make sure that Pikachu is at a high enough happiness level. He should have hearts above his head when you interact with him.
Question

What level will Bulbasaur be when I obtain it?

Cancer Cop

Community Answer

You will receive your Bulbasaur at level 10 from Milena.