How to Beat Lt. Surge in Pokemon Yellow - Vermilion Gym

Yellow-specific: many Red/Blue guides list Voltorb and Pikachu before Raichu. Yellow Surge only sends Raichu. Optional gym trainers still use Electric trash mons on the way in.

Only slot

Raichu · Lv.28

Electric

• Moves: Thunderbolt, Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Growl
• Threat: Fast special Electric damage; physical Normals punish frail Grounds
• Answer: Ground STAB or any healthy Ground-type; dig/earthquake style moves if available

Rewards

Thunder Badge + TM24

• Thunder Badge: unlocks Fly outdoors (with HM02 later). Gen 1 also applies a Defense badge boost in battle—details on the gym tool.
• TM24 Thunderbolt: excellent for Pikachu and other special attackers after the fight.
• Jenny gift: talk to Officer Jenny in Vermilion for Squirtle after you show the badge.

Those three trainers are optional EXP and can paralyze you—Ground answers work on them too. Links: Gentleman, Rocker, Sailor.

Diglett (primary)

Diglett’s Cave~15–22~95% slots

• Fast, immune to Thunderbolt, learns Dig at 19.
• Tiny HP—Potion between gym trainers and keep full HP for Mega Kick.
• Open Diglett’s Cave from Vermilion or Route 11 side depending on your map progress.

Cave map Pokedex Catch tools

Nidoking / Nidoqueen

Moon StonePoison / Ground

• If you followed the Nidoran route, King/Queen already answer Surge.
• Bulkier than Diglett against Mega Punch/Kick.
• Still don’t sleep on Growl chip—just less fragile.

Nidoking Moon Stone

Sandshrew / Geodude / Onix

Mt. Moon / tunnels

• Sandshrew on Routes 3–4 / Mt. Moon; Rock/Ground options from caves.
• Onix is bulky vs physical but weak elsewhere—fine as a one-fight sponge.
• Partner Pikachu is a bad lead here (same type matchup pain in reverse).

Sandshrew Team Planner

Avoid: pure Flying or Water leads into Thunderbolt. Grass resists Electric in Gen 1, so Bulbasaur can absorb Thunderbolt, although Ground types remain the cleanest answer because they are immune.

• Surge’s door stays locked until two switches are found among the trash cans.
• Inspect cans until you hear/see the first switch.
• The second switch is always adjacent to the first. Check a neighboring can next.
• If the second guess is wrong, the lock resets—start the search again.
• Optional tip: after the first switch, soft-reset or note the can if you are practicing; on a real cart, just methodically try adjacents.

Trainers can be fought before or after the door depending on pathing—use Ground answers so paralysis does not ruin the Surge attempt.

1. Clear Cerulean / Nugget Bridge / Misty as needed—see the Misty guide.
2. Reach Vermilion; board the S.S. Anne, beat the Rival, get HM01 Cut from the captain before the ship sails.
3. Optional: tunnel through Diglett’s Cave for Diglett and a free path toward Pewter/Vermilion links.
4. Heal, stock Potions/Paralyze Heals, open the Vermilion Gym tool.
5. Solve trash cans → optional trainers → Surge’s Raichu.
6. Claim Thunder Badge + TM24; talk to Officer Jenny in town for Squirtle.
7. Continue toward Rock Tunnel / Lavender with Cut available outdoors once taught.