Gift Pokemon · Starter Path
How to get Bulbasaur in Pokemon Yellow
Yellow has no lab starter choice. Bulbasaur is a one-time gift from Melanie in Cerulean City after partner Pikachu happiness reaches 147+. Use the readiness tool below, then claim Lv.10 Grass/Poison coverage for Misty and the mid-game.
Fast answer
147 bond · house west of the Center
Partner happiness starts at 90. Keep Pikachu alive in the party, stack level-ups and HP items (+5 under 100, then +3), add walking rolls and gym challenges, and avoid PC deposits. When the value is ≥ 147, enter the house west of the Cerulean Pokemon Center, talk to Melanie, and accept Lv.10 Bulbasaur. Verify the real byte with Save Import or project gains in the Happiness Lab.
Interactive tool
Bulbasaur readiness calculator
English Yellow partner happiness bands (0–99 / 100–199 / 200–255). Estimates only—import a battery save for the real value.
Projected happiness
90At 90 you need 57 more points for Bulbasaur (147).
Story path
Step-by-step: Cerulean gift route
1. Clear Pewter without bleeding bond
Brock is rough for Electric leads. Bring a Fighting or Grass answer so Pikachu is not KO’d repeatedly (−1 happiness per faint).
2. Stack gains through Mt. Moon
Route 3 and Mt. Moon levels are free bond if the starter stays in the party. Potion the partner after hard fights—HP items share the same +5 / +3 table as levels.
3. Hit 147 before or in Cerulean
From 90 you need 57 points. Rough pure-level path: about 18 band-aware level/HP gains with no losses. Walking and gym challenges shorten the grind.
4. Visit Melanie’s house
West of the Cerulean Pokemon Center. Talk to Melanie, accept the offer, and leave a free party slot or open PC box space. The gift is one-time.
Gift profile
What Melanie gives you
Bulbasaur · #001
- Location: Melanie’s House, Cerulean City
- Requirement: Partner happiness ≥ 147 (hidden 0–255 bond byte)
- Base stats: HP 45 · Atk 49 · Def 49 · Spe 45 · Spc 65 (total 253)
- Growth: Medium Slow · Catch rate 45
House layout
Melanie stands near the nursed Bulbasaur with Oddish and Sandshrew companions. Accept the gift from Melanie—not from the Bulbasaur sprite.
Moves at gift (Lv.10)
| Level | Move | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal |
| 1 | Growl | Normal |
| 7 | Leech Seed | Grass |
| 13 | Vine Whip | Grass · next |
| 20 | Poisonpowder | Poison · next |
| 27 | Razor Leaf | Grass · next |
Evolution line
No trade required. Venusaur is a strong no-trade Special tank for Water gyms, Erika soft answers, and late Surf routes when supported by status and Razor Leaf / Solarbeam.
Bond table
Happiness events that matter for 147
| Event | 0–99 | 100–199 | 200+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level-up | +5 | +3 | +2 | Selected starter Pikachu |
| HP-restoring item | +5 | +3 | +2 | Used on the starter |
| Gym Leader challenge | +3 | +2 | +1 | Starter alive in party |
| Walking check success | +2 | +1 | +1 | Every 256 steps, 50% chance |
| X item / TM-HM | +1 | +1 | 0 | Minor topping |
| Battle faint | −1 | −1 | −1 | Avoid wipe streaks |
| PC deposit | −3 | −3 | −5 | Do not box while grinding |
| Poison overworld KO | −5 | −5 | −10 | Cure before map walk |
Same source table as the site Happiness Lab and the dedicated Pikachu happiness planner.
Checklist
Claim tracker (this device)
Starter gifts
Bulbasaur vs the other free starters
Bulbasaur
Melanie · happiness 147
- Best early Water answer (Misty, routes with Surf later).
- Only starter gift gated by the partner bond byte.
- Claim as soon as 147 is ready—no badge wait.
Charmander
Damian · Route 24
- After Nugget Bridge progress on Route 24.
- No happiness check—story progress only.
- Fire path for Grass/Bug and late Ice answers.
Squirtle
Officer Jenny · Vermilion
- After Thunder Badge from Lt. Surge.
- No happiness check—badge gate only.
- Water starter for Rock/Ground and Fire gyms.
Partner Pikachu
Oak’s Lab · always
- Only true starter; happiness byte is exclusive to this partner.
- Does not evolve with a Thunder Stone in Yellow.
- Keep for bond events even if it sits in the back.
Play tips
Claim Bulbasaur without stalling the story
Natural playthrough often hits 147
If you keep Pikachu through Pewter and Mt. Moon and avoid boxing, many runs clear the threshold by Cerulean without a pure walk grind.
Potions are bond tools
When you are short a handful of points, healing the starter mid-route is usually faster than pure 256-step walking rolls.
Switch out, do not box
Bad matchups should swap to another lead. Mid-battle switches do not tax happiness; PC deposits do.
Train immediately for Misty
Lv.10 with Leech Seed is a start—push toward Vine Whip (13) before Cerulean Gym if you want Bulbasaur as the Water answer.
FAQ
Bulbasaur gift questions
How do you get Bulbasaur in Pokemon Yellow?
Raise partner Pikachu happiness to 147 or higher, then talk to Melanie in the house west of the Cerulean Pokemon Center and accept Lv.10 Bulbasaur.
What happiness number is required?
Exactly 147 or more on the 0–255 partner happiness scale. Hitting 147 is enough—you do not need a higher secret value.
Where is Melanie’s house?
Cerulean City, west of the Pokemon Center. Map view id: CeruleanMelaniesHouse. Open the pin.
Does Pikachu need to be in the party when I talk to Melanie?
The script only checks the partner happiness byte, not party presence. Keep Pikachu in the party while grinding bond; boxing costs happiness and slows you down.
Can I get another Bulbasaur later?
No. Accepting sets a one-time event flag. Wild Bulbasaur is not available in Yellow—this gift is the normal way to own #001.
What moves does the gift know?
At level 10: Tackle, Growl, and Leech Seed. Vine Whip arrives at 13.
How do I see the exact happiness value?
Use Save Import to read the battery value, or project multi-step plans in the Happiness Lab.
Linked tools