Where is Officer Jenny in Pokemon Yellow?

Officer Jenny stands in central Vermilion City on the overworld map (not inside a building). Open map pin VermilionCity.

Do you need the Thunder Badge for Squirtle?

Yes. The game checks BIT_THUNDERBADGE on wBeatGymFlags. Without the badge she only talks about the mischievous Squirtle and will not offer the gift.

What level is gift Squirtle and what moves does it know?

Level 10 with Tackle, Tail Whip, and Bubble. Water Gun arrives at 15; evolution to Wartortle at 16 and Blastoise at 36.

Can you miss Squirtle if you say no?

If you refuse, the one-time event is not set—you can talk to Officer Jenny again later. Once you accept successfully, EVENT_GOT_SQUIRTLE_FROM_OFFICER_JENNY is permanent.

Is Squirtle available before the S.S. Anne leaves?

You need the Thunder Badge first, which normally means finishing the S.S. Anne for HM01 Cut and then beating Surge. Claim Squirtle right after the gym while you are still in Vermilion.

Pokemon Yellow Guide

How to Get Squirtle in Pokemon Yellow - Officer Jenny Guide

Gift Pokemon · Vermilion City

How to get Squirtle in Pokemon Yellow

Yellow has no lab Water starter. Squirtle is a one-time gift from Officer Jenny in Vermilion City after you earn the Thunder Badge. No happiness gate—beat Lt. Surge, leave a free party slot, and accept Lv.10 Water coverage.

Vermilion City Officer Jenny Thunder Badge Lv.10 No happiness One-time event

Fast answer

Thunder Badge · Jenny · Yes

Finish the S.S. Anne for HM01 Cut, clear Vermilion Gym (trash-can switches), and beat Lt. Surge for the Thunder Badge and TM24 Thunderbolt. Then talk to Officer Jenny standing in central Vermilion, choose Yes, and receive Lv.10 Squirtle with Tackle, Tail Whip, and Bubble. Map pin: VermilionCity.

10Gift level

3rdGym badge gate

0Happiness needed

1×One-time event

Interactive tool

Squirtle badge readiness

Track story gates on this device. Squirtle checks the Thunder Badge bit—not partner happiness.

S.S. Ticket from BillRoute 25 cottage after Nugget Bridge. Route 25 S.S. Ticket Vermilion City reachedSouth of Route 6 / Diglett’s Cave path. Map S.S. Anne finishedRival fight + HM01 Cut from the Captain. S.S. Anne guide Missables Lt. Surge defeatedTrash-can switches + gym trainers. Surge guide Gym tools Thunder Badge ownedwBeatGymFlags · BIT_THUNDERBADGE. Badge boosts Save Import Party or PC space freeGivePokemon needs room to succeed.

Not ready

Path score

0 / 6

Without the Thunder Badge, Officer Jenny will not offer Squirtle—only flavor dialogue.

Typical order: Bill → Vermilion → S.S. Anne → Surge → Officer Jenny. Claim Squirtle before leaving town for Rock Tunnel.

Open Vermilion map Surge prep My Run dashboard

Story path

Step-by-step to the Water gift

1. Unlock the port city

Help Bill on Route 25 for the S.S. Ticket, then travel to Vermilion. You can already see Jenny in town—she will not gift until the badge exists.

Walkthrough S.S. Ticket

2. Clear the S.S. Anne

Board the ship, beat the Rival, and take HM01 Cut from the Captain. The ship leaves permanently later—grab missables first if you care.

S.S. Anne guide Leftover ticket

3. Beat Lt. Surge

Use Cut-accessible gym path, solve the dual trash-can switch puzzle, and defeat Surge (recommended ~Lv.25–29). Rewards: Thunder Badge + TM24 Thunderbolt.

How to beat Surge Thunderbolt guide Gym page

4. Accept from Officer Jenny

Find Jenny in central Vermilion overworld. With the Thunder Badge she offers the mischievous Squirtle—choose Yes with free party/PC space.

Vermilion map pin Squirtle dex

Gift profile

What Officer Jenny gives you

Squirtle · #007

Water Lv.10 gift

Location: Vermilion City overworld
NPC: Officer Jenny
Requirement: Thunder Badge in gym flags
Base stats: HP 44 · Atk 48 · Def 65 · Spe 43 · Spc 50 (total 250)
Growth: Medium Slow · Catch rate 45

Open Pokédex Add to Team Planner Damage calculators

Vermilion City

Jenny stands outdoors in the city center—not inside the gym or Pokémon Center. Talk to her after the badge ceremony (or any time the badge flag is set).

Interactive map Gym map

Moves at gift (Lv.10)

Level	Move	Type
1	Tackle	Normal
1	Tail Whip	Normal
8	Bubble	Water
15	Water Gun	Water · next
22	Bite	Normal · next
28	Withdraw	Water · next
42	Hydro Pump	Water · next

Move database Full learnset

Evolution line

→16

→36

No trade required. High Defense Water starter for Rock/Ground and Fire gyms; later Surf routes love a bulky Water core.

Best team guide Best Pokemon list Blaine prep

Starter gifts

Squirtle vs the other free starters

Squirtle

Officer Jenny · Thunder Badge

Latest of the three free Kanto starters.
Badge-gated, not happiness-gated.
Water STAB for Rock Tunnel, Ground, and Fire gyms.

Charmander

Damian · Route 24

Earliest free gift after Nugget Bridge.
No happiness / badge check.
Fire path + later Charizard Fly.

Full Charmander guide

Bulbasaur

Melanie · happiness 147

Cerulean house west of the Center.
Partner bond gate only.
Best early Misty answer.

Full Bulbasaur guide

Partner Pikachu

Oak’s Lab · always

Only true starter; happiness byte is exclusive.
Gets Thunderbolt timing advantages in Yellow.
Does not evolve with a Thunder Stone.

Thunderbolt timing Evolution rules

Checklist

Claim tracker (this device)

0 of 7 checked

S.S. Ticket obtainedBill’s cottage · Route 25. HM01 Cut from CaptainS.S. Anne finished. Anne guide Lt. Surge defeatedThunder Badge + TM24. Surge Free party slot or PC spaceRequired for GivePokemon. Talked to Officer JennyCentral Vermilion overworld. Map Accepted SquirtleYes · one-time event. Dex My Run Trained toward Water GunWater Gun @15 · Wartortle @16. Team

Play tips

Use Squirtle without stalling the story

Claim it before Rock Tunnel

You already have Cut and the badge in Vermilion. Grab Squirtle (and Thunderbolt for Pikachu) before the long Rock Tunnel / Lavender push.

Bubble is ready immediately

Lv.10 already knows Bubble—usable into early Ground/Rock once you leave town, with Water Gun right around Wartortle timing.

Electric is still a weak side

Surge is behind you, but later Electric threats exist. Pair Water with Grass (Bulbasaur) or Ground coverage instead of mono-Water leads.

Saying No is not permanent

Refuse only delays the gift. The permanent flag sets after a successful accept. Return when you have box space.

FAQ

Squirtle gift questions

How do you get Squirtle in Pokemon Yellow?

Earn the Thunder Badge from Lt. Surge, talk to Officer Jenny in central Vermilion City, choose Yes, and receive Lv.10 Squirtle.

Where is Officer Jenny?

On the Vermilion City overworld, roughly in the center of town—not inside a building. Map view: VermilionCity.

Why won’t Jenny give me Squirtle?

You almost certainly lack the Thunder Badge flag. Beat Surge first. If the badge is owned but the gift fails, free a party slot or PC space.

Is there a happiness requirement?

No. Happiness only gates Melanie’s Bulbasaur. Squirtle is Thunder Badge + Yes/No only.

What moves does the gift know?

Tackle, Tail Whip, and Bubble at level 10.

Can I get another Squirtle later?

No. Accepting sets EVENT_GOT_SQUIRTLE_FROM_OFFICER_JENNY. Wild Squirtle is not a normal Yellow encounter—this gift is the standard way to own #007.

Should I take Squirtle if I already have Bulbasaur?

Still useful. Bulbasaur covers Water gyms early; Squirtle/Blastoise answers Fire, Rock, and Ground later and can learn Surf for travel. Many full starter collectors take all three gifts.

Linked tools