Completionist goal · 151 Kanto
Complete the Pokedex in Pokemon Yellow
Yellow’s normal finish line is the Celadon Mansion diploma at 150 owned—Mew is not required. Oak’s aides pay out at 10 / 30 / 50. A true living 151 still needs trades for missing families, three trade evolutions, and a non-partner Raichu path.
Fast Answer
150 for the diploma; trades for the rest
Use the Pokedex tool to mark Seen/Owned while you clear wild routes, gifts, fossils, and legendaries. Claim aide items at 10/30/50. For Alakazam / Gengar / Golem and Yellow-missing lines (Weedle, Ekans, Meowth, Koffing, Jynx, Electabuzz, Magmar…), schedule a second cart or accept a partial dex. Mew is event/glitch territory and is not part of the diploma check.
Rewards
Oak aides & diploma
| Owned | Reward | Where | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | HM05 Flash | Route 2 Gate — Oak’s aide | Route2Gate |
| 30 | Itemfinder | Route 11 Gate 2F — Oak’s aide | Route11Gate2F |
| 50 | Exp. All | Route 15 Gate 2F — Oak’s aide | Route15Gate2F |
| 150 | Diploma | Celadon Mansion 3F | CeladonMansion3F |
Diploma text checks 150 owned species. Mew (#151) is excluded from that normal goal in the site’s source-backed milestone note.
External / trade
What Yellow cannot finish alone
Trade evolutions
- Kadabra → Alakazam
- Haunter → Gengar
- Graveler → Golem
- Machoke → Machamp — exception: Underground Path Cubone NPC returns Machoke that evolves on receipt
Partner Raichu problem
- Starter Pikachu refuses Thunder Stone.
- Raichu needs a traded non-partner Pikachu or a Raichu transfer.
- Details: Pikachu evolve FAQ.
Missing wild families
- No wild Weedle line, Ekans line, Meowth line, Koffing line in Yellow encounter data.
- Also no natural Jynx, Electabuzz, Magmar sources in Yellow’s mapped set.
- Fill from Red/Blue/other carts or events.
Mew (#151)
- Not obtainable through normal story play.
- Historical event / glitch interest only for living 151.
- Informational glitch route: Mew glitch.
Single cartridge
What you can finish alone
Wild + evolution bulk
~85 wild species plus evolution families cover most of the dex. Use the Catch Planner and map encounter pins while traveling.
Gifts, prizes, statics
All three Kanto starters, Lapras, Eevee, one Mt. Moon fossil line plus Aerodactyl, one Dojo Hitmon, Porygon, Snorlax, birds, Mewtwo, and Game Corner prizes—see gifts and legendaries.
NPC trades
Seven live NPC trades (Mr. Mime, Dugtrio, Parasect, Machamp, Muk, Rhydon, Dewgong paths). Full list: in-game trades.
Realistic solo goals
Aide rewards + diploma progress without Alakazam/Gengar/Golem/Raichu/missing families. Count “owned” carefully—evolved forms need the base mon first.
- Open the Pokedex; filter missing as you play.
- Rush 10 / 30 / 50 owned for Flash, Itemfinder, Exp. All.
- Clear Safari, Power Plant, Seafoam, Victory Road, Cerulean Cave statics.
- Do every NPC trade you still need.
- For a single-save living dex, plan for the 16 trade-tagged gaps plus the unchosen two-species Helix/Dome fossil line and the unchosen Dojo Hitmon (19 missing species in total before any other self-imposed choices).
- At 150 owned, visit Celadon Mansion 3F for the diploma.
Checklist
Track completion phases
Tips
Counting & Yellow quirks
Owned vs Seen
Diploma and aides care about owned. Evolving counts new owned forms when you obtain them.
Fossil FOMO
One dome/helix choice per playthrough unless you trade extras—plan Omanyte vs Kabuto.
Dojo FOMO
Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan is permanent for that save; the other needs trade or another cart.
Time Capsule later
Gen 2 transfer can fill gaps after the fact—historical VC/Bank paths revived interest, but this guide focuses on Yellow cartridge rules.
Linked tools