Trading - Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow Guide - IGN (2024)

Trading Pokémon is not only encouraged, it is necessary to assemble a complete collection of all Pokémon in the game.

We distinguish between two different types of Pokémon Trades. Trades with human players and trades with Pokémon trainers inside the game.

Pokémon Trainer Trades

There are numerous occasions for trades with in-game trainers. All you have to do to complete a trade is talk to the trainers and offer them the Pokémon they're looking for. Here are all the Pokémon that can be traded with in-game trainers in both Blue/Red and Yellow:

• Cerulean City
  • Trade a Poliwhirl for a Jynx (Blue/Red)
• Route 5
  • Trade a Nidoran Male for a Nidoran Female (Blue/Red)
  • Trade a Cubone for a Machoke (Yellow)
• Vermilion City
  • Trade a Spearow for a Farfetch'd (Blue/Red)
• Route 11
  • Trade a Nidorino for a Nidorina (Blue/Red)
  • Trade a Lickitung for a Dugtrio (Yellow)
• Cinnabar Island
  • Trade a Raichu for an Electrode (Red)
  • Trade a Venonat for a Tangela (Red)
  • Trade a Ponyta for a Seel (Blue/Red)
  • Trade a Growlithe for a Dewgong (Yellow)
  • Trade a Golduck for a Rhydon (Yellow)
  • Trade a Kangaskhan for a Muk (Yellow)

• Route 18
  • Trade a Slowbro for a Lickitung (Blue/Red)
  • Trade a Tangela for a Parasect (Yellow)
• Route 2
  • Trade an Abra for a Mr. Mime (Blue/Red)
  • Trade a Clefairy for a Mr. Mime (Yellow)

Pokémon Player Trades

As you know, there are a total of 151 Pokémon in the game -- but you won't be able to get all of them without trading with other Pokémon players. Here is a listing of what Pokémon are not found in the three respective versions:

Additionally, Haunter, Machoke, Graveler and Kadabra will only evolve through trade. That means you won't be able to get Gengar, Machamp, Golem and Alakazam without trading their pre-evolved forms with a friend.

You may have noticed that the Pokémon Mew is not found in either of the three Game Boy games. Mew is a bonus Pokémon and is not counted as one of the 150 "standard" Pokémon. This elusive Psychic type is given away by Nintendo in contests or at Pokémon mall tours. For more information on Mew, check out its profile page here.

Trading is super-easy if you have the necessary equipment. There are two ways to trade:

1.) Game Boy to Game Boy

You'll need two Game Boys, two Pokémon game cartridges and a link cable

• Connect the two Game Boys via the link cable. Both players should go to the nearest Pokémon Center and heal their Pokémon.
• Make sure the Pokémon you want to trade is in your party. If it is not, access the PC to add it to your party.
• Next, both players need to talk to the receptionist in the Link Cable Club at the same time. You are now asked to save.
• Select the Trade Center option and confirm your choice.
• Once you enter the trade center, face the center of the table and press A. You can now check out your and your friend's Pokémon data.
• Select the Pokémon you want to trade and press A.
• You will now be asked if you want to complete the trade. Select the Trade option to seal the deal. That's it.

2.) Cartridge to Pokémon Stadium

You need a Nintendo 64 with Pokémon Stadium and the Transfer Pak.

• Plug the Transfer Pak with your Game Boy cartridge into an N64 controller. If you have two Transfer Paks, you can plug one cart into controller 1 and the second one in controller 2.
• Access the Pokémon Lab and follow the on-screen commands for trading -- or simply move one or more Pokémon from your party or PC boxes to the N64 cartridge's storage boxes.
• If you don't have a second Transfer Pak, you should now power down your N64, remove the Game Boy cart and plug in the second Pokémon cartridge. Access the Pokémon Lab and transfer the Pokémon in question from your N64 cart boxes to the Game Boy cartridge.

Basics and Rules of the Trade

No matter which way you trade, you should remember the following rules:

• Traded Pokémon gain EXP quicker. It's a good idea to trade as many Pokémon as possible back and forth with a friend to reach higher levels more easily.
• Even if you trade away the last Pokémon of a certain kind, the credit for catching it will not be erased. In other words, you don't actually need to keep all 151 Pokémon to get a complete Pokedex.
• You don't get credit for a Pokémon's pre-evolutions when you catch its evolved form. The same holds true for trading. If you receive a Raichu in a trade, you don't automatically get credit for Pikachu if you haven't caught one yourself.
• Make a deal with your friend that when you trade him/her Haunter, Machoke, Graveler or Kadabra, they'll return their evolved forms (Gengar, Machamp, Golem or Alakazam) right back to you. This way, both players will get credit for them.
• Remember that certain badges are required to successfully control higher-level Pokémon.