Special
Balanced
65Speed · Below Avg

Is Vulpix Good in Yellow Playthrough?

No version lock in Yellow. Vulpix shows up around Celadon City and needs a Fire Stone to become Ninetales. The Fire slot has competition from Charmander's gift and Growlithe, so Vulpix is a third option rather than the default.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEBEGGEEEEEGTEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4VulpixGiftNinetalesEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Even

Vulpix trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Even
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Bad

Misty's Pokemon outpace and outclass Vulpix here.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Avoid
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Vulpix trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Good

Vulpix has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

Easy KO
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
BindVine WhipMega DrainConstrict
You Win
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafStun SporeSleep PowderWrap
You Win
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceAcidSleep PowderStun Spore
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Ninetales has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Ninetales trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Even
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Ninetales trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Ninetales trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

Even
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Risky
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Ninetales trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Risky
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Ninetales trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Even
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Even
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Ninetales has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Tough

Lance's team hits Ninetales's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Avoid
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Ninetales trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
EarthquakeSlashPoison StingFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamPsychicKinesisRecover
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
You Win
Magneton
Lv 63
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveScreechSwift
Even
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Fire SpinTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Risky
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Hydro PumpAurora BeamQuick AttackMist
Gift
Available after Badge 4
Type
Fire
Tier
F

Vulpix is given to you as a gift on Celadon City at Lv 18. 1,000 Coins. Purchase from the Celadon Game Corner prize counter for 1,000 Coins. Coins can be bought at the counter or won at the slot machines.

View Vulpix locations

Recommended Moves
  • After Brock
    • TM28GroundDig80100%10
  • After Misty
    • TM08NormalBody Slam85100%15
    • LV 28GhostConfuse Ray100%10
  • After Erika
    • TM40NormalSkull Bash130100%10
    • TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
    • LV 35FireFlamethrower135100%15
  • After Koga
    • TM09NormalTake Down9085%20
  • After Blaine
    • TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
Evolve Vulpix to Ninetales
Use Fire Stone
Type
Fire
Tier
A

You can usually obtain this item before you reach Koga.

Recommended Moves
  • STARTING (Lv 32)
    • LV 32FireEmber60100%25
  • After Brock
    • TM28GroundDig80100%10
  • After Misty
    • TM08NormalBody Slam85100%15
  • After Erika
    • TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
    • TM40NormalSkull Bash130100%10
    • TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
  • After Koga
    • TM09NormalTake Down9085%20
  • After Blaine
    • TM38FireFire Blast16585%5

How to Get Vulpix in Yellow

Vulpix is handed to you at Celadon City. No encounter rates or random spawns involved, so there's nothing to grind. Check the location details below for the exact conditions to trigger it.

How to Obtain Vulpix in Y

  1. Vulpix
    Step 1Vulpix
    Celadon City - Game Corner
    Lv.18Gift from NPC
    Rate 100%
    Purchase: 1,000 coins
  2. Ninetales
    Step 2Evolve into Ninetales

Vulpix Weakness

Water, Ground, and Rock moves hit Vulpix for super-effective damage. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Vulpix's special bulk (base 65 Special) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Vulpix Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Vulpix Weak Against

Avg
3Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score-2
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Vulpix Strong Against

3Strong
4Resisted
0Immune
Score-1
2xStrong
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Vulpix

Vulpix Evolutions

You'll evolve Vulpix into Ninetales the traditional way. This Fire type doesn't breed despite having a chain ahead. The evolved forms gain up to 191 total stats over Vulpix. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Vulpix
Fire
HP
38
73+35
ATK
41
76+35
DEF
40
75+35
SP.ATK
50
81+31
SP.DEF
65
100+35
SPE
65
100+35
BST
299D-Tier
505C-Tier+206
ROLE
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Vulpix Best Moveset

Every problem the Fire type carries, compressed into a pre-evolution frame. 65 Special can't power MoveFire Blast at any meaningful level. Ninetales has the Speed and Special to compete, but nothing happens before evolving.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Vulpix
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • Fire SpinSTAB
  • Body Slam
  • Confuse Ray

Moves List

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Vulpix. TMs unlock Normal and Ground coverage and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Fire Blast and Flamethrower into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Ember
A6010025Fire
Lv 1
Tail Whip
10030Normal
Lv 16
Quick Attack+1
D4010030Normal
Lv 21
Roar-6
20Normal
Lv 28
Confuse Ray
B10010Ghost
Lv 35
Flamethrower
A14210015Fire
Lv 42
Fire Spin
B527015Fire

TM Moves

TM
TM34
Bide+1
D10Normal
TM08
Body Slam
B8510015Normal
TM28
Dig
D10010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
D12010015Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
B180855Fire
TM31
Mimic
D10Normal
TM20
Rage
D2010020Normal
TM33
Reflect
A20Psychic
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM40
Skull Bash
D10010010Normal
TM50
Substitute
C10Normal
TM39
Swift
A6020Normal
TM09
Take Down
D908520Normal
TM06
Toxic
C9010Poison

Egg Moves

Vulpix doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Vulpix can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP38
F
Attack41
D
Defense40
D
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def65
C
Speed65
C
Total314
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.6 m
Weight9.9 kg
Base XP60
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

Both its fur and its tails are beautiful. As it grows, the tails split and form more tails.

Pokemon Yellow

Vulpix Yellow Guide

  • Vulpix costs 1,000 Coins in Yellow. Earn coins by playing the slot machines on the Game Corner floor or buying them at the counter (1,000 coins for ₽10,000).

  • For Yellow, you can run Vulpix through the first few routes without issues. 314 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Ninetales as fast as you can.

  • Vulpix has an Alolan form that swaps the typing and reshuffles the stats. Introduced in Gen 7. Worth checking if the original version doesn't fit your team.

Game Availability

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Vulpix has appeared in 21 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

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