Let's be real: choosing between the two Kanto remakes usually comes down to whether you prefer a yellow mouse or a brown fox. But if you’re actually trying to fill that Pokédex without begging friends for trades every five minutes, the Let's Go Pikachu exclusives are what actually matter. It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about whether you want a Growlithe or a Vulpix. It's about how you feel about Scyther.
If you picked up the Pikachu version, you're locked into a specific set of encounters that you won't find in the wild in Let's Go, Eevee! Honestly, Game Freak has been doing this since 1996, and while it’s a bit of a headache for completionists, it’s what keeps the community trading. You get certain Pokémon; they get others. That’s the deal.
The Sandshrew and Oddish Problem
One of the first things you’ll notice in the Let's Go Pikachu version is the abundance of Oddish. If you were hoping for a Bellsprout, you’re out of luck. Oddish is a staple of the Let's Go Pikachu exclusives list. You’ll find them early on, specifically in Routes 1, 2, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 24. They eventually evolve into Gloom and then Vileplume. Vileplume is a tanky Grass/Poison type that can really mess people up with Sleep Powder and Solar Beam, especially since the "Let's Go" mechanics make leveling up so much faster than the old Game Boy days.
Then there’s Sandshrew.
If you want that Ground-type coverage early on, Sandshrew is your guy. You’ll find the Kanto version in Routes 3 and 4, and the Alolan version is available via a trade in the Celadon City Pokémon Center. This is a big deal because Alolan Sandslash is an Ice/Steel type, which is a wild departure from the standard Ground type. It gives your team a completely different defensive profile. You can't just stumble upon these in the Eevee version. You have to put in the work here.
Growlithe vs. Vulpix: The Eternal Rivalry
Most people make their choice based on the fire dog. Let's be honest. Growlithe is arguably the coolest Fire-type in the first generation, sitting right up there with Arcanine. In Let's Go Pikachu, Growlithe pops up on Routes 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Arcanine is a beast.
With access to Flare Blitz and Outrage, it’s a physical powerhouse. If you’re playing the Eevee version, you get Vulpix and Ninetales, which are more about special defense and speed. But if you want raw power and that majestic "Legendary Pokémon" (even though it's not technically a legendary) vibe, Pikachu version is where it’s at.
I’ve seen a lot of players get frustrated because they want a Fire-type that isn't Charizard. If that's you, and you want Arcanine, you have to stick with the Pikachu exclusives. There’s no way around it unless you’re using Pokémon HOME or finding a trade partner.
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The Mid-Game Powerhouses: Mankey and Grimer
Let's talk about Mankey. This angry little primate is a lifesaver if you're struggling with Brock or just want some Fighting-type coverage early. You can find Mankey on Routes 3 and 4. Primeape, its evolution, is a sleeper hit in this game. It’s fast. It hits hard. In a game where Psychic types like Alakazam and Mewtwo dominate the endgame, having a fast physical attacker can be a weirdly effective counter-strategy if you play your cards right.
Then we have Grimer.
Grimer and Muk are often overlooked because, well, they're literal piles of sludge. But in the Let's Go Pikachu exclusives lineup, they offer incredible bulk. You find them in the Pokémon Mansion on Cinnabar Island. Just like Sandshrew, you can also get the Alolan version of Grimer through a trade in the Cinnabar Island Pokémon Center. Alolan Muk is a Poison/Dark type, which is incredibly valuable because it only has one weakness: Ground. It completely shuts down Psychic types, which are notoriously overpowered in Kanto. Honestly, if you're not using Alolan Muk to deal with Sabrina or the Elite Four, you're making the game harder than it needs to be.
The Big One: Scyther
This is usually the deal-breaker for most people. Scyther is exclusive to Let's Go, Pikachu!. You’ll find it roaming around in Route 14 and 15.
Scyther is fast. Scyther is cool. Scyther has huge scythes for hands.
In the Eevee version, you get Pinsir. Now, Pinsir is great—don't get me wrong—but Scyther has that iconic status. The only downside? You can't evolve it into Scizor in this specific game. Scizor didn't exist in Generation 1, and since Let's Go only features the original 151 (plus Meltan and Melmetal), Scyther stays Scyther. Even without the evolution, its base stats are high enough that it remains viable through the entire main story and into the post-game Master Trainers.
Why the Alolan Forms Change Everything
When people talk about version exclusives, they often forget about the Alolan variants. This was a genius move by Nintendo and Game Freak to keep the Kanto map feeling fresh. In Let's Go Pikachu, the trade NPCs give you the following:
- Alolan Sandshrew (Celadon City)
- Alolan Grimer (Cinnabar Island)
These aren't just cosmetic changes. As mentioned earlier, the typing shifts are massive. An Ice/Steel Sandslash or a Poison/Dark Muk changes how you build your team. If you’re playing Eevee, you’re getting Alolan Vulpix and Alolan Meowth. Those are great, but they serve different roles. The Pikachu exclusives tend to lean more toward physical bulk and raw power, while the Eevee side feels a bit more technical and speed-focused.
Don't Forget the Move Tutors
While not technically "Pokémon" exclusives, the secret techniques and special moves your partner Pikachu learns are exclusive to this version. Your Pikachu can learn "Pika Papow" and "Splishy Splash." Splishy Splash is a Water-type move that can paralyze opponents. It’s a bit ridiculous—a mouse surfing on a wave—but it gives Pikachu coverage against Ground types, which are traditionally its hard counter.
Eevee gets a much wider variety of moves (Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Ice, etc.), but Pikachu’s moves are specifically designed to make it a self-sufficient lead. It’s a trade-off. You get a narrower pool of "partner moves," but the ones you get are incredibly potent for clearing the main story.
Navigating the Trade Economy
If you're sitting there with your Pikachu version and you’re desperate for a Meowth or a Vulpix, you have a few options. The most obvious is the online trade system. Most people use the "Pikachu-Pikachu-Pikachu" or "Eevee-Eevee-Eevee" trade codes to find random partners, but it's a gamble. You're better off using a dedicated Discord or the Pokémon Let's Go subreddit.
Also, don't forget Pokémon GO.
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This is the only game that has direct integration with the mobile app. If you have a Vulpix or a Bellsprout sitting in your Pokémon GO account, you can literally just send it to the GO Park in Fuchsia City. This effectively bypasses the version exclusivity. If you’ve been playing Pokémon GO for years, the concept of Let's Go Pikachu exclusives becomes almost irrelevant because you can just "import" your missing pieces.
Strategic Team Building with Pikachu Exclusives
If you want to maximize the potential of a Let's Go Pikachu save file, your "Exclusives Only" team would actually be pretty terrifying. Imagine a lineup of:
- Partner Pikachu (Speed/Mixed Attacker)
- Arcanine (Physical Sweeper)
- Alolan Muk (Special Tank/Psychic Counter)
- Vileplume (Status Support/Grass Coverage)
- Alolan Sandslash (Physical Tank/Ice Coverage)
- Scyther (Late-game Cleaner)
This team covers almost every major threat in the game. You have an answer for Lorelei’s Ice types (Arcanine/Pikachu), Bruno’s Fighting types (Scyther/Vileplume), Agatha’s Ghosts (Alolan Muk), and Lance’s Dragons (Alolan Sandslash). It’s a well-oiled machine that capitalizes on the specific strengths of the Pikachu version.
The Misconception About "Better" Versions
Is Let's Go Pikachu better than Let's Go Eevee? Not really. It’s subjective. However, from a competitive or "efficiency" standpoint, the Pikachu version gives you easier access to some of the most durable Pokémon in the Kanto Pokédex.
Oddish and its evolutions are generally more useful in a casual playthrough than the Bellsprout line. Arcanine is almost universally preferred over Ninetales for raw damage. Sandslash provides a very straightforward Ground-type experience that is easier to manage than the more niche Meowth/Persian gameplay found in Eevee.
The "Best" version is the one that has the Pokémon you actually like looking at. If you hate Grimer but love Meowth, no amount of "strategic advantage" will make you happy with the Pikachu version.
How to Handle Version Exclusives Right Now
If you are currently playing through and realizing you missed out on something, here is exactly what you should do. First, check your Pokémon GO storage. It's the fastest way to bridge the gap. If that's not an option, head to Fuchsia City and get comfortable with the GO Park mechanics.
If you are looking to complete the Pokédex for the Shiny Charm, you don't actually need the Alolan forms, but you do need the base Kanto versions of the exclusives. You’ll need to find someone with the Eevee version to trade you:
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- Vulpix
- Meowth
- Bellsprout
- Ekans
- Koffing
- Pinsir
The community is still surprisingly active, so finding a trade partner isn't as hard as you'd think for a game that’s a few years old. Most people are looking for the exact opposite of what you have, so a 1-for-1 trade (like Scyther for Pinsir) is usually accepted instantly.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
- Catch every Oddish and Sandshrew early. Even if you don't plan on using them, they are great "currency" for trades later on with friends who have the Eevee version.
- Prioritize the Alolan trades. As soon as you hit Celadon and Cinnabar, do the trades for Alolan Sandshrew and Grimer. Their secondary typing makes them significantly better than their Kanto counterparts for the late-game challenges.
- Don't ignore the Master Trainers. Once you beat the Elite Four, you'll find trainers dedicated to specific Pokémon. Having access to Scyther and Arcanine means you can challenge their respective Master Trainers without needing to trade first.
- Use the Move Tutor in Pokémon Centers. Make sure your partner Pikachu has its exclusive moves like Zippy Zap and Splishy Splash. They are overpowered for a reason—use them.
- Sync with Pokémon GO. If you're hunting for a specific nature for your exclusives, it's often easier to catch them in Pokémon GO and then transfer them to the GO Park where you can control the encounter better.
Getting the most out of your game means embracing the Let's Go Pikachu exclusives and using them to fill the gaps in your strategy. Whether it's the raw power of Arcanine or the unique typing of Alolan Muk, these Pokémon define the experience of the Pikachu version. Start catching, start trading, and get that Pokédex finished.