You remember that feeling. Stepping out into Route 1 with nothing but a few Poke Balls and a dream. For many of us, the original 151 are more than just data entries; they’re childhood friends. When Game Freak announced they were revisiting Kanto, people were skeptical. Why do it again? But the Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu pokedex isn't just a copy-paste of Yellow version. It’s a tight, focused, and surprisingly deep collection that forces you to play the game differently. It cuts the bloat.
Honestly, the simplicity is the point.
Most modern games bury you under 900+ creatures. It’s overwhelming. In Let’s Go Pikachu, you’re looking at the original 151, plus their Alolan forms and a couple of newcomers like Meltan and Melmetal. That’s it. By narrowing the scope, the game makes completing the Pokedex feel like an achievable weekend project rather than a second full-time job. You can actually see the finish line.
The Grind is Gone: Catching in the Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu Pokedex
Gone are the days of weakening a Pidgey just to throw a ball. Now, it’s all about the catch mechanic. It’s polarizing, sure. But if you’re trying to fill that Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu pokedex, the new "Catch Combo" system is your best friend.
Catching the same species over and over doesn't just give you more XP. It actually changes the world around you. After a chain of about 30, you’ll start seeing rare spawns that shouldn't be there. We’re talking about wild Dragonites hovering over the routes or a rogue Charizard appearing in the sky. It feels like the world is alive. You aren't just checking boxes; you’re hunting.
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The Alolan forms add a weird, tropical spice to the mix. You can't catch these in the tall grass, though. You have to find specific NPCs in Pokemon Centers who are willing to trade their Alolan Meowth or Vulpix for your standard Kanto versions. It’s a neat way to bridge the gap between the classic Gen 1 feel and the newer Sun and Moon era without breaking the lore of the region.
Version Exclusives and the Friction of Completion
You can’t do it alone. That’s the hard truth. Even though the Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu pokedex is smaller than others, you’re still gated by version exclusives. If you’re playing the Pikachu version, you’re getting Oddish, Sandshrew, and Growlithe. You’re never going to find a wild Vulpix or a Meowth. Those belong to the Eevee fans.
Then there are the trade evolutions.
Gengar, Alakazam, Machamp, and Golem still require a friend. This is where the community comes in. Back in the day, we used Link Cables. Now, we use Link Codes. It’s a bit of a hassle if you don’t have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, but it preserves that "Gotta Catch 'Em All" social spirit that Masuda has always championed.
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Master Trainers are the real endgame, though. Once you’ve registered a Pokemon in your Pokedex, the journey isn't over. These NPCs appear across Kanto after you beat the Elite Four. They challenge you to a 1v1 battle using the exact same Pokemon. No items. Just pure strategy. It turns the Pokedex from a "collect-athon" into a "mastery-athon." You haven't truly completed the Pokedex until you've proven you're the best at using every single creature in it.
Mythicals and the Go Connection
Let’s talk about the Meltan problem. You won’t find Meltan in the tall grass of Kanto. To get this hex-nut mythical into your Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu pokedex, you absolutely have to interface with Pokemon GO. It’s a clever, if slightly manipulative, bit of marketing. You send a Pokemon from your phone to the Go Park in Fuchsia City, and in return, you get a Mystery Box in the mobile app. Open that box, catch Meltan, and then send it back to the Switch.
It sounds like a lot of steps. Because it is. But seeing a Melmetal—a massive, hulking steel titan—standing next to a tiny Pikachu in Kanto is a bizarre sight that makes the effort feel worth it.
Key Differences in the Let's Go Pokedex
- No Cross-Gen Evolutions: Don't expect to see Crobat or Scizor here. Even though they involve Kanto Pokemon, they aren't in the game.
- Mega Evolution: Surprisingly, Megas are in. If you have the stone and the Pokedex entry, you can trigger Mega Charizard or Mega Mewtwo in battle.
- The Mew Situation: You can't catch Mew in the wild. Historically, it was locked behind the Poke Ball Plus accessory. If you’re buying the game used today, getting an "official" Mew is nearly impossible without trading, which is a significant hurdle for completionists.
Why Legendaries Feel Legendary Again
In recent games, Legendaries are often just handed to you. In Let’s Go, they feel like boss fights. When you encounter Articuno, Zapdos, or Moltres, you actually have to defeat them in a timed battle before you even get the chance to throw a ball. It adds a layer of tension that was missing from the "walk up and press A" era.
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Mewtwo is the ultimate test. Sitting in the depths of Cerulean Cave, it remains the hardest challenge for anyone trying to wrap up their Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu pokedex. You need a solid team, probably some Dark-types or a very bulky Snorlax, just to survive its initial onslaught.
Actionable Steps for Pokedex Completion
If you're looking to wrap up your collection today, start with the easy stuff. Focus on clearing the main story first, as many areas like Cerulean Cave and the Power Plant are gated by progress or Secret Techniques like Sea Skim.
- Head to Fuchsia City early. The Go Park is essential for importing version exclusives if you don't have a trading partner. If you’ve played Pokemon GO at all over the last few years, you likely have the Vulpix or Bellsprout you need sitting on your phone.
- Abuse the Lure system. Lures in this game don't just increase spawn rates; they increase the "shiny" odds and the chance of seeing rare Pokedex entries like Lapras or Porygon.
- Talk to every NPC. Several Pokemon, like the Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle), are given to you for free by NPCs if you have caught enough total Pokemon. This saves you the headache of hunting them in the wild with low spawn rates.
- Check your Alolan trades. Each Pokemon Center has a specific trader. Don't ignore them. These Alolan forms count toward your Pokedex and often have better typing for the late-game gyms.
Completing the Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu pokedex is one of the most satisfying loops in the entire franchise. It strips away the complexity of EVs, IVs (mostly), and held items to focus on the core fantasy: exploring a world and cataloging the creatures within it. Whether you're a veteran or a newcomer, the 151 entries here represent the foundation of everything that came after. Get out there, start a catch combo, and finally finish that collection.