Summary
ThePokemon Trading CardGamespread like wildfire, and the original 150 Pokemon expanded to 151 afterPokemon: The First Movie.Mewtwo and (especially) Mew were virtually unheard of at the time. Along with legendary Pokemon, pseudo-legendaries madecompleting the Pokedexan arduous task.
Whether referring to them as the original 150 or 151 Pokemon (including the elusive Mew), it’s undeniable that some Pokemon are rarer and harder to obtain than others. The rarity of a Pokemon often (but not always) correlates with its power and abilities. Pokemon are fascinating creatures, and the way they are obtained varies quite a bit. True Pokedex completionists have acquired all of these hard-to-get Pokemon, though this task is a daunting one. After all, merely gathering each of the original 150 proves challenging enough.
Updated Jul 02, 2025 by Stephen LaGioia:Classic Pokemon (which includes the original 150)has been overshadowed by thephenom known as Palworldof late, along with the far more recent and expansivePokemon Scarlet & Violet. The ever-expanding Pokemon lineup clocks in at1,025,with dozens of games and other media to its name. And yet, there remains a nostalgic charm to the original monsters. Indeed, dating back to Red & Blue and its original lineup of 151 (including Mew), several alluring rare Pokemon captured the imaginations and wonder of fans. In Pokemon Go, monsters like Eevee remain especially tempting, with their unique three-pronged evolution. And with so many populating the roster, we decided to update our list of therarest original Pokemon.
Locations are in reference toPokemon Red, Blue,andYellowunless otherwise noted. Rarities also referenceRed, Blue,andYellow,as well as the general lore.
“P” refers to Pokemon Dollars, the currency in the games' mentions.
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These evolved, beastly forms (Poison/Ground-types) are the final, fully-realized versions of Nidoran. These Pokemon staples are a sort of mammalian and reptilian hybrid, equipped with massive claws, sharp teeth, and intimidating spikes protruding from their heads. It is said that their powerful tails can topple a steel transmission tower with ease, so it makes sense that their whipping tails can utterly shatter unfortunate targets in their wake.
Players will need to obtain a covetedMoon Stoneto evolve a Nidorino/Nidorina (at any level). Moon Stones can be found in the upper left area of the first floor ofMt. Moon,in the basement of Team Rocket’s headquarters in Celedon City, or in the bottom right area of Route 2.
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This majesticFairy-type(Normal-type in Gen 1) monster is among the small handful ofalreadyrare Pokemon that require a Moon Stone to morph into this evenscarcerform. While the go-between evolution Cleffa doesn’t exist in the first generation, obtaining this elusive Pokemon is still a challenge. That’s because Clefairy, which only resides in Mt. Moon as well as a prize at the Celadon Casino, can be tricky enough to gather.
This star-shaped Pokemon can be difficult to merely come across, let alone possess one for battle. It’s a nocturnal and rather skittish creature, that swiftly flees when one approaches its vicinity. This happens often and easily, as it has highly sensitive ears. With its ability to flutter about and glide across the water, it’s especially tough to catch.
Of course, this only applies toPokemonlore, since it can’t be caughtat allin this form inRed & Blue. These qualities make it one of the rarest andmost sought-after Normal-typesin the earlyPokemonentries.
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The aptly named Lickitung is a unique monster, to say the least — not just because of its massive tongue used to harm and otherwise bog down opponents, but because of its scarcity and elusiveness. InRed & Blue, players need to head to the gatehouse near thebusy town of Fuchsia City(on theeast side of Route 18).
On the second floor, they can speak with a boy standing near a window, at which point he’ll offer to trade aSlowbrofor Lickitung. This means that players first must find or evolve a Slowbro; a fairly tricky feat by itself, and then seek out this randomly-placed Gatehouse. InYellow, however, players may catch Lickitung lurking in theUnknown Dungeon.
Pokemon trainers may not find a great deal of use for this strange Normal-type, yet it’s something of a survivalist — as a few of its moves enable healing, and it holds solidHPas well asdefense.
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Considering this colorful, clownish Pokemon doesn’t appear in the wild at all inRed & Blue, it’s a clear contender when it comes to rare, hard-to-procure Pokemon. However, once players learn how to seek out the performative Mr. Mime, the task becomes fairly simple. Players will need to look out for a man standing outsideDiglett’s Cave on Route 2.When speaking to him, he’ll offer his Mr. Mime for an Abra; a Pokemon which can be fairly tough to gather, but is far more common than Mime.
Statistically, this Pokemon doesn’t offer much in battle, though it does provide some unique moves to experiment with, along with respectablespecial and speedstats. Being aPsychic-typethat can be secured somewhat early, Mr. Mime can be a cool novelty that can throw off opponents.
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Each of the three Eevee variants proves scarce, especially for those players looking to collect the entire trio. Even the adorable bushy-tailed Eevee is quite rare in and of itself — let alone this powerfulElectric-typeevolution. This super-charged evolved variant of the far meeker Eevee has been a fan-favorite for retroPokemonplayers, thanks to its sleek, electrified design and its hyper speed.
Arguably the best of the evolved Eevee trio, Jolteon is often sought by players looking to zap and stifle their opponents into oblivion, which is achieved by securing aThunder Stoneat theCeladon City Department Store (fourth floor).The asking price for this rare and coveted item is2,100P.
Flareon is an appealing choice for manyPokemonplayers for its ability to learn many HP-meltingFire-typemoves, as well as its raw power. It boasts an impressive Attack stat of130,which allows it to overcome its meager HP and speed by swiftly wearing down its opponents.
Like its elemental counterparts, this potent offshoot of Eevee cannot be found in the wild in the originalPokemongames. Rather, it takes on its fiery evolved form upon buying aFire Stoneat theCeladon City Department Store (fourth floor), for 2,100P.
It may not be the most appealing when it comes to its visual design, as it resembles Eevee far more than its other two evolved forms. But Flareon reaffirms the notion that looks can be deceiving.
WhileVaporeon stands out among the Water-typesin the Kanto region, this seafaring mammal isn’t quite as popular as its Eevee brethren — as its only major advantage takes the form of HP. Still, it’s no-less scarce — and its survivability, as well as its ability to learn strong moves like Hydro Pump, make it a sought-after Pokemon.
Like its similar-yet-opposing ilk, Vaopreon must have evolved from Eevee by way of a stone — fittingly theWater Stone, which is also found on thefourth floor of the Celadon City Department Store,with the same2,100Pasking price.
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Pinsir is a bulky and rather intimidatingBug-typePokemon that towers over most others among its elemental group. With its large, spiky pincers, this monster can trap unsuspecting prey in a death grip that is nearly impossible to escape from. It also uses these horns to burrow into the ground to sleep at night, making evening sightings of Pinsir all the trickier. Not only is it quite rare, but it’s non-existent inRed(except by way of trading).
Even inBlueand Yellowversions of the game, however, Pinsir is not too easy to obtain. Players need to head to theCeladon City Casino Exchange Corneror theSafari Zoneto have a chance to get one. There are certainly rarer options, but it’s one of the more exclusive when it comes to Bug Pokemon.
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Inspired by the martial arts legends Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, these potentFighting-typesare unique in both their raw, offensive prowess and their exclusivity. These aggressive Pokemon can strike with such speed that the human eye often can’t detect their motion. They’re so strong that they can drill right through concrete walls. They’re almost never seen in the wild, and only scarcely in urban areas.
Hitmonchan/Hitmonlee can only be obtained after completing theSaffron City Fighting Doko,and players must choose between one out of two. As such, they’re rare in their own right, but collectingbothof these fighters is a particularly tough feat.
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This oddIce/Psychic-typeis about as distinct in its humanoid design as it is in its exclusivity. The Pokemon favors music, communicating through dance and song, though these serenading tunes shouldn’t fool gamers — as they can also pack a punch. Known as the “Queen of Ice” in parts of the Galar region, obtaining this Pokemon is truly a gift of royalty.
Players can only secure a single Jynx in the entireRed/Bluecampaign, which makes it about as rare as can be. Still, it’s at least fairly easy to secure, as players just need to visit thehouse next to the Poke Center in Cerulean City, trading a Poliwhirl for a Jynx at level 12.
