How Many Pokédollars Do You Need To Complete the Pokédex?

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For three decades now, gaming enthusiasts have embarked on an adventure to achieve the title of Pokémon Master, engaging in combat using their critters and, if possible, collecting them all.

Discovering all 151 original Pokémon isn’t just a time-intensive task, it can also be quite costly – and until now, the exact cost remained unknown. Let’s find out: What’s the most affordable method to capture all 151 Pokémon from the first generation?

For a clearer understanding, let’s focus on the Pokémon from the Red and Blue game versions as our primary point of reference, even though there are many more today. This simplifies our discussion without losing sight of the broader context.

Catch ‘Em All – For The Lowest Price Possible!

A more straightforward method might involve multiplying the quantity of Pokémon by the cost of each Poké Ball (200 Pokédollars) to arrive at a substantial sum of 30,200 Pokédollars.

Indeed, let’s set aside the frustration of spending large sums on Ultra Balls, repeatedly trying to catch Legendary Pokémon, only for them to escape time and again. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll assume that catching each Pokémon requires just a single Ultra Ball, which is already quite costly in itself.

However, unlike fictional cats that can summon funds using a Pay Day spell, let’s explore the possibility of reducing those expenses – surprisingly, this proves to be quite achievable!

Our Poké-Financial Plan

Essentially, we don’t require that many Poké Balls compared to the number of Pokémon, as a key characteristic of these creatures is evolution. Even if some of them experience dramatic changes in size or shape, they can still be contained within the same Poké Ball they were initially caught in.

Back in the old days of Red and Blue, there were a whopping 72 unique Pokémon with evolved forms for me to capture. Fast forward to today, I’m left with just 79 different species out there in the wild. On top of that, they hand over 11 Pokémon right off the bat, all nicely wrapped up in free Poké Balls. So technically, I’ve got fewer Pokémon to hunt down than what it initially seemed!

This list encompasses not only our initial Pokémon like Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander, but also Aerodactyl, obtained through cloning when scientists on Cinnabar Island extract its DNA from amber, as well as Lapras, which we obtain in the Silph Co. building to expel Team Rocket.

But even then, we’re still not done yet.

Regardless of our intention, it’s impossible for us to capture all the remaining 68 Pokémon. This is because Red and Blue versions each have exclusive monsters numbering 6, and there are additional 4 creatures that must be traded within the game: Pidgeot, Jigglypuff, Primeape, and Snorlax.

To fill up your Pokédex completely, trading other Pokémon would be necessary. However, since trading is free, though it might mean parting ways with a cherished friend, the financial aspect remains unaffected in this case.

Intermediate conclusion: We now only need to purchase 58 Poké Balls to catch the remaining Pokémon.

In Pokémon, You Don’t Get Much For Free

Hold on, the discussion isn’t over just yet!

Indeed, it’s become a standard feature across Pokémon games for players to find Poké Balls periodically, which helps them on their quest to capture various creatures. However, this practice was not present when Red and Blue versions were initially released.

Back then, it was unclear just how important the catching mechanism would turn out to be, so very few of the valuable Poké Balls were handed out for free.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, there are just six secret balls up for grabs without spending a single coin, and the one unique treasure among them is the legendary Master Ball. You earn this beauty as a token of appreciation for saving Silph Co. With that prize in my pocket, my ball count is now down to a manageable 51.

In the Safari Zone, we discover an opportunity for one final minor cost reduction concerning the balls. Here, we meet six unique Pokémon that are exclusive to this area.

Instead of using standard Poke Balls, you’ll find that Safari Balls are utilized instead. Upon entering the zone, you’ll be provided with 30 of these balls at a price of 500 Pokedollars. This means that rather than purchasing 51 balls at a cost of 200 each, you only need 45. However, don’t forget about the one-time expense of 500 Pokedollars.

Investing in Evolutions

Regrettably, it’s necessary for us to increase our spending once more. While transforming Pokémon through experience points or trades doesn’t cost a thing, some Pokémon need specific minerals for their evolution process.

Besides Eevee, which transforms into one of its three elemental forms using a Fire, Water, or Thunder Stone, it’s worth noting that eight other Pokémon undergo evolution exclusively by means of a stone. While there are additional Pokémon that require stones for evolution, Pidgey and Jigglypuff are not significant in this context as Moon Stones can only be discovered, not purchased.

Evolution Stones in the Pokémon universe are quite pricey, going for 2,100 Pokédollars apiece. But there’s a silver lining: A helpful NPC in Cerulean City will trade you three stones for just three drinks! That means you’ll only spend 200 PokéDollars for the beverages you provide, since asking for an exchange of three stones for a single soda would be downright extortionate!

Among the eleven stones required in total, you’ll pay the regular price of 2,100 Pokédollars for eight of them, but only 200 Pokédollars each for the remaining three.

Or more concisely:

For eight out of the eleven stones, you’ll pay the full price of 2,100 Pokédollars. The other three will cost you just 200 Pokédollars apiece.

It’s important to mention that unlike other Pokémon, Porygon can’t be caught or traded. Instead, it must be purchased using coins earned from playing the Rocket Game Corner. If you happen to catch every Pokémon in a single throw (which is quite fortunate), then the Rocket Game Corner won’t pose any problems for you, as there will be no extra costs involved.

151 For A Price Of…?

Instead, we’re now holding 45 Poké Balls valued at 200 Pokédollars apiece, our Safari trip amounted to 500 Pokédollars, we have 8 stones worth 2,100 each and 3 stones worth 200 each, summing up to a massive total of 26,900 Pokédollars.

Whoa, it turns out I wasn’t too far off with my initial guess of around 30,200 bucks for this Pokémon thing. And let me tell you, once you factor in the cost of nurturing these pocket monsters, it really adds up and shows just how much this game can drain your wallet!

Have you ever totaled the amount of Pokédollars you’ve spent during your gaming experience? Can you share your thoughts on how the cost of Poké Balls in this game compares to those in more recent versions?

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2025-03-20 21:11