Ilex Forest Gold & Silver · Johto landmark
Ilex Forest is a dense, gloomy forest west of Azalea Town that leads north to Route 34 and Goldenrod City. The charcoal maker's apprentice has lost the Farfetch'd that cuts trees for them, and you have to herd it back through the forest. His master rewards you with HM01 Cut, which you need straight away to clear the tree blocking the exit.
- Wild Pokémon
- 15
- Items
- 6
- Trainers
- 0
- Needs
- Cut, Surf
Connects to: Route 34
Ilex Forest on the Johto map
Wild Pokémon
| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Morning | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Caterpie Gold | Bug | 5–6 | 50% | 60% | – |
 Weedle Silver | BugPoison | 5–6 | 50% | 60% | – |
 Oddish | GrassPoison | 5–6 | – | – | 60% |
 Metapod Gold | Bug | 5–6 | 30% | 30% | – |
 Kakuna Silver | BugPoison | 5–6 | 30% | 30% | – |
 Zubat | Poison | 5–6 | 5% | 5% | 25% |
 Paras | BugGrass | 5–6 | 15% | 5% | 15% |
| Rod | Pokémon | Lv. | Morning & day | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Rod |  Magikarp | 10 | 85% | 85% |
 Poliwag | 10 | 15% | 15% | |
| Good Rod | Poliwag | 20 | 65% | 65% |
| Magikarp | 20 | 35% | 35% | |
| Super Rod | Poliwag | 40 | 80% | 80% |
| Magikarp | 40 | 20% | 20% |
Headbutt trees
Teach a Pokémon Headbutt (TM02 from Ilex Forest) and use it on trees. Whether a tree is common, rare or empty depends on the tree and your Trainer ID.
Chances are the game’s encounter slots for each time of day: morning 4:00–9:59, day 10:00–17:59, night 18:00–3:59 (grass and caves 30/30/20/10/5/4/1, surfing 60/30/10, Old Rod 70/15/15, Good Rod 35/35/20/10, Super Rod 40/30/20/10). Where Gold and Silver differ, a cell shows both (G and S); a version tag means the Pokémon only appears in that version here. Version exclusives · Where to find every Pokémon.
Items
| Item | How |
|---|---|
| Revive | Item ball |
| Ether | Hidden |
| Super Potion | Hidden |
| Full Heal | Hidden |
| HM01 Cut | Gift The charcoal maker gives it to you after you herd his apprentice’s Farfetch’d back. |
| TM02 Headbutt | Gift |
Hidden items can be found with the Itemfinder from Ecruteak City.
Tips
- Each time you reach the Farfetch'd it scurries off in a direction that depends on which side you approach from, so keep chasing it until it ends up back with the apprentice.
- After you return the Farfetch'd, the charcoal maker gives you HM01 Cut; you need the Hive Badge from Bugsy to use it outside battle.
- A man in the forest gives you TM02 Headbutt; use it on the trees here for Pineco, Exeggcute and bug Pokémon.
- Gold has Caterpie and Metapod in the morning and during the day, while Silver has Weedle and Kakuna; Oddish replaces them at night.
- Three items are hidden here (Ether, Super Potion and Full Heal), along with a Revive in an item ball.
- The small shrine honours the forest's protector, but nothing happens there in Gold and Silver.
Walkthrough: Part 4: Ilex Forest, Goldenrod City and Whitney
FAQ
Where do you get Cut in Pokémon Gold and Silver?
In Ilex Forest. Herd the charcoal maker's lost Farfetch'd back to his apprentice and the charcoal maker gives you HM01 Cut.
How do you catch the Farfetch'd in Ilex Forest?
You do not battle it. Walk up and talk to it, and it runs off along the paths; the side you approach from decides where it goes, so keep steering it until it returns to the apprentice.
How do you get out of Ilex Forest?
Teach Cut to a Pokémon and use it on the small tree near the northern exit. You need the Hive Badge from Azalea Gym to use Cut outside battle.
Where do you get TM02 Headbutt in Gold and Silver?
From a man in Ilex Forest. Use it on trees to shake out sleeping Pokémon.
What Pokémon can you catch in Ilex Forest in Gold and Silver?
15 species: Caterpie, Weedle, Oddish, Metapod, Kakuna, Zubat, Paras, Psyduck, Golduck, Magikarp, Poliwag, Exeggcute, Butterfree, Beedrill, Pineco. Gold only: Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree. Silver only: Weedle, Kakuna, Magikarp, Poliwag, Beedrill.
Sources & picture credits
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Bulbapedia and the game data. Wild Pokémon and encounter chances for both versions and all three times of day, fishing, Headbutt and Rock Smash tables, items, trainers, gifts, trades and shops come from the pret/pokegold decompilation (pret/pokegold ef0201d8da). Maps and sprites © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, archived from the Bulbagarden Archives; the Johto and Kanto maps are drawn from the game’s own Pokégear graphics (listed on the image gallery).