Gold vs Silver: Version Exclusives & Differences
Which Pokémon you can only get in Gold or only in Silver, worked out from every wild encounter table, Headbutt tree, swarm, gift, trade and Game Corner prize in the game, plus the other differences between the two versions.
- Gold only
- 10
- Silver only
- 10
Gold 10 Pokémon
Other differences
- Ho-Oh is on the Tin Tower roof at level 40 in Gold and at level 70 in Silver; Lugia is in the Whirl Islands at level 40 in Silver and at level 70 in Gold. The low-level one is part of the story; the other needs the second wing from the old man in Pewter City after the Hall of Fame.
- The Radio Tower director gives the Rainbow Wing in Gold and the Silver Wing in Silver.
- The Goldenrod Game Corner offers Ekans in Gold and Sandshrew in Silver; the Celadon prizes are the same.
- Many wild encounter slots differ: where a species is version-exclusive the other version usually has its counterpart (for example Spinarak at night in Gold and Ledyba in the morning in Silver).
- The Pokémon sprites, Pokédex entries and title screens differ; the story, trainers and Gyms are the same.
Locations with version differences
New Bark Town · Cherrygrove City · Violet City · Azalea Town · Goldenrod City · Ecruteak City · Olivine City · Cianwood City · Blackthorn City · Route 26 · Route 27 · Route 28 · Route 30 · Route 31 · Route 32 · Route 33 · Route 34 · Route 35 · Route 36 · Route 37 · Route 38 · Route 39 · Route 40 · Route 41 · Route 42 · Route 43 · Route 44 · Route 45 · Ruins of Alph · Union Cave · Slowpoke Well · Ilex Forest · National Park · Tin Tower · Whirl Islands · Mt. Mortar · Lake of Rage · Ice Path · Dragon’s Den · Dark Cave · Tohjo Falls · Mt. Silver · Pallet Town · Viridian City · Cerulean City · Vermilion City · Fuchsia City · Cinnabar Island · Route 2 · Route 3 · Route 4 · Route 5 · Route 6 · Route 7 · Route 8 · Route 9 · Route 10 · Route 12 · Route 13 · Route 19 · Route 20 · Route 21 · Route 22 · Route 24 · Route 25 · Mt. Moon · Victory Road
FAQ
Is Gold or Silver better?
They are the same game apart from the version exclusives, a few encounter slots and which legendary bird is easier to catch. Pick the version with the Pokémon you want (for example Growlithe, Teddiursa and Gligar in Gold, Vulpix, Phanpy and Skarmory in Silver) and trade for the rest.
What are the Gold exclusives?
Mankey, Primeape, Growlithe, Arcanine, Spinarak, Ariados, Gligar, Teddiursa, Ursaring, Mantine.
What are the Silver exclusives?
Vulpix, Ninetales, Meowth, Persian, Ledyba, Ledian, Delibird, Skarmory, Phanpy, Donphan.
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).