retrogameindex
Pokemon Gold Silver GSC Johto Gen 2 adventure archivePokémon Gold / SilverGUIDES

Gold & Silver Walkthrough: Johto, Kanto and Mt. Silver

The whole adventure in 20 parts, from New Bark Town through the eight Johto Gyms, Team Rocket and the Elite Four, then Kanto’s eight Gyms and Red at the top of Mt. Silver. Each part links to the location pages for wild Pokémon, trainers and items.

Edition: the original Game Boy Color Pokémon Gold and Silver (English, 2000). Crystal and HeartGold/SoulSilver differ.

Parts
20
Badges
16
Elite Four
4 + Champion Lance
Starters
Chikorita · Cyndaquil · Totodile

Part 1 New Bark Town to Cherrygrove City

New Bark Town Route 29 Route 46 Cherrygrove City Route 30

You start in New Bark Town, choose your first Pokémon from Professor Elm and run an errand to Mr. Pokémon's house north of Cherrygrove City. On the way back your rival picks a fight, and you learn he stole a Pokémon from Elm's lab.

  1. Talk to Professor Elm in his lab and choose Chikorita, Cyndaquil or Totodile, all at Lv5; his aide gives you a Potion before you set off.
  2. Head west along Route 29 to Cherrygrove City, where the town guide shows you around and gives you the Map Card for your Pokégear.
  3. Continue north on Route 30 to Mr. Pokémon's house, where you receive the Mystery Egg and Professor Oak gives you a Pokédex.
  4. Walking back through Cherrygrove, your rival challenges you with the Lv5 starter that has the type advantage over yours.
  5. Back at the lab, you find out your rival stole a Pokémon from Elm; hand over the Mystery Egg and the aide gives you five Poké Balls.
  6. On Route 29 a man shows you how to catch Pokémon, and the Cherrygrove Poké Mart now stocks Poké Balls.
  7. Come back once you can Surf: the man on the islet off Cherrygrove's western shore gives you Mystic Water, which boosts Water-type moves.
  8. Hoothoot only appears at night on Routes 29 and 30, Pidgey shows up in the morning and day, and Sentret is found on Route 29 in the morning and day.
  9. Route 46 branches north off Route 29; its grass has Geodude and Spearow, plus Jigglypuff at a 5% rate.

Worth catching: Pidgey Sentret Hoothoot Geodude

Train your starter a few levels on Route 29 before heading home, because your rival's Lv5 starter always has the type advantage over yours.

Part 2 Violet City and Falkner

Route 31 Dark Cave Violet City Sprout Tower

Route 31 leads west to Violet City, home of Sprout Tower and the first Gym. Clear the tower for HM05 Flash, then beat Falkner's Flying-types for the Zephyr Badge.

  1. From Route 30, turn west onto Route 31; Bug Catcher Wade is its only trainer, and the entrance to Dark Cave is here.
  2. Route 31 has Bellsprout at any time, with Ledyba in the morning in Silver only and Spinarak at night in Gold only.
  3. Dark Cave is pitch black without Flash, but its first chamber has Geodude, Zubat and rare Dunsparce (1%).
  4. In Violet City, trade a Bellsprout to Kyle for Onix 'Rocky'; the Rare Candy and PP Up item balls sit across the water, so collect them once you can Surf.
  5. Climb Sprout Tower, where nearly every Sage uses Bellsprout, and look out for Gastly on 2F and 3F at night.
  6. Beat Elder Li at the top (Bellsprout 7, Bellsprout 7, Hoothoot 10) to receive HM05 Flash.
  7. Falkner's Gym is Flying-type; his strongest Pokémon is Pidgeotto at Lv9, which knows Tackle, Mud-Slap and Gust.
  8. The Zephyr Badge comes with TM31 Mud-Slap and lets you use Flash outside battle.
  9. After the Gym, Elm's aide meets you in the Violet Pokémon Center and hands over the Mystery Egg, which hatches into Togepi.
Falkner

Worth catching: Bellsprout Gastly Geodude Zubat Dunsparce

If you chose Chikorita, train a Geodude from Dark Cave or Route 46: Rock-types resist Gust and Tackle, though Pidgeotto's Mud-Slap hits them for double damage.

Part 3 Route 32 to Azalea Town and Bugsy

Route 32 Ruins of Alph Union Cave Route 33 Azalea Town Slowpoke Well

South of Violet, Route 32 runs past the Ruins of Alph to Union Cave and on to Azalea Town. Team Rocket is cutting off Slowpoke tails in the town's well, so drive them out with Kurt before taking on Bugsy.

  1. On Route 32, collect the Miracle Seed from the man at the north end, TM05 Roar from the man by the Ruins of Alph gate, and the Old Rod in the Pokémon Center.
  2. Route 32's grass holds Mareep, Bellsprout, Wooper (morning and night) and Hoppip (morning and day); Ekans appears only in Silver.
  3. Detour into the Ruins of Alph to solve the panel puzzles; Unown live in the inner chambers.
  4. Pass through Union Cave, home to Geodude, Zubat and rare Onix, with Sandshrew in Gold only; on Fridays a Lv20 Lapras appears on B2F once you can Surf.
  5. Route 33 is short, with Hiker Anthony as its only trainer, and leads straight into Azalea Town.
  6. Talk to Kurt, who storms into the Slowpoke Well after Team Rocket; follow him and beat the four Grunts on B1F.
  7. With the well cleared, Kurt starts turning Apricorns into special Poké Balls, and heading for the west exit of town triggers your rival's second battle (Gastly 12, Zubat 14 and his starter at Lv16).
  8. Bugsy's Gym is Bug-type; his strongest Pokémon is Scyther at Lv16, with Quick Attack, Leer and Fury Cutter.
  9. The Hive Badge brings TM49 Fury Cutter and lets you use Cut outside battle.
Bugsy

Worth catching: Mareep Wooper Hoppip Onix Slowpoke Unown

Fury Cutter doubles in power with each consecutive hit, so finish Scyther quickly with Fire, Flying or Rock moves; Rock-types such as Geodude and Onix also shrug off its Quick Attack.

Part 4 Ilex Forest, Goldenrod City and Whitney

Ilex Forest Route 34 Goldenrod City Goldenrod Underground

Ilex Forest links Azalea to Route 34 and Goldenrod, the biggest city in Johto. You earn HM01 Cut on the way, then explore the Department Store, Bike Shop and Underground before facing Whitney.

  1. In Ilex Forest, help the charcoal maker's apprentice round up his runaway Farfetch’d; his master then gives you HM01 Cut to clear the tree blocking the path.
  2. Pick up TM02 Headbutt from the man in the forest; Headbutt trees across Johto shake out Pokémon such as Aipom, Heracross and Pineco.
  3. Oddish lives in the forest at night and Paras at any time; the Caterpie line appears in Gold only and the Weedle line in Silver only.
  4. The Ilex Forest gate gives you TM12 Sweet Scent, and Route 34 has the Day-Care plus Drowzee, Abra and Ditto in the grass.
  5. In Goldenrod City, get a free Bicycle from the Bike Shop and pick up the Coin Case in the Underground.
  6. Trade a Drowzee for Machop 'Muscle' on Department Store 5F; its Fighting moves are the best answer to Whitney.
  7. The Game Corner prize counter offers Dratini for 2,100 coins in both versions, with Ekans in Gold and Sandshrew in Silver for 700.
  8. Whitney's Gym is Normal-type; her strongest Pokémon is Miltank at Lv20, with Rollout, Attract, Stomp and Milk Drink.
  9. After you win she bursts into tears, so talk to her again to receive the Plain Badge and TM45 Attract.
  10. The Plain Badge lets you use Strength outside battle, and the Flower Shop now gives you the SquirtBottle for the odd tree on Route 36.
Whitney
Whitney · Normal · Plain Badge
ClefairyClefairy Lv. 18NormalMiltankMiltank Lv. 20Normal

Worth catching: Abra Ditto Drowzee Oddish Paras

Miltank's Rollout grows stronger every turn it connects, so break the chain by switching or hitting hard with the traded Machop, and keep Potions ready to outlast Milk Drink.

Part 5 National Park to Ecruteak City and Morty

Route 35 National Park Route 36 Route 37 Ecruteak City Burned Tower

North of Goldenrod, Routes 35 to 37 pass the National Park and the Sudowoodo blocking the road to Ecruteak City. In Ecruteak you release three legendary Pokémon from the Burned Tower, earn Surf from the Kimono Girls and challenge Morty's Ghost-types.

  1. In the gate north of Goldenrod, a man asks you to carry his Spearow and its mail to Route 31; deliver it to the man by Dark Cave for TM50 Nightmare.
  2. The National Park hosts the Bug-Catching Contest on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and Scyther and Pinsir are among the Pokémon you can catch there.
  3. Water the odd tree on Route 36 with the SquirtBottle to battle the Lv20 Sudowoodo, then collect TM08 Rock Smash from the man nearby.
  4. Routes 36 and 37 add Stantler, with Growlithe in Gold and Vulpix in Silver, and Route 37 has red, blue and black Apricorn trees for Kurt.
  5. In Ecruteak City, Bill is visiting the Pokémon Center; once he heads home, his family's house in Goldenrod gives you an Eevee at Lv20.
  6. Inside the Burned Tower your rival battles you with Haunter 20, Magnemite 18, Zubat 20 and his starter at Lv22.
  7. Drop down to B1F to wake Raikou, Entei and Suicune, which flee and then roam Johto at Lv40; wild Magmar also lives on B1F.
  8. Beat all five Kimono Girls in the Dance Theater and the gentleman watching gives you HM03 Surf.
  9. Morty's Gym is Ghost-type; his strongest Pokémon is Gengar at Lv25, with Hypnosis, Shadow Ball, Mean Look and Dream Eater.
  10. The Fog Badge brings TM30 Shadow Ball, lets you Surf outside battle, and the Sages now let you into Tin Tower.
Morty

Worth catching: Sudowoodo Stantler Scyther Pinsir Yanma Magmar

Normal and Fighting moves cannot touch Morty's Ghost-types and Mean Look stops you switching, so carry Awakenings for Hypnosis and lead with Dark moves such as Bite, which are super-effective on all four.

Part 6 Olivine City to Cianwood City and Chuck

Route 38 Route 39 Olivine City Olivine Lighthouse Route 40 Route 41 Cianwood City

West of Ecruteak, Routes 38 and 39 lead to the port of Olivine City, whose Gym Leader Jasmine is nursing a sick Pokémon at the top of the lighthouse. You Surf across the sea to Cianwood City for the medicine and the Storm Badge.

  1. Routes 38 and 39 have Magnemite, Miltank, Tauros and Farfetch’d (morning and day); Rattata appears in Gold and Meowth in Silver.
  2. At Moomoo Farm on Route 39, feed Berries to the sick Miltank in the barn to earn TM13 Snore, and buy MooMoo Milk in the farmhouse.
  3. In Olivine, pick up the Good Rod from the house in town and HM04 Strength from the sailor in the café.
  4. Climb the Olivine Lighthouse to find Jasmine beside the ailing Amphy, who needs medicine from Cianwood across the sea.
  5. If you have a Krabby, trade it for Voltorb 'Volty' in Tim's house.
  6. Surf west along Routes 40 and 41, both full of swimmers; Mantine appears on Route 41 in Gold only, and the Whirl Islands sit in the middle of the route.
  7. In Cianwood, smash rocks with Rock Smash for Krabby and Shuckle, and Mania asks you to look after his Lv15 Shuckle.
  8. Visit the Pharmacy for the SecretPotion; the pharmacist only hands it over once Jasmine has told you about Amphy.
  9. Chuck's Gym is Fighting-type; his strongest Pokémon is Poliwrath at Lv30, with Hypnosis, Mind Reader, Surf and DynamicPunch.
  10. The Storm Badge brings TM01 DynamicPunch and lets you use Fly, and Chuck's wife then gives you HM02 Fly.
Chuck

Worth catching: Magnemite Miltank Tauros Farfetch’d Shuckle

Flying and Psychic moves are super-effective on both of Chuck's Pokémon; Mind Reader guarantees Poliwrath's next DynamicPunch lands, so switch or strike hard the moment it uses it.

Part 7 Back to Olivine and Jasmine

Cianwood City Route 41 Route 40 Olivine City Olivine Lighthouse

With the SecretPotion in hand, head back across the sea to Olivine and climb the lighthouse to cure Amphy. Jasmine then returns to her Gym, where her Steel-types guard the Mineral Badge.

  1. Fly or Surf back from Cianwood to Olivine City.
  2. Climb the Olivine Lighthouse again, battling the Sailors, Gentlemen and Bird Keepers on 2F to 5F, and pick up TM34 Swagger and a Rare Candy on 5F.
  3. Give Jasmine the SecretPotion at the top; once Amphy recovers, she goes back to the Olivine Gym.
  4. Try the Good Rod off Olivine's piers: Corsola bites in the morning and day and Staryu at night, while Olivine Port has Chinchou and Shellder.
  5. Jasmine's Gym has no other trainers; she is Steel-type and her strongest Pokémon is Steelix at Lv35, backed by two Lv30 Magnemite with Thunderbolt and Thunder Wave.
  6. The Mineral Badge brings TM23 Iron Tail.
  7. If you skipped Chuck, beat him now; your next stop is Mahogany Town via Route 42, east of Ecruteak.
Jasmine

Worth catching: Corsola Staryu Chinchou Shellder Krabby

Ground moves hit Magnemite four times as hard, Fire and Fighting moves are super-effective on all three of Jasmine's Pokémon, and Water attacks such as Surf also work well on Steelix.

Part 8 Lake of Rage, the Rocket Hideout and Pryce

Route 42 Mt. Mortar Mahogany Town Route 43 Lake of Rage Team Rocket Hideout

Route 42 runs east from Ecruteak past Mt. Mortar to Mahogany Town. A red Gyarados draws you north to the Lake of Rage, where Lance asks for your help shutting down Team Rocket's hideout under Mahogany before Pryce will see you.

  1. Head east from Ecruteak along Route 42, where Mareep, Flaaffy and Spearow fill the grass and pink, green and yellow Apricorn trees grow.
  2. Mt. Mortar is optional, but Machop and rare Marill live inside and Karate King Kiyo waits deep in the cave to give you a Tyrogue.
  3. In Mahogany Town a man selling RageCandyBars blocks the road east, and a man stands in front of the Gym, so go north through the Route 43 gate, where Rockets charge a ₽1,000 toll.
  4. Route 43 has Girafarig, Flaaffy and Venonat (morning and night) and leads to the Lake of Rage.
  5. Surf out to the red Gyarados (Lv30) in the middle of the lake; after the battle it leaves the Red Scale, which Mr. Pokémon on Route 30 swaps for an Exp. Share.
  6. Lance appears by the lake and asks for your help; agree, then meet him in the Mahogany souvenir shop, where he uncovers the hidden stairs.
  7. In the hideout, the Persian statues are security cameras that summon Grunts, some item balls are really Voltorb, Geodude or Koffing, and two Grunts on B3F give up the passwords Slowpoketail and Raticate Tail.
  8. Beat the Executives on B3F and B2F, then defeat or catch the three Lv23 Electrode powering the generator; Lance gives you HM06 Whirlpool and the way into the Gym opens.
  9. Pryce's Gym is Ice-type; his strongest Pokémon is Piloswine at Lv31, with Icy Wind, Fury Attack, Mist and Blizzard.
  10. The Glacier Badge brings TM16 Icy Wind and lets you use Whirlpool outside battle.
Pryce

Worth catching: Mareep Flaaffy Girafarig Gyarados Machop Marill

Fighting moves are super-effective on Dewgong and Piloswine and Electric moves on Seel and Dewgong, but Piloswine is part Ground and immune to Electric, so switch to Fire, Fighting, Water or Grass moves for it.

Part 9 The Radio Tower Takeover and the Legendary Birds

Goldenrod City Radio Tower Goldenrod Underground Tin Tower Route 41 Whirl Islands

With Chuck and Jasmine already beaten, Pryce's Glacier Badge is your seventh, and Team Rocket seizes the Goldenrod Radio Tower. Freeing the tower earns a wing from the Director that leads Gold players to Ho-Oh on Tin Tower and Silver players to Lugia in the Whirl Islands.

  1. Return to Goldenrod, where Rockets have taken over the Radio Tower and posted Grunts around the city.
  2. Fight up the Radio Tower; an Executive with a Lv36 Golbat waits on 4F, and the 'Director' on 5F is an impostor whose five Koffing and one Weezing lean on Selfdestruct and Explosion.
  3. Beat the impostor for the Basement Key and use it on the locked door in the Goldenrod Underground, where your rival battles you with Golbat 30, Magnemite 28, Haunter 30, Sneasel 32 and his starter at Lv32.
  4. Work the shutter switches in the switch room to reach the warehouse, beating the Burglars and Grunts along the way.
  5. Free the real Director in the warehouse; he gives you the Card Key.
  6. Back in the Radio Tower, use the Card Key on 3F and climb to 5F, where an Executive with Arbok, Vileplume and Murkrow (all Lv32) and the lead Executive with a Lv35 Houndoom stand in your way.
  7. With Team Rocket gone, the Director gives you the Rainbow Wing in Gold or the Silver Wing in Silver.
  8. Gold: climb Tin Tower in Ecruteak to the roof, where Ho-Oh appears at Lv40 as long as you carry the Rainbow Wing.
  9. Silver: Surf to the Whirl Islands on Route 41 and work your way down through the dark caves (Flash helps) to the deepest chamber, where Lugia waits at Lv40.
  10. The other version's bird can be caught at Lv70 after the Hall of Fame, using the wing from the old man in Pewter City.

Worth catching: Ho-Oh Lugia Seel Horsea Gastly

Ho-Oh and Lugia only get one battle each: if one faints or you run, it is gone for good, so save in front of it and bring plenty of Ultra Balls and a sleep or paralysis move.

Part 10 Ice Path to Blackthorn City and Clair

Mahogany Town Route 44 Ice Path Blackthorn City Dragon’s Den

With your seventh badge the RageCandyBar seller has left Mahogany, opening the road east. Route 44 leads through the frozen Ice Path to Blackthorn City, where Clair's Dragon-types guard the last Johto badge and she makes you prove yourself twice.

  1. The RageCandyBar seller left Mahogany's east exit when you earned your seventh badge, so follow Route 44, home to Lickitung, Tangela and Weepinbell.
  2. Pick up HM07 Waterfall from an item ball on Ice Path 1F.
  3. Slide across the ice floors and use Strength on the boulders on B1F to clear the way forward.
  4. Swinub, Jynx, Zubat and Golbat live in the Ice Path, with Delibird in Silver only, and NeverMeltIce waits on B3F.
  5. In Blackthorn City, the man who blocked the Gym has stepped aside now that the Radio Tower is free; Emy's house trades Rhydon 'Don' for a Dragonair.
  6. Clair's Gym is Dragon-type, with boulders to push using Strength; her strongest Pokémon is Kingdra at Lv40, behind three Lv37 Dragonair.
  7. After losing, Clair refuses to hand over her badge and sends you into the Dragon's Den north of town.
  8. Surf across the Dragon's Den and use Whirlpool to reach the Dragon Fang on B1F; Clair arrives and gives you the Rising Badge and TM24 DragonBreath.
  9. Fish or Surf in the Dragon's Den for Dratini, and the Super Rod can hook Dragonair.
  10. The Rising Badge lets you use Waterfall outside battle, and with eight badges the road to the Pokémon League is open.
Clair

Worth catching: Swinub Jynx Lickitung Tangela Dratini

Every Dragonair knows Thunder Wave, so carry Parlyz Heals; Ice moves such as TM16 Icy Wind are super-effective on Dragonair, while Kingdra is weak only to Dragon.

Part 11 Victory Road and the Pokémon League

New Bark Town Route 27 Tohjo Falls Route 26 Victory Road Route 23 Indigo Plateau

Clair points you back to New Bark Town and the sea route east to the Indigo Plateau. After Tohjo Falls, the badge gate and Victory Road, you face Will, Koga, Bruno, Karen and Champion Lance in a row.

  1. From New Bark Town, Surf east onto Route 27 and climb Tohjo Falls with Waterfall.
  2. Routes 27 and 26 are lined with Cooltrainers and have Ponyta, Doduo and Quagsire in the grass; collect TM22 SolarBeam on Route 27 and TM37 Sandstorm from the house there.
  3. The guard in the Victory Road gate checks that you have all eight Johto badges.
  4. Grab TM26 Earthquake in Victory Road; near the exit your rival battles you with Sneasel 34, Golbat 36, Magneton, Haunter and Kadabra around Lv35, and his starter at Lv38.
  5. Stock up at the Indigo Plateau shop and save, because the doors lock behind you once you enter the Elite Four's rooms.
  6. Will (Psychic) uses two Xatu, Jynx, Exeggutor and Slowbro, with his strongest Xatu at Lv42.
  7. Koga (Poison) uses Ariados, Venomoth, Forretress, Muk and Crobat, his strongest at Lv44.
  8. Bruno (Fighting) uses Hitmontop, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Onix and Machamp, his strongest at Lv46.
  9. Karen (Dark) uses Umbreon, Vileplume, Gengar, Murkrow and Houndoom, her strongest at Lv47.
  10. Champion Lance has Gyarados 44, Aerodactyl 46, Charizard 46 and three Dragonite at Lv47, 47 and 50; beat him to enter the Hall of Fame.

Worth catching: Ponyta Doduo Quagsire Rhyhorn Onix

Ice moves are your best answer to Lance's three Dragonite and Aerodactyl, and Electric moves deal with his Gyarados and Charizard.

Part 12 The S.S. Aqua to Vermilion City and Lt. Surge

New Bark Town Olivine City S.S. Aqua Vermilion City Route 11

After the Hall of Fame, Professor Elm gives you the S.S. Ticket. The S.S. Aqua carries you from Olivine to Vermilion City, where Lt. Surge's Electric-types guard your first Kanto badge.

  1. Visit Elm's lab in New Bark Town to receive the S.S. Ticket.
  2. Board the S.S. Aqua at Olivine Port; your first voyage leaves on any day, but after that ships leave Olivine on Mondays and Fridays and Vermilion on Wednesdays and Sundays.
  3. On board, a grandfather has lost his granddaughter; a sailor on B1F asks you to find his lazy colleague, and once you beat Sailor Stanly you can get past to find the girl, whose grandfather gives you a Metal Coat; many other cabins hold trainers.
  4. In Vermilion City, a sleeping Snorlax blocks Diglett's Cave and cannot be woken yet.
  5. Visit the Pokémon Fan Club and listen to the president for a Rare Candy.
  6. Route 11 east of Vermilion has Drowzee, Magnemite and Hypno in the grass.
  7. Lt. Surge's Gym is Electric-type; his strongest Pokémon is Electabuzz at Lv46, and his two Electrode know Explosion.
  8. The Thunder Badge has no TM reward; Route 6 leads north from Vermilion to Saffron City.
Lt. Surge

Worth catching: Hypno Drowzee Magnemite Chinchou Lanturn

A Ground-type such as Quagsire or Piloswine is immune to Electric moves and hits all five of Lt. Surge's Pokémon super-effectively, with Magneton taking four times the damage.

Part 13 Saffron City and Sabrina

Route 6 Saffron City

Route 6 joins Vermilion to Saffron City, the hub of Kanto. A power failure has stopped the Magnet Train, but Sabrina's Psychic-type Gym is open.

  1. Head north from Vermilion on Route 6, where Bellsprout, Abra, Magnemite and Oddish (night) live, Psyduck swim in the pond, and Meowth appears in Silver only.
  2. In Saffron, the Magnet Train station is out of action until power returns to Kanto.
  3. Visit the Fighting Dojo for the Focus Band item ball and Mr. Psychic's house for TM29 Psychic.
  4. The officer by the stairs in Silph Co. gives you an Up-Grade.
  5. Sabrina's Gym is Psychic-type; her strongest Pokémon is Alakazam at Lv48, alongside Espeon and Mr. Mime at Lv46.
  6. The Marsh Badge has no TM reward; Route 8 leads east from Saffron to Lavender Town and the trouble at the Power Plant.
Sabrina

Worth catching: Abra Magnemite Oddish Bellsprout Psyduck

In Gold and Silver, Psychic-types are weak to Bug, Ghost and Dark moves, so Dark attacks such as Bite or Faint Attack from Houndour or Murkrow (Route 7 at night) cut through Sabrina's team.

Part 14 The Power Plant, Cerulean City and Misty

Route 8 Lavender Town Route 10 Rock Tunnel Power Plant Route 9 Cerulean City Route 24 Route 25 Lavender Radio Tower

Kanto's power failure traces back to a part stolen from the Power Plant on Route 10. Chasing the thief takes you through Rock Tunnel to Cerulean City and Nugget Bridge, then out to the cape where Misty is on a date, and restoring the power gets the Magnet Train and the radio back in action.

  1. Take Route 8 east from Saffron to Lavender Town; Haunter roams the grass at night, and Abra and Kadabra appear at any time.
  2. Go north on Route 10 and through Rock Tunnel, which needs Flash; Cubone, Machop, Onix and rare Kangaskhan live inside.
  3. At the Power Plant on Route 10, the manager tells you a Machine Part has been stolen.
  4. Head west along Route 9 to Cerulean City; in the Gym, a Rocket Grunt runs into you and flees.
  5. Chase him north to Route 24 and beat his Lv30 Golbat; he admits he hid the part in the water in the middle of the Cerulean Gym.
  6. Continue to Route 25, where you interrupt Misty's date on the cape and she heads back to her Gym.
  7. Search the centre of the Cerulean Gym pool for the hidden Machine Part (the Itemfinder helps), then challenge Misty.
  8. Misty's Gym is Water-type; her strongest Pokémon is Starmie at Lv47, and her Lapras knows Perish Song.
  9. Return the Machine Part to the Power Plant manager for TM07 Zap Cannon; Kanto's power, and the Magnet Train, come back.
  10. The gentleman who runs Lavender's Radio Tower gives you the Expansion Card for the Poké Flute channel, and once the Copycat in Saffron has told you about her lost doll, the Vermilion Fan Club hands over the Lost Item, which she swaps for the Magnet Train Pass.
Misty

Worth catching: Electabuzz Voltorb Cubone Kangaskhan Haunter Machop

Electric and Grass moves handle most of Misty's team, though Quagsire is immune to Electric and takes four times the damage from Grass; Lapras's Perish Song makes everything on the field faint three turns later, so switch out before the count runs out.

Part 15 Celadon City and Erika

Route 7 Celadon City

Route 7 runs west from Saffron to Celadon City, with its Department Store, Game Corner and Erika's Grass-type Gym.

  1. Head west from Saffron on Route 7; Murkrow and Houndour appear at night and Spearow by day, with Growlithe in Gold and Vulpix and Meowth in Silver.
  2. Celadon Department Store 3F sells TM10 Hidden Power, TM11 Sunny Day, TM17 Protect, TM18 Rain Dance and TM37 Sandstorm, with vitamins and X items on 5F.
  3. The Game Corner prize room offers Mr. Mime (3,333 coins), Eevee (6,666) and Porygon (9,999), plus TM29 Psychic for 3,500 coins.
  4. At night, the man in the room on the roof of Celadon Mansion gives you TM03 Curse, and Leftovers is hidden in the Celadon Café's bin.
  5. Surf on Celadon's pond for Grimer and Muk.
  6. Erika's Gym is Grass-type; her strongest Pokémon are Victreebel and Bellossom at Lv46, both with Sunny Day.
  7. The Rainbow Badge brings TM19 Giga Drain.
Erika

Worth catching: Murkrow Houndour Grimer Porygon Eevee

Fire moves are super-effective on all four of Erika's Pokémon, and her own Sunny Day powers them up further, though it also lets Bellossom fire SolarBeam in a single turn.

Part 16 Fuchsia City and Janine

Route 16 Route 17 Route 18 Fuchsia City Route 15 Route 14 Route 13 Route 12

Cycling Road runs south from Celadon to Fuchsia City, where Koga's daughter Janine now leads the Poison-type Gym. Afterwards, Routes 15 to 12 lead back north along the coast to Lavender Town.

  1. Ride the Bicycle west from Celadon onto Route 16 and down Cycling Road (Routes 17 and 18), past a string of Bikers.
  2. Grimer, Muk, Fearow and Slugma fill the grass on these routes, and Murkrow appears on Route 16 at night.
  3. Janine's Gym in Fuchsia City is Poison-type; her strongest Pokémon is Venomoth at Lv39, and her two Weezing know Explosion.
  4. The Soul Badge brings TM06 Toxic.
  5. The sea road south of Fuchsia (Route 19) is closed for now, so reach Cinnabar Island from Pallet Town later.
  6. Head east and north along Routes 15, 14 and 13, where Chansey hides in the grass at a 1% rate.
  7. On Route 14, trade a Chansey for Aerodactyl 'Aeroy'.
  8. Route 12 has the Super Rod house, and its waters give Qwilfish on the Super Rod before the route ends at Lavender Town.
Janine

Worth catching: Chansey Slugma Nidorina Nidorino Skiploom Qwilfish

Psychic moves are super-effective on all five of Janine's Pokémon; Ground also hits her Weezing hard, since Gold and Silver have no Levitate, but it cannot touch Crobat.

Part 17 Diglett's Cave to Pewter City and Brock

Vermilion City Diglett’s Cave Route 2 Pewter City Route 3 Mt. Moon Route 4

With the Expansion Card, the Poké Flute channel wakes the Snorlax blocking Diglett's Cave. The tunnel leads to Route 2 and Pewter City, home of Brock, and beyond Pewter your rival is waiting at Mt. Moon.

  1. Return to Vermilion and tune your Pokégear radio to the Poké Flute channel beside Snorlax; it wakes up and attacks at Lv50.
  2. Walk through Diglett's Cave, full of Diglett and Dugtrio, to Route 2.
  3. Route 2 has Pikachu (5%), with Butterfree in Gold and Beedrill and Ledian in Silver, and item balls including a Max Potion and Carbos.
  4. In Pewter City, the old man in the garden gives you the Silver Wing in Gold or the Rainbow Wing in Silver.
  5. Brock's Gym is Rock-type; his strongest Pokémon is Onix at Lv44, with Kabutops and Omastar at Lv42.
  6. The Boulder Badge has no TM reward.
  7. East of Pewter, Route 3 leads to Mt. Moon, where your rival battles you at the entrance with Sneasel 41, Golbat 42, Magneton 41, Gengar 43, Alakazam 43 and his starter at Lv45.
  8. Clefairy appears in Mt. Moon at a 5% rate, and a Moon Stone is hidden in Mt. Moon Square.
  9. Route 4 on the far side of the cave leads down to Cerulean City.
Brock

Worth catching: Snorlax Pikachu Dugtrio Clefairy Jigglypuff

Grass moves are four times as effective against all five of Brock's Pokémon; Water is just as strong on Graveler, Rhyhorn and Onix but only neutral on Omastar and Kabutops.

Part 18 Cinnabar Island and Blaine

Viridian City Route 1 Pallet Town Route 21 Cinnabar Island Route 20 Seafoam Islands Route 19

South of Viridian, Route 1 leads to Pallet Town and the sea route to Cinnabar Island, whose volcano has erupted. Blaine has moved his Gym into the Seafoam Islands, and Blue is waiting on what is left of Cinnabar.

  1. From Pewter, head south on Route 2 to Viridian City; its Gym is empty for now.
  2. Continue down Route 1 to Pallet Town and talk to Professor Oak in his lab.
  3. Surf south from Pallet along Route 21, where Tangela fills the grass and Mr. Mime appears at a 10% rate.
  4. On Cinnabar Island only the Pokémon Center still stands; talk to Blue, who then returns to the Viridian Gym.
  5. Find the hidden Rare Candy on Cinnabar, then Surf east along Route 20 to the Seafoam Islands.
  6. Blaine's Gym is now inside the Seafoam Islands; he is Fire-type, and his strongest Pokémon is Rapidash at Lv50.
  7. The Volcano Badge has no TM reward.
  8. Arriving on Route 20 from this side clears the rocks, so Route 19 now links the sea back to Fuchsia City.
Blaine

Worth catching: Mr. Mime Tangela Furret Staryu Corsola

Water moves are super-effective on all three of Blaine's Pokémon and four times as effective on Magcargo, but his Magmar carries ThunderPunch for Water-types.

Part 19 Viridian City and Blue

Viridian City Pallet Town

Blue, the former Champion, now runs the Viridian Gym, and his mixed team is the toughest of the sixteen leaders. Beating him completes your badge set and earns Professor Oak's permission to visit Mt. Silver.

  1. Fly to Viridian City, where Blue is now waiting in his Gym.
  2. Blue's Gym has no other trainers; his team mixes types, with Gyarados, Exeggutor and Arcanine at Lv58 as his strongest.
  3. Watch out for Arcanine's ExtremeSpeed, Gyarados's Hyper Beam and Rhydon's Earthquake.
  4. The Earth Badge has no TM reward, but it is your sixteenth.
  5. Viridian's Poké Mart sells Ultra Balls and Hyper Potions, and TM42 Dream Eater is a gift in town.
  6. Return to Professor Oak in Pallet Town; with all sixteen badges he opens the way to Mt. Silver.
Blue

Worth catching: Poliwag Poliwhirl Chinchou Lanturn

Electric moves deal four times the damage to Gyarados and double to Pidgeot, Grass or Water moves deal four times the damage to Rhydon, and Fire or Ice handles Exeggutor.

Part 20 Mt. Silver and Red

Route 22 Route 28 Mt. Silver

With Oak's permission, the Black Belt in the Victory Road gate lets you through to Route 28 and Mt. Silver. Red, the final and strongest trainer in Gold and Silver, waits at the summit.

  1. From Viridian, head west on Route 22 to the Victory Road gate; the Black Belt who blocked its west exit has stepped aside, letting you out to Route 28.
  2. Route 28 has Ponyta, Tangela, Rapidash and Sneasel (night), with Ursaring in Gold and Donphan in Silver, and the Celebrity's house gives you TM47 Steel Wing.
  3. Heal at the Pokémon Center outside Mt. Silver before you go in.
  4. Flash lights the dark first room; the cave holds Pokémon in the Lv40s, Larvitar at 5% and Misdreavus on 2F at night.
  5. Item balls in the side rooms hold a Max Revive and a Full Restore, with more items hidden along the way.
  6. At the summit Red battles you silently with Pikachu 81, Espeon 73, Snorlax 75, and Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise at Lv77.
  7. Win and Red vanishes, your party is healed and the credits roll.

Worth catching: Larvitar Sneasel Misdreavus Ponyta Tangela

Bring a Ground-type for Red's Lv81 Pikachu, a Fighting-type for Snorlax, and plenty of Full Restores and Max Revives, since his team averages well above anything else in the game.

FAQ

What is the Gym order in Gold and Silver?

Johto: Falkner (Violet City), Bugsy (Azalea Town), Whitney (Goldenrod City), Morty (Ecruteak City), Chuck (Cianwood City), Jasmine (Olivine City), Pryce (Mahogany Town), Clair (Blackthorn City). Chuck and Jasmine can be done in either order. The eight Kanto Gyms can be taken in almost any order after the Elite Four.

Which starter should I pick?

Cyndaquil has the easiest early game against Bugsy and Jasmine; Totodile is solid all game; Chikorita has a harder start against Falkner, Bugsy and Morty. Your rival always takes the starter strong against yours.

Is there anything after the Elite Four?

Yes: the whole Kanto region with eight more Gyms, then Mt. Silver and the battle with Red once you hold all 16 badges.

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).