Route 2 HGSS · Kanto Route
Route 2 runs north–south between Viridian City and Pewter City in western Kanto, with Viridian Forest on its west side. As a Johto trainer you usually arrive through Diglett’s Cave from Vermilion City, whose exit comes out on the east side of the route. Several small trees block the side paths, so you need Cut to explore it fully.
- Region
- Kanto
- Wild Pokémon
- 16
- Items
- 4
- Trainers
- 3
- HMs
- Cut
Connects to: Viridian City · Viridian Forest · Pewter City · Diglett’s Cave
Wild Pokémon
Route 2
| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Morning | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 PidgeyHG | Normal | 3–8 | 30% | 40% | – |
| PidgeySS | Normal | 3–7 | 20% | 40% | – |
 CaterpieHG | Bug | 3–4 | 31% | 31% | – |
 HoothootHG | Normal | 3–5 | – | – | 50% |
| HoothootSS | Normal | 3–5 | – | – | 60% |
 MetapodHG | Bug | 5 | 20% | 20% | – |
 SpinarakHG | BugPoison | 3–10 | 4% | – | 31% |
 PidgeottoHG | Normal | 7–10 | 5% | 9% | – |
| PidgeottoSS | Normal | 7 | – | 5% | – |
 Noctowl | Normal | 7–10 (HG) / 7 (SS) | – | – | 14% |
 ButterfreeHG | Bug | 7–8 | 10% | – | – |
 AriadosHG | BugPoison | 7 | – | – | 5% |
 WeedleSS | BugPoison | 3–5 | 11% | 31% | 11% |
 KakunaSS | BugPoison | 3–7 | 20% | 20% | 11% |
 LedybaSS | Bug | 3–10 | 30% | 4% | – |
 BeedrillSS | BugPoison | 7–10 | 10% | – | 4% |
 LedianSS | Bug | 7–10 | 9% | – | – |
Plusle 20%, Lv. 3 
Minun 20%, Lv. 5Play the Hoenn Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.
Shinx 40%, Lv. 3–5Play the Sinnoh Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoothoot | Normal | 3–4 | 50% |
 Pineco | Bug | 3–4 | 30% |
 Wurmple | Bug | 3–4 | 20% |
| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoothoot | Normal | 5–7 | 50% |
| SpinarakHG | BugPoison | 5–7 | 30% |
| Wurmple | Bug | 5–7 | 20% |
| LedybaSS | Bug | 5–7 | 30% |
Use Headbutt on a tree (taught by the tutor in Ilex Forest). Which trees are “common”, “rare” or empty depends on the last digit of your Trainer ID.
East
| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Morning | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PidgeyHG | Normal | 3–5 | 30% | 50% | – |
| PidgeySS | Normal | 3–7 | 20% | 40% | – |
| CaterpieHG | Bug | 3–4 | 31% | 31% | – |
| HoothootHG | Normal | 3–5 | – | – | 50% |
| HoothootSS | Normal | 3–5 | – | – | 60% |
| SpinarakHG | BugPoison | 3–10 | 4% | – | 31% |
| MetapodHG | Bug | 5 | 20% | – | – |
| ButterfreeHG | Bug | 7–8 | 10% | 10% | – |
| PidgeottoHG | Normal | 7–10 | 5% | 9% | – |
| PidgeottoSS | Normal | 7 | – | 5% | – |
| Noctowl | Normal | 7–10 (HG) / 7 (SS) | – | – | 14% |
| AriadosHG | BugPoison | 7 | – | – | 5% |
| WeedleSS | BugPoison | 3–5 | 11% | 31% | 11% |
| KakunaSS | BugPoison | 3–7 | 20% | 20% | 11% |
| LedybaSS | Bug | 3–10 | 30% | 4% | – |
| BeedrillSS | BugPoison | 7–10 | 10% | – | 4% |
| LedianSS | Bug | 7–10 | 9% | – | – |
Plusle 20%, Lv. 3 Minun 20%, Lv. 5Play the Hoenn Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.Shinx 40%, Lv. 3–5Play the Sinnoh Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoothoot | Normal | 3–4 | 50% |
| Pineco | Bug | 3–4 | 30% |
| Wurmple | Bug | 3–4 | 20% |
| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoothoot | Normal | 5–7 | 50% |
| SpinarakHG | BugPoison | 5–7 | 30% |
| Wurmple | Bug | 5–7 | 20% |
| LedybaSS | Bug | 5–7 | 30% |
Use Headbutt on a tree (taught by the tutor in Ilex Forest). Which trees are “common”, “rare” or empty depends on the last digit of your Trainer ID.
Chances are the game’s encounter slots: grass and caves 20/20/10/10/10/10/5/5/4/4/1/1, with every slot changing by time of day (morning 4:00–9:59, day 10:00–19:59, night 20:00–3:59); surfing 60/30/5/4/1; all three rods 40/30/15/10/5; Rock Smash 80/20; Headbutt 50/15/15/10/5/5. HG and SS mark Pokémon found in only one version. Where to find every Pokémon.
Trainers
| Trainer | Pokémon | Prize | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bug CatcherRob | Beedrill 40Butterfree 39Pokégear phone rematches (3)Rematch 1 · ₽672 Beedrill 45Butterfree 42Rematch 2 · ₽768 Beedrill 52Butterfree 48Rematch 3 · ₽896 Beedrill 56Butterfree 56 | ₽624 | Route 2 |
| Bug CatcherDoug | Butterfree 39Ariados 37Pokégear phone rematches (3)Rematch 1 · ₽640 Butterfree 40Ariados 40Rematch 2 · ₽736 Butterfree 47Ariados 46Rematch 3 · ₽800 Butterfree 52Ariados 50 | ₽592 | Route 2 |
| Bug CatcherEd |  Burmy 43Butterfree 43Beedrill 43 | ₽688 | East |
Prize money is four times the level of the trainer’s last Pokémon times the trainer class’s rate (doubled in double battles). Trainers who give you their Pokégear number call when they want a rematch, with stronger teams as you progress.
Items
| Item | How | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Elixir | Item ball | Route 2 |
| Carbos | Item ball | East |
| Nugget | Gift | House |
| Sacred Ash | Gift | Southeast gatehouse |
Hidden items can be found with the Dowsing MCHN Pokégear app.
Tips
- Diglett’s Cave links the east side of Route 2 to Vermilion City, and it is the usual way into western Kanto.
- One of Professor Oak’s aides in the gatehouse gives you a Sacred Ash.
- Cut a tree to reach the house south of Diglett’s Cave, where a man gives you a Nugget.
- Bug Catchers Rob and Doug register their numbers for rematches and sometimes call with a Berry for you.
- HeartGold has Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree and Spinarak here, while SoulSilver has Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill and Ledyba.
- A Pink Apricorn tree east of Viridian Forest gives one Apricorn a day.
Walkthrough: Part 20: Snorlax, Diglett’s Cave and Brock
FAQ
How do you get to Route 2 in HeartGold and SoulSilver?
Go through Diglett’s Cave from Vermilion City, which comes out on the east side of Route 2 near Pewter City.
Where do you get Sacred Ash in HGSS?
From one of Professor Oak’s aides in the Route 2 gatehouse.
Is Viridian Forest on Route 2?
Yes, it sits on the west side of the route between the southern section and Pewter City.
What Pokémon can you catch in Route 2 in HeartGold and SoulSilver?
16 species: Pidgey, Caterpie, Hoothoot, Metapod, Spinarak, Pidgeotto, Noctowl, Butterfree, Ariados, Weedle, Kakuna, Ledyba, Beedrill, Ledian, Pineco, Wurmple.
Sources & picture credits
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Bulbapedia and the game data. Wild Pokémon and encounter chances, items, trainers, rematch teams, gifts and shops come from the pret/pokeheartgold decompilation, and the Pokémon sprites and dungeon entrance pictures are drawn from the game’s own graphics in it. The position maps are the Gold/Silver wiki’s Pokégear map renders. Location pictures and trainer sprites © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, archived from the Pokémon Wiki on Fandom (listed on the image gallery).