retrogameindex
Johto field journalPokémon HeartGold / SoulSilverGUIDES

Route 22 HGSS · Kanto Route

Route 22 on the Kanto map
Route 22 on the Kanto Pokégear map

Route 22 runs west from Viridian City to the Pokémon League Reception Gate in Kanto. The low-level grass makes it one of the gentlest routes in the region, but its real importance is the gate: once you have visited Viridian City the guard steps aside so you can walk between Kanto and Johto, and once Professor Oak opens it after your eighth Kanto Badge, Route 28 leads on to Mt. Silver.

Region
Kanto
Wild Pokémon
13
Items
0
Trainers
0
HMs
Surf

Connects to: Viridian City · Route 28 · Victory Road

Wild Pokémon

Tall grass encounter rate 20
PokémonTypeLv.MorningDayNight
RattataNormal3–730%30%95%
SpearowNormalFlying3–550%50%–
DoduoNormalFlying410%10%–
PonytaFire65%5%5%
FearowNormalFlying75%5%–
Hoenn SoundLinoone 20%, Lv. 5 Whismur 20%, Lv. 3Play the Hoenn Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.
Sinnoh SoundBidoof 20%, Lv. 5 Buizel 20%, Lv. 3Play the Sinnoh Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.
Surfing encounter rate 10
PokémonTypeLv.Chance
PoliwagWater5–1090%
PoliwhirlWater1010%
Fishing
RodPokémonLv.Chance
Old RodMagikarp1085%
Poliwag1015%
Good RodPoliwag2060%
Magikarp2040%
Super RodPoliwag4080%
Magikarp4020%
Headbutt: common trees 7 trees
PokémonTypeLv.Chance
HoothootNormalFlying3–450%
PinecoBug3–430%
WurmpleBug3–420%
Headbutt: rare trees
PokémonTypeLv.Chance
HoothootNormalFlying5–750%
SpinarakHGBugPoison5–730%
WurmpleBug5–720%
LedybaSSBugFlying5–730%

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.

Items

No items to pick up here.

Tips

  • Once you have visited Viridian City, the guard at the Reception Gate steps aside, so you can walk between Kanto and Johto without the Magnet Train or S.S. Aqua.
  • Route 28 to Mt. Silver branches off from the Reception Gate.
  • Ponyta is a 5% encounter here at any time, and Doduo appears in the morning and during the day.
  • At night Rattata makes up 95% of the grass encounters.
  • Surf the water for Poliwag (90%) and Poliwhirl (10%).

Walkthrough: Part 22: Blue and the Viridian Gym

FAQ

Where is Route 22 in HeartGold and SoulSilver?

It runs west from Viridian City to the Pokémon League Reception Gate.

How do you get to Route 28 and Mt. Silver?

Go through the Pokémon League Reception Gate at the end of Route 22 once Professor Oak has given you permission after your 16th Badge.

Can you catch Ponyta on Route 22?

Yes, at a 5% rate in the tall grass at any time of day.

What Pokémon can you catch in Route 22 in HeartGold and SoulSilver?

13 species: Rattata, Spearow, Doduo, Ponyta, Fearow, Poliwag, Poliwhirl, Magikarp, Hoothoot, Pineco, Wurmple, Spinarak, Ledyba.

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).