Johto field journalPokémon HeartGold / SoulSilverGUIDES

Route 32 HGSS · Johto Route

Route 32 in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Route 32 in HeartGold and SoulSilver (screenshot 1)

Route 32 is a long north-south route linking Violet City to Union Cave, running past the eastern entrance of the Ruins of Alph. It has a Pokémon Center near the Union Cave end and plenty of fishermen along its piers. It is the first stretch of the trip south toward Azalea Town after the Zephyr Badge.

Region
Johto
Wild Pokémon
15
Items
11
Trainers
8
HMs
Cut, Surf, Rock Smash

Connects to: Violet City · Ruins of Alph · Union Cave

Where Route 32 is on the Johto mapRoute 32 on the Johto Pokégear map

Wild Pokémon

Tall grass encounter rate 25
PokémonTypeLv.MorningDayNight
RattataHGNormal4–635%40%30%
RattataSSNormal4–65%10%–
BellsproutGrassPoison630%30%20%
MareepElectric620%20%10%
WooperWaterGround6––35%
HoppipGrassFlying610%10%–
ZubatPoisonFlying45%–5%
EkansSSPoison430%30%30%
SwarmQwilfish Old Rod · 15%, Lv. 10 Qwilfish Good Rod · 65%, Lv. 20 Qwilfish Super Rod · 100%, Lv. 40Only on a day when Professor Oak’s Pokémon Talk on the radio (or a phone call) reports a swarm here.
Hoenn SoundLinoone 20%, Lv. 6 Whismur 20%, Lv. 4–6Play the Hoenn Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.
Sinnoh SoundBidoof 20%, Lv. 6 Buizel 20%, Lv. 4–6Play the Sinnoh Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.
Surfing encounter rate 15
PokémonTypeLv.Chance
TentacoolWaterPoison10–2060%
QuagsireWaterGround15–2530%
TentacruelWaterPoison15–3610%
Fishing
RodPokémonLv.Chance
Old RodMagikarp1085%
Tentacool1015%
Good RodTentacool2055%
Magikarp2040%
Qwilfish205%
Super RodTentacool4070%
Magikarp4020%
Qwilfish4010%
Headbutt: common trees 35 trees
PokémonTypeLv.Chance
HoothootNormalFlying4–550%
PinecoBug4–530%
ExeggcuteGrassPsychic4–520%
Headbutt: rare trees
PokémonTypeLv.Chance
HoothootNormalFlying6–780%
ExeggcuteGrassPsychic6–720%

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

TrainerPokémonPrize
YoungsterAlbertRattataRattata 6ZubatZubat 8₽128
PicnickerLizNidoran♀Nidoran♀ 8
Pokégear phone rematches (3)
Rematch 1 · ₽608WeepinbellWeepinbell 35NidorinaNidorina 38
₽128
FishermanHenryPoliwagPoliwag 8PoliwagPoliwag 8₽256
FishermanJustinMagikarpMagikarp 5MagikarpMagikarp 5MagikarpMagikarp 15MagikarpMagikarp 5₽160
FishermanRalphGoldeenGoldeen 10
Pokégear phone rematches (3)
Rematch 1 · ₽1,280SeakingSeaking 40
Rematch 2 · ₽1,344QwilfishQwilfish 45SeakingSeaking 42
Rematch 3 · ₽1,792QwilfishQwilfish 53SeakingSeaking 56
₽320
CamperRolandNidoran♂Nidoran♂ 9₽144
YoungsterGordonWooperWooper 10₽160
Bird KeeperPeterPidgeyPidgey 6PidgeyPidgey 6SpearowSpearow 8₽256

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

ItemHowWhere
RepelItem ballRoute 32
Great BallItem ballRoute 32
TM09 Bullet SeedItem ballRoute 32
Shell BellItem ballRoute 32
Heart ScaleHiddenRoute 32
Great BallHiddenRoute 32
Super PotionHiddenRoute 32
Poison BarbGiftRoute 32
TM05 RoarGiftRoute 32
Old RodGiftPokémon Center
Lure Ball ×2GiftPokémon Center

Hidden items can be found with the Dowsing MCHN Pokégear app.

Tips

  • The Fishing Guru in the Pokémon Center gives you the Old Rod.
  • A fan of Kurt in the Pokémon Center gives you two Lure Balls, which are good for Pokémon you fish up.
  • Frieda appears here on Fridays and gives you a Poison Barb the first time you meet her.
  • Cut the tree near the north end to reach the man who gives you TM05 Roar.
  • TM09 Bullet Seed and a Shell Bell are among the items on the route.
  • Ekans shows up here only in SoulSilver, and Wooper only at night.
  • Qwilfish is a rare fishing catch here, and much more common during a swarm.

Walkthrough: Part 4: Route 32, Union Cave and Bugsy

More pictures

Route 32: Route 32 in HeartGold and SoulSilver (screenshot 2)
Route 32 in HeartGold and SoulSilver (screenshot 2)
Route 32: Route 32 in HeartGold and SoulSilver (screenshot 3)
Route 32 in HeartGold and SoulSilver (screenshot 3)

FAQ

Where do you get the Old Rod in HeartGold and SoulSilver?

From the Fishing Guru in the Pokémon Center on Route 32, near the Union Cave entrance.

How do you get TM05 Roar in HeartGold?

Use Cut on the tree on the north side of Route 32 to reach the man on the ledge, who gives it to you.

What day is Frieda on Route 32?

Friday. She gives you a Poison Barb on your first meeting.

Where do you catch Qwilfish in HeartGold?

Fish on Route 32 with the Good Rod or Super Rod; it is much more common during a swarm.

What Pokémon can you catch in Route 32 in HeartGold and SoulSilver?

15 species: Rattata, Bellsprout, Mareep, Wooper, Hoppip, Zubat, Ekans, Tentacool, Quagsire, Tentacruel, Magikarp, Qwilfish, Hoothoot, Pineco, Exeggcute.

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).