Route 40 HGSS · Johto Route
Route 40 is a short beach and sea route west of Olivine City, where you start surfing toward Route 41 and Cianwood City, with the Whirl Islands to the south. In HeartGold and SoulSilver it is also home to the gate to the Battle Frontier, which brings back the Battle Tower alongside four other facilities. Swimmers patrol the water on the way to Cianwood.
- Region
- Johto
- Wild Pokémon
- 7
- Items
- 3
- Trainers
- 4
- HMs
- Surf, Rock Smash
Connects to: Olivine City · Route 41 · Battle Frontier
Wild Pokémon
| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
 Tentacool | WaterPoison | 10–25 | 90% |
 Tentacruel | WaterPoison | 15–25 | 10% |
| Rod | Pokémon | Lv. | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Rod |  Magikarp | 10 | 85% |
 Krabby | 10 | 15% | |
| Good Rod | Krabby | 20 | 50% |
| Magikarp | 20 | 40% | |
 Corsola | 20 | 10% | |
| Super Rod | Krabby | 40 | 60% |
| Corsola | 40 | 30% | |
 Kingler | 40 | 10% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SwimmerSimon | Tentacool 20Tentacool 20 | ₽320 |
 SwimmerElaine |  Staryu 21 | ₽336 |
| SwimmerRandall |  Shellder 18 Wartortle 20Shellder 18 | ₽288 |
| SwimmerPaula | Staryu 19Shellder 19 | ₽304 |
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 |
|---|---|
| TM88 Pluck | Item ball |
| Hyper Potion | Hidden |
| Sharp Beak | Gift |
Hidden items can be found with the Dowsing MCHN Pokégear app.
Tips
- Monica appears on the beach on Mondays and gives you a Sharp Beak the first time you meet her.
- TM88 Pluck is on a sandy patch in the water, southeast of Swimmer Elaine.
- A Hyper Potion is hidden underneath TM88 Pluck, which you reach with Surf.
- You need Surf to go any further than the beach; without it, a man sends you back toward Olivine.
- Fish here at night for Staryu, which only bites after dark.
- The Battle Frontier lets you earn BP to trade for items like held items and TMs.
Walkthrough: Part 8: Olivine City and the Cianwood Gym · Part 26: The Battle Frontier and the Pokéathlon
FAQ
Where is the Battle Frontier in HeartGold and SoulSilver?
Its entrance is on Route 40, just west of Olivine City.
What day is Monica on Route 40?
Monday. She gives you a Sharp Beak on your first meeting.
How do you get to Cianwood City from Olivine?
Surf west from Route 40 and keep going across Route 41, past the Whirl Islands.
Where is TM88 Pluck in HeartGold?
On a sandy patch in the water on Route 40, southeast of Swimmer Elaine; you need Surf.
What Pokémon can you catch in Route 40 in HeartGold and SoulSilver?
7 species: Tentacool, Tentacruel, Magikarp, Krabby, Corsola, Kingler, Staryu.
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).