Route 43 HGSS · Johto Route

Route 43 on the Johto map — Route 43 on the Johto Pokégear map

Route 43 runs north from Mahogany Town to the Lake of Rage. Team Rocket has taken over the gatehouse on the eastern path and charges every passer-by a ₽1000 toll, so most trainers take the grassy western path instead. Once you clear out Team Rocket HQ, the gatehouse is free again and its guard rewards you with a TM.

Region: Johto
Wild Pokémon: 11
Items: 2
Trainers: 6
HMs: Surf

Connects to: Mahogany Town · Lake of Rage

Wild Pokémon

Tall grass encounter rate 20
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Morning	Day	Night
Flaaffy	Electric	15–17	30%	40%	30%
Girafarig	NormalPsychic	15	30%	30%	30%
Pidgeotto	NormalFlying	17	25%	20%	–
Mareep	Electric	15–16	10%	10%	5%
Venonat	BugPoison	15–17	5%	–	15%
Noctowl	NormalFlying	17	–	–	20%

Hoenn Sound

Linoone 20%, Lv. 17

Whismur 20%, Lv. 15Play the Hoenn Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.

Sinnoh Sound

Bidoof 20%, Lv. 17

Buizel 20%, Lv. 15Play the Sinnoh Sound radio channel (after the National Pokédex): replaces four 10% grass slots.

Surfing encounter rate 10
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Chance
Magikarp	Water	5–50	100%

Fishing
Rod	Pokémon	Lv.	Chance
Old Rod	Magikarp	10	85%
Old Rod	Poliwag	10	15%
Good Rod	Poliwag	20	60%
Good Rod	Magikarp	20	40%
Super Rod	Poliwag	40	80%
Super Rod	Magikarp	40	20%

Headbutt: common trees 17 trees
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Chance
Hoothoot	NormalFlying	15–16	50%
Pineco	Bug	15–16	30%
Exeggcute	GrassPsychic	15–16	20%

Headbutt: rare trees
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Chance
Hoothoot	NormalFlying	17–18	65%
Exeggcute	GrassPsychic	17–18	20%
Venonat	BugPoison	17–18	15%

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
CamperSpencer	Sandshrew 18 Sandslash 18 Zubat 20	₽320
PicnickerTiffany	Clefairy 21 Pokégear phone rematches (3) Rematch 1 · ₽544Clefairy 34 Rematch 2 · ₽656Clefable 41 Rematch 3 · ₽976Clefable 61	₽336
Poké ManiacBrent	Nidorina 20 Nidorino 24 Pokégear phone rematches (3) Rematch 1 · ₽2,048Nidorina 32 Nidorino 34 Gyarados 32 Rematch 2 · ₽2,752Gyarados 41 Lickitung 38 Nidorina 38 Nidorino 43 Rematch 3 · ₽3,712Gyarados 48 Lickitung 40 Nidoqueen 58 Nidoking 58	₽1,536
Poké ManiacBeckett	Slowbro 20	₽1,280
Poké ManiacRon	Nidoking 20	₽1,280
FishermanMarvin	Magikarp 10 Gyarados 20 Magikarp 15	₽480

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
Max Ether	Item ball	Route 43
TM36 Sludge Bomb	Gift	Gatehouse

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

Tips

Avoid the ₽1000 Team Rocket toll by taking the grassy western path north to the Lake of Rage.
After you defeat Team Rocket in Mahogany Town, the gatehouse guard gives you TM36 Sludge Bomb.
Girafarig appears in the grass at a 30% rate at any time of day.
Mareep and Flaaffy both live here, making it a good place to start an Ampharos.
A Max Ether lies west of the gatehouse.
Picnicker Tiffany sometimes gives you a Poké Doll after you register her number.

Walkthrough: Part 10: Lake of Rage, Team Rocket HQ and Pryce

FAQ

How do you avoid the toll on Route 43 in HeartGold and SoulSilver?

Take the western path through the tall grass instead of the gatehouse; the toll disappears once Team Rocket HQ is cleared.

Where do you get TM36 Sludge Bomb in HGSS?

From the guard in the Route 43 gatehouse after Team Rocket is defeated.

Where can you catch Girafarig in HGSS?

Route 43’s tall grass, at a 30% rate in the morning, day and night.

What Pokémon can you catch in Route 43 in HeartGold and SoulSilver?

11 species: Flaaffy, Girafarig, Pidgeotto, Mareep, Venonat, Noctowl, Magikarp, Poliwag, 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).