Pokémon Gold and Silver/Route 30-31

Route #30 and Route #31 are relatively uncomplicated roads—unfortunately, you'll have to wander off the path to climb uphill. You'll be wandering through tall grass again, but it will help your Pokémon become strong—if you win.

Route #31

Trainer battles begin

As you traverse Route #30, trainers will attack you whenever you make eye contact. As you can see from their rosters (near the bottom of the Route #30 page and below), their Pokémon are weak, but they can wear you down. You can try to avoid them, but it's better to fight when you can: they're the best source of money and EXP in the game.

Onr new twist is the ability to trade phone numbers with certain trainers once you've defeated them in battle (they will say phone next to their rewards). If you agree, they'll call you periodically to chat, challenge you to rematches, and most importantly, inform you of Pokémon "swarms." Without that info, it's hard to catch Pokémon like Dunsparce in the nearby Dark Cave. A few, like Wade, will even give you free items!

Free berries from Wade

After you beat Wade, give him your phone number. He'll call from time to time, and if you go visit him immediately afterward, he may give you one of a wide variety of Berries.

Catch a Bellsprout (or Two)

The dividing line between Route #30 and Route #31 is right about where the trainer named Don waits. To the north of him you'll find pretty much the same Pokémon you found below, but with the addition of Bellsprout and Gastly. Try to catch an extra Bellsprout—not because they're that great, but because they can be used to trade for a very useful Onix in Violet City.

Run an errand and get TM 50

A little later in the game, a guard in the guard house that separates Goldenrod City and Route #35 will send you to deliver a message to the guy in front of the lake, so remember where he's at! Finishing this errand is the only way to get TM 50, Nightmare.

Trainers & Items

Bug Catcher Wade: File:Pokébuck.png32 (Phone) Caterpie (lvl. 2, 22 EXP) Caterpie (lvl. 2, 22 EXP) Weedle (lvl. 3, 33 EXP) Caterpie (lvl. 2, 22 EXP)

Items: Antidote Bitter Berry (tree) Pokéball TM 50 - Nightmare (later on)

Pokémon Found

Route #31 encounters

	Morning			Day			Night
	GOLD	SILV	CRYS	GOLD	SILV	CRYS	GOLD	SILV	CRYS
Ledyba	N/A	20%	5%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Caterpie	50%	N/A	20%	30%	N/A	20%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Metapod	10%	N/A	N/A	20%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Weedle	N/A	30%	5%	N/A	30%	5%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kakuna	N/A	10%	N/A	N/A	20%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hoppip	N/A	N/A	10%	N/A	N/A	10%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Pidgey	20%	20%	40%	25%	25%	40%	N/A	N/A	N/A
Bellsprout	20%	20%	20%	25%	25%	25%	15%	25%	15%
Hoothoot	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	15%	25%	15%
Rattata	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	40%	50%	N/A
Spinarak	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	30%	N/A	35%
Zubat	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5%
Poliwag	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	25%
Gastly	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5%

#69 Bellsprout

#92 Gastly

Bellsprout and its evolved forms, Weepinbell, and Victreebel are still among the least useful Grass Pokémon, and their one new move (Sweet Scent) isn't worth much. But if you didn't pick a Chikorita as a starter, you may find Bellsprout to be temporarily useful. They start with Vine Whip, which is good against the Gastly in Sprout Tower and great against Rock-type Pokémon in the upcoming Union Cave.

Gastly is a very useful Pokémon in Gold, Silver, and Crystal. It now starts with Hypnosis, and can learn four all new moves. One of the first is Mean Look, which prevents opponents from running away. Between that, Hypnosis and its Ghost-type resistance to Normal attacks, Gastly is the perfect Pokémon for catching other wild Pokémon. But you'll have to stay up late to catch one since they only come out at night.