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.'

New Pokémon to catch
Routes 30 and 31 contain a variety of new Pokémon (especially Crystal), so bring several Poké Balls. Bug type Pokemon are plentiful here in all versions. appears in Gold while appears in Silver. Two new Pokémon in Johto also appear: (morning in Silver) and  (night in Gold). Unfortunately, they are all very weak (even and ) and will be rendered useless in the first gym. Bellsprout, though weak at the first gym, is decent and very useful for trade if you did not chose Chikorita as your starter. It will be traded to Onix in Violet City and named Rocky. Crystal gets all of the previously mentioned Pokémon, plus three more! , and  are organized only at night and are rare but worth capturing them. Poliwag appears only on that route, Gastly and Zubat will be found in other places more easily, so do not worry if you miss those two.

Route strategy
At this point, if you can, train your starter enough to evolve it to its second form. Cyndaquil will evolve into a Quilava at level 14, Chikorita will evolve into Bayleef at level 16, and Totodile will evolve into Croconaw at level 18. Most enemies here are weak to Fire and Flying-type attacks, so use this to your advantage.



Trainer battles begin
When you return to Route #30 after completing your errand, trainers will attack you whenever you make eye contact. As you can see from their rosters 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.

One 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 in the nearby Dark Cave.

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 and. Try to catch an extra Bellsprout—not because they're that great, but because they can be used to trade for a very useful 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 is! Finishing this errand is the only way to get TM 50, Nightmare.

Pokémon Found

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