The Viridian Forest nature preserve is smack-dab in the middle of Route #2, which runs between Viridian City and Pewter City. Pokémon are plentiful within its borders, and many trainers come here to capture new specimens for their collections or to challenge other trainers.
Viridian Forest serves as your first "maze" stage. Its hard to get lost in there, but first timers may wish to explore it slowly to get a feel for the layout. As you cross Viridian Forest, you'll be attacked by both wild Pokémon and various trainers. While encounters with wild Pokémon are random, trainers will only come at you when you cross their line of vision, so you have a degree of control over when they challenge you. Unfortunately, they are usually placed in positions that you have no choice but to pass in front of, but a few can be avoided by walking around them.
If you are having trouble defeating trainers in a given area, it probably means that your Pokémon aren't strong enough and need to be leveled up higher. A Pidgey will serve well in this forest, its Gust attack is very effective against Bug types. The highest level Pokémon that a trainer in Viridian Forest has is Level 9, so as long as most of your Pokémon are level 8 or above, you should be in good shape.
The pets and the wildlife that you encounter in the forest may seem tough, but much of it won't be. Wild and challenger-trained Kakunas and Metapods can't attack, they can only harden (which can make for some long battle that wear down your Pokémon's PP, so be careful).
Capturing Kakunas or Metapods isn't recommended because they lack attacks and are therefore extremely hard to train. Instead, capture Weedles or Caterpies and level them up; they evolve into Kakunas and Metapods that retain their offensive abilities. They evolve fast since both will be at their third stage of evolution at level 10. Kakuna evolves into Beedrill and Metapod into Butterfree. They both are rather mediocre Pokémon by base stats, so using them later isn't recommendable.
Pikachus are rare, but it is worth the walk to get one, as he'll be a great assist to Squirtle and will be vital to your team if you picked Charmander as your starter in the gym battle against Misty. Bulbasaur pickers may also want to get one as your rival will pick up a Pidgey, whose flying type moves are super-effective against Grass types.
Pokemon Found
| FireRed | Level | Encounter Rate | LeafGreen | Level | Encounter Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Caterpie
|
3-5 | 40% | Caterpie
|
3-5 | 40% |
 Weedle
|
3-5 | 40% | Weedle
|
3-5 | 40% |
 Metapod
|
5 | 5% | Metapod
|
4-6 | 10% |
 Kakuna
|
4-6 | 10% | Kakuna
|
5 | 5% |
 Pikachu
|
3-5 | 5% | Pikachu
|
3-5 | 5% |
New Pokemon
| #25 Pikachu |
|---|
Even better, at level 26, Pikachu will learn Thunderbolt, a move usually only available as a TM that is terribly expensive to obtain. While catching Pikachu may take some time due to its rarity, it is recommended you catch one now as it will be some time until you find another Electric type. Pikachu can evolve into a Raichu, but only with the aid of a Thunder Stone. |
Trainers
| Name | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Money | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | File:Pokemon FRLG BugCatcher.pngRick | Weedle 6
|
Caterpie 6
|
 72
| |
| 2 | File:Pokemon FRLG BugCatcher.pngDoug | Weedle 7
|
Kakuna 7
|
Weedle 7
|
84
|
| 3 | File:Pokemon FRLG BugCatcher.pngAnthony | Caterpie 7
|
Caterpie 8
|
96
| |
| 4 | File:Pokemon FRLG BugCatcher.pngCharlie | Metapod 7
|
Caterpie 7
|
Metapod 7
|
84
|
| 5 | File:Pokemon FRLG BugCatcher.pngSammy | Weedle 9
|
108
|
Items
- A Poké Ball is located northwest of the entrance (A on map).
- Potion ×3
- East of the entrance (B on map).
- In the alcove near the north exit (D on map).
- Hidden in the tall grass in front of Trainer #5.
- Antidote ×2
- Near the northeast corner of Viridian Forest; C on map.
- In the large tree directly in front of the south entrance.