Between Viridian City and Pewter City lies Viridian Forest, a dark, dense woodland teeming with Bug-type Pokémon. It’s also the first real maze in the game, and the hunting ground of the Bug Catchers, those Trainers in short pants who love caterpillars.

Objective
Cross the forest to Pewter City
Trainers
3 Bug Catchers (5 in Yellow)
Rare Pokémon
Pikachu (Red and Blue)
Recommended level
8 to 10

🌿Route 2

Now that the old man in Viridian City has finally moved aside, Route 2 opens its northern entrance to you. The right-hand part, behind a row of shrubs, will remain inaccessible until you have the Cut move: you’ll come back later for a Moon Stone, an HP Up, and above all a move given by one of Professor Oak’s aides (at step 13). For now, take the building at the end of the path: it leads straight into the forest.

Route 2

Map
Click to enlarge
Wild Pokémon
Tall grass
Trade for Abra
Items
  • HM05Given by Professor Oak's aide in the gate east of Viridian Forest.(if the player has caught more than 10 different Pokémon)
  • Moon StoneTo the southeast, between the first two ledges.(Cut required or arrive from Diglett's Cave)
  • HP UpTo the southeast, between the second and third ledges.(Cut required or arrive from Diglett's Cave)

🌲Inside Viridian Forest

The path winds between the trees: follow the east edge going up, then cross west to reach the exit, at the top left of the forest. Three Bug Catchers block the way. Their Bug-type Pokémon are weak, but their moves String Shot (which lowers Speed) and Harden can drag battles out: a good way to gain experience.

Several items are lying on the ground (a Potion, an Antidote, a Poké Ball) and others are hidden: press A facing an isolated tree or in a nook to reveal them. The Antidote will be precious: Weedle and Kakuna easily poison your Pokémon.

  • PikachuElectric

    Only a 5% chance per encounter in Red and Blue: be patient, it's worth it. It will become your anti-Misty weapon.

  • CaterpieBug

    Caterpie evolves very quickly: Metapod at level 7, then Butterfree at level 10.

  • WeedleBugPoison

    Weedle becomes Kakuna then Beedrill, a Bug- and Poison-type attacker.

  • ButterfreeBugFlying

    Butterfree learns Confusion at level 12 and can put the opponent to sleep, poison it or paralyze it.

Red · Blue

In Red, you’ll mostly run into Weedle and Kakuna. In Blue, the trend reverses in favor of Caterpie and Metapod. In both versions, Pikachu remains rare.

Yellow

In Yellow, the forest no longer hides any Pikachu (yours is one of a kind!) but Caterpie, Metapod, Pidgey and even, very rarely, a Pidgeotto. There are more Trainers: five instead of three.

Viridian Forest

Map
Click to enlarge
Wild Pokémon
Tall grass
Trainers

3 Trainers · 220 ₽ in total

  • Bug Catcher
    Caterpie6Weedle6
    60 ₽
  • Bug Catcher
    Weedle7Kakuna7Weedle7
    70 ₽
  • Bug Catcher
    Weedle9
    90 ₽
Items
  • PotionRed/BlueTo the west, at the last intersection before the exit.
  • AntidoteRed/BlueOn the ground to the east.
  • Poké BallOn the ground in the tall grass to the southwest.
  • AntidoteHidden in the large isolated tree near the south entrance.
  • PotionHidden in the tall grass in front of a Bug Catcher near the northwest exit.