To reach southern Johto, you have to go down the long Route 32, then pass under the mountain through Union Cave. A short crossing for now, but a cave you will come back to explore, Surf in hand, on a Friday.

Objective
Reach Azalea Town through Union Cave
Rewards
Old Rod, Miracle Seed, TM39 Swift (later, with Surf)
Recommended level
10 to 13

🎣Route 32

As you leave Violet City by the south, a man calls out to you: since you are carrying Professor Elm’s Egg, he gives you a Miracle Seed, which boosts Grass-type moves. Further down, the road runs along the sea: eight Trainers line up there, including several Fishermen on the pier.

In Gold and Silver, Mareep is the best catch on the route: it will become Ampharos, one of the best Electric-type Pokémon in the game. In Crystal, it is not found in the wild: aim instead for Chinchou with the Good Rod, or Magnemite on Route 38. At night, Wooper comes out of the grass, and in Silver, Ekans hides there too.

Route 32

Wild Pokémon
Tall grass
Surfing
Old Rod fishing
Old Rod fishing (Swarm)
Good Rod fishing
Good Rod fishing (Swarm)
Super Rod fishing
Super Rod fishing (Swarm)
Headbutt
Headbutt (special tree)
Trainers

8 Trainers · 1,760 ₽ in total

  • Youngster Roméo
    Rattata6Zubat8
    128 ₽
  • Picnicker Liz PokéGear
    Nidoran♀9
    180 ₽
  • Camper Raymond
    Nidoran♂9
    180 ₽
  • Youngster Momo
    Wooper10
    160 ₽
  • Fisherman Loïc
    Poliwag8Poliwag8
    320 ₽
  • Fisherman César
    Magikarp5Magikarp5Magikarp15Magikarp5
    200 ₽
  • Fisherman Ralph PokéGear
    Goldeen10
    400 ₽
  • Bird Keeper Joe
    Pidgey6Pidgey6Spearow8
    192 ₽
Items
  • Miracle SeedGiven by the man to the north, after obtaining the Mystery Egg
  • TM05Given by the man near the ledge to the north (Cut required)
  • Old RodGiven by a Fisherman in the Pokémon Center
  • Poison BarbGiven by Frieda on Friday (on first encounter)
  • Great BallWest of the pier, in the grass
  • PotionIn the grass near Picnicker Liz
  • RepelIn the grass near Picnicker Liz
  • Super PotionIn the grass north of the Fishermen's bridge.
  • Great BallIn the dead end north of the Pokémon Center.

At the Pokémon Center at the very south of the route, a Fisherman gives you the Old Rod. It only hooks Magikarp and Tentacool, but it is a start.

🪨Union Cave

Crossing the ground floor is straightforward: follow the passage south to the ladder that leads to Route 33. A few Hikers and Firebreathers challenge you there. Onix, Geodude and Sandshrew (in Gold) are useful catches, especially if you picked Chikorita.

The ground floor: the exit to the Ruins of Alph is in red
The first basement, with its pools

Union Cave

Map
Click to enlarge
Wild Pokémon

1F

Walking
Surfing
Old Rod fishing
Good Rod fishing
Super Rod fishing

B1F

Walking
Surfing
Old Rod fishing
Good Rod fishing
Super Rod fishing

B2F

Walking
Surfing
Old Rod fishing
Good Rod fishing
Super Rod fishing
Special
Trainers

12 Trainers · 10,112 ₽ in total

  • Hiker Sammy
    Onix11
    352 ₽
  • Hiker Aubin
    Geodude4Geodude6Geodude8
    256 ₽
  • Firebreather Andréa
    Koffing6Koffing6
    288 ₽
  • Pokémaniac Raynal
    Slowpoke10
    600 ₽
  • Firebreather Luigi
    Vulpix9
    432 ₽
  • Hiker Michel
    Geodude23Machop25
    800 ₽
  • Hiker Gérard
    Geodude23Geodude23Graveler23
    736 ₽
  • Pokémaniac Brock
    Marowak24Marowak24
    1,440 ₽
  • Pokémaniac Denis
    Kangaskhan26
    1,560 ₽
  • Cooltrainer Gwen
    Eevee26Flareon22Vaporeon22Jolteon22
    1,056 ₽
  • Cooltrainer Emma
    Poliwhirl28
    1,344 ₽
  • Cooltrainer Nick
    Charmander26Bulbasaur26Squirtle26
    1,248 ₽
Items
  • PotionIn the northwest corner
  • X AttackIn the northwest corner
  • Great BallAt a dead end in the east
  • X AttackAt a dead end in the west
  • PotionAt a dead end in the west
  • AwakeningAt a dead end west of the exit to Route 33
  • TM39At a dead end northwest of the ladder to the ground floor
  • X DefenseAt a dead end east of the ladder to the ground floor
  • ElixirIn the northeast corner (Surf required)
  • Hyper PotionRaised platform in the east (Surf required)

🌊The Friday Lapras

Keep this cave in mind. Once you have Surf, go down to the second basement through the pools of the first. Every Friday, a wild level 20 Lapras swims in the middle of the southernmost pond. It is the only wild Lapras in the game: save before the battle. The same basement hides TM39 Swift.

The tunnel to Lapras's lair
Lapras's lair, on the second basement

🌧️Route 33

At the cave exit, a short road leads to Azalea Town. The Hiker Anthony waits there with Geodude and Machop: he will leave you his number for rematches. Before entering town, a PSNCureBerry grows on the bush to the southeast.

Route 33

Wild Pokémon
Tall grass
Headbutt
Headbutt (special tree)
Trainers

1 Trainer · 352 ₽ in total

  • Hiker Anthony PokéGear
    Geodude11Machop11
    352 ₽
Items
  • PSNCureBerryBush in the southeast (one per day)
The Old Rod, given on Route 32