Why won't my Flash work outside in Gold and Silver?

You're missing the badge that switches it on. Flash only lights the field once you hold the Zephyr Badge from Falkner, even after you pick up the move itself as HM05 from the elder atop Sprout Tower. Several caves call for it: Dark Cave, Kanto's Rock Tunnel, Mt. Mortar, the Whirl Islands, and the inside of Mt. Silver are all pitch black enough to leave you fumbling without it.

Gold & Silver Diglett's Cave

Diglett pop up underfoot all through this short tunnel near Vermilion.

Diglett's Cave is in Kanto, with its entrance on Route 11. In the story you arrive from Route 2 through its entrance and it comes before Route 3.

DIGLETT'S CAVE MAP

No Flash, no maze, no climb: Diglett's Cave is just a straight tunnel burrowing from the east side of Route 2 down to the Route 11 side by Vermilion City. A quick shortcut once you find both ends.

Pokemon Encounters

Diglett floods the cave at 90 percent and Dugtrio digs in deeper, a fast way to grind Ground-types but little else to find.

Walking2

#050Diglett

90% - Lv 13–19

#051Dugtrio

10% - Lv 19–29

#050

Diglett

Ground

Evolves into Dugtrio at Lv 26

Encounter rate

90% Common

Level

13–19

EV yield

1 Speed

1 in 1wild encounters

will be Diglett — about 36s of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m

to catch one

Poke Ball34%

Great Ball34%

Ultra Ball34%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score20

PickLottery

SourceEstimated

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected45h 31m

Diglett only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Diglett page →

ITEMS

All field items and hidden pickups at Diglett's Cave.

Hidden1

Max Revive

HIDDEN

Max Revive

On a rock near the northern side (hidden)

Effect

Fully restores a fainted Pokemon.

Hidden1

Max Revive

HIDDEN

Max Revive

On a rock near the northern side (hidden)

Effect

Fully restores a fainted Pokemon.

Diglett's Cave Guide

You're missing the badge that switches it on. Flash only lights the field once you hold the Zephyr Badge from Falkner, even after you pick up the move itself as HM05 from the elder atop Sprout Tower. Several caves call for it: Dark Cave, Kanto's Rock Tunnel, Mt. Mortar, the Whirl Islands, and the inside of Mt. Silver are all pitch black enough to leave you fumbling without it.