Do wild Pokemon change between day and night in Gold and Silver?

Yes, and it's new to the series. Gold and Silver run on a real clock split into morning, day, and night, and the grass swaps species along with it. Hoothoot only turns up after dark, for instance, where the daytime route hands you Pidgey. If something won't appear, come back at a different hour.

What are the Apricorn trees along Gold and Silver's routes for?

Material for custom Poke Balls. Routes 37 and 42 and Azalea Town have trees that each drop one Apricorn a day, and Kurt in Azalea turns a color into a matching ball by the next morning. A white one becomes a Fast Ball for skittish Pokemon, a black one a Heavy Ball for heavy catches like Snorlax.

Gold & Silver Route 12

Rods out over the surf, a long fishing route runs down Kanto's east coast.

Route 12 is in Kanto, with Lavender Town to the north. In the story you arrive from Route 13 to the south and continue west to Route 11.

ROUTE 12 MAP

Pokemon Encounters

Quagsire and Tentacool fill the Lavender pier. The Super Rod adds Qwilfish for the patient.

Type

Surf3

#072Tentacool

60% - Lv 25–29

#195Quagsire

30% - Lv 25–29

#073Tentacruel

10% - Lv 25–29

Fish7

Old Rod2

#129Magikarp

85% - Lv 10

#072Tentacool

15% - Lv 10

Good Rod2

#072Tentacool

65% - Lv 20

#129Magikarp

35% - Lv 20

Super Rod3

#072Tentacool

70% - Lv 40

#129Magikarp

20% - Lv 40

#211Qwilfish

10% - Lv 40

#129

Magikarp

Water

Evolves into Gyarados at Lv 20

Encounter rate

85% Common

Level

EV yield

1 Speed

1 in 1wild encounters

will be Magikarp — about 36s of fishing 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

Expected48h 11m

Also found in 51 other locations

Fuchsia CityLv 10–40

100%Blackthorn CityLv 5–40

100%Dark CaveLv 5–40

100%Dragon's DenLv 10–40

100%Lake of RageLv 10–40

100%Route 45Lv 5–24

100%Route 43Lv 10–40

100%Cerulean CityLv 10–40

85%Cinnabar IslandLv 10–20

85%Pallet TownLv 10–20

85%Tohjo FallsLv 10–40

85%Viridian CityLv 10–40

85%Vermilion CityLv 10–20

85%Cerulean GymLv 10–20

85%Cherrygrove CityLv 10–20

85%Goldenrod CityLv 10–20

85%Ecruteak CityLv 10–40

85%Ilex ForestLv 10–40

85%Mt. MortarLv 10–40

85%New Bark TownLv 10–20

85%Cianwood CityLv 10–20

85%Route 30Lv 10–40

85%Route 31Lv 10–40

85%Route 34Lv 10–20

85%Olivine CityLv 10–20

85%Route 32Lv 5–40

85%Mt. SilverLv 10–40

85%Slowpoke WellLv 10–40

85%Ruins of AlphLv 10–40

85%Union CaveLv 10–40

85%Whirl IslandsLv 10–20

85%Violet CityLv 10–40

85%Route 35Lv 10–40

85%

Magikarp page →

#072

Tentacool

WaterPoison

Evolves into Tentacruel at Lv 30

Encounter rate

70% Common

Level

EV yield

1 Sp. Def

1 in 1wild encounters

will be Tentacool — about 36s of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m

to catch one

Poke Ball25%

Great Ball34%

Ultra Ball34%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score40

PickRisky

SourceDerived

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected58h 31m

Also found in 19 other locations

Cinnabar IslandLv 10–39

90%Route 21Lv 10–39

90%Route 19Lv 30–39

90%Route 20Lv 10–39

90%Pallet TownLv 10–39

90%Route 26Lv 10–34

90%Route 27Lv 10–24

90%Vermilion CityLv 10–39

90%Cherrygrove CityLv 15–24

90%New Bark TownLv 10–24

90%Cianwood CityLv 15–24

90%Route 34Lv 15–24

90%Olivine CityLv 10–24

70%Union CaveLv 15–19

60%Whirl IslandsLv 20–24

60%

Tentacool page →

#072

Tentacool

WaterPoison

Evolves into Tentacruel at Lv 30

Encounter rate

65% Common

Level

EV yield

1 Sp. Def

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Tentacool — about 54s of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m

to catch one

Poke Ball25%

Great Ball34%

Ultra Ball34%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score40

PickRisky

SourceDerived

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected63h 1m

Tentacool page →

#072

Tentacool

WaterPoison

Evolves into Tentacruel at Lv 30

Encounter rate

60% Common

Level

25–29

EV yield

1 Sp. Def

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Tentacool — about 54s of surfing to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m

to catch one

Poke Ball25%

Great Ball34%

Ultra Ball34%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score40

PickRisky

SourceDerived

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected68h 16m

Tentacool page →

#129

Magikarp

Water

Evolves into Gyarados at Lv 20

Encounter rate

35% Common

Level

EV yield

1 Speed

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Magikarp — about 1m of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~3m

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

Expected117h 2m

Magikarp page →

#195

Quagsire

WaterGround

Encounter rate

30% Common

Level

25–29

EV yield

2 HP

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Quagsire — about 1m of surfing to catch one.

Catch odds

~5m-10m

to catch one

Poke Ball12%

Great Ball18%

Ultra Ball24%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score60

PickRisky

SourceEstimated

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected136h 32m

Also found in 10 other locations

Route 27Lv 28–32

55%Route 10Lv 16–17

40%Mt. SilverLv 45–45

40%Ruins of AlphLv 15–24

40%Union CaveLv 15–24

#129

Magikarp

Water

Evolves into Gyarados at Lv 20

Encounter rate

20% Uncommon

Level

EV yield

1 Speed

1 in 5wild encounters

will be Magikarp — about 2m of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~5m

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

Expected204h 48m

Magikarp page →

#072

Tentacool

WaterPoison

Evolves into Tentacruel at Lv 30

Encounter rate

15% Uncommon

Level

EV yield

1 Sp. Def

1 in 7wild encounters

will be Tentacool — about 3m of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~6m-8m

to catch one

Poke Ball25%

Great Ball34%

Ultra Ball34%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score40

PickRisky

SourceDerived

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected273h 4m

Tentacool page →

#211

Qwilfish

WaterPoison

Encounter rate

10% Rare

Level

EV yield

1 Attack

1 in 10wild encounters

will be Qwilfish — about 7m of fishing to catch one.

Catch odds

~25m-50m

to catch one

Poke Ball6%

Great Ball9%

Ultra Ball12%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score60

PickRisky

SourceEstimated

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected409h 36m

Also found in 2 other locations

#073

Tentacruel

WaterPoison

Encounter rate

10% Rare

Level

25–29

EV yield

2 Sp. Def

1 in 10wild encounters

will be Tentacruel — about 7m of surfing to catch one.

Catch odds

~19m-38m

to catch one

Poke Ball8%

Great Ball12%

Ultra Ball16%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score80

PickReliable

SourceDerived

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected409h 36m

Also found in 19 other locations

Route 41Lv 20–40

30%Whirl IslandsLv 20–24

30%Cinnabar IslandLv 35–40

20%Route 21Lv 35–40

20%Route 20Lv 35–40

20%Pallet TownLv 35–40

20%Route 26Lv 30–40

20%Route 27Lv 20–40

20%Vermilion CityLv 35–40

20%New Bark TownLv 20–40

20%Olivine CityLv 20–40

20%Route 19Lv 35–39

10%Route 13Lv 25–29

10%Cherrygrove CityLv 20–24

10%Cianwood CityLv 20–24

10%Route 34Lv 20–24

10%Route 32Lv 20–24

10%Route 40Lv 20–24

10%Union CaveLv 20–24

10%

Tentacruel page →

ITEMS

Route 12's pier hides a Calcium that raises Special Attack and a Nugget worth a tidy sum at any counter. An Elixir waits further along.

Key item1

Super Rod

Vitamin1

Calcium

Item ball1

Nugget

Hidden1

Elixir

KEY ITEM

Super Rod

From the Fishing Guru in the Route 12 house

Effect

The best ROD for catching Pokemon.

VITAMIN

Calcium

Visible item ball along the route

Effect

Ups SPECIAL stats of one Pokemon.

ITEM BALL

Nugget

Visible item ball along the route

Effect

Made of pure gold. Sell high.

HIDDEN

Elixir

Hidden item along Route 12

Effect

Restores PP of all moves by 10.

Key item1

Super Rod

KEY ITEM

Super Rod

From the Fishing Guru in the Route 12 house

Effect

The best ROD for catching Pokemon.

Vitamin1

Calcium

VITAMIN

Calcium

Visible item ball along the route

Effect

Ups SPECIAL stats of one Pokemon.

Item ball1

Nugget

ITEM BALL

Nugget

Visible item ball along the route

Effect

Made of pure gold. Sell high.

Hidden1

Elixir

HIDDEN

Elixir

Hidden item along Route 12

Effect

Restores PP of all moves by 10.

TRAINERS

4 trainer battles at Route 12. Team rosters, levels, and weakness coverage for each.

Trainer4

BarneyLv 30₱1,200

KyleLv 31₱1,240

MartinLv 32₱1,280

StephenLv 31₱1,240

TRAINER

Barney

Party

Highest Lv

Reward

₱1,200

Party

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Thrash

Bite

Dragon Rage

Leer

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Thrash

Bite

Dragon Rage

Leer

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Thrash

Bite

Dragon Rage

Leer

Type

ELECTRIC

ROCK

Win: ₱1,200

TRAINER

Kyle

Party

Highest Lv

Reward

₱1,240

Party

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Tail Whip

Supersonic

Horn Attack

Flail

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Hypnosis

Water Gun

Double Slap

Rain Dance

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Supersonic

Horn Attack

Flail

Fury Attack

Type

ELECTRIC

GRASS

Win: ₱1,240

TRAINER

Martin

Party

Highest Lv

Reward

₱1,280

Party

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Lock-On

Psybeam

Aurora Beam

Bubble Beam

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Lock-On

Psybeam

Aurora Beam

Bubble Beam

Type

ELECTRIC

GRASS

Win: ₱1,280

TRAINER

Stephen

Party

Highest Lv

Reward

₱1,240

Party

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Splash

Tackle

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Splash

Tackle

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Harden

Minimize

Water Gun

Pin Missile

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Constrict

Acid

Bubble Beam

Wrap

Type

ELECTRIC

GRASS

GROUND

PSYCHIC

Win: ₱1,240

Route 12 Guide

Yes, and it's new to the series. Gold and Silver run on a real clock split into morning, day, and night, and the grass swaps species along with it. Hoothoot only turns up after dark, for instance, where the daytime route hands you Pidgey. If something won't appear, come back at a different hour.
Material for custom Poke Balls. Routes 37 and 42 and Azalea Town have trees that each drop one Apricorn a day, and Kurt in Azalea turns a color into a matching ball by the next morning. A white one becomes a Fast Ball for skittish Pokemon, a black one a Heavy Ball for heavy catches like Snorlax.