Yellow Route 21
A long swim between Cinnabar Island and Pallet Town, where Tentacool drift beneath the waves and Swimmers guard the way.
Route 21 is in Kanto, with Pallet Town to the north and Cinnabar Island to the south. In the story it comes after Pokémon Mansion and before Power Plant.
ROUTE 21 MAP
This is the Surf-required link between Pallet Town and Cinnabar Island, mostly open water with only a thin northern band of grass to stand on.
Route 21 Walkthrough
- Step onto the land east of the channel for the only tall grass on the route.
- Keep surfing south to a small islet to face the Fisherman on its west tip and the Fisherman on its south edge with six Magikarp.
- Southeast of the islet a Swimmer battles you with a Seadra and a Tentacruel if you cross the water above him.
- Just northeast of him a Cue BallCue Ball₱775
TentacoolLv 31TentacoolLv 31
TentacruelLv 31Weak toElectricGroundPsychicBug fights you with two Tentacool and a Tentacruel if you swim into the water east of him.
- Swing east to the second islet to face the Fisherman on its west end and the Fisherman at its east end.
- Drop off the south side of the islet to face the Swimmer waiting just below it with a lone Starmie.
- Farther south a Swimmer battles you with a Staryu and a Wartortle if you enter the water east of him.
- Facing him from the east, another Swimmer battles you with a Poliwhirl, a Tentacool and a Seadra.
- Slip through the unwatched gap between the pair and keep south to walk ashore onto Cinnabar Island.
Highest-level fight · fight 1Swimmer
StarmieLv 37₱185StarmieLv 37Pokemon Encounters
Half grass and half open sea, this stretch mixes Pidgey and Rattata on land with Tentacool and Staryu in the water, none rare but a quiet place to fill Pokedex gaps before Pallet.
Old Rod1
Good Rod2
Super Rod3
Magikarp
Also found in 25 other locations
TRAINERS
Out on the water between Pallet and Cinnabar, Swimmers and Fishermen work with Water-types that top out at level 37, the highest on any sea route.
Fisherman
Route 21 Guide
Trading is unavoidable. Yellow's wild tables quietly drop some Pokemon, and a few like Pikachu only come as gifts, never as wild catches. On top of that, evolutions like Alakazam, Machamp, Golem, and Gengar only finish over a link cable. You'll need a Red or Blue cart to round out the dex.
Cut and Surf open the most ground. Cut clears the small trees blocking shortcuts, and the S.S. Anne's captain teaches it. Surf carries you across the water routes like 19 and 20. Strength comes later for boulder puzzles in caves. Spread these onto a party member you don't mind using as your traveler.