Yellow Route 23
A guarded mountain pass north of Viridian, where Badge checkpoints test every Trainer climbing toward Victory Road and the League.
Route 23 is in Kanto, with Indigo Plateau to the north. In the story you arrive from Route 22 to the south and continue through its entrance to Victory Road.
ROUTE 23 MAP
Guard posts block this northbound climb to Victory Road and wave you through only after the eighth Badge, with a short flooded stretch midway that calls for Surf.
Route 23 Walkthrough
- From the gatehouse off Route 22, walk north along the winding lanes past three guards, who check your badges and let you on.
- SurfMoveSurfWaterClassSpecialPower95Accuracy100%PP15A strong water-type attack. north from the last land post, past a guard treading water, and search the small island in the middle of Route 23 for a hidden Max Ether.
- SurfMoveSurfWaterClassSpecialPower95Accuracy100%PP15A strong water-type attack. past the second water guard to the north shore, then follow the grass east and search its far end on Route 23 for a hidden Ultra Ball.
- Head back west, climb north past the next guard and up the long lane, then step west into the small grass patch.
- Search its west edge for a hidden Full Restore, the final pickup on Route 23, then cross west and pass the last guard to the Victory Road entrance.
Max Ether
Ultra Ball
Full Restore- From the cave door, step down and walk east to the edge, then follow it north.
- At the top, turn west and wind north through the last stretch onto the road to Indigo Plateau.
Pokemon Encounters
This late mountain pass runs high, levels in the 40s, with a fully evolved Primeape at 5 percent and Nidorino and Nidorina common at 30 percent each. It is a fast way to grab evolved forms without grinding the lower stages.
Old Rod1
Good Rod2
Super Rod2
Magikarp
Also found in 25 other locations
ITEMS
The long climb of Route 23 toward Victory Road hides one Full Restore, one Max Ether, and one Ultra Ball. Load up before the trek.
Full Restore
Restores HP to full and cures any status ailment and confusion.
Full Restore
Restores HP to full and cures any status ailment and confusion.
Max Ether
Restores PP to full for one move.
Ultra Ball
Tries to catch a wild Pokémon. Success rate is 2×.
Route 23 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.