50 Fun Facts About Pokemon Gold and Silver

Which legendary bird flew over Ash in the anime's first episode, years before debuting in Pokémon Gold?

Ho-Oh stayed unidentified until Gold and Silver came out years later. In the games' lore it resurrected three Pokémon that died in a tower fire, creating the legendary beasts.

Which blue mouse Pokémon was rumoured to be a secret creature called "Pikablu" before Gold and Silver came out?

Marill showed up in the anime before the games, and the Pikablu rumours grew so widespread that the name was printed on an official Topps trading card.

Which Pokémon poses as a tree to block the road in Gold and Silver, yet is really a Rock type?

Sudowoodo only budges when sprayed with a Squirtbottle. Its name blends 'pseudo' and 'wood', while its Japanese name plays on words meaning 'fake tree' and 'liar'.

Which Pokémon from Gold and Silver has a small fanged head on its tail that bites anything too close?

Girafarig has a name that reads the same backwards, in English and in Japanese, where it is Kirinriki. An early design even mirrored its whole body to match.

Which egg-shelled Pokémon was raised by Misty in the anime before it could be hatched in Gold and Silver?

Togepi was the first Pokémon that players could hatch from an Egg in the series. Its English name joins the Japanese words for spike and peep.

Which new type did Gold and Silver add to give players Pokémon immune to the dominant Psychic moves?

Dark types shrug off Psychic attacks entirely and hit Psychic Pokémon hard, giving players the counter that the first generation never offered.

Which hero of the first Pokémon games waits deep inside Mt. Silver as the toughest battle in Gold and Silver?

Red can be challenged only after every Kanto Gym Leader is beaten, and his Pikachu is the highest-levelled Pokémon on his team.

Which Pokémon, forced to evolve by Team Rocket, appears as a guaranteed Shiny at the Lake of Rage?

Gyarados at the lake is a level 30 scarlet-coloured catch, handed to players in an era when a Shiny normally appeared about once in 8,192 encounters.

Which baby Pokémon, new in Gold and Silver, evolves into the series mascot once it is friendly enough?

Pichu was designed by Ken Sugimori to repeat Pikachu's success, and it struggles to control its own electricity. In Super Smash Bros. Melee it even hurts itself when it attacks.

Which legendary on the cover of Pokémon Silver was created by the anime's head writer for Pokémon the Movie 2000?

Lugia was designed by writer Takeshi Shudo purely for the film, and he was surprised when it later turned up in other Pokémon media. Its name was settled by a vote at a production meeting.

Which Fire type new in Gold and Silver has a back that erupts in flames only when threatened?

Cyndaquil takes its name from 'cinder' and 'quill'. In the anime Ash caught one that went on to become a recurring member of his team.

Which leaf-headed Grass type is Pokédex number 152, the first of the hundred new Pokémon in Gold and Silver?

Chikorita uses the leaf on its head to gauge the temperature and humidity around it. Its name likely mixes the chicory plant with the Spanish ending for something small.

Which New Bark Town professor gives players a starter in Gold and Silver, then has another one stolen?

Elm is robbed by the player's rival, who always takes the starter with a type advantage over the one the player picked.

Which Goldenrod City Gym Leader is notorious for a Miltank whose Rollout flattens unprepared teams?

Whitney's Miltank also heals itself with Milk Drink, and the fight is often cited as one of the hardest and most frustrating battles in the series.

Which Eevee evolution, new in Gold and Silver, appears only when a friendly Eevee levels up at night?

Umbreon was first designed as a Poison type, and the rings on its body glow in moonlight. Its counterpart Espeon evolves the same way while the sun is up.

Which Pokémon from the original 151 can breed with almost any species at the Gold and Silver Day Care?

Ditto can pair with a male or a female partner from nearly every breeding group. Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are among the few species that cannot produce Eggs with it.

Which studio developed Pokémon Gold and Silver over three and a half years with a team of only four programmers?

Game Freak began work straight after the first Pokémon titles shipped in Japan, but side projects pushed Gold and Silver back from a planned 1998 release.

Which blue punching-bag Pokémon can only hit back, never strike first, and is Jessie's sidekick in the anime?

Wobbuffet's Japanese name echoes a comedian's catchphrase meaning 'that's the way it is'. Its Pokédex entry says two that meet will compete to outlast each other, even going without food.

Which Pokémon found in the Ruins of Alph comes in many forms that each resemble a letter of the alphabet?

Unown was first sketched as an alien before the designers noticed how much it looked like lettering. Its name comes from the word 'unknown', and it can learn only the move Hidden Power.

Which time-travelling Mythical Pokémon, number 251, is tied to a shrine in Ilex Forest in Gold and Silver?

Celebi could be obtained only through promotional events, and fan rumours about the forest shrine grew so persistent that the developers later built a real event around it.

Pokémon Gold and Silver became the best-selling titles ever released for which handheld launched in 1998?

Game Boy Color hardware gave the two adventures full colour support and more detailed sprites, and together they sold more than 23 million copies.

Which handheld received HeartGold and SoulSilver, the tenth-anniversary remakes of Gold and Silver?

Nintendo DS hardware let the lead Pokémon walk behind the player, echoing Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow. The two remakes went on to sell more than 12 million copies combined.

Which legendary beast of Gold and Silver, able to purify water, stands for the rain that put out a tower fire?

Suicune's name begins with 'sui', the Japanese word for water. Its fellow beasts Raikou and Entei stand for the lightning that started the blaze and the fire itself.

Which Champion, whose team includes three Dragonite, waits beyond the Elite Four in Gold and Silver?

Lance turns up earlier in the story too, leading players from the Lake of Rage to a hidden Team Rocket base long before they reach the League.

Which Pokémon does Onix evolve into when traded while holding a Metal Coat in Pokémon Gold and Silver?

Steelix forms when an Onix eats iron and is squeezed by pressure deep underground, hardening its body like diamond. Brock's Onix makes the same change in the anime.

Which Johto Pokémon had its English name cut by one letter to fit a ten-character limit in Gold and Silver?

Feraligatr was meant to be 'Feraligator', a blend of feral and alligator, but the cartridges allowed only ten characters for a name.

Which Pokémon with a paintbrush tail knows only Sketch, a move that permanently copies an opponent's attack?

Smeargle marks its territory with fluid from its tail, drawing on a range of about 5,000 different markings. Its name fuses 'smear' with 'beagle'.

Which Gold and Silver gadget works as a watch, map, radio and phone that lets Trainers call for rematches?

Pokégear could store only ten phone numbers, and tuning its radio could change how wild Pokémon appeared.

Which Pokémon game first let players pick a girl as the hero and animated Pokémon sprites in battle?

Pokémon Crystal added the female Trainer Kris and a Battle Tower, and it was the first main-series game that would not run on the original monochrome handheld.

Which Godzilla-like Pokémon from Gold and Silver is the final form of the dirt-eating Larvitar?

Tyranitar belongs to the group fans call pseudo-legendary because its combined base stats are so high. Its middle stage Pupitar is a cocoon that propels itself through the air with gas.

Which Azalea Town craftsman turns Apricorns into custom Poké Balls in Pokémon Gold and Silver?

Kurt hands over one of his custom Poké Balls as thanks once players rescue the town's Slowpoke, then offers to craft more whenever they bring him the fruit.

Which item made from a Blue Apricorn in Gold and Silver works best on Pokémon hooked while fishing?

Lure Ball is one of seven Apricorn recipes, each colour giving a different effect, such as a Green Apricorn's Friend Ball, which makes a caught Pokémon friendlier.

Which real region of Japan, known for its old temples, inspired the design of the Johto region?

Kansai was a narrowing of the original plan: an early demo used a far larger world map based on the whole Japanese archipelago.

Which Gym Leader in Violet City hands out the Zephyr Badge, the first of Johto's eight?

Falkner's Gym has no puzzle at all, so players can challenge him as soon as they arrive, though training in the nearby Sprout Tower first is wise.

Which Poison-type Gym Leader left Fuchsia City to join the Elite Four, leaving his daughter in charge?

Koga's daughter Janine now runs the Fuchsia Gym, where every Trainer dresses up as her to confuse challengers.

Which missing boss is Team Rocket trying to summon when it hijacks a Johto broadcast in Gold and Silver?

Giovanni had led the gang in the first adventure. His leaderless grunts take over Goldenrod City's Radio Tower to broadcast a plea for his return.

Which location hosts the Bug-Catching Contest every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in Gold and Silver?

National Park contestants are handed 20 Park Balls and may keep only one catch, with a Sun Stone going to the winner.

Which Kanto location has been almost wiped out by a volcanic eruption when players return in Gold and Silver?

Cinnabar Island is reduced to a lone Pokémon Center, one of many changes players discover three years after the first adventure.

Which four-winged Pokémon does Golbat become in Gold and Silver once it bonds closely with its Trainer?

Crobat's second pair of wings developed from Golbat's legs. The player's rival ends up with one late in the story, a sign that he has finally learned to care for his team.

Which pink Pokémon introduced in Gold and Silver evolves from Chansey and has the highest HP of any Pokémon?

Blissey carries an egg said to bring happiness to anyone who eats it, and it evolves only once Chansey is happy enough itself.

Which feature lets Pokémon Gold and Silver switch between day and night and run events on set weekdays?

A real-time clock inside the game tracks the hour and the weekday, so some Pokémon appear only after sunset and the Bug-Catching Contest runs on fixed days.

Which battle stat from the first Pokémon games did Gold and Silver split into attacking and defending halves?

Special became Special Attack and Special Defense, which added strategy because a Pokémon could now hit hard with such moves yet be frail against them.

Which HAL Laboratory president built graphics compression tools to help finish Pokémon Gold and Silver?

Satoru Iwata later became the chief executive of Nintendo. The small programming team needed the help, as development had stretched to three and a half years.

Which accessory came bundled with HeartGold and SoulSilver so players could carry a Pokémon around with them?

Pokéwalker steps earned 'watts' to exchange for in-game rewards, much as the original Gold and Silver accepted 'watt points' from the second Pocket Pikachu digital pet.

Which held item makes Poliwhirl evolve into the frog Pokémon Politoed when traded in Gold and Silver?

King's Rock also turns a traded Slowpoke into Slowking, and in battle it gives the holder's attacks a chance of making the target flinch.

Which Fighting-type Pokémon does Tyrogue evolve into only when its Attack and Defense stats are exactly equal?

Hitmontop fights in a style based on capoeira and can spin on its head. A Tyrogue with higher Attack becomes Hitmonlee instead, and one with higher Defense becomes Hitmonchan.

Which car was fitted with fins and a tail to resemble a legendary Pokémon and promote Gold and Silver in America?

Chrysler PT Cruiser models, five in all, were restyled after the Silver cover star and driven around the United States with consoles on board for spectators to play.

Which lava snail Pokémon is said to burn at 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than the sun's surface?

Magcargo's Pokédex entry makes that claim, which works out at twice the heat of the sun's surface. Its name mixes 'magma' with 'escargot', and flames can burst from any hole in its shell.

Which home computer did Junichi Masuda use to compose the music for Pokémon Gold and Silver?

Amiga compositions were turned into MIDI data and then converted again for the handheld's sound hardware. Masuda went on to become a lead director of the series.

Which disaster was blamed for halving the first Japanese shipment of Pokémon Gold and Silver cartridges?

An earthquake in Taiwan was said to have damaged the cartridge factories, though some suspected the publisher of using it as an excuse to keep demand high.