So you finally took down Whitney. That Miltank is a nightmare, honestly. Between the Stomp flinches and the endless Milk Drink healing, it’s arguably the hardest wall in the early game of Pokemon Silver. But now that you’ve got the Plain Badge, you're probably standing in the middle of the city wondering where to go from goldenrod city in pokemon silver because the game doesn't exactly hold your hand.
The Johto region has a way of feeling massive and claustrophobic at the same time. You’ve got a badge, but there’s still a weird tree blocking the road to the north, and if you try to go back toward Azalea Town, you’re just retracing your steps. Most players get stuck here because they forget to talk to a specific NPC in a non-descript house.
Basically, your next major destination is Ecruteak City. But you can't just walk there. You need a very specific key item to clear the path, and there's a whole lot of "Pokemon flavor" to experience along the way.
Grab the Squirtbottle Before You Leave
This is the part everyone misses. If you try to head north to Route 36 right away, you’ll find that "weird tree" shaking and blocking the three-way intersection. You can't Cut it. You can't move it.
You need the Squirtbottle.
After you beat Whitney, head to the small house directly to the right of the Goldenrod Gym. This is the Flower Shop. Talk to the girl inside. Since you have the Plain Badge, she’ll recognize you’re a serious trainer and hand over the Squirtbottle. Without this item, you are literally stuck in Goldenrod forever.
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Once you have it, you're good to head north. But don't just rush out yet. Goldenrod is the biggest city in the game for a reason, and there are a few things you should grab if you haven't already.
- The Bike: If you haven't visited the Bike Shop in the southeast corner, do it. He’ll give you a "loaner" bike that you eventually just get to keep for free.
- The Coin Case: Head into the Underground (the tunnel entrance is in the northwest). You’ll find the Coin Case lying on the ground. This lets you actually use the Game Corner.
- Kenya the Spearow: Talk to the guard in the gatehouse leading to Route 35. He’ll ask you to deliver a message on a Spearow. Pro tip: you can actually keep the Spearow if you move the mail to another Pokemon, but even if you deliver it, it’s a free Pokemon with boosted EXP.
Navigating Route 35 and the National Park
Once you pass the guard house, you’re on Route 35. It’s a zigzag path filled with trainers. It’s good for grinding, especially if Whitney’s Miltank made you realize your team is a bit underleveled.
You’ll eventually hit the entrance to the National Park.
The National Park is one of the coolest spots in Pokemon Silver. If it’s Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, you can participate in the Bug-Catching Contest. This is hands-down the best way to get a Scyther or a Pinsir early on. Even if it’s not contest day, the park is worth exploring.
There’s a hidden opening in the fence on the top-right side of the park. If you walk through it and follow the perimeter, you can find TM28 Dig. In Gen 2, Dig is a 60-power Ground move, which is incredible for this stage of the game. It’s also a lifesaver for getting out of caves when your team is fainted and you’re out of items.
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The Sudowoodo Encounter on Route 36
Exit the National Park through the eastern gate. You’ll find yourself on Route 36. Walk a bit to the right, and you’ll see the "tree" again.
Stand in front of it and use the Squirtbottle.
The tree will jump. It turns out it's not a tree at all—it’s a Level 20 Sudowoodo. This is a static encounter, meaning it’s the only one in the game. I highly recommend catching it. It’s a pure Rock-type (despite looking like a tree) and can be a solid addition to your team if you didn't pick up a Geodude in Union Cave.
After the fight, the path splits. If you go right, you’ll end up back in Violet City. It’s a nice shortcut, but your real goal is to go north toward Ecruteak City.
Reaching Ecruteak City
The walk from Route 36 to Ecruteak is pretty short once Sudowoodo is out of the way. When you enter Ecruteak, the game’s atmosphere shifts. The music gets more traditional, and the lore starts getting heavy.
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Ecruteak is the home of the fourth Gym Leader, Morty, who uses Ghost-types. But before you can even think about challenging him, you’ve got work to do. You’ll want to visit the Burned Tower in the northwest corner of the city. This is where you’ll trigger the cutscene with the three legendary beasts—Raikou, Entei, and Suicune.
Honestly, the "where to go from goldenrod city" question is less about a single destination and more about a sequence of events. You have to get the bottle, fight the fake tree, and then dive into the history of the Burned Tower.
Things to Do in Ecruteak Immediately:
- The Dance Theater: Defeat all the Kimono Girls to get HM03 Surf. You won't be able to use it outside of battle until you beat Morty, but you need the HM itself.
- The Burned Tower: You'll run into your Rival here. Be prepared for a fight.
- Bill's House: If you talk to Bill in the Ecruteak Pokemon Center, he'll mention he's heading back to Goldenrod. If you follow him back to his house in Goldenrod later, he’ll give you a free Eevee.
A Note on Scaling and Leveling
A weird quirk about Pokemon Silver is the level curve. Once you get past Goldenrod and Ecruteak, the game opens up significantly. You can actually choose to go west toward Olivine City or east toward Mahogany Town in almost any order.
However, Ecruteak is the intended next stop. If you find yourself struggling with the trainers on Route 35, spend some time in the National Park grass. Looking for a Yanma or a Nidorino/Nidorina can provide the extra experience you need.
Don't forget to check your PokeGear, too. Sometimes the game feels like it's stalled, but usually, it's just waiting for you to answer a phone call or visit an NPC you ignored earlier. If you missed the Squirtbottle, that is almost always the "blocker."
Now that you've cleared the path and made it to Ecruteak, your primary focus should be heading to the Burned Tower to encounter the legendary beasts and then taking on Morty at the Ecruteak Gym for your fourth badge. After that, make sure to visit the Kimono Girls in the Dance Theater to secure the HM for Surf, as you'll need it to reach the western part of the map.