Prior generations of Pokémon games contained a variety of side quests that extend the journey. Pokémon Gold and Silver are role-playing games, which usually take around 30.5 hours to beat. For completionists, however, it may take in excess of 160 hours. Side quests add to the replayability of Pokémon games, and the series would be less prevalent without them.
Pokémon's creators didn't hold back when designing Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver. There is an abundance of content to be found for those who look carefully. Including a hidden Safari Zone and gene mutation through breeding, these are 10 secret side quests in Pokémon Gold and Silver everyone missed.
10 Battle Trainer Red
An epic post-credits mission in Pokémon Gold and Silver involves a heated battle against Trainer Red. Trainer Red's uncanny resemblance to the main character from Pokémon Red and Blue stems from both trainers beginning their journey in Pallet Town to become a Pokémon Champion.
Since the first few generations of Pokémon games were laudable for being easy, Trainer Red came as a tough challenge. With a lineup of six intimidating Pokémon, Trainer Red is the most powerful trainer in the game and is part of a side quest you can't miss!
9 Drop Ditto Off At The Daycare (Gene Mutation)
Ditto has the unique ability to copy the cell structure of any opposing Pokémon. Its Pokédex entry states, "Capable of copying an enemy's genetic code to instantly transform itself into a duplicate of the enemy."
Ditto is useful in Gold and Silver for being the only Pokémon who can breed with genderless Pokémon. Ditto's gene mutation allows it to breed with any Pokémon except itself. A lack of Ditto Pokémon eggs could explain why Ditto is so rare in the wild.
8 Obtain Celebi By Using A Glitch Involving The Daycare
As the guardian of the Ilex Forest (Pokémon Gold And Silver's version of the Viridian Forest), Celebi is the rarest Pokémon of Gen 2 since it is impossible to catch under normal circumstances. Luckily, there is a glitch in Gold and Silver, which allows you to obtain a Celebi.
Sure, the developers of Pokémon Gold and Silver could have added a more practical way to capture this legendary Pokémon, but truth be told, it's a heck of a lot easier than getting Mew in Pokémon Red and Blue.
7 Beat The Elite Four In Pokémon Stadium 2 Using Your Gold And Silver Pokémon
Nintendo 64's Pokémon Stadium 2 is filled with fun activities that are nostalgia at its best. One of the lesser-known things you can do in Pokémon Stadium 2 uploads your Gold and Silver Pokémon via a Nintendo accessory called a "Transfer Pak."
With your Pokémon Gold and Silver attached, one can face gym leaders, battle in the Stadium, and beat the Elite Four. Also, the Game Boy Tower will allow you to play Pokémon Gold and Silver at a faster pace, making the Game Boy Tower a must-have for shiny hunters and completionists.
6 Try To Find The Safari Zone
Buried in the coding of Pokémon Gold and Silver is the plan for a Safari Zone. As demonstrated by YouTube creator "yaziyo," entering the Safari Zone is possible in Pokémon Gold and Silver by exploiting a glitch. By inputting code and walking into Fuchsia City's mart, one will find themselves inside the sealed off Safari Zone entrance building.
Moreover, people can step into the Safari Zone. Despite there being water and tall grass, Pokémon cannot be found in this hidden Safari Zone.
5 Catch The Trio Of Legendary Beasts
Finding the trio of Legendary Beasts in Pokémon Gold and Silver is not as easy as it would seem. Although Raikou, Suicune, and Entei appear on the Pokédex's map, their behavior is random as they move vast distances in an instant.
With luck on your side, you might be able to track down the legendary beasts, even if it takes days. This exhausting side quest is only for the most dedicated trainers who have mastered the art of catching Pokémon.
4 Catch Lugia And Ho-Oh
It's only mandatory to fight one of Pokémon Gold and Silver's legendary birds, but both can be found in each game. Depending on if your game is Pokémon Gold or Pokémon Silver, you'll need to fight Ho-Oh or Lugia, respectively.
For the chance of obtaining two powerful Pokémon who will greatly aid your efforts against the Elite Four, it's an easy choice to find Ho-Oh and Lugia. Despite this, many players forget that both birds can be caught in Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver.
3 Create All Of Kurt's Poké Balls
For ridding the likes of Team Rocket from the Slowpoke Well located on the eastern side of Azalea Town, Kurt offers to make Poké Balls for you in exchange for Apricorns. There are seven Apricorns in total and seven types of balls that can be made.
The balls that can be made from the Apricorns are the Fast Ball, Friend Ball, Heavy Ball, Level Ball, Love Ball, Lure Ball, and Moon Ball. The Lure Ball, Heavy Ball, and Level Ball are especially useful in Pokémon Gold and Silver.
2 Catch Pokémon Gold And Silver's 251 Pokémon
This intricate gadget is a must-have for all Pokémon trainers. This time around, Pokémon Gold and Silver beefed up the Pokédex, allowing players to locate and sort Pokémon across its extensive database.
The side quest to catch all the Pokémon is pervasive in Pokémon culture due to a resounding message in the anime. Catching Generation 2's 251 Pokémon is not easy since players will have to trade to evolve, use the daycare to get baby Pokémon, and more. Accomplish this feat, and you'll be a Pokémon Master.
1 Hunt For Shiny Pokémon
The mystical world of Pokémon is filled with extra content to keep completionists busy for hours on end. While the main stories of Gold and Silver take approximately 30 hours to beat, players take on average, 163 hours to reach 100% completion. Hunting for shiny Pokémon, however, will extend the journey much, much longer.
Aside from Red Gyarados, the rest of the shiny Pokémon are not easy to find. The odds of encountering a shiny Pokémon in Gold and Silver is 1/8192; a ratio that will give most players pause. Catching every shiny Pokémon in the game is an insurmountable task that few dare to attempt.