How Do You Get to Route 18 in Pokemon Black

Matt Bird writes all sorts of nonsense, but he dedicates a large chunk of his time to writing game walkthroughs.

"Pokémon X and Y" owned and copyrighted by Nintendo. Images used for educational purposes only.

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Team Flare is done for. You've flattened Lysandre, brought down his ultimate weapon, and (potentially) captured the legendary Pokémon responsible for his rise to power. What will you do now? Get back on track to participate in the Pokémon League, that's what! Onward!

Wild Pokémon – Route 18


Pokémon	Rarity	Version
Durant	Rare	Both
Durant (horde)	Rare	Both
Durant and Heatmor (horde)	Rare	Both
Geodude (horde)	Rare	Both
Graveler	Uncommon	Both
Gurdurr	Uncommon	Both
Heatmor	Rare	Both
Lairon	Uncommon	X
Pupitar	Uncommon	Y
Sandslash	Common	Both
Torkoal	Common	Both

Wild Pokémon – Route 18, Rustling Bush


Pokémon	Rarity	Version
Durant	Common	Both
Heatmor	Rare	Both

Wild Pokémon – Route 18, Rock Smash


Pokémon	Rarity	Version
Graveler	Common	Both
Shuckle	Uncommon	Both

Route 18 – Vallee Etroit Way

Head to the southern exit of Anistar City. You can slip between the workers in the gate to reach Route 18.
Check the bush beside the Route sign for a Poké Ball.
Head south. The path soon splits. Continue south and you'll be beside a boy you can battle.

Youngster Jayden

Scolipede, level 48

Pinsir, level 48

Reward: $1,152

Scolipede isn't that troublesome, though it will probably Agility its way into acting first. Pinsir can be quite strong, but it's also not that hard to kill before it gets in an attack. Fire and Flying are wise move types to use.

Just south of the boy is a Hyper Potion. Grab it and loop back to the main path.
Just before the bridge, you'll find a Cuttable tree. Past it is a Wacan Berry tree and a grinding rail that will take you to a PP Up.
Climb the stairs. You'll find a trainer waiting near the house . . .

Hiker Orestes

Stunfisk, level 50

Reward: $2,800

Poor, poor little Stunfisk.

. . . and another one across the bridge, if you feel like backtracking.

Battle Girl Justine

Mienshao, level 52

Reward: $2,496

Bounce? Odd. Mienshao is best approached with a speedy Flying-type so it can't zip off-screen with Bounce. It's quite frail, so most attacks should OHKO it.

Wild Pokémon – Terminus Cave


Pokémon	Rarity	Version
Ariados (dark spot)	Common	Both
Aron (horde)	Rare	X
Durant	Common	Both
Durant (horde)	Rare	Both
Geodude (horde)	Rare	Both
Graveler	Uncommon	Both
Lairon	Uncommon	X
Larvitar (horde)	Rare	Y
Noibat (dark spot)	Rare	Both
Pupitar	Uncommon	Y
Sandslash	Uncommon	Both

Wild Pokémon – Terminus Cave, Rock Smash


Pokémon	Rarity	Version
Graveler	Common	Both
Shuckle	Rare	Both

Terminus Cave

Start with the right mine shaft entrance on the upper level of Route 18. Inside you'll find TM 31, Brick Break.
Check out the bottom mine shaft next, past the breakable boulders. Inside is a Dragon Scale. You can also find a Normal Gem inside the stalagmite to the north.
One mineshaft left, right beside the house. Follow the path east. (This is a good place for Rock Smashing boulders, if you're big on that.)
This area is tricky. If you take the wrong path you'll have to go through again to reach everything. Start by going up the ramp to your right. You'll find a thin bridge that leads to a Star Piece.
Backtrack and follow the path south. After two ramps you'll hop down beside a rock to your left. You'll find a Dusk Ball in the rock.
Head towards the bridge. Just before the bridge, you'll see a breakable boulder, and beside that is a stalagmite. Check the stalagmite for a Hyper Potion.
Cross the bridge. A trainer awaits.

Worker Narek

Graveler, level 46

Graveler, level 47

Golem, level 48

Reward: $3,072

Two moves: Earthquake and Self-Destruct. Both are brutal. I highly recommend wiping these guys out early with Water- or Grass-type moves.

There's a split ahead. Go south to find a Heat Rock.
Backtrack to the bridge. A trainer is prancing back and forth across it.

Hiker Aaron

Rhydon, level 50

Reward: $2,800

Another brutal opponent with Earthquake. Use water or grass to wipe it out immediately.

Yet another split. Hop down the ramp near the underside of the bridge. To your left is an Escape Rope. To your right is a trainer.

Hiker Bergin

Boldore, level 48

Steelix, level 48

Reward: $2,688

More fodder for Water-type moves. Sturdy is annoying, but that's all.

Backtrack to the ramp under the bridge and go north instead. There's a trainer here.

Worker Dimitri

Octillery, level 50

Reward: $3,200

Potentially powerful, but relatively slow. Octillery's not too difficult.

Head north, past the stairs. There's a breakable boulder ahead. Bust through, then check the ground at the end of the narrow alley to find a Moonstone.
Head back to the stairs and descend. There's a trainer ahead.

Battle Girl Andrea

Throh, level 49

Conkeldurr, level 50

Reward: $2,400

A pair of defensive bruisers. Psychic-type moves are ideal.

Ahead and to your left is a boulder. Smash through and weave through the passages to the west. Against the western wall and down a ramp is a Dusk Stone. Along the way you'll see a cluster of rocks, just beyond the narrow path; in one of them is an Iron.
Head back east, then north. A trainer's waiting. Follow the path north of him to find an X Attack.

Black Belt Gunnar

Toxicroak, level 49

Sawk, level 50

Reward: $2,400

Nothing too bad, though bear in mind that Sawk has Sturdy. It will get one hit in, unless you have a move that hits twice or more in one turn.

Trek back east. Another trainer awaits.

Black Belt Ricardo

Hariyama, level 52

Reward: $2,496

Earthquake?! Harsh. Wipe this dude out in one hit with a strong special attack if you can. He's painful.

The path splits three ways here. Start by ascending the ramp to your left. A trainer's up here. Slide down the ramp next to her to find an Elixir to the north.

Battle Girl Hailey

Medicham, level 48

Hawlucha, level 51

Reward: $2,448

Both strong, neither terribly troublesome. Shrug.

After returning to the lower area, go east to find a Full Heal.
Head south at the split. Once you reach the spiralling path, make your way down into it, towards the mine cart. Nearby is TM 30, Shadow Ball. You can also find a hidden Max Potion back up the ramp and at the south end of the narrow path surrounding the mine cart.
Return to the outer paths and go south. Two Pokémon Rangers will step up to battle you. after the fight, check the stalagmite behind them for a Dire hit.

Rangers Fern & Lee

Nidoking, level 51

Nidoqueen, level 51

Reward: $8,160

Not as strong as they seem. Surf is great here. Get rid of Nidoking first if you can't wipe them both at once.

Head south to the next split. To the west is an Iron Plate. East leads upstairs.
There's a trainer waiting up here.

Worker Yusif

Probopass, level 50

Reward: $3,200

Hefty, and likes to use Lock-On and Zap Cannon. Potentially problematic, but Zap Cannon doesn't do that much damage. Water!

Go up the next ramp and skirt the edge of it to the east to reach a ledge. Grab a Max Repel from the stalagmite on the edge of the ledge, then hop down to find a Reaper Cloth.
Go back up the ramps. A guy here is blocking the way; unless you've defeated the champion, you can't get past him. (We'll come back here later.)
That's all for Terminus Cave for the moment. Use an Escape Rope to get out of here.

Return Trip – Terminus Cave

Come back here after defeating the Champion as the guy suggests. In the cave beyond where he was standing you'll find a divided path. Down and to the right of the intersection is a Lustrous Orb. Down and to the left is an Adamant Orb. Up and to the left is a Griseous Orb. Up and to the right is, hidden in the middle of the grassy spot, a Big Nugget. And directly north . . .
. . . well, directly north is the almighty Zygarde, a legendary Pokémon. At level 70 and possessing some horrid attacks (uh oh, Earthquake), Zygarde is no easy catch, unlike the X and the Y of the letter trio. The only sure way to catch it is to use a Master Ball; otherwise, you'll have to slowly whittle down its HP to the red, then start hucking either Ultra Balls or Dusk Balls and hope one of them sticks. Status ailments such as sleep or paralysis will help speed this capture along, and are highly recommended. Be sure you save before you get into this fight—it's quite common to spend an hour or more fighting Zygarde without actually catching it. (Took me a solid forty minutes.)

Paigie on November 11, 2013:

If you're lazy like me, or just plain don't feel like actually battling it, you can save right before and throw a quick ball at it, turn it off and repeat until you get it. Did that with Mewtwo as well and it only took like 10 tries.

Amanda on November 09, 2013:

I used a Level79 Garchomp, and I caught Zygarde with 2 moves (I used pine previously and knocked it out, had to go back from my last save) and caught it with one ultra ball

Jones on November 05, 2013:

Sliggoo in the grass.

Nova on November 02, 2013:

I quickly gave up and just killed it.

Nova on November 02, 2013:

I used my level 73 Sylveon to catch the legendary, however on my first try I killed it in one hit, but luckily I had saved right before.

Lamdeon on October 31, 2013:

I got Zygarde with a Timer Ball xD

Its helpful to have mewtwo while fightning especially with mega-evos. Have him use psychic then aura sphere while mega and then just stall for a few turns then use the ball. That's how i did it

ChronoKid on October 30, 2013:

Just ran into a horde of Durant by themselves. Playing X.

Pahaxion97 (Pahaxion) on October 29, 2013:

Much Better:

HP: 27 - 28

Att: 31

Def: 31

SpA: 18 - 19

SpD: 5

Speed: 30 - 31

Pahaxion on October 29, 2013:

Caught Zygarde with my second ultra ball. Battle time: 2 minutes :)

IVs:

Zygarde - #718 (Gentle)

HP: 30 - 31

Att: 3 - 4

Def: 8 - 10

SpA: 31

SpD: 30 - 31

Speed: 0 - 1

I am going to reset to see if I can get better stats.

Crow on October 27, 2013:

It took me 5 minutes to catch Zygarde at my third Dusk Ball, paralized.

ry on October 27, 2013:

Took me 2min to catch zygarde with mega mewtwo x

ry on October 27, 2013:

Took me 2min to catch zygarde with mega mewtwo x

John on October 27, 2013:

Found a torcoal on route 18 on the grass

Lightning07 on October 25, 2013:

Ughhh... Spent a good 40-50 minutes trying to catch that thing and holy crap is it resiliant. Had a Pokemon use False Swipe for it to have 1 HP and it still escaped out of a good 6 Ultra Balls and 10 Dusk Balls afterwards. Definitely a the hardest Pokemon to catch and a strong Master Ball candidate.

Ryan on October 25, 2013:

Took me a solid four minutes to catch Zygarde with a dusk ball

M on October 25, 2013:

Horde of Durant in grass, Lv 23, pokemon X

Matt Bird (author) from Canada on October 25, 2013:

I didn't say you HAVE to use the Master Ball, I just said it was easier. I didn't use mine either. Zygarde's been the most difficult pokemon to catch so far, in a game of pokemon that have been relatively easy to catch, so it seems the best candidate.

Joel on October 25, 2013:

Lies. You do not need the masterball for this Legendary Pokemon. My friend caught Zygarde using a Great ball and paralyzing it on his second try. Of course, he did bring the HP down to red.

kirk on October 25, 2013:

i no joke caught the legendary pokemon of y with one ultra ball! i was pissed and happy, mainly because i baught a shit ton of ultra balls, but its the first time i caught one like that. i only used two moves on him

Matt Bird (author) from Canada on October 24, 2013:

Still working on the 100% details. Work keeps delaying me from going back and running through everything as completely as I'd like, particularly the pokemon capture tables. Thanks for the kudos, tho.

Brandon on October 24, 2013:

Thanks so much for making these text guides! It's so much faster for me to read these than to watch videos on it. Not to mention they're pretty accurate, if not 100%

Bazookabird on October 24, 2013:

Took me 2 ultra balls once i got him in the red......

Mawkatz on October 23, 2013:

A Noibat fell from the ceiling for me. lvl 44 ♀

Bk Moe on October 23, 2013:

Was it just me or that kid you battle first in route 18 got a shiny Pinsir, cuz i was like WTF this dude got a shiny before me

sephi on October 23, 2013:

playing x i didn't find one pupitar but a lot of larion im assuming pupitar will be in y while x has larion

Ds123 on October 23, 2013:

I used at least 60 ultra balls trying to catch zygarde

sephi on October 23, 2013:

in the mine when sashing rocks found a shuckle playing pokemon x

Ixarus on October 22, 2013:

catch Zygarde on 1st try using quickball

Matt Bird (author) from Canada on October 22, 2013:

I had veeeeery bad luck with Zygarde. Even using Dusk Balls to start out it took me forty-something balls and a retry to get it. My fiancé can attest to my irritation.

Rangii on October 22, 2013:

Took me like 10 minutes to catch Zygarde, lol..

Tai on October 22, 2013:

I found a Heatmor just walking around in the grass

Matt Bird (author) from Canada on October 21, 2013:

Matt, it's to the south of Route 18. Once you reach the house beside the bridge, go down the stairs to your south. Then keep going south, through the next two flower fields, and you'll find Couriway Town.

A few people have been confused about Couriway Town so far. I get the feeling the mine tunnels are the main problem for this. You DON'T have to enter Terminus Cave to reach Couriway Town. I recommend NOT going to the cave first, in fact - you could probably use a health boost before entering.

Matt on October 21, 2013:

So I read through this, but I must be blind. But how exactly do I get to Couriway Town? x_x

Matt Bird (author) from Canada on October 21, 2013:

Enjoi, I guess I just got lucky. I only had one pokemon jump out of a bush at me and it was a Heatmor. Can't remember exactly where I was when it happened, but I'll be doing further testing on Victory Road soon.

KamranMackey from Canada on October 20, 2013:

The Champion is at the end of the Pokemon League. You defeat the Elite Four and then you can challenge the Champion.

enjoi on October 20, 2013:

Where is heatmor? The only thing popping out of the bushes on me is Durant

Tommy rog on October 20, 2013:

Where is the campion?

Kayla on October 20, 2013:

Horde of Geodudes in the grass after the first trainer. Level 23, Pokemon X :(

Kimmarie on October 20, 2013:

X version has aron and lairon in the Terminous Caves tunnels.

Kimmarie on October 20, 2013:

Just caught my first shiny (not counting Red Gyarados) in the terminous cave, female Sandslash.

Garrett on October 20, 2013:

Shaking bushes (near the entrance to 18) contain Durants as well

seedy on October 20, 2013:

i caught a Lairon in the grass on route 18

Dev on October 19, 2013:

Thank you so much! :)

Matt Bird (author) from Canada on October 19, 2013:

If you're at this point in the game, Couriway Town. You'll find it right after Route 18.

Dev on October 19, 2013:

Prof. Sycamor told me to meet him in a city, which city was it?

Matt Bird (author) from Canada on October 18, 2013:

Yeah, I was going to correct that. I'm pretty sure he throws random pokemon every time you fight him. Makes sense - it would be boring if you fought him each day in a reverse battle and he had the same thing every time.

Unknown on October 18, 2013:

While fighting the psychic inver he threw a granbull,sawk and a hawlucha.

Weird huh?

Matt Bird (author) from Canada on October 18, 2013:

They won't let you past until you've beaten Team Flare. I can only guess that you haven't done that yet. It's also possible that they won't move until you get a message from Sycamore telling you to come to the next town; if I'm remembering correctly, he contacts you somewhere in Anistar City. Try walking around to see if he calls you.

Sheltronic on October 18, 2013:

For some reason I cannot slip past the two guards by the entrance of route 18. They stop me and claim it's still under construction. Has anybody come across this problem yet? And if so have you figured out what to do? And help is appreciate. Thank you all.

How Do You Get to Route 18 in Pokemon Black

Source: https://levelskip.com/rpgs/Pokemon-X-and-Y-Walkthrough-Part-Thirty-Six-Route-18-and-Terminus-Cave

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