Original GBC · not HeartGold / SoulSilver

Bug-Catching Contest

National Park’s mid-Johto mini-game runs Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Bring one healthy lead, take 20 Park Balls and a 20-minute clock, then submit your best Bug for scoring. Hunt Scyther and Pinsir (5% each), farm Sun Stones, and use the live score tool below—wired to the same tables as the Mechanics Lab.

Tue · Thu · Sat 20 Park Balls 20 minutes 376 = guaranteed 1st
Composite banner: National Park, Bug Contest field, Scyther Pinsir Butterfree Beedrill and Tue Thu Sat schedule for Pokemon Gold and Silver
National Park gates, contest field, star Bugs, and the three contest weekdays.

Fast answer

Enter on Tue / Thu / Sat → catch high-stat Bugs → score ≥ 376 for a lock

Reach National Park after the Goldenrod / Sudowoodo stretch (see SquirtBottle path). On a contest day, talk to the gate attendant. Your literal first party slot must be conscious; the game does not search later slots for a healthy lead. Catch with Park Balls only, keep the Bug healthy, and talk to the attendant again before time runs out. A catch that was generated holding an item gets +1, but it stays outside the party until judging, so you cannot attach an item yourself. Prefer Scyther or Pinsir for first place; both sit at 5% in the contest pool.

3Days / week
20Park Balls
10Bug species
376Guaranteed 1st

RTC week

Contest schedule & park access

Week calendar · contest Map · Route 36 gate

Tuesday contest day

Both National Park gates accept entries. One entry per contest day; the daily flag clears with the RTC. Pair with Tuscany on Route 29 if you still need her gift.

  • Entry: Route 35 or Route 36 National Park gates
  • Duration: 20 minutes in-game contest timer
  • Also running: older brother haircut (Goldenrod Underground)

How to reach the park

National Park overworld map in Pokemon Gold and Silver
  • From Goldenrod: Route 35 north (Cut helps clear full path options) into the park gate.
  • From Route 36: clear Sudowoodo, then use the Route 36 National Park gate.
  • Contest attendants sit at the gates, not deep in the trees.
Route 35 gate Route 36 gate Walkthrough order

How it works

Contest rules (original G/S)

Items · Park Ball Mechanics Lab

Party rule

The Pokémon in party slot 1 must be conscious and is the one that enters. The game does not scan for the first healthy Pokémon in a later slot. The rest of the party is temporarily hidden until you leave.

Balls & timer

You receive 20 Park Balls. Ordinary Poké Balls cannot be used inside the contest field. The timer is 20 minutes; talk to the attendant to end early when you are happy with a catch.

Judging pool

Five of ten NPC contestants are randomly kept. Each kept NPC score gets a random +0 to +7. Beat every selected NPC and you take 1st place; score 376+ always does so.

What you keep

  • The Bug you submit for judging is retained regardless of placement, provided the party or current Box has room.
  • You do not keep every Park Ball catch—only the judged submission matters for prizes.
  • Heal and deposit plans: open the Catch checklist after you exit.

Held item +1

  • A held item that the wild Bug already generated with adds +1 to the contest score.
  • The catch is stored outside the party until judging, so you cannot attach a Berry, Mail, or another item during the contest.
  • Pair with high Max HP and current HP for larger gains (see score tool).

Contest-only pool

All 10 Bug encounters

These rates apply only during the contest on the special park map—not the normal National Park grass tables. Gold and Silver share the same contest pool.

Species Chance Levels Why it matters Links

Interactive tool

Contest score calculator

Open full Mechanics Lab

Formula: 4 × Max HP + Atk + Def + Spe + SpA + SpD + DV bonus + floor(Current HP ÷ 8) + held-item (0 or 1). DV bonus uses bit 1 of each DV (max +29). Enter the Bug’s battle stats at the moment you submit.

Stat inputs

How to read the number

  • ≥ 376 — guaranteed first place (above every NPC max + variance).
  • 350–375 — first-place contender; Nick’s Pinsir tops out at 375.
  • 300–349 — podium range on average fields.
  • < 300 — often loses to mid NPCs; keep hunting.

Tip: Max HP is worth 4× each other stat. A healthier, bulkier Bug usually outscores a frail glass cannon of the same species. Current HP still matters via ÷8.

Scyther stats Pinsir stats Team Planner

Rewards

Placement prizes

Sun Stone Everstone
2nd

Runner-up

Everstone

Stops evolution while held—perfect for breeding or keeping mid-stage movepools. Also appears elsewhere, but contest is an easy spare.

Item page Breeding guide
3rd

Podium

Gold Berry

Heals a large chunk of HP in battle when held. Useful filler prize while you chase first.

Item page
Other

Consolation

Berry

Standard Berry if you finish outside the top three. This prize cannot be attached to the next contest catch before judging.

Item page

Benchmarks

All 10 NPC contestants

Each contest randomly drops five NPCs, then adds +0–7 to each remaining base score. Highest threat: Nick’s Pinsir 368–375 and Barry’s Pinsir 366–373.

Playbook

How to win (and farm Sun Stones)

1. Target Scyther / Pinsir

Both are 5% at Lv.13–14 but carry the contest’s highest natural scores. Weak them carefully—fainting wastes the encounter. Park Balls only; status helps.

2. Protect Max HP

Score weights Max HP ×4. Prefer a full-HP submission over a “cooler” mon you nearly KO’d. Heal if you have moves/items available before talking to the judge.

3. Check the generated item

The +1 applies only if the wild Bug was generated holding an item. You cannot move the contest catch into the party or attach a Berry before judging.

5. RTC farming loop

Use the week calendar to hit all three contest days. Emulator clocks and VC RTC both count—change days carefully if you soft-reset schedules.

6. Lead Pokémon choice

Bring a lead that can False Swipe / sleep without struggling against Bug/Poison and Bug/Flying. Check moves in the Moves archive and legality in the TM/HM tool.

National Park Bug Contest field map
Contest-only National Park field used while the timer is running.
Route 36 National Park gate interior
Park gate interior — start and finish the contest with the attendant.

Progress

Bug Contest checklist

0 of 0 checked

FAQ

Common Bug Contest questions

What days is the Bug-Catching Contest?

Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday only. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday have no contest. Use the days calendar if your RTC is skewed.

Is this different in HeartGold / SoulSilver?

Yes. This page is for original Game Boy Color Gold & Silver only. Remakes change schedule details, prizes, and park layout—do not mix guides.

Can I catch Scyther outside the contest?

In Johto play, the contest is the classic early Scyther source. Check the Scyther Pokédex page and live map search for every wild row on your version.

Why did I lose with a “good” Bug?

Five strong NPCs may have stayed in the pool, and each can roll +0–7. Compare your score to the NPC table—Nick/Barry Pinsir rolls up to 375. Aim for 376+ when you want a lock.

Do Gold and Silver have different contest tables?

No. Contest days, Park Balls, encounter pool, prizes, and NPC score bases match across both versions.

Where do I spend Sun Stones?

Evolve Gloom into Bellossom or Sunkern into Sunflora. Item pin: Sun Stone. Team ideas live in the best team guide and Team Planner.

Site links

Mechanics LabFull contest calculator plus time, friendship, breeding. Days of the week calendarRTC bands, Lapras Friday, haircuts, contest days. Interactive map · National ParkGates, contest field, trainers, and items. Catch checklistMark Scyther, Pinsir, and Sun Stone evolutions. Trade evolutionsMetal Coat route for Scizor after a contest Scyther. Apricorns & Kurt ballsDaily ball crafting while you wait for contest days. SquirtBottle / SudowoodoUnlock the Route 36 approach to the park. WalkthroughStory order around Goldenrod and National Park. PokédexEvery contest species with sprites and sources. Team PlannerSlot Bellossom, Scizor, or Pinsir into a real team.