Azalea Town (Japanese: ヒワダタウン Hiwada Town) is a small, isolated town located on the southern peninsula of the Johto region. The town is best known for being the residence of Kurt, a custom Poké Ball creator who makes Poké Balls out of Apricorns. He lives in the northwest portion of town on the east edge of Ilex Forest. Azalea features other notable locations as well, such as the Slowpoke Well. As such, Slowpoke can be found around the town. The town has two entrances, Route 33 to the east and Ilex Forest to the west.
Pokémon Trainers must journey to Azalea Town in order to win the Hive Badge from Bugsy, the Azalea Gym Leader who specializes in Bug-type Pokémon.
Slogan
Generation II
Where People and Pokémon Live in Happy Harmony! (Japanese: ポケモンと ひとが ともに なかよく くらす まち The town where Pokémon and people live happy together.)
Generation IV
Living Happily with Pokémon (Japanese: ポケモンと なかよしの まち The town of close friendships with Pokémon.)
Places of interest
Azalea Gym
- Main article: Azalea Gym
The Azalea Gym is located on the southwestern side of the town. It is where Bugsy hands out the Hive Badge to Trainers that beat him.
Charcoal Kiln
Charcoal Kiln
We let our FARFETCH'D fetch branches
for charcoal!
Near the Gym is a small house that houses a Charcoal kiln. The kiln is owned by a family that handles not only the production of the Charcoal, but also the collection of the necessary materials. To acquire the wood necessary for the Charcoal, the family uses a Farfetch'd to Cut down trees in Ilex Forest. The wood is then treated in the kiln and turned into Charcoal, which is then sold at the local Poké Mart, making Charcoal the only type-enhancing held item that can be freely purchased, albeit at a high price.
Kurt's House
The inside of Kurt's house
Kurt's House
Apricorn and Nothing Else
The Stubborn Poké Ball Creator
Kurt lives in a house in the northwest corner of Azalea Town. He studies Poké Ball mechanics, and is known far and wide as a Poké Ball expert, residing there with his granddaughter Maizie, and her favorite Pokémon, Slowpoke. There is an Apricorn tree located next to his house that grows White Apricorns daily.
Kurt specializes in making custom Poké Balls specifically designed to work more effectively against specific types of Pokémon. The Ball that Kurt makes depends on the Apricorn that is given to Kurt by Trainers. He will offer to make his Apricorn Balls as long as he is brought an Apricorn. By the next day, he will have crafted it into one of his custom Poké Balls, depending on the color of the Apricorn. In Pokémon Gold and Silver, he can only make one Poké Ball per day, while in the later games, there is no limit to how many he can make at the same time.
When entering Kurt's house for the first time, he will quickly run out after saying something about going to the Slowpoke Well. He will scare the Team Rocket Grunt at the entrance, then will fall into the well and injure his back. After Kurt is injured while trying to stop Team Rocket, the player has to defeat the Grunts as well as Proton (who is a regular Grunt in Generation II) and rescue the kidnapped Slowpoke. Once they are defeated, Kurt and Maizie's Slowpoke will return to the house.
Slowpoke Well
- Main article: Slowpoke Well
SLOWPOKE Well
Also known as the Rainmaker Well.
Locals believe that a SLOWPOKE's
yawn summons the rain.
Records show that a SLOWPOKE's yawn
ended a drought 400 years ago
The Slowpoke Well is a large underground well where Azalea's Slowpoke live and drink. In this small southern Johto town, Slowpoke are placed in high regard and are revered by the community. According to legends in the town, the Yawn of a Slowpoke causes rain. 400 years ago, a drought in Azalea Town ended right when a Slowpoke yawned. This is shown by the existence of the Slowpoke Well in the northeast corner of town near the entrance to Route 33. The small well opening leads to an expansive two-level cave heavily populated with Slowpoke located underneath Azalea. Above the Slowpoke well are a row of Headbutt trees, as well as to the left. The second tree to the left side is a special tree, which can be used to more easily obtain Heracross.
Slowpoke Well is where the player first encounters the revived Team Rocket in the Generation II games and their Generation IV remakes, who are cutting off the tails of Slowpoke to sell at their hideout in Mahogany Town. Before talking to Kurt at his house, there will be a Team Rocket Grunt guarding the entrance to the well, and will not let anyone in.
There are two floors; the first one can be explored when Team Rocket attacks, whereas the other cannot be reached until later. Later in the game, after the player has acquired both Surf and Strength, they can explore the lower floor of the well. There is a man on an island who will give players a King's Rock if they talk to him.
Demographics
Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
In Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon Crystal, Azalea Town has a population of 26.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Azalea Town's population is 31, making it the largest town in Johto. It is tied for the title of the largest town in the Pokémon world with Solaceon Town in Sinnoh.
Poké Mart
| Lower cashier (Generation IV)
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| Upper cashier (Generation IV)
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Items
Pokémon
Generation II
| Pokémon
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Games
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Location
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Levels
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Rate
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Headbutt tree
(Moderate chances of battle)
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G
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S
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C
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10
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50%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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10%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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50%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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10%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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65%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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15%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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10%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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20%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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30%
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Headbutt tree
(Low chances of battle)
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G
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S
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C
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10
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65%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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15%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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10%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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65%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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15%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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10%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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50%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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10%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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20%
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G
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S
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C
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10
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30%
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| A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
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Generation IV
| Pokémon
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Games
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Location
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Levels
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Rate
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Headbutt
Group A
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HG
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SS
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3-5
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50%
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HG
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SS
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3-5
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20%
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HG
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SS
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2-5
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30%
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Headbutt
Group B
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HG
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SS
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6-8
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80%
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HG
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SS
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6-8
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20%
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| A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
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Trainers
Generation II
If the player chose Chikorita:
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Reward: $960
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If the player chose Cyndaquil:
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Reward: $960
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If the player chose Totodile:
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Reward: $960
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Generation IV
If the player chose Chikorita:
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Reward: $1152
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If the player chose Cyndaquil:
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Reward: $1152
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If the player chose Totodile:
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Reward: $1152
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Walking Pokémon effects
When interacting with walking Pokémon in HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Pokémon may occasionally show an altered mood specific to this location.
- Outdoor: The Pokémon occasionally catches the scent of smoke.
- Inside Charcoal Kiln's house: The Pokémon greet Farfetch'd. Heat from the heater displeases Water-type Pokémon and to a lesser degree, Grass-type Pokémon, but makes Fire-type Pokémon cheerful.
- Inside Kurt's House: The Pokémon occasionally stares at various items.
- Slowpoke Well's entrance cave: The ground is wet and therefore, pleases Water-type Pokémon and displeases Fire-type Pokémon. Other walking Pokémon become more cautious.
- Slowpoke Well's interior: The walking Pokémon becomes very cautious. Slowpoke react happily inside this cave.
In animation
In A Shadow of a Drought, Ash and his friends arrived at Azalea Town. However, the Azalea Gym and many of the city's public buildings were closed because of a long-lasting drought. Ash managed to anger the citizens after he stepped on a Slowpoke's tail, and in their escape, the trio found Kurt, the Poké Ball expert. Kurt explained that Slowpoke are regarded as sacred in Azalea Town, following a 400-year-old legend in which the Dopey Pokémon brought rain to the area and ended a drought. Slowpoke roam freely throughout Azalea Town, with special Slowpoke warning signs located throughout to warn people to be wary of where they step. After they helped Kurt drive Team Rocket out of the Slowpoke Well, rain began to fall, causing the main river to flow again and Azalea Town's surrounding landscape became green once again.
In Going Apricorn!, Ash Brock, and Misty delivered the GS Ball to Kurt and learned about Apricorn Poké Balls from him. As thanks for their efforts in foiling Team Rocket's plans, Kurt gave them one Fast Ball each. Kurt's granddaughter Maizie took the trio on a tour through the nearby Apricorn forest, where Brock managed to catch himself a Pineco with his new Fast Ball and the group collected some Apricorns for Kurt to turn into Poké Balls.
Ash challenged and beat the Azalea Gym, earning his second Johto League Badge, in Gettin' The Bugs Out. Before leaving the town, Maizie gave Ash and his friends one more Apricorn Poké Ball each, all made for them by Kurt from the Apricorns they had collected; Ash and Misty both received a Lure Ball and Brock received a Heavy Ball.
In Time After Time!, Goh visited Azalea Town for a holiday vacation with his family, something they had also done three years prior to Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
Gallery
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Azalea Town first appeared in Teddiursa's Picnic, when Gold arrived there. He was introduced to Apricorns by Maizie after spitting out what he thought was an edible fruit. He also exchanged a different Apricorn for a Friend Ball, created by Kurt. In the next chapter, he gave Maizie a Teddiursa that he had caught with the Friend Ball, while Silver defeated the Team Rocket Grunts trying to steal Slowpoke Tails at the Slowpoke Well.
In The Last Battle XIII, Bill used the Pokémon Storage System to send countless Pokémon to the Azalea Town Pokémon Center, from which they moved on to Ilex Forest, where they connected with Lugia and Ho-Oh and relayed them their Trainers' strong desire for the fighting to stop, freeing the two Legendary Pokémon from the Masked Man's control.
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
Azalea Town first appeared in Get up Again, Bayleef, where Gold arrived there after his confrontation with his rival Black in Union Cave, during which Black had abandoned the Bayleef he had once stolen from Professor Elm as a Chikorita. After Bayleef had been treated at the Pokémon Center, Gold met Bugsy, who took him to the Azalea Gym for a Gym battle. Utilizing Bayleef in the battle against Bugsy's Scyther, Gold was not only able to defeat the Gym Leader and earn himself a Hive Badge, but also restore Bayleef's self-confidence.
In The Great Search! Let's Rescue The Slowpoke!, Gold met Kurt, who told him that all of the town's Slowpoke had disappeared. The culprits behind this eventually turned out to be Team Rocket, whom Gold and Kurt confronted at the Slowpoke Well. After Team Rocket had been driven away and the Slowpoke had been rescued from the flooding well, Kurt gave Gold a Level Ball as a sign of gratitude.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Azalea Town appeared in Find Slowpoke!!, where Red stopped Giovanni from stealing the tails of the local Slowpoke.
Trivia
- Sevii Islands: Four & Five Islands is a remix of Azalea Town from Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, which is played on Four and Five Islands in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
- When the player first encounters the boy that lost the Farfetch'd in the Generation II games, his overworld sprite uses the green palette; when he is back at the house, his palette is colored blue instead.
- Azalea is the first location with a Gym in the games that is a town rather than a city. However, one of Cinnabar Island's Japanese names contains the word Town.
- In the Generation II games, if Silver stole Totodile from the lab, he uses a Croconaw at level 16, even though Totodile only evolves into Croconaw at level 18. This was corrected in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, in which his Croconaw is level 18.
- Inside Kurt's house, there is a picture on the wall that displays the text "A young Professor Oak?" when studied, implying Kurt and Professor Oak met each other when they were younger.
- According to the English April 24, 2000 Build, "Azalea Town" was originally named "Azalea City."
Name origin
| Language
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Name
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Origin
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| Japanese
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ヒワダタウン Hiwada Town
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From 桧皮色 hiwada-iro (reddish brown color of the Japanese cypress bark)
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| English
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Azalea Town
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From azalea
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| German
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Azalea City
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From Azalea
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| Spanish
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Pueblo Azalea
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From azalea
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| French
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Ecorcia
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From écorce (bark)
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| Italian
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Azalina
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From azalea
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| Korean
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고동마을 Godong Maeul
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From 고동 (古銅) godong (reddish-brown)
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| Chinese (Mandarin)
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檜皮鎮 / 桧皮镇
Kuàipí Zhèn / Guìpí Zhèn
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From its Japanese name
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| Chinese (Cantonese)
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檜皮鎮 Kúipei Jan
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| Polish
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Azalea*
Miasto Azalea*
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From its English name
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| Brazilian Portuguese
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Cidade de Azalea
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From its English name
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| Vietnamese
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Thị trấn Hiwada
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Transcription of its Japanese name
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Red Apricorn
Level Ball
Yellow Apricorn
Moon Ball
Blue Apricorn
Lure Ball
Green Apricorn
Friend Ball
Pink Apricorn
Love Ball
White Apricorn
Fast Ball
Black Apricorn
Heavy Ball
