In Pokemon Silver, the player is a young Trainer starting out in the Johto region. After receiving a first partner Pokemon from the local researcher Professor Elm, the player sets out to travel across Johto, catching and training Pokemon while working toward the eight Gym Badges needed to challenge the region's strongest Trainers. Along the way, the player is repeatedly tested by a mysterious rival who took one of Professor Elm's other Pokemon, and encounters the criminal group Team Rocket as it tries to regroup and return to its former activities. The journey unfolds across towns, routes, caves, and seas filled with wild Pokemon to discover.