Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver: Your Ultimate Guide to Mastering Johto and Kanto
Diving back into Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver? Great choice! These remakes capture the magic of the originals. They also add new features. Enjoy your favorite childhood spots with Wi-Fi and better graphics. Our gaming standards have changed.
Whether you’re a veteran or a newbie, this guide is your one-stop resource. We cover version differences, starter Pokémon choices, legendary hunts, and Shiny Pokémon info. This is your Pokedex for HeartGold and SoulSilver. Ready? Let’s start!
Version Face-Off: HeartGold vs. SoulSilver
Let’s tackle the question: HeartGold or SoulSilver? You cannot go wrong with either. Both are fantastic adventures. However, key differences exist. Primarily, it depends on which exclusive Pokémon you prefer.
Exclusive Pokémon: Gotta Trade ‘Em All (Eventually)
Each version has unique Pokémon. Want Latias? Go for HeartGold. Prefer Latios? SoulSilver is your pick. The exclusives keep going. Trainers in SoulSilver can catch Vulpix, Meowth, and Ledyba. HeartGold has its own unique set of Pokémon too.
- HeartGold Exclusive Pokémon:
- Latias
- SoulSilver Exclusive Pokémon:
- Latios
- Vulpix
- Ninetales
- Meowth
- Persian
- Ledyba
- Ledian
- Teddiursa
- Ursaring
This exclusivity nudges players towards trading. Sharing helps complete your Pokedex. Who doesn’t enjoy a good trade? “My Latios for your Shiny Stone? Done!”
Gameplay Deep Dive: From Starters to Legendary Showdowns
Now, let’s dive into gameplay details. From your first Pokémon to legendary battles, HeartGold and SoulSilver offer many memorable moments.
Choosing Your First Partner: The Starter Pokémon Trio
Professor Elm gives you the classic choice: Fire, Water, or Grass types. Cyndaquil, Totodile, and Chikorita are the trio waiting for you. Who will be your partner?
- Cyndaquil: Fire-type choice that evolves into Typhlosion. Great for fire fans.
- Totodile: Water-type that evolves into Feraligatr. A reliable ally.
- Chikorita: Grass-type evolving into Meganium. More challenging but powerful!
The best starter is always debated. Pick the coolest one! Each has strengths and weaknesses. The fun lies in making your partner shine. Cyndaquil makes early adventures easier.
Catching ‘Em All: Targeting Specific Pokémon
Let’s talk about expanding your team. HeartGold and SoulSilver are filled with Pokémon to catch. Some are trickier than others. Here are important targets.
Kanto Starters: Bringing Back the Classics
You can obtain Kanto starters: Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle in these games! There’s a hurdle, though.
- Become the Champion: Beat the Elite Four twice and take down Red on Mt. Silver.
- Visit Professor Oak: After defeating Red, he will let you choose one starter from Kanto.
Legendary Pokémon Hunting: A Trainer’s True Calling
Legendary Pokémon are the titans of this world. HeartGold and SoulSilver provide chances to encounter these mythical creatures.
- Lugia: Guardian of the Seas Available in both versions, but the path varies.
- Post-Game Quest: Become Champion first.
- Obtain Wings: Get Silver Wing or Rainbow Wing from a man near Pewter City after becoming Champion.
- Kimono Girls: Battle these girls to proceed.
- Whirl Islands: With the Wing and after defeating Kimono Girls, face Lugia here.
In HeartGold, Lugia is Level 70; in SoulSilver, it is Level 40.
- Ho-oh: Rainbow Pokémon of Legend Available in both versions with level variance.
- Get Wings: Obtain Rainbow Wing in SoulSilver or Silver Wing in HeartGold post-Champion.
- Level Variance: Ho-oh is Level 40 in HeartGold and Level 70 in SoulSilver.
- Mewtwo: The Genetically Engineered Powerhouse This Psychic-type requires skill.
- Champion Status Required: Defeat the Elite Four and become Champion.
- Kanto Gym Badges: Acquire all 16 badges (Johto and Kanto).
- Cerulean City & Cave: Surf south from Cerulean City to find Mewtwo at Level 70.
- Rayquaza: The Sky High Serpent Obtainable through inter-game shuffling.
- Kyogre and Groudon Required: Use either or trade them.
- Jade Orb: Visit Professor Oak for the Jade Orb after having both Pokémon or in Embedded Tower.
- Groudon: The Continent Pokémon SoulSilver exclusive.
- Defeat Red: First conquer Red at Mt. Silver.
- Red Orb: Visit Mr. Pokémon for the Red Orb after defeating Red.
- Latias & Latios: Eon Pokémon Duo Each version has one exclusive Pokémon.
- Version Exclusive: Find Latias in HeartGold and Latios in SoulSilver.
- Arceus: The Mythical Creator Pokémon Obtaining Arceus is difficult in these games.
- Event Pokémon: Only through limited-time events available before.
- Mew: The Elusive Mythical Pokémon Mew also relies on events for acquisition.
- Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Events: Distributed via Mystery Gift events
Other Noteworthy Pokémon Catches
Apart from legendaries, other cool Pokémon are out there.
- Eevee: Evolution Potential Galore A versatile addition!
- Bill in Goldenrod City: Visit Bill after he goes to Ecruteak City for an Eevee!
- Dratini: The Dragon in the Den (and Safari Zone) Want Dragonite? Start with Dratini!
- Dragon’s Den: Defeat Clair at Blackthorn to catch Dratini!
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- Gym offers a Dratini reward in the Dragon’s Den.
- Safari Zone: Catch Dratini here as an alternative.
- Pikachu: The Electric Mouse Everyone loves Pikachu! It’s not hard to find one in the wild.
- Viridian Forest: Pikachu appears in grassy areas and Viridian Forest.
- Static Ability Trick: Boost your chances! Use a Pokémon with Static (i.e., Magnemite). This makes Electric-type encounters more likely. Walk in tall grass, and with luck or persistence, find Pikachu.
- Red Gyarados: A Rare Encounter Catch a Shiny Pokémon! The Red Gyarados at Lake of Rage is a must-have.
- Lake of Rage: Go to the Lake of Rage. Look for the red Gyarados in the lake’s center. Be ready for battle to catch this unique Shiny.
Breeding Bonanza: Creating More Pokémon
Breeding helps raise competitive Pokémon and fills the Pokedex. Yes, you can breed Umbreon with Ditto!
- Umbreon and Ditto: Since Umbreon is in the Field egg group, it pairs with Ditto. This allows breeding with nearly any breedable Pokémon. Need more Umbreons? Ditto is your ideal partner.
Post-Game: The Journey Goes On
HeartGold and SoulSilver are known for heavy post-game content. After defeating the Elite Four, you get another game. There’s a whole Kanto region to explore!
- Kanto Region: After mastering Johto, you can traverse Kanto! Eight gyms, familiar locations, and much to discover.
- Red Rematch: A challenging battle awaits at Mt. Silver. Red returns, tougher than before. Defeating him tests your skills.
- Legendary Hunts: Many Legendary Pokémon unlock in the post-game, offering powerful creatures to pursue.
- Embedded Tower: Catch Groudon (SoulSilver) or Rayquaza (both versions under conditions).
- Safari Zone: Check out the expanded Safari Zone for rare Pokémon encounters.
- Whirl Islands & Cerulean Cave: Dungeons home to Legendary Pokémon Lugia and Mewtwo.
The post-game is incredibly rich. You will play for hours after you think you completed the game.
General Game Info: Console, Generation, and Playtime
Key details for detail enthusiasts.
Console and Generation
- Nintendo DS: HeartGold and SoulSilver are exclusive to the Nintendo DS. Use your handheld!
- Generation IV: These titles belong to the fourth generation of Pokémon games. They sit between Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and Black/White.
Remakes of Classics
- Gold and Silver Remakes: HeartGold and SoulSilver are remakes of the original Game Boy Color classics, Pokémon Gold and Silver. They enhance beloved features with a Gen IV polish.
Playtime: The Length of Your Journey
- Main Story: Aim for about 36-40 hours to finish the main story. This focuses mainly on Johto and the Elite Four challenge.
- 100% Completion: For those seeking to ‘catch ’em all,’ explore everything, and complete post-game content, expect over 200 hours. These games require time!
Mechanics & Tips: Shiny Hunting and Resets
Let’s talk some game specifics.
Shiny Pokémon: Rare Finds
- Rarity: 1 in 8192: The base rate of encountering a Shiny Pokémon in HeartGold and SoulSilver is 1 in 8192. That’s rare! If you see a differently colored Pokémon, consider it luck!
Catching Tips: Mastering Poké Ball Use
- Ultra Balls & Status Moves: Come prepared when seeking tough captures like Mewtwo. Ultra Balls have the best catch rate compared to regular ones. Status conditions like Sleep or Paralysis increase success rates. Use them freely!
Resetting Your Adventure: Starting Over
- Button Combo for Save Delete: Ready for a fresh start? To delete your save file, hold Start + Up + B + Select at the title screen. Use this wisely!
Unobtainable Dreams: The Limits of Catching
A reality check! Can you catch all Pokémon in one HeartGold or SoulSilver game? No. Game Freak designed it this way to encourage trading. Let’s explore reasons.
- Can’t Catch All: No main-series Pokémon game lets you catch every single Pokémon without trading or events. This is by design.
- Version Exclusives: HeartGold and SoulSilver feature exclusives. You must trade for Pokémon from the other version.
- Trade Evolutions: Certain Pokémon need trading to evolve (e.g., Kadabra to Alakazam, Graveler to Golem). Trading is necessary here.
- Event Pokémon: Mythical Pokémon, like Arceus and Mew, were mainly available through events. Without accessing those events, they cannot be acquired through regular play.
- Mythical Pokémon Difficulty: Mythical Pokémon are intentionally rare and often event-exclusive, which makes them hard to get without participating in events.
- Game Freak’s Intent: Game Freak designs games to promote player interaction, trading, and community interaction. Version exclusives and trade evolutions are intentional.
Pikachu’s Absence in Unova
Curious about why Pikachu was missing in Pokémon Black and White’s Unova region?
- Pikachu’s Unova Absence: In Black and White (Generation V), Pikachu and many past Pokémon were left out of the Unova Pokédex.
- Focus on New Pokémon: Black and White aimed to showcase fresh Pokémon. These new creatures were native to Unova, so Pikachu, from Kanto, did not fit.
Subjective Takes: Best Starter and Rankings
Opinions ahead! Who is the best starter? Are HeartGold and SoulSilver top-tier Pokémon games?
Cyndaquil’s Advantage
- Cyndaquil for Easiest Playthrough: Players often choose Cyndaquil as the ‘easiest’ starter for HeartGold and SoulSilver. Its evolution, Typhlosion, is a powerful Fire-type that handles many early challenges well.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Ranking
- Top Tier Games: HeartGold and SoulSilver rank among the best Pokémon games created. They receive high praise from players and critics alike.
- High Rankings: These games often rank at the top of lists for best Pokémon games due to extensive content and faithful remakes. Many fans consider them the pinnacle of the series.
Hardest Pokémon Games: Difficulty Opinions
- Difficulty is Subjective: Pokémon game difficulty varies by opinion, but some titles stand out as more challenging.
- Challenging Titles: Games like Pokémon Colosseum/XD: Gale of Darkness and Legends: Arceus frequently come up as difficult. Pokémon Sun/Moon and Black 2/White 2 also earn mentions for higher difficulty than others.
Other Games & Generations: Pokémon Connections
A quick review of other Pokémon games and generations.
- Pokémon Black and White (Gen V): Introduced the Unova region with new Pokémon.
- Alola Region (Gen VII): Featured in Pokémon Sun and Moon with their Ultra versions.
- Pokémon Sword and Shield: Generation VIII titles on Nintendo Switch set in Galar.
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus: A newer open-world Pokémon game in the Hisui region, set in ancient Sinnoh.
- Pokémon Colosseum/XD: Gale of Darkness: Dark-tone RPG spin-offs for GameCube.
Miscellaneous Tidbits: Copycat and Steven Stone
A few extra details to sum up everything.
Copycat’s Location
- Saffron City: The Copycat mimics others in Saffron City. Her home is south of the Magnet Train station. Speak to her mother and her to start relevant events or dialogues.
Steven Stone’s Trade
- Pewter Museum Trigger: First, meet Steven Stone at Pewter Museum of Science to unlock a trade event at Silph Co. This meeting is essential for later events.
This is your complete guide to conquering Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Good luck, Trainer, and make your mark on Johto and Kanto! May your Poké Balls bring success, and may Shiny encounters be plentiful!
