Are you starting HeartGold or SoulSilver for the first time, or coming back after years? Here are the essentials for a good start: which version to choose, which starter Pokémon to pick, the tools to master and the Gyms that cause the most trouble.
Which version to choose?
The story, the locations and the Gyms are identical. What changes is the featured legendary, a few post-League legendaries and about twenty wild species:
- HeartGold: Ho-Oh on the cover, Kyogre at the Embedded Tower and Latias in Kanto; among the wild Pokémon, Mankey, Growlithe, Spinarak, Gligar, Mantine or Phanpy.
- SoulSilver: Lugia on the cover, Groudon and Latios; among the wild Pokémon, Meowth, Vulpix, Ledyba, Skarmory, Delibird or Teddiursa.
Both cover legendaries can be caught in each version: the one from the other game simply shows up after the League, at a higher level. The full list of exclusives is in our article Version-exclusive Pokémon.
Which starter Pokémon?
#0152ChikoritaGrassGrass, evolves into Meganium
#0155CyndaquilFireFire, evolves into Typhlosion
#0158TotodileWaterWater, evolves into Feraligatr
Professor Elm lets you choose between three Pokémon. Your rival, Silver, then takes the one that has the advantage over yours.
- Chikorita is the most demanding choice: its Grass type is at a disadvantage against Falkner (Flying) and Bugsy (Bug), the first two Gyms. Its final evolution, Meganium, is on the other hand very sturdy.
- Cyndaquil makes the start of the adventure comfortable: it dominates Bugsy, then Jasmine (Steel) and Pryce (Ice). Typhlosion remains one of the most popular Fire starters.
- Totodile is solid from start to finish, and Feraligatr learns powerful physical moves. A good choice for a first playthrough.
The tools to know
The Pokémon that follows you
The first Pokémon in your party accompanies you everywhere, as long as it has not fainted. Talk to it: it reacts to its surroundings and shows its mood. The biggest ones return to their Poké Ball inside certain buildings.
The Pokégear
Received at the start of the adventure, the Pokégear combines the phone, the map and the radio. Register the numbers of trainers who offer them: they will call you back for rematches, which are useful for earning experience and money, and some will tip you off about rare Pokémon. Our article The Pokégear details its functions.
Apricorns and Kurt
Apricorn trees replace Berry trees: you can pick one fruit a day from them. In Azalea Town, the craftsman Kurt turns them into special Poké Balls: Quick Ball, Love Ball, Moon Ball, Lure Ball, Heavy Ball, Level Ball or Friend Ball. Remember to visit him regularly; Quick Balls, in particular, help a lot against legendaries that flee.
The Pokéwalker
Supplied with the game, this pedometer holds one of your Pokémon and earns it experience while you walk. It also lets you catch Pokémon and find items. Everything is explained on our Pokéwalker page.
The tricky Gyms
| Gym | The trap | The counter |
|---|---|---|
| Whitney, Goldenrod City (Normal) | Her Miltank chains Rollout, which grows ever more powerful, and restores its HP with Milk Drink; Attract makes your male Pokémon fall in love, often leaving them unable to attack | A Fighting-type Pokémon, or a Pokémon that resists Rollout like Geodude, preferably female |
| Morty, Ecruteak City (Ghost) | His Ghost-types are immune to Normal and Fighting moves | Dark moves like Bite, or Psychic moves |
| Pryce, Mahogany Town (Ice) | The Gym is an ice rink where you slide until you hit the next obstacle | Fire, Fighting, Rock or Steel; take the time to study the paths |
| Clair, Blackthorn City (Dragon) | Her Kingdra, Water and Dragon, hardly fears anything | Dragon moves or very sturdy Pokémon, and healing items in reserve |
For the details of the teams and the full route, see the walkthrough contents and our articles The Johto Gym Leaders.
Eight tips for the adventure
- Visit Union Cave on a Friday: a Lapras appears there, at the very back, once a week.
- Vary your types: catch Pokémon along the way rather than betting everything on your starter, which Silver knows inside out.
- Register trainers’ numbers for their rematches and gifts.
- Keep a Pokémon that can use Surf and Cut: HMs are still taught to Pokémon in this game.
- Save before Ho-Oh or Lugia, encountered at Level 45, and bring Ultra Balls.
- Level up before the Rocket Hideout in Mahogany Town and the Radio Tower, where the battles come one after another.
- Do not neglect Kanto: after the League, an entire second adventure awaits you, detailed in Kanto and Red.
- Plan for Level 80 for Red, at the summit of Mt. Silver.
