The Pokéwalker is the signature accessory of HeartGold and SoulSilver: a Poké Ball-shaped pedometer, sold with each game, that lets you take a Pokémon out for a walk. Here is what it is for and how to use it.
How it works
The Pokéwalker counts your steps and converts them into Watts, at a rate of one Watt every twenty steps. From the game card, you transfer a Pokémon to the Pokéwalker by infrared, onto one of the available routes. Your steps earn it experience and let you catch Pokémon and find items, which you then send back to the game.
The functions
| Mode | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Poké Radar | 10 Watts | Spot a Pokémon in one of four patches of grass, battle it and try to catch it |
| Dowsing Machine | 3 Watts | Search for an item among six patches of grass, with two tries |
| Connect | – | Link two Pokéwalkers, or the Pokéwalker and the DS; the Pokémon give each other items |
| Info, Team, Settings | – | Steps for the week, Watts, Pokémon and items carried, settings |
Poké Radar battles are simple: Attack removes one quarter of the opponent’s HP, Evade dodges the opponent’s attack, and Catch throws a Ball. The Pokéwalker holds at most three items and three caught Pokémon; beyond that, it offers to replace one.
The routes
The Pokéwalker’s routes unlock as you accumulate Watts. Each one has its own Pokémon and items, including some Pokémon that cannot be found any other way in the game, sometimes with special moves. On each route, three types are favored: they need fewer steps to progress. Several special routes were only available through distributions, which have now ended. Our article Pokéwalker-exclusive Pokémon (in French) lists them.
Resetting the Pokéwalker
If you start a new game, the Pokéwalker remains linked to the old one. To link it to the new one, on the title screen, choose to go for a walk, then press Down, X and L at the same time.
