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Completing (Most of) the Pokédex With HeartGold and SoulSilver (Pokémon HeartGold)

HeartGold has two separate Pokédexes to complete: the Johto Pokédex and the National Pokédex. The Johto Pokédex corresponds to the Dex in the original Gold, Silver, and Crystal games (Pokémon 1-251), with the addition of Tangrowth, Mamoswine, Lickilicky, Yanmega, and Ambipom. The National Pokédex consists of the Johto Pokédex plus the Pokémon introduced in Ruby, Sapphire, & Emerald and Diamond, Pearl, & Platinum (Pokémon 252-493). All Pokémon from the Johto Pokédex, except for the event-exclusive Mew and Celebi, are available between HeartGold and SoulSilver. Most of the remaining Pokémon are also available, but there are a few exceptions, making it impossible to complete the National Pokédex with access to only those two games. This page will show the maximum number of Pokémon that can be obtained.

The maximum number of Pokémon you can get this way is 428, or 449 with access to the Pokéwalker.

Version Exclusives

The following version-exclusive Pokémon have to be traded from SoulSilver:

• Vulpix, Ninetales
• Meowth, Persian
• Kabuto, Kabutops (alternatively, a Dome Fossil can be traded from SoulSilver and revived at the Pewter Museum)
• Ledyba, Ledian
• Teddiursa, Ursaring
• Delibird
• Skarmory
• Mawile
• Gulpin, Swalot
• Lileep, Cradily (alternatively, a Root Fossil can be traded from SoulSilver and revived at the Pewter Museum)
• Latios
• Groudon

Trading Groudon from SoulSilver is additionally the only way to get the Rayquaza that appears at the Embedded Tower.

Mutually Exclusive Pokémon

Several Pokémon are mutually exclusive, meaning that if you get one species, you cannot get at least one other species. The list of mutually exclusive species is below.

• Chikorita/Bayleef/Meganium, Cyndaquil/Quilava/Typhlosion, Totodile/Croconaw/Feraligatr
• Bulbasaur/Ivysaur/Venusaur, Charmander/Charmeleon/Charizard, Squirtle/Wartortle/Blastoise
• Treecko/Grovyle/Sceptile, Torchic/Combusken/Blaziken, Mudkip/Marshtomp/Swampert

You will need at minimum three separate save files to get each of these starters. Each save file will pick three different starters from this list, and they can be bred and traded as needed.

Trade Evolutions

17 Pokémon evolve by trading: Golem, Machamp, Alakazam, Gengar, Politoed, Slowking, Steelix, Scizor, Kingdra, Porygon2, Huntail, Gorebyss, Rhyperior, Electivire, Magmortar, Porygon-Z, and Dusknoir. The easiest way to get data for them is to trade them to another game and immediately trade the newly-evolved Pokémon back.

You will need two King's Rocks, two Metal Coats, one Dragon Scale, one Up-Grade, one DeepSeaTooth, one DeepSeaScale, one Protector, one Electirizer, one Magmarizer, one Dubious Disc, and one Reaper Cloth to evolve Politoed, Slowking, Steelix, Scizor, Kingdra, Porygon2, Huntail, Gorebyss, Rhyperior, Electivire, Magmortar, Porygon-Z, and Dusknoir.

Pokéwalker Pokémon

If you have access to the Pokéwalker, you can obtain the following Pokémon: Skitty, Delcatty, Carvanha, Sharpedo, Wailmer, Wailord, Feebas, Milotic, Castform, Kecleon, Tropius, Snorunt, Glalie, Froslass, Shellos, Gastrodon (West Sea only), Spiritomb, Finneon, Lumineon, Snover, and Abomasnow.
East Sea Shellos and Gastrodon must still be traded from Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum.

Missing Pokémon

The remaining Pokémon are obtainable only in Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, or defunct events.

Hoenn Legendaries (3) - 3 total

Regirock, Regice, and Registeel can only be obtained in Platinum, if that game has access to an event Regigigas. Otherwise, they will need to be traded from Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald. Either way, they are not accessible in HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Sinnoh Starters (9) - 12 total

Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra, Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape, Piplup, Prinplup, and Empoleon all need to be selected as a starter in Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum, and cannot be obtained in HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Sinnoh Fossil Pokémon (4) - 16 total

The Skull and Armor Fossils are only obtainable in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. The Fossils can be traded directly to HeartGold and SoulSilver and revived at the Pewter Museum.

Sinnoh Pokémon (7) - 23 total

Drifloon, Drifblim, Glameow, Purugly, Stunky, Skuntank, and Rotom must be traded from Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum.

Missing Location Pokémon (4) - 27 total

Although their pre-evolutions are obtainable in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Magnezone, Probopass, Leafeon, and Glaceon cannot be evolved as the locations needed to evolve them do not exist in HeartGold and SoulSilver. They must instead be evolved in Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum.

Sinnoh Legendaries (8) - 35 total

Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Dialga, Palkia, Heatran, Regigigas, Giratina, and Cresselia must be traded from Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum. Technically, Dialga, Palkia, or Giratina can be obtained with access to an event Arceus, but that Arceus must be traded from Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum.

Mythical/Event (9) - 44 total

The following Pokémon must be obtained via event: Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin and Arceus.

If the player does not have access to the Pokéwalker, this total is instead 65.