H1 Find Suicune in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver: A Comprehensive Guide
Suicune, the legendary aurora Pokémon, is a highly sought-after catch in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Unlike some other legendaries that simply wait in a cave, Suicune embarks on a roaming journey across the Johto region, making it a bit trickier to find. This comprehensive guide will walk you through each step necessary to encounter and capture this majestic beast.
B Encountering Suicune: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Before you even begin the hunt, make sure you’ve completed the following prerequisites:
1. Defeat Team Rocket at the Goldenrod Radio Tower:
* This is a mandatory part of the main storyline. You must defeat Team Rocket’s executives and reclaim the Radio Tower to progress further.
2. Obtain the Rainbow Wing (HeartGold) or Silver Wing (SoulSilver):
* After defeating Team Rocket at the Radio Tower, head to the Underground Path in Goldenrod City.
* Speak to the man in the Underground Path (he’s usually near the shop entrances). He will reward you with the Rainbow Wing in HeartGold or the Silver Wing in SoulSilver. This item is crucial for battling Ho-Oh (HeartGold) or Lugia (SoulSilver), but also signifies your progress in the game, which indirectly triggers Suicune’s appearances.
3. Progress to Ecruteak City and Witness the Legendary Beasts:
* Once you have the Rainbow/Silver Wing, continue your journey to Ecruteak City.
* Head to the Burned Tower (located in the north part of the city).
* Inside the Burned Tower, you will trigger an event where you encounter Suicune, Raikou, and Entei.
* They will scatter after the brief encounter. This is what sets them loose across the Johto region.
Now that you’ve met all the requirements, here’s how to track down Suicune:
Step 1: First Encounter – Cianwood City
* After the Burned Tower event, make your way to Cianwood City (located on the southwest side of Johto).
* As you approach the Pokémon Center, you will see Suicune standing on the beach near the cliff.
* Approach Suicune. It will use Hydro Pump to create a waterfall and then vanish.
* This encounter is scripted; you cannot battle or capture Suicune here. It’s simply a trigger for the next encounter.
Step 2: Second Encounter – Mt. Mortar
* Head to Mt. Mortar, located east of Ecruteak City. You’ll need Surf and Waterfall to navigate the cave system effectively.
* Enter the cave and navigate through the various chambers. Suicune will be located deep inside the cave, near the Waterfall.
* Again, Suicune will disappear after a brief appearance.
Step 3: Third Encounter – Route 42
* Make your way to Route 42, which connects Mahogany Town and Ecruteak City.
* Suicune will be standing near the entrance to the Mt. Mortar exit on Route 42. This is another scripted encounter.
* Prepare for a short cutscene, after which Suicune will flee once more.
Step 4: Final Encounter – Route 14
* This is where the real battle begins! Head to Route 14, which is located east of Fuchsia City (Kanto region). You’ll need to have access to the Kanto region by defeating the Elite Four and Champion in Johto.
* Surf south from Fuchsia City onto Route 14.
* You’ll find Suicune standing near the shore. This time, it’s ready to battle!
* Important: Save your game before interacting with Suicune. This allows you to reset and try again if you accidentally defeat it or run out of Poké Balls.
B Preparing for the Battle
Before initiating the battle with Suicune, careful preparation is key.
1. Assemble Your Team:
* A well-rounded team is essential for weakening Suicune without knocking it out. Include Pokémon with diverse type matchups to handle its Water typing effectively.
* Consider using Pokémon that can inflict status conditions like Sleep or Paralysis, as these make Suicune much easier to catch.
* Pokémon with moves like False Swipe (which always leaves the opponent with at least 1 HP) are invaluable for safely reducing Suicune’s health.
2. Recommended Pokémon:
* Breloom: Breloom learns Spore, a 100% accurate Sleep-inducing move. Its Fighting/Grass typing also provides decent coverage.
* Parasect: Similar to Breloom, Parasect learns Spore. Its Bug/Grass typing can be a liability against Fire or Flying-type moves, but the reliable Sleep is worth it.
* Gallade: Gallade can learn Hypnosis (for Sleep) and False Swipe, making it an excellent choice for weakening and catching Suicune. Its Psychic/Fighting typing offers good coverage.
* Smeargle: Smeargle can learn any move through its signature move, Sketch. You can teach it Spore, False Swipe, and other helpful moves to customize it for the battle.
* Electrode/Jolteon: These fast Electric-type Pokémon can paralyze Suicune, making it easier to catch and slowing it down to prevent it from using Rest too frequently.
* Scizor: With Technician boosted False Swipe and access to other useful moves, Scizor is a solid choice.
3. Stock Up on Poké Balls:
* Ultra Balls: These are your primary catching tool. Buy a large quantity to increase your chances of success.
* Timer Balls: These become more effective the longer the battle lasts. Use them if the battle drags on.
* Net Balls: These are more effective against Water-type Pokémon like Suicune, though Ultra Balls generally have a higher catch rate overall.
* Luxury Balls/Friendship: Catching Suicune in a Luxury Ball will raise its friendship level faster. This does not aid in capture.
4. Healing Items:
* Potions, Super Potions, Hyper Potions, and Max Potions: Keep your Pokémon healthy throughout the battle.
* Revives and Max Revives: Essential for reviving fainted Pokémon.
* Status Healing Items (e.g., Antidotes, Parlyz Heals, Awakening): Cure status conditions inflicted by Suicune.
B The Battle Strategy
1. Lead with a Status-Inducing Pokémon:
* Start the battle with your Pokémon that knows Sleep or Paralysis. Putting Suicune to sleep or paralyzing it significantly increases your catch rate.
2. Weaken Suicune Gradually:
* Once Suicune is afflicted with a status condition, carefully reduce its health. Use False Swipe to bring it down to 1 HP without risking a knockout.
* Avoid using super-effective moves unless absolutely necessary. The goal is to weaken it, not defeat it.
3. Monitor Suicune’s Moves:
* Suicune’s moveset typically includes Hydro Pump (powerful Water-type move), Ice Beam (covers Grass-types), Mirror Coat (reflects Special attacks), and Rest (heals all HP and cures status conditions).
* Be prepared for Suicune to use Rest. If it does, immediately re-inflict a status condition after it wakes up.
* Be careful when using special attacks, as Mirror Coat can reflect them back at your Pokémon.
4. Throw Poké Balls Strategically:
* When Suicune’s health is low and it’s afflicted with a status condition, start throwing Ultra Balls. Be patient and persistent.
* If the battle lasts for many turns, switch to Timer Balls. Their catch rate increases with each turn.
* Don’t be afraid to switch between different types of Poké Balls to maximize your chances.
5. Be Patient and Persistent:
* Catching legendary Pokémon can be a test of endurance. It may take many attempts to successfully capture Suicune.
* If you accidentally knock out Suicune, simply reset your game and try again from your saved point.
B Specific Move Considerations
* Rest and Sleep Talk: Suicune often has Rest, which fully restores its HP and cures status conditions. It may also have Sleep Talk, allowing it to attack while asleep, mitigating the Sleep status. Be ready to re-apply status conditions immediately after Rest.
* Mirror Coat: This move can reflect special attacks. Therefore, using physical moves or moves like False Swipe are generally safer.
* Hydro Pump and Ice Beam: These are strong attacking moves that can easily knock out weaker Pokémon. Keep your Pokémon healed.
B Alternatives and Advanced Strategies
1. Mean Look or Block:
* These moves prevent Suicune from fleeing, but they are generally not necessary since Suicune doesn’t attempt to flee once the battle starts on Route 14.
2. Master Ball:
* If you have a Master Ball and want to guarantee a capture, you can use it on Suicune. However, it’s generally recommended to save the Master Ball for another legendary Pokémon that is more difficult to catch.
3. Belly Drum + Extreme Speed (Advanced):
* This strategy is more complex and requires breeding or using a move tutor. If you have a Pokémon with Belly Drum (maximizes attack at the cost of half HP) and Extreme Speed (priority move), you can potentially deal significant damage quickly. However, this is risky due to Mirror Coat.
4. False Swipe + Hold Back:
* Hold Back is a move similar to False Swipe. Both moves will always leave the opponent with 1 HP. Using a combination of both ensures if one fails you have a backup plan.
B Post-Capture Considerations
1. Check Suicune’s Nature and IVs:
* After catching Suicune, you may want to check its Nature and Individual Values (IVs). These determine its stats and can affect its performance in battle.
* Natures can be influenced by using an Abra with Synchronize at the front of your party. There’s a 50% chance the wild Pokémon will have the same nature as your Synchronize Pokémon.
* IVs are fixed upon the encounter and cannot be changed in HeartGold and SoulSilver without hacking. However, understanding them can help you determine if your Suicune is competitively viable.
2. EV Training:
* If you plan to use Suicune in competitive battles, you may want to EV train it. This involves battling specific Pokémon to increase its Effort Values (EVs) in desired stats.
3. Moveset Planning:
* Consider teaching Suicune additional moves to improve its coverage and versatility. TMs and HMs can be used to teach it new attacks.
B Troubleshooting Common Problems
1. Suicune is not appearing on Route 14:
* Ensure that you have met all the prerequisites: defeated Team Rocket at the Radio Tower, obtained the Rainbow/Silver Wing, and witnessed Suicune at the Burned Tower, Cianwood City, Mt. Mortar, and Route 42.
* Make sure you are on Route 14 in the Kanto region. You must have access to Kanto to encounter Suicune on this route.
2. I accidentally knocked out Suicune:
* If you accidentally knock out Suicune, simply reset your Nintendo DS and reload your saved game. You can battle it again.
3. I’m running out of Poké Balls:
* Before battling Suicune, make sure you have a sufficient supply of Ultra Balls, Timer Balls, and Net Balls. You can purchase these at Poké Marts.
4. Suicune keeps using Rest:
* Suicune’s Rest can be frustrating. Be prepared to re-inflict a status condition (Sleep or Paralysis) immediately after it wakes up.
* Consider using a Pokémon with a move that prevents healing, such as Heal Block, but keep Mirror Coat in mind.
5. My Pokémon are too weak:
* If your Pokémon are getting knocked out too easily, consider leveling them up. Battle wild Pokémon or rematch trainers to gain experience points.
* Adjust your team composition to include Pokémon with better type matchups and higher stats.
B Additional Tips and Tricks
* Use a Pokémon with the ability Synchronize (like Abra or Natu) with a Nature you want Suicune to potentially have. Place it at the front of your party. This gives a 50% chance that Suicune will have the same Nature.
* Turn off the battle animations to speed up the battle process and conserve battery life.
* Keep a chart of type matchups handy to make informed decisions during the battle.
* Stay calm and patient. Catching legendary Pokémon can be challenging, but with the right preparation and strategy, you can succeed.
B Conclusion
Catching Suicune in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver requires patience, preparation, and a bit of luck. By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to track down and capture this elusive legendary Pokémon. Good luck, and happy hunting!