So, you want to know how to go to Whitney’s Gym in Pokémon SoulSilver? Whitney’s Gym is located in Goldenrod City. This is a critical point in your Johto journey because Whitney is known for being one of the toughest early-game trainers, primarily due to her formidable Miltank. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to overcome her challenge and progress.
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Getting to Goldenrod City
Before you can even think about challenging Whitney, you need to reach Goldenrod City. Here’s the usual path:
- Start in New Bark Town.
- Head east through Cherrygrove City.
- Continue east on Route 30 and Route 31.
- Enter Violet City. You’ll battle Falkner here.
- Travel south from Violet City onto Route 32.
- Explore Union Cave (you’ll need to come back later for the Machop).
- Continue south on Route 34.
- Enter Goldenrod City from the south.
Preparing for Whitney’s Gym Battle
Whitney’s Gym is a challenge that requires careful preparation. Don’t just charge in hoping for the best!
What to Expect at Whitney’s Gym
Whitney’s Gym is themed around Normal-type Pokémon. Her gym trainers are also Normal-types, often featuring Pokémon like Clefairy and Jigglypuff. The puzzles inside the gym typically involve navigating through trainers to reach Whitney herself.
Whitney’s team in Pokémon SoulSilver consists of:
- Clefairy (Level 18)
- Stantler (Level 20)
- Miltank (Level 22)
The real hurdle is Whitney’s Miltank. This Pokémon is infamous for its high Speed, high Special Defense, and access to powerful moves like Stomp, Milk Drink, and Rollout.
Key Items to Obtain
Before you face Whitney, make sure you have these helpful items:
- Clefairy Doll: This item is crucial! You can obtain it from a man in the upper floor of the Goldenrod Department Store. He’ll give it to you if you talk to him after you’ve visited the Game Corner. The Clefairy Doll can be used to distract her Miltank if it gets too powerful.
- Potions and Full Heals: Stock up! You’ll likely need them to keep your Pokémon healthy.
- X Attack / X Defend: These stat-boosting items can give you an edge in a tough battle.
- Revive: If a key Pokémon faints, a Revive can save your run.
Pokémon That Can Help
Choosing the right Pokémon for your team is vital for a successful Whitney battle guide. Look for Pokémon that can exploit her team’s weaknesses.
Here are some excellent Pokémon choices to help you beat Whitney:
- Geodude/Graveler/Golem: These Rock-types are invaluable against Whitney’s Normal-types. Their high Defense can help them withstand attacks, and their STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) Rock-type moves are super effective against both Stantler and Miltank. You can find Geodude in Mt. Mortar or by trading.
- Machop/Machoke: Fighting-types are also very effective against Miltank. Machop can be found in Union Cave. Its Mach Punch can hit hard, especially if it’s faster.
- Gastly/Haunter: Ghost-types are immune to Normal-type moves, meaning Miltank’s Stomp and other Normal attacks won’t hit them. Gastly can be found in the Sprout Tower. While it’s weak to Miltank’s potential Psychic move (though unlikely at this stage), its immunity is a massive advantage.
- Heracross: If you can get access to Heracross (by headbutting trees at night), its Bug/Fighting typing is excellent. It resists Miltank’s Rollout and can hit hard with its Fighting moves.
- Bellsprout/Weepinbell/Victreebel: These Grass-types can learn Sleep Powder, which can be a game-changer against Miltank. They also resist Miltank’s Rollout. You can find Bellsprout in Ilex Forest.
- Psyduck/Golduck: While not super effective, Psyduck can learn Confusion, a Psychic-type move. This can deal decent damage to Miltank and potentially confuse it. You can find Psyduck in Union Cave.
Understanding Whitney’s Weakness
Whitney’s weakness lies primarily in her Miltank’s vulnerability to Fighting-type attacks. However, Miltank’s high Defense and Special Defense can make this tricky. Rock-type moves are also super effective. Speed is another factor; if your Pokémon are faster, you can land hits before Miltank can.
Strategy for the Whitney Battle
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the Miltank strategy and how to approach the Whitney battle guide.
The Gym Trainers
Before Whitney, you’ll face a couple of other trainers in the gym.
- Lass Vicky: Has a Lickitung (Level 18). Use a Fighting-type Pokémon.
- Beauty Jasmine: Has two Clefairy (Level 19). Again, Fighting-types are your best bet here.
These battles are good practice and help you earn experience and money before the main event.
The Whitney Battle Guide: Step-by-Step
This section details how to tackle each of Whitney’s Pokémon, focusing on the how to beat Whitney challenge.
Whitney’s Clefairy
- Level: 18
- Type: Normal
- Moves: Encore, Doubleslap, Defense Curl, Copycat
Clefairy is relatively easy to defeat.
- Recommended Pokémon: Geodude, Machop, Gastly.
- Strategy: Use Fighting-type moves if you have them. If you’re using a Rock-type like Geodude, its STAB moves will be effective. Gastly is immune to Clefairy’s Normal-type moves, making it a safe choice. Be wary of Encore, which can trap your Pokémon in a move they don’t want to use.
Whitney’s Stantler
- Level: 20
- Type: Normal
- Moves: Stomp, Leer, Hypnosis, Astonish
Stantler is more dangerous than Clefairy, mainly due to Stomp and Hypnosis.
- Recommended Pokémon: Geodude/Graveler, Machop/Machoke, Heracross.
- Strategy: Rock-type moves are highly effective against Stantler. Geodude’s Rock Throw or a learned Rock move will deal significant damage. If you have a strong Fighting-type, its STAB moves will also work well. Be prepared for Hypnosis; if your Pokémon gets put to sleep, switch them out immediately if possible or use a Full Heal on them afterward. Stomp can also cause flinching, which is annoying.
Whitney’s Miltank
- Level: 22
- Type: Normal
- Moves: Stomp, Milk Drink, Defense Curl, Rollout
This is the main event, the notorious Whitney’s Miltank. This Pokémon is a true test of your skills.
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Whitney’s Miltank’s Strengths:
- High Speed: It often moves first.
- Stomp: High power and a chance to flinch you.
- Milk Drink: Heals a significant amount of HP, making it hard to wear down.
- Defense Curl: Boosts its Defense, making it even harder to damage physically.
- Rollout: A multi-hit move that gets stronger with each consecutive hit. If it lands multiple hits, it can OHKO (One-Hit Knockout) many Pokémon. Its power increases each turn it hits.
- High Special Defense: Makes it resistant to special attacks.
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Effective Pokémon and Moves:
Pokémon Type Strengths Weaknesses Geodude/Graveler Rock/Ground STAB Rock moves (Rock Throw, Tackle) are super effective. High Defense. Weak to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground. Miltank doesn’t have super effective moves against it, but Rollout can be dangerous if it hits multiple times. Machop/Machoke Fighting STAB Fighting moves (Karate Chop, Submission) are super effective. Weak to Flying, Psychic, Fairy. Miltank’s moves won’t be super effective, but Rollout can still hurt. Heracross Bug/Fighting STAB Fighting moves are super effective. Resists Rollout. Weak to Flying, Fire, Psychic, Fairy. Miltank doesn’t have strong super effective options. Bellsprout/Victreebel Grass/Poison Can learn Sleep Powder to incapacitate Miltank. Resists Rollout. Weak to Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic. Miltank’s Stomp is not super effective. Onix Rock/Ground STAB Rock moves (Rock Throw). High Defense. Weak to Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Ground. Similar to Geodude, but generally slower and with lower Special Defense. Sandshrew/Sandslash Ground Strong Ground moves (Dig, Bulldoze) are super effective against Miltank. Weak to Water, Grass, Ice. Miltank does not have super effective moves against it. Rollout can be a problem due to Miltank’s Speed. -
Key Strategies to Beat Whitney’s Miltank:
- Focus on Fighting or Rock Moves: These are your primary tools. If your Pokémon are strong enough to outspeed and hit hard, great. If not, you’ll need to tank a hit or two.
- The Clefairy Doll Strategy: If you’re struggling, use the Clefairy Doll. When Miltank uses Growl or Defense Curl, switch in your Pokémon and immediately use the Clefairy Doll. This will cause Miltank to flinch, giving you a free turn to attack or heal. This is a very reliable tactic.
- Inflict Status Conditions:
- Sleep: Bellsprout’s Sleep Powder is excellent. If Miltank falls asleep, you can set up with Defense Curls or land several free hits. Just be careful when it wakes up.
- Paralysis: While not a primary move for most available Pokémon, a Thunder Wave from a Pokémon like Pikachu (if you caught one) could slow Miltank down.
- Use Stat Boosts: Items like X Attack can help your Pokémon deal more damage quickly. X Defend can help your Pokémon survive Miltank’s hits.
- Grind Your Levels: If your Pokémon are consistently getting OHKO’d or can’t break through Miltank’s defenses, it’s a sign you need to train them more. Aim for your Pokémon to be around Level 20-23.
- The “No U” Strategy (for Miltank’s Rollout): If Miltank starts using Rollout, it can become very dangerous. If you have a Pokémon with high Defense that resists Rock-type moves, like Geodude, you might be able to tank a few hits. However, the flinching from Stomp is a major issue.
- Leverage Psychic Immunity (Gastly): While Gastly is weak to potential future Psychic moves, Miltank doesn’t learn any at this stage. Gastly is immune to Stomp and Rollout. Its Shadow Ball (if you can teach it) will be neutral damage, but its immunity is key. It can chip away at Miltank’s health safely.
After the Battle
Once you defeat Whitney, you will receive:
- The Plain Badge: This is the third gym badge you earn in Johto.
- TM53 (Attract): A useful status move that can make the opponent fall in love and sometimes skip their turn.
You can now also use the move Cut outside of battle to clear paths.
Getting the Earthquake TM
While not directly related to entering Whitney’s gym, the Earthquake TM is a powerful move obtained later that is very useful. You can get the Earthquake TM from a trainer in the S.S. Aqua. To access the S.S. Aqua, you need to have defeated Whitney and gained access to Vermilion City in the Kanto region.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I challenge Whitney without a Clefairy Doll?
Yes, you absolutely can challenge Whitney without a Clefairy Doll. However, it makes the battle significantly harder, especially against her Miltank. The doll provides a crucial turn to recover or attack while Miltank is distracted.
What is the best Pokémon to counter Whitney’s Miltank?
The generally agreed-upon best counters are Rock-types like Geodude/Graveler or Ground-types like Sandshrew/Sandslash due to their super-effective STAB moves. Fighting-types like Machop/Machoke are also excellent. If you have access to Heracross, it’s also a top-tier choice.
How do I get the Clefairy Doll?
You get the Clefairy Doll from a man on the second floor of the Goldenrod Department Store. You need to talk to him after you have visited the Goldenrod Game Corner. He is often standing near the staircase.
What level should my Pokémon be to beat Whitney?
Aim for your core team members to be around Level 20-23. This level range generally allows your Pokémon to survive hits and deal enough damage to overcome Whitney’s team, especially her Miltank.
Is Whitney’s Miltank the hardest gym leader?
For many players, Whitney’s Miltank is considered the first major roadblock or “wall” in the game due to its high stats and tricky move set for that stage of the game. While other gym leaders can be challenging, Whitney’s Miltank often requires specific strategies and preparation that newer players might not anticipate.
Can I use the Clefairy strategy on other Pokémon?
The Clefairy Doll is specifically an item that interacts with the Miltank in Whitney’s gym. It’s designed to cause her Miltank to flinch. It won’t have this effect on other Pokémon.
What is the best move to use against Miltank?
Fighting-type moves or Rock-type moves are the most effective due to type effectiveness. Moves like Karate Chop, Submission, Rock Throw, and Bulldoze are all strong choices.
What should I do if Miltank uses Rollout?
If Miltank starts using Rollout, you are in a dangerous situation. Try to switch to a Pokémon that resists Rock-type moves (like Geodude) or a Pokémon that can inflict status conditions (like Sleep Powder from Bellsprout). If you can’t switch, try to use a healing item or a strong offensive move. The Clefairy Doll can also be used if Miltank is targeting your main attacker.
Remember, perseverance is key! Whitney’s Miltank is a significant hurdle, but with the right preparation and strategy, you will eventually triumph and earn your Plain Badge. Good luck!