Best Methods: How To Rematch Gym Leaders In Heartgold

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How To Rematch Gym Leaders In Heartgold
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Best Methods: How To Rematch Gym Leaders In Heartgold

Do you want to battle the tough Gym Leaders from Johto and Kanto again in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver? How to call gym leaders Heartgold and trigger these exciting fights? You can call them using your Pokégear’s phone function after you get their phone numbers. This lets you set up rematches. These battles happen after you beat the Elite Four and often involve stronger teams. Getting their numbers and knowing when to call is key to these Heartgold gym leader rematches.

Grasping the Rematch System

HeartGold and SoulSilver bring back a cool feature from Pokémon Crystal: rematching Gym Leaders. This is not something you can do right away. It is part of the big Heartgold post-game rematches content. After you beat the main story, explore the Kanto region, and get the National Pokédex Heartgold, new chances open up.

The main tool for these rematches is your Pokégear. This device is very important in Johto. It has a phone function. You can save numbers here. Many people give you their numbers as you play. These include trainers you battle. But more importantly, the Gym Leaders can give you their numbers too.

Getting a Gym Leader’s number is often a specific task. It might involve being at a certain place at a certain time. Or maybe showing them a specific Pokémon. Once you have their number, they might call you. These calls are often offers to battle again. The rematches themselves do not happen in the Gyms. They take place in a special building. This building is the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City.

The SoulSilver gym leader rematch system works exactly the same way. The steps, locations, and times are the same in both games. So, all the info here helps SoulSilver players too. Knowing how to trigger gym leader rematch Heartgold fights adds many hours of gameplay. It also helps you train Pokémon against strong opponents.

Steps for Getting Started

Before you can challenge Gym Leaders again, you need to meet a few conditions. These steps unlock the full potential of the Pokégear gym leader contacts system.

Completing the Main Story

First, you must beat the Johto Pokémon League. This means defeating the Elite Four and the Champion. This marks the end of the main storyline in the Johto region.

Exploring Kanto

After beating the Elite Four, you get access to the Kanto region. You travel there by ship. In Kanto, you can challenge the eight Kanto Gym Leaders. You do not need to beat the Kanto Gym Leaders to rematch the Johto ones, but exploring Kanto is part of the post-game. You need to progress enough to reach certain locations.

Obtaining the National Pokédex

Professor Oak gives you the National Pokédex Heartgold after you beat the Elite Four and board the ship to Kanto. This upgraded Pokédex tracks Pokémon from all regions. Getting the National Pokédex is a key step. It unlocks many post-game activities. This includes the ability to get phone numbers from Kanto Gym Leaders. It also seems to make Johto Leaders more likely to give you their numbers or call you.

Mastering the Pokégear Phone

Your Pokégear is central to setting up Johto Kanto gym leader rematch HGSS battles. You get the Pokégear early in the game. It has several functions: Radio, Map, Phone, and later, the Time function.

The Phone function is what you need. People you meet can give you their numbers. When someone gives you their number, it gets added to your Pokégear’s Phone list. You can then call them. More importantly, they can call you.

How Calls Work

  • Getting Numbers: You must talk to specific people at specific times or places to get their numbers. For Gym Leaders, this is often a special event.
  • Receiving Calls: The game world runs on a real-time clock. NPCs, including Gym Leaders with your number, will call you at certain times or on certain days. These calls might be random chats. Or they might be offers for a rematch.
  • Checking Contacts: You can look at your list of saved numbers in the Pokégear. This shows you who you can call. It also shows you who has called you recently.

It’s these incoming calls from Gym Leaders that trigger gym leader rematch Heartgold opportunities. They won’t offer a rematch every time they call. But certain calls, often on specific days or at specific times, will be the important ones.

Obtaining Gym Leader Phone Numbers Heartgold

This is the most time-consuming part. Each Gym Leader has a specific way you get their phone number. Some are easier than others. You usually need to find them outside of their Gym.

Here is how to get the number for each Gym Leader:

Johto Gym Leaders

There are eight Gym Leaders in the Johto region. You must beat them in their Gyms first as part of the main story. Getting their number comes after.

  • Falkner (Violet City):

    • Find him on Monday.
    • He is on the 4th floor of the Violet City Pokémon Center.
    • Stand next to him and talk to him.
    • He will give you his number.

  • Bugsy (Azalea Town):

    • Find him on Thursday.
    • He is outside Viridian Forest, near the entrance from Route 2.
    • Talk to him to get his number.

  • Whitney (Goldenrod City):

    • Find her any day between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
    • She is inside the Goldenrod Department Store.
    • Go to the 6th floor (Rooftop).
    • Talk to her to get her number.

  • Morty (Ecruteak City):

    • Find him on Monday or Tuesday.
    • He is in the Bell Tower (Tin Tower) in Ecruteak City.
    • You find him on the 2nd floor.
    • Talk to him to get his number. You need to have faced the legendary beasts (Raikou, Entei, Suicune) at least once for him to appear here.

  • Chuck (Cianwood City):

    • Find his wife outside Cianwood Gym any day.
    • Talk to her. She is looking for a Massage.
    • Take her to the Pal Park (Fuchsia City) or the house south of Route 45 (near Blackthorn City) where you can get a Pokémon massage. You need to enter the Massage house with her for her to get the massage.
    • Go back to Cianwood Gym after she gets the massage.
    • Talk to her again. She will give you Chuck’s number.

  • Jasmine (Olivine City):

    • Find her any day between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
    • She is in the Olivine City Diner.
    • Talk to her to get her number.

  • Pryce (Mahogany Town):

    • Find him on Wednesday morning.
    • He is outside the Lake of Rage.
    • You need a Pokémon in your party that knows Surf.
    • Use Surf to reach the small island north of the lake.
    • Talk to him there to get his number.

  • Claire (Blackthorn City):

    • This is a bit tricky. After you beat her and get your badge, you need to go to the Dragon’s Den.
    • Inside the Dragon’s Den, you must pass the Elder’s test.
    • Once you exit the Dragon’s Den after the test, the Elder will give you a Dratini with Extreme Speed (if you have an open spot).
    • Claire will be waiting outside. Talk to her. She will register your number in her Pokégear. This adds her to your list.

Getting all the Johto gym leader phone numbers Heartgold takes time. You need to check the day and time carefully.

Kanto Gym Leaders

There are eight more Gym Leaders in the Kanto region. You must defeat them in their Gyms as part of the post-game quest to get the Earth Badge from Blue. You need the National Pokédex to access Kanto properly and to get most Kanto Leaders’ numbers.

  • Brock (Pewter City):

    • Find him on Saturday.
    • He is in the Diglett’s Cave connecting Route 2 and Route 11.
    • He is near the Route 11 exit/entrance.
    • Talk to him to get his number.

  • Misty (Cerulean City):

    • Find her any day between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
    • She is near the hedges on Route 24 (north of Cerulean City). This is the path where you first meet Bill in Kanto.
    • Talk to her to get her number. You need to have found the Machine Part for the Power Plant quest before she appears here.

  • Lt. Surge (Vermilion City):

    • You need a Pikachu to get his number.
    • Put Pikachu at the front of your party.
    • Find Lt. Surge at the Kanto Power Plant any day.
    • Talk to him with Pikachu as your first Pokémon. He will show interest in Pikachu and give you his number.

  • Erika (Celadon City):

    • Find her on Saturday or Sunday.
    • She is in the Celadon City fountain area in the center of the city.
    • Talk to her to get her number.

  • Janine (Fuchsia City):

    • This one is different. You need to walk with Janine for a certain amount of steps.
    • Find Janine in the reception area of the Indigo Plateau (where the Elite Four are). She appears on specific days (maybe certain mornings, check in-game guides if unsure, but she is usually there after you beat Blue).
    • Talk to her and select the option to walk with her.
    • Walk about 500 steps (it doesn’t have to be in a straight line, just move around).
    • Talk to her again after walking. She will give you her number.

  • Sabrina (Saffron City):

    • Find her on Friday.
    • She is at the Olivine City Port.
    • Talk to her to get her number.

  • Blaine (Cinnabar Island / Seafoam Islands):

    • Find him on Tuesday.
    • He is outside the Cinnabar Gym ruins (after the volcano eruption).
    • Talk to him to get his number.

  • Blue (Viridian City):

    • You must get all 16 Gym Badges (Johto and Kanto) and defeat Blue in the Viridian City Gym first.
    • Find Blue in the Pallet Town house of his sister, Daisy Oak. He is there on Sunday evening.
    • Daisy gives your lead Pokémon a massage.
    • Talk to Blue after the massage to get his number.

Getting all the gym leader phone numbers Heartgold is a big side quest in itself. It requires patience and checking the in-game clock and calendar.

Trigger Gym Leader Rematch Heartgold

Once you have a Gym Leader’s number, they might call you. But to get a rematch offer, they call on specific days and times. You need to be in a certain area when they call to accept the rematch.

The call that offers a rematch is usually short and clear. The leader will say something like they are at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City and want to battle. If you get this call, you must say “Yes” to accept. Then, travel to the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City.

The time window to get the rematch-offer call for each leader is specific. Here is a general guide to when each leader might call for a rematch. These are the days and times they are likely to call if you are in the right area.

Gym Leader Rematch Call Times

Gym Leader Region Call Day(s) Call Time(s)
Falkner Johto Saturday, Sunday Morning (4 AM – 10 AM)
Bugsy Johto Thursday Morning (10 AM – 12 PM)
Whitney Johto Saturday, Sunday Afternoon (12 PM – 4 PM)
Morty Johto Monday, Tuesday Night (8 PM – 12 AM)
Chuck Johto Wednesday, Sunday Morning (8 AM – 12 PM)
Jasmine Johto Wednesday, Sunday Afternoon (1 PM – 4 PM)
Pryce Johto Monday, Wednesday Morning (6 AM – 10 AM)
Claire Johto Friday, Sunday Night (6 PM – 10 PM)
Brock Kanto Saturday Afternoon (12 PM – 3 PM)
Misty Kanto Wednesday, Sunday Morning (4 AM – 6 AM)
Lt. Surge Kanto Friday Morning (9 AM – 12 PM)
Erika Kanto Saturday, Sunday Afternoon (3 PM – 5 PM)
Janine Kanto Monday, Tuesday Night (4 AM – 8 AM)
Sabrina Kanto Sunday Morning (1 AM – 2 AM)
Blaine Kanto Tuesday, Thursday Morning (10 AM – 12 PM)
Blue Kanto Sunday Afternoon (3 PM – 4 PM)

Note: These times are approximate and based on in-game time. Being in the general vicinity (like in the same city or on a connected route) often helps trigger the call during the window.

If you miss a call, or are in an area where the call cannot happen (like a building where the phone doesn’t work), you might miss the chance for that day/time. You just have to wait for the next possible call time. Sometimes saving and reloading can help if you think you missed a call window.

The Rematch Location: Fighting Dojo

Once you accept a rematch offer, the Gym Leader will tell you they are waiting at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City.

The Fighting Dojo is a building right next to the Saffron City Gym (Sabrina’s Gym). During the main story, you challenge the Karate King there. In the post-game, this building becomes the arena for your Gym Leader rematches.

Simply fly or travel to Saffron City. Enter the Fighting Dojo. The Gym Leader who called you will be waiting inside. Talk to them to start the battle.

The Rematch Battles

The Heartgold gym leader rematches are much tougher than the first fights. The Gym Leaders use stronger Pokémon. Their Pokémon are higher levels. They often have different movesets. They might even have different Pokémon teams than before. These battles provide a real challenge. They are great for leveling up your team after beating the Elite Four.

Here is a general idea of the levels and Pokémon you might face. Note that teams can vary slightly, and levels are usually in the 50s to 70s or even higher for later rematches or specific leaders like Blue.

Johto Rematch Teams (Typical Levels: 50s-60s)

  • Falkner: Uses Flying-types like Pelipper, Skarmory, Staraptor, Noctowl, Swellow.
  • Bugsy: Uses Bug-types like Yanmega, Scizor, Heracross, Forretress, Shedinja.
  • Whitney: Uses Normal-types like Clefable, Lickilicky, Lopunny, Delcatty, Miltank. Miltank is still tough!
  • Morty: Uses Ghost-types like Dusknoir, Gengar, Sableye, Mismagius, Spiritomb.
  • Chuck: Uses Fighting-types like Primeape, Poliwrath, Hitmontop, Medicham, Machamp.
  • Jasmine: Uses Steel-types like Skarmory, Steelix, Empoleon, Magnezone, Metagross.
  • Pryce: Uses Ice-types like Abomasnow, Walrein, Cloyster, Froslass, Lapras.
  • Claire: Uses Dragon-types like Gyarados (honorary dragon!), Kingdra, Dragonite, Altaria, Salamence.

Kanto Rematch Teams (Typical Levels: 50s-70s)

  • Brock: Uses Rock/Ground-types like Golem, Kabutops, Omastar, Relicanth, Sudowoodo, Tyranitar.
  • Misty: Uses Water-types like Lanturn, Quagsire, Lapras, Starmie, Milotic, Floatzel.
  • Lt. Surge: Uses Electric-types like Raichu, Electrode, Magnezone, Pachirisu, Manectric, Electivire.
  • Erika: Uses Grass-types like Jumpluff, Tangrowth, Roserade, Bellossom, Victreebel, Shiftry.
  • Janine: Uses Poison-types like Crobat, Weezing, Ariados, Drapion, Toxicroak, Venomoth.
  • Sabrina: Uses Psychic-types like Alakazam, Hypno, Mr. Mime, Espeon, Wobbuffet, Gardevoir.
  • Blaine: Uses Fire-types like Rapidash, Magcargo, Houndoom, Camerupt, Magmortar, Arcanine.
  • Blue: His team is very high level (70s) and mixed. He uses strong Pokémon like Pidgeot, Arcanine, Rhydon, Gyarados, Exeggutor, and his starter (Venusaur, Charizard, or Blastoise depending on which one you chose at the start of the game). Battling Blue again is a major challenge, sometimes considered harder than the Elite Four Heartgold rematch.

These rematch teams make the battles exciting. They test your team-building skills. You get EXP for winning, but no more badges. It’s purely for the challenge and fun.

Benefits of Rematching

Why go through the effort of getting numbers and tracking call times?

  • Experience Points: Battling high-level Pokémon is a great way to level up your team, especially Pokémon you might be training for the Battle Frontier or other post-game challenges.
  • Challenge: The rematches are tough battles. They are harder than the initial Gym fights and can even be more challenging than the Elite Four Heartgold rematch in some cases.
  • Completeness: For players who want to do everything in the game, rematching all 16 leaders is a major goal.
  • Fun: Simply battling these iconic characters again with their stronger teams is enjoyable for many players.

Tips for Successful Rematching

  • Get Numbers Early: As you progress through Kanto and get the National Pokédex, try to get the Gym Leaders’ numbers as soon as you meet the conditions. Don’t wait too long.
  • Check the Clock: Pay attention to the in-game time and day. These are based on the DS/3DS system clock. Make sure your system clock is set correctly.
  • Be in the Right Area: To receive a rematch call, you usually need to be on a route or in a town. You often won’t get calls inside buildings (except maybe Pokémon Centers or the Fighting Dojo itself if waiting). Stay in open areas during the call windows.
  • Save Often: Save your game before a potential call window begins. If you miss the call or accidentally decline, you can reset and try again.
  • Prepare Your Team: These are not easy battles. Bring a well-trained team with good type coverage. Pay attention to the leader’s type specialty.
  • Use the Table: Keep the table of call times handy. It’s your best guide for when to expect a call.

The Johto Kanto gym leader rematch HGSS feature adds a lot of depth to the post-game. It gives you a reason to keep training your Pokémon and exploring the world. It’s a core part of the Heartgold post-game rematches experience.

FAQ

Here are some common questions about rematching Gym Leaders in HeartGold and SoulSilver.

  • Q: Can I rematch Gym Leaders right after beating them the first time?
    • A: No. You must first beat the Elite Four and enter the post-game. You also need to find them outside their Gyms to get their phone numbers.
  • Q: Do I need to get all 16 badges to start rematching?
    • A: No. You can get Johto Leader numbers and rematch them after beating the Elite Four. Getting the National Pokédex is key for accessing Kanto and getting Kanto Leader numbers.
  • Q: How do I know when a Gym Leader will call for a rematch?
    • A: They call at specific times on specific days of the week. Check the table provided in this guide. You need to have their number saved in your Pokégear.
  • Q: Where do the rematches take place?
    • A: All Gym Leader rematches happen at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City, Kanto.
  • Q: Are the rematch teams the same as the first battle?
    • A: No. Their Pokémon are much higher level. They often have different movesets and sometimes different Pokémon entirely compared to the first battle.
  • Q: Do I get anything for winning a rematch?
    • A: You get experience points for your Pokémon. You do not get badges again or any special items just for winning the rematch itself. The reward is the challenge and the EXP.
  • Q: Can I rematch the Elite Four in HeartGold?
    • A: Yes. The Elite Four Heartgold rematch is also available in the post-game. You can challenge them again at the Indigo Plateau. Their teams also get stronger after you get all 16 badges and potentially after battling Red.
  • Q: What if I miss a call from a Gym Leader?
    • A: If you miss a rematch offer call, you just have to wait for the next day and time when that leader is scheduled to call for a rematch.

By following these steps and tips, you can fully experience the fun and challenge of rematching all the Gym Leaders in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. It’s a rewarding part of the post-game adventure.