Chapter 27: Route 44, the Ice Path, Blackthorn City and the Rising Badge
East of Mahogany Town the road runs along Route 44 and through the Ice Path to Blackthorn City, the home of the Dragon-type Gym. Clair doubts your Champion title and sets terms, and the real test is waiting in the Dragon’s Den, where the Elder gives the Rising Badge. That is the eighth Johto Badge and it ends a lot of Johto errands for good.
Main quest in this chapter: cross Route 44 and the Ice Path (with Crystal, and a Team Rocket trap for Suicune on B2F), beat Clair with a party of dragons or dragon-shaped Pokémon, and pass the Elder’s trial in the Dragon’s Den for the Rising Badge.
Before the Rising Badge, these close for good: coaching Crystal outside the Blackthorn Gym, Sakura’s Water Stone request in Ecruteak, the Three Island bikers’ errands (Chapter 23), the Razor Claw reward on Route 34 and the Four Island Mystery Stone buyer (Chapter 20 and Chapter 12). Make the Ice Path’s Anti-Age Spray in this chapter too: you need it in the final chapter.
Hidden items along the way
Optional stops in this chapter’s locations. Some spots may need a return visit; check the location notes for access limitations.
Open a location for item names, directions and available screenshots.
Walkthrough
Section titled “Walkthrough”Route 44. On the way to the Ice Path you meet a girl with a Cleffa (her con men wait on Ice Path 1F) and a boy whose brother has a Heracross at the east end.
Technical source (script files and flags)
guide/12 q-0337 (Route 44 west end; the con men on Ice Path 1F; one-time), q-0338 (Route 44; the older brother at the east end). Both ‘any time’ per guide/12; placed with the Ice Path crossing, which the story reaches after the Rocket HQ (guide/12 q-0355: ‘any time after the Team Rocket HQ chapter’).
The Ice Path. Crystal studies the “damp soil” that Suicune leaves behind. On 1F two Trainers duel over an Icy Rock (north part of the floor) and there are tutors and extras. On B2F you meet Eusine, and then the “Joy from Blackthorn City”: she says Suicune is hurt and sets up a “treatment device”. It is a brainwashing trap. You fight two Grunts in a row, then Rocket Elite Joy, and Crystal’s Meganium destroys the device. In the east part of B2F, reached from B3F, a Swinub Trainer wants 10 Durin Berries (the Mahogany nurse gives 15) and an old man can make the Anti-Age Spray. You need the spray in the final chapter.
Technical source (script files and flags)
guide/12 q-0339 (any time), q-0340 (the story’s Ice Path crossing), q-0355 (any time after the Team Rocket HQ chapter; needs 20 Durin Berries in total), q-0361 (Icicle Spear tutor, Black Belt Boyd, Blackthorn extras). Vars: file 101 script 3 @477 SetVar 0x40a2 = 2, script 4 @3793 = 3.
Blackthorn City. The town has a few errands before you take on the Gym. Crystal stands just outside the Gym with her Meganium and offers a practice battle for a PP Max: do it before the Dragon’s Den. A Blackthorn Trainer has lost his seven Johto Badges; the “Senior Trainer” on Route 45 with the kids only brags about them until you talk to the Blackthorn man (3 Energy Powder). On Route 45 a man looks after hurt wild Pokémon, and his rampaging Dragonite teaches Outrage.
Technical source (script files and flags)
guide/12 q-0341 (when you arrive in Blackthorn; Gold and Crystal have just lost to Clair), q-0342 (talk to the Blackthorn Trainer first), q-0345 (any time on Route 45). Arrival: file 939 (Blackthorn Gym), 937 (town).
Clair’s Gym. The Gym floor has holes: the wrong tile drops you back to the entrance. Clair will only face you in a Single Battle with Dragon-type or dragon-shaped Pokémon and checks your whole party against a fixed list (Gyarados, Charizard, Rhydon, Kingdra and so on; Horsea, Onix, Tyranitar and most other Gen 1-4 Pokémon are refused). Beat her (Lv. 85) and she still withholds the Badge: she sends you to the Elder in the Dragon’s Den.
Technical source (script files and flags)
guide/12 q-0343 (script file 939: @14168 SetVar 0x40a2 = 4 after the Clair battle; the party list; known issue clairs-dragon-rule).
The Dragon’s Den and the Rising Badge. North of town, Ace Trainer Ao Run stops you four steps in. The Dragon Shrine sits behind a whirlpool: examine it with the Volcano Badge to cross. Entering the shrine starts the Elder’s battle (six Lv. 90 dragons). Then five questions (you cannot fail them), and Clair arrives to give you the Rising Badge, TM59 Dragon Pulse and her number. The Elder is also where Mr. Fuji’s Mystery Stone becomes a Charizardite, and without the stone he teaches Dragon Rush. This closes for good (the Rising Badge): Crystal’s coaching outside the Gym, Sakura’s Water Stone request, the Three Island bikers (and the Protector reward from the Chief), the Razor Claw reward on Route 34 and the Four Island Mystery Stone buyer. Rock Climb works now.
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 111 (script 15 @926 SetVar 0x40a2 = 5), file 112 (script 6: @4849 SetVar 0x40a2 = 6 and the badge; @4859-@4917 clear the bikers’ flags 2013, 2014, 2018 and the asker’s flag 2022, set 2020, guide/05 q-0136 and file 879/735 notes; @4871 sets Big Sis’s hide flag 2019). guide/12 q-0346 (‘Getting the Rising Badge also ends Three Island’s biker occupation for good’), q-0341 (‘when you receive the Rising Badge she leaves her spot’), guide/10 q-0286 (‘once you have the Rising Badge she skips the request’), guide/09 q-0250 (claim the Razor Claw before the Rising Badge; handoff from agent 3), guide/05 q-0159 (after the Rising Badge he no longer buys; handoff from agent 3). Rock Climb needs CheckBadge 15 (guide/13 q-0367).
Back in Blackthorn City. Gold and Crystal meet you in front of the Gym: Gold has just won his eighth Badge and asks if you have all eight Johto Badges. With all eight (Zephyr to Rising) he admits he lost the race and gives 5 PP Max; with any missing he gives 1 PP Up, and Crystal adds 3 Max Revives either way. One chance. Elm in New Bark Town also has a present for all eight Badges: 5 Rare Candy and 5 PP Max.
Technical source (script files and flags)
guide/12 q-0344 (automatic right after the Rising Badge; the game checks all eight badges), guide/07 q-0191 (script file 840 script 1: CheckBadge 8 to 15, flag 220, items 50 and 53). Vars: file 937 @4630 SetVar 0x40a2 = 7 after the Dragon’s Den.
Quests in this chapter
Section titled “Quests in this chapter”Open the ones you want; tick Done to hide them. Filters at the top apply to this whole page.
Route 44 → Ice Path: the Cleffa con man (→ Dawn Stone)
Section titled “Route 44 → Ice Path: the Cleffa con man (→ Dawn Stone)”Where: Route 44, the girl with the Cleffa at the west end, a few steps north-east of the sign at the route’s west entrance. The con men wait on Ice Path 1F, in the middle of the floor.
Who gets it / when: any time you pass Route 44 on the way to the Ice Path.
How it works:
- Talk to the girl. A man who calls himself a Mossdeep Space Center researcher talks her into giving him her Cleffa “to send it home to the moon”, and walks off with it.
- On Ice Path 1F you find him with a partner, bragging that Cleffa family Pokémon pick up Moon Stones. “Help the girl get Cleffa back?” → Yes.
- You fight Scientist Zenith and Shady Guy Watanabe together (2-on-1): Muk, Dusknoir, Wobbuffet, Crawdaunt / Flygon, Scyther, Exploud, Carnivine, Lv. 62–65. Losing whites you out; the pair stay put and you can try again.
- You take Cleffa, and the game takes you straight back to the girl on Route 44. Reward: Dawn Stone (“the most precious thing I have”).
Notes: “No” at step 2 does nothing; talk to them again. One-time. Once it’s done the con men are gone.
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 99 (Ice Path 1F, script 11, L1829–L3503; flags 594, 203, 199); file 257 (Route 44, script 4, L108–L749 sets 199 and clears 594). Positions: girl ≈555,172; con men ≈31–32,26–27.
Route 44: the kid with his brother’s Heracross (→ Never-Melt Ice)
Section titled “Route 44: the kid with his brother’s Heracross (→ Never-Melt Ice)”Where: Route 44. A boy and a Sneasel kid are arguing in the middle of the route, on its south side. The boy’s older brother stands at the east end, not far west of the Ice Path entrance.
Who gets it / when: any time.
How it works:
- Talk to either kid. The boy’s Heracross flattens the Sneasel, then he asks if you want “a taste of Heracross’s power”. Answer Yes. If you say No he asks again, and you can say Yes then. You fight Bug Catcher Nate (a Lv. 82 Heracross plus three Lv. 7 cocoons). When he loses he blurts out that it’s his big brother’s Heracross, and he runs off to his brother.
- Before this, the brother only says his little brother keeps borrowing his Pokémon. Now talk to the brother and accept his battle: Ace Trainer Burke (Politoed, Pinsir, Heracross, Scizor, Armaldo, Butterfree, Lv. 81–82). If you say No to him, he just ends the talk; talk to him again.
- He recognises you as the Champion and asks what you thought of his brother. Both answers (“He used Heracross well” / “Never saw his Pokémon”) lead to the same talk about growing up with your own Pokémon. Reward: Never-Melt Ice (once).
Notes: losing either battle whites you out. You can retry.
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 257 (scripts 6/7 → L2092–L3388, TrainerBattle 920, flag 2239, clears 488; script 10 → L2419, L3390–L4112, TrainerBattle 921, item 246, flag 204). Trainer 921 has six Pokémon (Butterfree Lv. 81 included). Positions: kids ≈591–594,186; brother ≈619,174.
Ice Path 1F: the Icy Rock duel (→ Icy Rock)
Section titled “Ice Path 1F: the Icy Rock duel (→ Icy Rock)”Where: Ice Path 1F, north part of the floor. Two Trainers face off with a Glalie and an Abomasnow. The Icy Rock sits “on the other side of the ice”, about 14 steps east of them.
Who gets it / when: any time.
How it works:
- Walk up to either Trainer. They play out their “third duel today” and tie again. “Talk to them?” → Battling over who gets an item?
- → I want the Icy Rock too. They agree on a new rule: beat both of them back to back and the rock is yours. “Want in?” → Yes.
- Battle Ace Trainer Sue (Glalie, Piloswine, Aron Lv. 1, Lucario, Swampert; Lv. 81–82) and Veteran Frost (Abomasnow, Jynx, Castform, Walrein, Mamoswine; Lv. 81–82), one after the other with no healing in between. Which of them goes first depends on where you stand.
- Win both and pick up the Icy Rock item ball. Reward: Icy Rock. Afterwards Frost stands on the east side of the floor, about 14 steps north and 9 west of the exit to Blackthorn City, and offers a repeatable rematch, Single or Double Battle (Double needs two Pokémon).
Notes: these are Lv. 81–82 teams, far above the route’s other Trainers. Losing either battle whites you out, but nothing is lost: talk to them again to retry. “None of my business” or “Never mind” just ends the talk.
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 99 (scripts 3, 5, 8–10; L1369–L4544; flags 2244, 504, 2245). Positions: duelists ≈33,10–13; Icy Rock ≈47,10; Frost’s rematch spot ≈46,26.
Ice Path B2F: Nurse Joy’s Suicune trap (story)
Section titled “Ice Path B2F: Nurse Joy’s Suicune trap (story)”The Grunts are Lv. 62-65; Rocket Elite Joy is Lv. 86-87.
Where: Ice Path B2F, from the ledge where you land in the middle of the floor to the south-west corner.
Who gets it / when: the story’s Ice Path crossing, with Crystal (she studies the “damp soil” Suicune leaves, on 1F and B2F).
How it works: you meet Eusine chasing Suicune, and follow the trail to it. The “Joy from Blackthorn City” claims Suicune is hurt and sets up a “treatment device”; it’s the Team Rocket Joy, and the device is a brainwashing trap. Then:
- Two battles in a row against Team Rocket Grunts (Mightyena, Weezing, Magcargo, Honchkrow, Lv. 62–65). Joy heals her Grunts in between.
- Goh bursts in and catches Suicune, but it won’t obey him.
- Battle Rocket Elite Joy (Chansey, Seviper, Drapion, Granbull, Mismagius, Persian, Lv. 86–87). Losing any of these battles whites you out and the scene replays.
- Crystal’s Meganium destroys the device and calms Suicune with Aromatherapy; Suicune runs off, Team Rocket retreats and Goh leaves (he later hangs around Ice Path 1F). Reward: none (story).
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 101 (scripts 3 and 4; coord triggers at 49,32 and 13,55 on var 0x40a2 = 1 and 2; sets 0x40a2 = 3, flags 2242, 2243).
Ice Path B2F: the cursed tunnel, Swinub and the Anti-Age Spray (needed in the final chapter)
Section titled “Ice Path B2F: the cursed tunnel, Swinub and the Anti-Age Spray (needed in the final chapter)”Needs 10 Durin Berries for the Swinub Trainer and 10 more for the spray. Do first: Mahogany Pokémon Center: Durin Berries for the Ice Path (→ 15 Durin Berries).
Where: Ice Path B2F. The Swinub Trainer and a kid who guards the tunnel are in the east section, reached from B3F: about a dozen steps east of the stairs up from B3F. The tunnel starts just north of the kid and runs north to an ancient statue at its far end. The old man who knows about the curse is in the west part of the floor, about 20 steps east of the way back up to 1F.
Who gets it / when: any time after the Team Rocket HQ chapter. You need the spray in the final chapter: Giovanni and Cyrus go through this tunnel, and the kid turns you back at the entrance unless you carry an Anti-Age Spray.
How it works:
- Swinub Trainer. His Swinub ran into the tunnel and came out old and frail. He’s waiting for Durin Berries from Mahogany (Mahogany Pokémon Center: Durin Berries for the Ice Path). Talk to him with at least 10 Durin Berries: he takes 10 and gives you a Sacred Ash. With fewer than 10 he turns you away.
- Old man (west). Before step 1 he only warns you about the curse. After it, choose “How do I get through?”. He explains the spray and gives the recipe.
- Bring him 10 Durin Berries, 5 Rare Candies, 1 Sacred Ash, 1 Fresh Water and $10,000, then choose “Make me an Anti-Age Spray”. He takes it all and gives you the Anti-Age Spray. Missing anything: “You don’t have enough ingredients” (or not enough money); nothing is taken.
- At the tunnel. The kid stops you (“Hey! Wait up!”). If you carry the spray, you use it and may go in. Without it you’re turned back. Reward: access to the tunnel and the statue at its end (see below). The Swinub Trainer’s Sacred Ash.
Notes:
- You need 20 Durin Berries in total (10 for Swinub, 10 for the spray). The Mahogany nurse gives 15 and Fuchsia City gives 1, so you’ll have to grow more in Berry Pots or soft soil (not confirmed in game; see the known issue). Sacred Ash also comes from item balls and a Vermilion trade, so you can use the Swinub one or another.
- The old man says each bottle covers one trip and that he’ll make more. In fact the spray is never used up: keep it in the Bag and it works every time. He refuses to make a second while you hold one.
- Until you win the battle in Dialga’s space (final chapter), the tunnel re-locks every time you re-enter the floor, so keep the spray. After that battle it stays open. Your final Hall of Fame entry locks it once more; one more use of the spray then opens it for good.
- The kid calls the tunnel cursed when he stops you. Only when you talk to him while it’s already open does he say he “can’t feel the curse anymore”.
- The final-chapter scene (east section, a few steps north of the B3F stairs, after the Reversal Cave chapter): Giovanni has Giratina break the curse; the boy who had turned into an old man (a few steps east of the stairs) is young again, and Giovanni and Cyrus walk through the tunnel.
- The statue at the end: in the final chapter, after that scene, it “is giving off a mysterious power” and sends you to Dialga’s space. After your final Hall of Fame it works only if you carry the Adamant Orb (“The statue is resonating with the Adamant Orb you carry!”). Any other time it’s just “An ancient Pokémon statue.”
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 101 (scripts 2, 7–13; L4745–L7019; flags 2249, 2250, 2341, 1145, 1143; vars 0x4092, 0x40af; coord triggers 94–96,45 on 0x4092 = 0 and 85–86,50 on 0x40af = 8; statue warps L4177 and L5956 to map 521). Item 429 (Anti-Age Spray) is given at L6210 and never taken anywhere in the game. File 822 L2582 resets 0x4092 at the final Hall of Fame. On entering the floor, script 2 resets 0x4092 to 0 only while flag 2261 is clear and 0x40af < 10 (L4745–L4758); the kid’s “can’t feel the curse” line (L5455) needs 0x4092 ≥ 1 (L4870). Positions: Swinub Trainer ≈98,49; kid ≈95,48; tunnel entrance ≈95,45 (trigger 94–96,45); statue ≈95,15; old man ≈27,38; scene ≈85,50; aged boy ≈91,49; B3F stairs 84,53.
Ice Path / Blackthorn City: small extras
Section titled “Ice Path / Blackthorn City: small extras”A mixed entry. Santos (Saturdays) and the Blackthorn tutors are in town; the Play Rough tutor needs the runaway Trainer's errand from Route 36.
- Icicle Spear tutor (Ice Path 1F, with a Cloyster, just north of the stairs down to B2F): beat Ruin Maniac Dave (Cloyster, Corsola, Dewgong, Mamoswine, Lv. 62–65) once, and he teaches Icicle Spear free, as often as you like. Losing whites you out.
- Black Belt Boyd (Ice Path B2F, north part of the floor, east of the stairs from B1F): an optional battle (Gallade, Nidoking, Primeape, Aggron, Lv. 63–65). Win once for a Claw Fossil.
- Mawile Trainer (Blackthorn, on the east side of town, south of the Ice Path exit): a practice battle with Veteran Maureen (Ninjask, Mawile, Granbull, Azumarill, Lv. 62–65) gives a Blue Flute. One-time.
- EV trainers (Blackthorn): pay one Berry for a battle against six Lv. 30 Pokémon of one kind, repeatable. Aspear Berry → Sp. Def (Mr. Mime; the man with a Wormadam in the middle of town); Pecha Berry → Defense (Graveler; the man with a Graveler two steps west of the Poké Mart door). In the move tutor house’s east room (its own door on the east side of town, next to the man with a Slowking): Chesto Berry → Sp. Atk (Flaaffy); Rawst Berry → Attack (Dragonair).
- Santos, the Saturday sibling (Blackthorn, Saturdays only, in the middle of town, a few steps north-east of the man with the Wormadam): gives a Soft Sand. If you’ve met all seven siblings he gives your lead Pokémon a ribbon instead. The gift ends normally from rc8 (on rc7 and earlier its message stayed on screen until you walked away or pressed X; see the known issue).
- Play Rough tutor (Blackthorn move tutor house, the runaway Trainer’s father): the end of Route 36 gatehouse → Blackthorn City: the runaway Dragonair Trainer. He teaches Play Rough from rc8; on rc7 and earlier it was Flail (a hack bug; see the known issue).
- Photographers: Ice Path 1F (Fridays and Saturdays) and Blackthorn City (Sundays and Tuesdays).
Technical source (script files and flags)
Icicle Spear: script file 99 script 14, flag 2246 (≈52,16). Boyd: file 101 script 5, flag 2247 (≈54,17). Maureen: file 937 script 15, flag 2253 (≈693,156). EV trainers: file 937 scripts 19, 21 (≈674,163 and ≈665,176); file 944 scripts 4, 5 (≈37,37 and ≈40,38; the east room’s door is Blackthorn ≈684,168, warp anchor 2); trainers 939/940/942/943 have six Lv. 30 Pokémon each. Santos: file 937 script 7 (≈677,161); ribbon freeze: decision D-1331. Play Rough tutor: file 944 script 8 teaches Flail, decision D-1305; the tutor is the father (626#54, see Radio Tower, Ecruteak City and Olivine City). Photographers: file 99 L1320, file 937 L1544.
Blackthorn City: coaching Crystal (before the Rising Badge; missable)
Section titled “Blackthorn City: coaching Crystal (before the Rising Badge; missable)”Before you receive the Rising Badge. Crystal's team is Lv. 80-81.
Where: Blackthorn City, just outside the Gym, a few steps south-east of its door, with her Meganium. Gold and his Pokémon practise nearby.
Who gets it / when: when you arrive in Blackthorn. Gold and Crystal have both just lost to Clair. Missable: when you receive the Rising Badge she leaves her spot outside the Gym (she and Gold turn up again only for Gold’s Badge race), so coach her before you finish the Dragon’s Den.
How it works: Crystal asks for a practice battle → Yes. Battle Crystal (Meganium, Jynx, Hitmonchan, Xatu, Parasect, Marowak; Lv. 80–81). Losing whites you out; you can ask again.
Reward: PP Max. One-time.
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 937 (script 31, L1274–L2282; flags 499, 2254; badge 15). Crystal ≈672,155 (object 5, hide flag 512; Gold’s objects 0, 1, 10, 11 share it). 512 is set by the Rising Badge script itself (file 112 L4855, straight after GiveBadge 15 at L4728) and never cleared, so the badge branch at L1285 (msg 54, “Gold has gone into the Gym…”) never shows in play; earlier guide text said she then only talks about Gold.
Blackthorn City → Route 45: the stolen Badges (→ 3 Energy Powder)
Section titled “Blackthorn City → Route 45: the stolen Badges (→ 3 Energy Powder)”Where: the Trainer in Blackthorn City, three steps south of the Pokémon Center door; the “Senior Trainer” on Route 45, a few steps south-west of the Dark Cave exit, with two kids listening to him.
Who gets it / when: talk to the Blackthorn Trainer first. He has lost his seven Johto Badges. Until you do, the Senior Trainer on Route 45 only brags about his “8 Badges”.
How it works:
- On Route 45, the Senior Trainer brags about his seven Johto Badges plus a Cerulean Badge, and the kids are about to pay him for lessons. Talk to him and choose “Earned those Badges?”, then “Tell me your Badge story”. (“Someone lost their Badges” only makes him threaten to report you.)
- He offers four stories. Only one gives him away:
| Question | Result |
|---|---|
| Been to Sprout Tower? | he complains about the monks’ offerings (believable) |
| Like the Game Corner? | he always loses there (believable) |
| What’s Jasmine like? | he calls her “as cold as steel”. She’s actually gentle, and he’s caught out |
| How’d you beat Chuck? | Pidgeot with Gale Wings (believable) |
- After the Jasmine story he battles you: Guitarist Maha (Meowth, Murkrow, Lv. 25). Win, and he hands over the Badge Pouch. A loss whites you out. You can retry.
- Take it back to the Trainer in Blackthorn: “Return the Badges to the owner?” → Yes. Reward: 3 Energy Powder. The kids thank you for saving their allowance.
Notes: wrong stories cost nothing. Ask again as often as you like.
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 258 (script 4, L2060–L7207; needs flag 218; Badge Pouch item 440; sets flag 234), file 937 (script 33 sets 218; L2669, L3702–L4710 return and reward). Positions: Trainer ≈675,179; Senior Trainer ≈645,202.
Route 45: the rampaging Dragonite (→ Outrage tutor)
Section titled “Route 45: the rampaging Dragonite (→ Outrage tutor)”Where: a man in the south part of Route 45 who looks after badly hurt wild Pokémon. His Dragonite guards them across the river, about 11 steps east of him.
Who gets it / when: any time on Route 45.
How it works:
- Talk to the man. Dragonite roars, and he rushes back to his Pokémon.
- Walk to the spot where he keeps them, right beside the Dragonite. A man with a Zangoose is trying to catch the hurt Pokémon to sell. Dragonite drives him off, then keeps rampaging.
- You offer to hold it down: a battle against a Lv. 90 Dragonite (Choice Band, Outrage only). A loss whites you out, and the scene replays when you walk back.
- Win, and the man recognises you as the Champion. Reward: talk to him again for a free, repeatable Outrage move tutor (93 species).
Notes: the tutor needs the Dragonite battle done. The quest shares its progress with earlier Kanto story scenes, which are all over before you can reach Route 45, so this doesn’t affect you in normal play (known issue).
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 258 (script 13, L2233 tutor on var 0x40a5 ≥ 3; L2386 sets 0x40a5 = 2; coord script 14 on 0x40a5 = 2; L2616–L2867, trainer 949, sets 0x40a5 = 3). Var 0x40a5 is shared with Kanto scenes (S.S. Anne, Vermilion, Saffron) and reset by the Saffron takeover (file 17 L12039; known issues, D-1416). Tutor species list: work/docs/trades_tutors.md. Positions: man ≈648,320; Dragonite ≈659,324; scene spot ≈660–662,324.
Blackthorn Gym: Clair’s dragons-only rule (story; the Rising Badge)
Section titled “Blackthorn Gym: Clair’s dragons-only rule (story; the Rising Badge)”Clair's team is Lv. 85.
Where: Blackthorn Gym. Clair is at the far (north) end.
Who gets it / when: story. Clair doubts your Champion title and sets terms.
How it works:
- The floor has holes: stepping on the wrong tile drops you back to the entrance.
- Clair: “face me in a Single Battle using Dragon-type or dragon-shaped Pokémon.” Say yes. She checks your whole party. Every Pokémon must be on her list, or she sends you away (“Go sort out your team and come back”).
- Allowed (Gen 1–4): Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Kangaskhan, Seadra, Kingdra, Magmar, Gyarados, Lapras, Porygon, Porygon2, Porygon-Z, Aerodactyl, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Feraligatr, Ampharos, Dunsparce, Steelix, Sceptile, Vibrava, Flygon, Altaria, Corphish, Crawdaunt, Kecleon, Tropius, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Latias, Latios, Rayquaza, Cranidos, Rampardos, Shieldon, Bastiodon, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp, Drapion, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina. Not allowed: Horsea, Trapinch, Swablu, Onix, Tyranitar and every other Gen 1–4 Pokémon. About half of the later-generation Pokémon are also allowed (a suspected hack bug; see the known issue).
- Battle Clair: Gyarados, Dragonair, Dragonite, Kingdra, Baxcalibur, Rhyperior, all Lv. 85.
- She still won’t give the Badge. She sends you to the Elder’s shrine in the Dragon’s Den, north of the Gym (see Dragon’s Den: the Elder’s trial). Reward: the Dragon’s Den opens. The Rising Badge comes from the Dragon’s Den.
Notes: after you have the Rising Badge, Clair offers repeatable rematches (Single or Double, Lv. 89–90 team), and the man just inside the entrance, on the left, teaches Dragon Dance. After your final Hall of Fame entry, Clair is in the Gym at every hour, and between 6:00 and 9:59 she’s also training in the Dragon’s Den at the same time (see the Clair photo under small extras).
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 939 (script 1, L853–L14176 party check, 698 PlayerHasSpecies tests; flag 209; sets 0x40a2 = 4; rematch L14918, trainer 719, Lv. 89–90, Doubles uses the same id twice, a Double Battle against one copy of the team). Of the 532 later-generation species, 252 are banned. Positions: Clair ≈12,3; Dragon Dance tutor ≈11,82. Morning absence: on-load script 2 L54 → after flag 2261 → L726 CheckBadge 15 (the Rising Badge, given by file 112 GiveBadge 15): with it L14906 clears hide flag 751; without it ScrCmd_522 (hour) 6–9 → L14912 sets 751, other hours L801 clears it. Dragon’s Den Clair (file 111 L795 → L1678, flag 521) shows at 6–9 after 2261 with no badge check, so with the badge she is in both places. Vanilla HeartGold (US ROM, file 943 L26–L272) hides her 6–9 when her number isn’t registered and 16–18 when it is; the hack replaced the phone check with the badge check.
Dragon’s Den: the Elder’s trial (the Rising Badge)
Section titled “Dragon’s Den: the Elder’s trial (the Rising Badge)”Needs the Volcano Badge to cross the whirlpool. Do the Three Island biker errands first. The Elder's team is Lv. 90. Do first: Blackthorn Gym: Clair's dragons-only rule (story; the Rising Badge).
Where: Dragon’s Den (north of Blackthorn City) and the Dragon Shrine on the island in the middle of the lake.
Who gets it / when: after Clair’s Gym challenge sends you to the Elder (Blackthorn Gym).
How it works:
- Gatekeeper: just inside the Den, four steps in from the entrance, Ace Trainer Ao Run stops you: Charizard, Aerodactyl, Kingdra, Drapion (Lv. 65). A loss whites you out.
- Whirlpool: the shrine sits behind a whirlpool. Examine it with the Volcano Badge (Blaine) to cross; no party Pokémon needs to know Whirlpool, and the game uses your first healthy Pokémon (Field moves; not confirmed in game). The man by the water on the west side of the Den still says the move comes from the young man with glasses in Olivine City (Olivine City: … HM05 Whirlpool).
- The Elder’s battle: entering the shrine starts it. Elder Tianyuan: Dragonite, Salamence, Garchomp, Altaria, Flygon, Kingdra, all Lv. 90 with competitive sets. A loss whites you out. Retry.
- The quiz: five questions. A “wrong” answer just gets “Hah? I didn’t quite catch that…” and the same question again, so you can’t fail.
| Question | Accepted | Rejected |
|---|---|---|
| What are Pokémon to you? | ALLY, FRIEND | JUNIOR |
| What helps you to win battles? | STRATEGY, TRAINING | CHEATING |
| What kind of Trainer do you wish to battle? | STRONG, ANYONE | WEAK |
| What is most important for raising Pokémon? | LOVE, KNOWLEDGE | VIOLENCE |
| Strong Pokémon. Weak Pokémon. Which is more important? | BOTH, WEAKNESS | STRENGTH |
- “Are you confident in yourself?” Either answer ends the same way (“No” gets a pep talk, then the question again). Reward: Clair arrives, apologises and gives you the Rising Badge (lets you use Rock Climb), TM59 Dragon Pulse and her Pokégear number.
Notes:
- Getting the Rising Badge also ends Three Island’s biker occupation for good (Sevii Islands and Indigo Plateau). Do those quests first.
- Unlike vanilla HeartGold, there’s no gift for answering every question right the first time.
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 111 (coord script 1 on var 0x40a2 = 4, trainer 936, sets 0x40a2 = 5; script 15), file 112 (script 4, L128–L4926; trainer 937; menu values from bank 0189#280–294; GiveBadge 15; item 386; sets 0x40a2 = 6 and flags 1663, 2013–2022), file 939 L14168 (Gym sets 0x40a2 = 4); whirlpool prompt: file 146 L2559 CheckBadge 6 (Volcano), GetPartySlotWithMove ignores the move (D-1428). Positions: gatekeeper trigger ≈27–29,10; Whirlpool man ≈6,31.
Dragon Shrine: the Mystery Stone becomes a Charizardite, and the Dragon Rush tutor
Section titled “Dragon Shrine: the Mystery Stone becomes a Charizardite, and the Dragon Rush tutor”Carry Mr. Fuji's Mystery Stone for the Charizardite; do not sell it on Four Island.
Where: the Elder at the back of the Dragon Shrine.
Who gets it / when: any time you carry Mr. Fuji’s Mystery Stone (Vermilion City to Celadon City; don’t sell it on Four Island, Sevii Islands and Indigo Plateau).
How it works:
- Talk to the Elder. “I sense something round on you…” → “A Mystery Stone in my Bag”.
- He asks you to hold the stone and remember your first Pokémon, your first victory, your happiest times, how your Pokémon partners have grown, and your toughest battle.
- The Mystery Stone changes into a Charizardite. Reward: Charizardite. There’s no starter check here, unlike Cerulean Cave (Pokémon League, Mt. Silver and New Bark Town).
Notes:
- “I don’t know what it is” just ends the talk. While you carry the Mystery Stone, the Elder asks about it instead of offering his move.
- Dragon Rush tutor: without the stone, the Elder offers Dragon Rush for free, as often as you like. Only 21 strong species can learn it: Charizard, Dragonite, Steelix, Flygon, Altaria, Tropius, Salamence, Latias, Latios, Rayquaza, Garchomp, Rhyperior, Haxorus, Hydreigon, Aurorus, Goodra, Kommo-o, Dragapult, Dudunsparce, Baxcalibur and Hydrapple.
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 112 (script 1; L663–L3289, TakeItem 504, item 325; L3291–L5712 tutor, move 407, species list L5213; the five memories are msgs 55–59). Elder ≈6,9.
Blackthorn City: Gold’s Badge race (→ PP Max ×5 or PP Up)
Section titled “Blackthorn City: Gold’s Badge race (→ PP Max ×5 or PP Up)”One chance, right after the Rising Badge. Bring all eight Johto Badges for 5 PP Max. Do first: Dragon's Den: the Elder's trial (the Rising Badge).
Where: Blackthorn City, in front of the Gym, as you come back from the Dragon’s Den.
Who gets it / when: automatic, right after you receive the Rising Badge. One chance.
How it works: Gold has just won his 8th Badge and asks if you’ve got all 8 Johto Badges. The game checks all eight (Zephyr to Rising).
Reward:
- All eight: Gold admits he lost the race and gives 5 PP Max.
- Any missing: Gold gloats and gives 1 PP Up.
- Either way Crystal then gives 3 Max Revives, and they both head home to train for the Indigo Conference.
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 937 (script 32, coord trigger 665–671,152–155 on var 0x40a2 = 6; L3263–L4658; sets 0x40a2 = 7, flag 515).
New Bark Town: show Prof. Elm all eight Johto Badges (→ Rare Candy, PP Max)
Section titled “New Bark Town: show Prof. Elm all eight Johto Badges (→ Rare Candy, PP Max)”Needs all eight Johto Badges (Zephyr to Rising). Elm is in his lab in New Bark Town.
Where: Prof. Elm in his lab.
How it works: talk to him once you have all eight Johto Badges (Zephyr to Rising). He praises your progress. With some but not all of them, he tells you to come back with all eight for a present; with none, he only asks how your journey is going.
Reward: 5 Rare Candy and 5 PP Max (once).
Technical source (script files and flags)
script file 840 (script 1 → L2729–L2934; CheckBadge 8–15; flag 220; items 50, 53; missing badge → L3401, message 535#33 “come see me once you’ve collected all eight”; 535#32 is the no-badge line).
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