Origin HeartGold quest guide

Side quests, puzzles and easy-to-miss events in Origin HeartGold (起源心金 v4.0.3), region by region in rough play order.

Everything here was read from the game’s own data, not from play-testing. The English patch doesn’t change what happens in quests, so what’s described is how the original Chinese hack behaves. Directions are approximate, and steps marked “not confirmed in game” have not been checked by playing. The game starts in Pallet Town in Kanto. Johto opens up after you become Kanto Champion and finish the story scenes that follow (see Pokémon League, Mt. Silver and New Bark Town).

Several quests depend on your starter (Charmander, Pikachu or Bulbasaur), gender, the weekday, or earlier choices. Each entry says so in its title or under Who gets it. “Post-game” in this guide means after your final Hall of Fame entry; things that open after your first one say so.

Regions

• Pallet Town to Pewter City (22)

• Pewter City to Vermilion City (23)

• Vermilion City to Celadon City (29)

• Celadon City, Fuchsia City and Saffron City (35)

• Saffron City to Cinnabar Island (38)

• Sevii Islands and Indigo Plateau (27)

• Pokémon League, Mt. Silver and New Bark Town (21)

• Cherrygrove City to Azalea Town (42)

• Ilex Forest and Goldenrod City (28)

• Radio Tower, Ecruteak City and Olivine City (37)

• Battle Frontier, Cianwood City and Mahogany Town (25)

• Lake of Rage, Blackthorn City and beyond (31)

• Dungeons, Battle Tower and game-wide events (6)

• Known issues: suspected bugs in the original hack that affect quests (reported, not fixed).

Start here

• Romance route: how it’s unlocked, how your partner is chosen, and what locks a partner out (central entry)
• Field moves: which Badge each one needs
• Pallet Town: Lance’s visit home (after the final Hall of Fame): what opens up after your final Hall of Fame entry

Quests that depend on your starter

• Pallet Town: send-off gifts (one per starter, before Viridian)
• Viridian City: the Meowth thief (Charmander starters only)
• Viridian City: the Pikachu thief (Bulbasaur starters only)
• Viridian City: the Mankey thief (Pikachu starters only)
• Route 2: the Rocket warehouse Poké Ball (starter-dependent gift)
• Route 2 East: the abandoned Charmander (Pikachu starters only)
• Route 2 East: Nidoran♀ and the Apricorn Ball maker (non-Pikachu starters)
• Viridian Forest: lend her a Pidgeot (Pikachu starters only)
• Route 3: the Scyther chase (Charmander starters) / Bug Catcher Kenji (others)
• Route 5: the Pokémon shelter raid (Bulbasaur at risk for Pikachu starters, Growlithe for others)
• Route 9: the Squirtle Squad steals your Pokédex (Pikachu starters only)
• Celadon Gym: sneaking in dressed as a girl (if you insulted Erika; Charmander starters can get Green instead of Misty after a failed attempt)
• Victory Road: the Indigo Conference qualifiers (which 3F Trainer is the disguised Janine depends on your starter, gender and Route 11 choice)
• Cerulean Cave: Giovanni’s duel and the Charizardite (the Charizardite is for Charmander starters only)
• Goldenrod City: the fortune-teller’s “ideal Pokémon” reading (gift item depends on your starter)