Appendix:HeartGold and SoulSilver walkthrough/Section 15

Indigo Plateau

Inside the lobby

The Indigo Plateau is where Trainers come to challenge the Pokémon League and prove that they have what it takes to be the best. The game's almost over... well, not really. After defeating the Elite Four and the Champion, you'll get to travel through Kanto as well.

The Elite Four members aren't called "elite" for nothing, so you should train your Pokémon team to at least level 50 before challenging them. Unlike your battle with the Kimono Girls, you'll have the chance to save your game and use your items between each battle; however, you won't have access to a Poké Center, so make sure to stock up on Full Restores, Max Potions, Full Heals, and Revives. The old man and his Abra are still here from Generation II, but aren't feeling as useful anymore, since more and more Trainers have been flying home when they get discouraged, rather than teleport.

In order to be well-prepared for the next five battles, it is important to bring a team with a wide range of attack types:

Opponent	Advantageous Attack Types
Will (Template:Type2)
Koga (Template:Type2)
Bruno (Template:Type2)
Karen (Template:Type2)
Lance (Template:Type2)

Assemble your best team, save your game, and talk to the guard to enter the first room.

The Elite Four

Battle 1: Will

The first battle is against Will and his mind-numbing Template:Type2s. Take him down with Ghost- and Template:Type2 moves.

As part of the Psychic-type, all of his Pokémon can inflict a lot of damage with the Psychic move. You should also be prepared for Xatu's Confuse Ray and Exeggutor's Hypnosis. Ghost- and Dark attacks — especially moves like Shadow Ball and Crunch — are your best offense against his team. If you chose Totodile as your starter, a few bites from Feraligatr's massive jaws can whip through Will's entire team without much of a problem. Aside from that, you could also use a strong Template:Type2 move (like Thunderbolt) to make short work of his Slowbro and his pair of Xatu. Powerful Fire- or Template:Type2 attacks (like Flamethrower or Bug Buzz) are also useful against his Exeggutor and Jynx.

File:WillHGSS.gif Elite Four Will Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Elite Four and Professor Will Oak Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $5040

Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Synchronize Held item: None Xatu♀ Lv.40 U-turn Bug Physical   --       Me First Normal Status   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Types: Ice Psychic Ability: Oblivious Held item: None Jynx♀ Lv.41 Lovely Kiss Normal Status   --       DoubleSlap Normal Physical   --       Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Types: Water Psychic Ability: Own Tempo Held item: Unknown Slowbro♀ Lv.41 Curse ??? Status   --       Amnesia Psychic Status   --       Water Pulse Water Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Types: Grass Psychic Ability: Chlorophyll Held item: None Exeggutor♀ Lv.41 Reflect Psychic Status   --       Hypnosis Psychic Status   --       Egg Bomb Normal Physical   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Early Bird Held item: Sitrus Berry Xatu♀ Lv.42 Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Ominous Wind Ghost Special   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --

After defeating Will, heal your team, reorganize your party with your Template:Type2 in the lead, and step through the door to the second battle.

Battle 2: Koga

The second battle is against Koga, former Gym Leader of Kanto's Fuchsia City, and his group of venomous Template:Type2s. Ensure a quick victory with Fire- and Template:Type2 moves.

Koga's Pokémon have plenty of poisonous attacks. You can avoid unpleasant status problems by sending a Template:Type2 (like Skarmory) into battle, since they are immune to Poison-type attacks. His Forretress' Toxic Spikes move is a real pain, because it can leave your Pokémon badly poisoned when they switch into battle. Wrap up this battle in a hurry by scorching Forretress with Fire attacks, its only weakness. Use Psychic attacks to mop up the rest of Koga's team.

File:KogaHGSS.gif Elite Four Koga Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Elite Four and Professor Koga Oak Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $5080

Types: Bug Poison Ability: Insomnia Held item: None Ariados♂ Lv.40 Spider Web Bug Status   --       Poison Jab Poison Physical   --       Giga Drain Grass Special   --       Baton Pass Normal Status   --       Types: Bug Steel Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Forretress♂ Lv.43 Swift Normal Special   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Explosion Normal Physical   --       Toxic Spikes Poison Status   --       Types: Poison Unknown Ability: Sticky Hold Held item: Black Sludge Muk♂ Lv.42 Minimize Normal Status   --       Gunk Shot Poison Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Types: Bug Poison Ability: Shield Dust Held item: None Venomoth♂ Lv.41 Toxic Poison Status   --       Supersonic Normal Status   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Gust Flying Special   --       Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: Sitrus Berry Crobat♂ Lv.44 Double Team Normal Status   --       Wing Attack Flying Physical   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Poison Fang Poison Physical   --

Once Koga is defeated, take the opportunity to heal your team and shift your Template:Type2 to the lead position. Step through the door to fight your third elite battle.

Battle 3: Bruno

The third battle is against Bruno and his bulky Template:Type2s. Flying- and Template:Type2 moves are your way to victory here.

Apart from Onix, Bruno's Pokémon are all of the Fighting-type. With their high Attack power, their physical moves are sure to inflict serious damage. A Fighting-type's only weaknesses are Psychic- and Flying attacks, so use those moves to cut their health down to size. Look out for Hitmonchan's elemental punches, which can cover a wide range of an opponent's types. Flood the battlefield with your Template:Type2 when his Onix shows up, and the third battle is over.

File:BrunoHGSS.gif Elite Four Bruno Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Elite Four and Professor Bruno Oak Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $5520

Types: Fighting Unknown Ability: Technician Held item: None Hitmontop♂ Lv.42 Dig Ground Physical   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Counter Fighting Physical   --       Triple Kick Fighting Physical   --       Types: Fighting Unknown Ability: Reckless Held item: None Hitmonlee♂ Lv.42 Blaze Kick Fire Physical   --       Focus Energy Normal Status   --       Hi Jump Kick Fighting Physical   --       Swagger Normal Status   --       Types: Fighting Unknown Ability: Iron Fist Held item: None Hitmonchan♂ Lv.42 Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       ThunderPunch Electric Physical   --       Fire Punch Fire Physical   --       Bullet Punch Steel Physical   --       Types: Rock Ground Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Onix♂ Lv.43 Sandstorm Rock Status   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       DragonBreath Dragon Special   --       Types: Fighting Unknown Ability: No Guard Held item: Sitrus Berry Machamp♂ Lv.46 Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Cross Chop Fighting Physical   --       Revenge Fighting Physical   --       Foresight Normal Status   --

After your battle with Bruno, rest your team well. There is no single type with an advantage over the fourth member's entire team, but a Fighting- or a Template:Type2 Pokémon should be your lead.

Battle 4: Karen

The fourth battle pits you against Karen and her cunning Template:Type2s. Attack her weaknesses with Psychic-, Fighting-, and Template:Type2 moves. Her lead Pokémon is immune to Template:Type2 attacks, so a Template:Type2 is preferred for your lead Pokémon.

Out of all of Karen's Pokémon, her Gengar is the one to really watch out for — its Spite move can decimate your team's Power points. Target its weaknesses to take it out before it becomes a problem. Houndoom is a tough foe, too — it likes to raise its Sp. Attack with Nasty Plot, then go on the offensive with Dark Pulse. Hit back where it hurts by using Water- and Template:Type2 attacks.

File:KarenHGSS.gif Elite Four Karen Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Elite Four and Professor Karen Oak Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $5640

Types: Dark Unknown Ability: Synchronize Held item: None Umbreon♂ Lv.42 Double Team Normal Status   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Grass Poison Ability: Chlorophyll Held item: None Vileplume♀ Lv.42 Stun Spore Grass Status   --       Petal Dance Grass Special   --       Acid Poison Special   --       Moonlight Normal Status   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Super Luck Held item: None Murkrow♀ Lv.44 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Pluck Flying Physical   --       Whirlwind Normal Status   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: None Gengar♀ Lv.45 Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Destiny Bond Ghost Status   --       Spite Ghost Status   --       Lick Ghost Physical   --       Types: Dark Fire Ability: Flash Fire Held item: Sitrus Berry Houndoom♀ Lv.47 Nasty Plot Dark Status   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --

Once Karen has fallen, tend to your team and swap your Template:Type2 into the lead.

Battle 5: The Champion

With the Elite Four behind you, there is only one person left standing between you and the Hall of Fame: Lance, master of dragons, and Champion of the Pokémon League! This will be your toughest battle yet, but find a way to slay his dragons, and you'll be recognized as the most powerful Trainer in all of Johto and Kanto!

Lance opens with his Gyarados, which may as well be a lightning rod for a strong Thunderbolt. As a way to show his mastery of the Dragon-type, Lance has raised not one, not two, but three Dragonite. Two are on level 49, but his level 50 Dragonite can do major damage with Outrage, and its Fire Blast will cause you a lot of pain, too. His dragon trio all know the Hyper Beam move, and each has one of the strongest elemental attacks (Blizzard, Thunder, and Fire Blast) as well. Avoid sending a Water-type to fight his Aerodactyl, due to its Thunder Fang move — use a Water-type attack instead. All six of his Pokémon are weak to Template:Type2 attacks, so moves like Rock Slide are effective. If all else fails, pummel his team with Template:Type2 attacks, and his draconian army will be nothing but a memory.

File:LanceHGSS.gif Champion Lance Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Champion and Professor Lance Oak Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $10000

Types: Water Flying Ability: Intimidate Held item: Unknown Gyarados♂ Lv.46 Dragon Pulse Dragon Special   --       Flail Normal Physical   --       Waterfall Water Physical   --       Ice Fang Ice Physical   --       Types: Dragon Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: Unknown Dragonite♂ Lv.49 Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Hyper Beam Normal Special   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Dragon Rush Dragon Physical   --       Types: Dragon Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: Unknown Dragonite♂ Lv.49 Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Hyper Beam Normal Special   --       Blizzard Ice Special   --       Dragon Rush Dragon Physical   --       Types: Rock Flying Ability: Pressure Held item: Unknown Aerodactyl♂ Lv.48 Thunder Fang Electric Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Types: Fire Flying Ability: Blaze Held item: Unknown Charizard♂ Lv.48 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Fire Fang Fire Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Dragon Claw Dragon Physical   --       Types: Dragon Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: Sitrus Berry Dragonite♂ Lv.50 Safeguard Normal Status   --       Outrage Dragon Physical   --       Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Hyper Beam Normal Special   --

After finally defeating the Pokémon League, Lance compliments you, saying how much you've grown with your Pokémon. However, he is interrupted by DJ Mary, who is looking for an interview with the newly-crowned Pokémon Champion. She's a little late to see the battle, but it's not her fault - Professor Oak isn't as quick as he used to be. He applauds your domination of the Pokémon League, and tells you that your Pokémon persevered because they believed in you as a Trainer. Mary is quick to try for that interview, but Lance steps in to take you away from the noise, much to Mary's dismay.

Lance takes you to the Hall of Fame room, and tells you that it has been a long time since he was last here. He explains the machine in front of you, saying that this is where Pokémon League Champions are honored, along with their courageous Pokémon. He activates the machine, registering you and your partners as Hall of Fame members.

As the credits roll, you'll get to see all the major characters of Johto, including Elm, the Gym Leaders, and the Elite Four in a quick cutscene.
"The End" appears on the screen and the game saves, but that's not truly the end...

Later...

Once you've defeated Silver inside Mt. Moon, and battled alongside him against Lance and Clair in Dragon's Den, your rival will appear in the lobby every Monday and Wednesday, waiting to challenge you to a rematch. His Pokémon are at their highest levels, so prepare for a tough fight.

If the player chose Chikorita:	If the player chose Cyndaquil:	If the player chose Totodile:
File:SilverHGSS.gif Rival Silver Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Rival and Professor Silver Oak Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $3840 Types: Dark Ice Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Sneasel♂ Lv.55 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Icy Wind Ice Special   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Magnet Pull Held item: None Magneton Lv.55 Discharge Electric Special   --       Magnet Bomb Steel Physical   --       Mirror Shot Steel Special   --       Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: None Gengar♂ Lv.56 Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Crobat♂ Lv.58 Air Cutter Flying Special   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Types: Psychic Unknown Ability: Synchronize Held item: None Alakazam♂ Lv.56 Psychic Psychic Special   --       Reflect Psychic Status   --       Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Recover Normal Status   --       Types: Fire Unknown Ability: Blaze Held item: None Typhlosion♂ Lv.60 Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Rollout Rock Physical   --       Will-O-Wisp Fire Status   --       Swift Normal Special   --	File:SilverHGSS.gif Rival Silver Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Rival and Professor Silver Oak Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $3840 Types: Dark Ice Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Sneasel♂ Lv.55 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Icy Wind Ice Special   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Magnet Pull Held item: None Magneton Lv.55 Discharge Electric Special   --       Magnet Bomb Steel Physical   --       Mirror Shot Steel Special   --       Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: None Gengar♂ Lv.56 Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Crobat♂ Lv.58 Air Cutter Flying Special   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Types: Psychic Unknown Ability: Synchronize Held item: None Alakazam♂ Lv.56 Psychic Psychic Special   --       Reflect Psychic Status   --       Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Recover Normal Status   --       Types: Water Unknown Ability: Torrent Held item: None Feraligatr♂ Lv.60 Ice Fang Ice Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Aqua Tail Water Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --	File:SilverHGSS.gif Rival Silver Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Rival and Professor Silver Oak Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $3840 Types: Dark Ice Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Sneasel♂ Lv.55 Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Icy Wind Ice Special   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Magnet Pull Held item: None Magneton Lv.55 Discharge Electric Special   --       Magnet Bomb Steel Physical   --       Mirror Shot Steel Special   --       Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: None Gengar♂ Lv.56 Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Crobat♂ Lv.58 Air Cutter Flying Special   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Types: Psychic Unknown Ability: Synchronize Held item: None Alakazam♂ Lv.56 Psychic Psychic Special   --       Reflect Psychic Status   --       Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Recover Normal Status   --       Types: Grass Unknown Ability: Overgrow Held item: None Meganium♂ Lv.60 Synthesis Grass Status   --       Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Petal Dance Grass Special   --       Light Screen Psychic Status   --