How Many Legendary Pokemon Can You Catch in Pokémon SoulSilver?
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The thrill of Pokémon SoulSilver lies not just in completing the Pokédex, but also in capturing the most powerful and elusive creatures in the game: the Legendary Pokémon. So, how many of these magnificent beings can you realistically add to your team in Pokémon SoulSilver? The answer depends on your definition of “catchable” and how much effort you’re willing to put into the game. A definitive answer is about 17 considering those exclusive to SoulSilver and the roaming ones.
This article dives into the specifics of Legendary Pokémon available in SoulSilver, outlining which ones can be caught, where to find them, and any special conditions that must be met. We will also provide a detailed FAQ section to address any other common questions about Legendary Pokémon in SoulSilver.
Legendary Pokémon Catchable in SoulSilver
Here’s a rundown of the Legendary Pokémon you can directly catch in SoulSilver, without relying on trading from other games (though trading expands possibilities, as we’ll explore later):
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Lugia: As the mascot of SoulSilver, Lugia is a guaranteed catch, appearing in the Whirl Islands. You encounter Lugia before the Elite Four, making it available early in your journey.
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Ho-Oh: Ho-Oh is a key Legendary that appears after obtaining the Rainbow Wing and reaching the top of the Bell Tower in Ecruteak City.
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Raikou, Entei, and Suicune: These Legendary Beasts roam the Johto region after you release them from the Burned Tower. Raikou and Entei wander randomly, while Suicune has set locations.
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Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres: These Legendary Birds are found in the Kanto region after you obtain the National Pokédex. Articuno is in Seafoam Islands, Zapdos is outside the Power Plant, and Moltres is on Mt. Ember.
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Mewtwo: Arguably one of the most iconic Legendary Pokémon, Mewtwo resides in Cerulean Cave after you defeat the Elite Four and obtain the National Pokédex.
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Kyogre: To catch Kyogre, you need to trade with someone who has Groudon from HeartGold. By showing Groudon to Mr. Pokemon, you will receive the Blue Orb to awaken Kyogre in the cave in Route 47.
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Rayquaza: In order to receive the Jade Orb, you need to have Groudon that was caught in SoulSilver and a Kyogre that was caught in HeartGold in your party and show them to Professor Oak at his lab in Pallet Town, in order to receive the Jade Orb item. Once you have this item, you can return to the Embedded Tower and encounter Rayquaza there.
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Latias: Latias only appears in the Kanto region after defeating the Elite Four and talking to Steven Stone after obtaining the National Pokédex.
Event Exclusive Legendaries
These are the ones that are not accessible anymore unless through trading or if someone has an Action Replay or similar cheating device.
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Arceus: The mythical Arceus, often considered the “god” of Pokémon, was only obtainable through a special event utilizing the Azure Flute item at the Hall of Origin. This event is no longer accessible, making Arceus unobtainable in SoulSilver without trading.
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Celebi: Similar to Arceus, Celebi was available through a special event using the GS Ball. Without this event, Celebi remains unavailable in SoulSilver outside of trades.
Factors Influencing Catch Rates
Catching Legendary Pokémon is never a walk in the park. Their catch rates are notoriously low, and you’ll need to employ various strategies to improve your chances.
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Pokémon Health: Lowering a Legendary’s health significantly increases the likelihood of a successful catch. False Swipe is a valuable move for reducing HP to 1 without knocking out the target.
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Status Conditions: Inflicting status conditions such as Sleep or Paralysis drastically improves catch rates. Sleep is generally more effective, but Paralysis can be easier to inflict reliably.
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Poké Balls: Using high-quality Poké Balls like Ultra Balls and Timer Balls (which become more effective the longer the battle lasts) is crucial. Dusk Balls are useful in caves or at night.
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Patience: Be prepared for a long and arduous battle. Catching Legendary Pokémon often requires multiple attempts and a considerable amount of patience.
Trading: Expanding Your Legendary Horizons
While you can catch a substantial number of Legendary Pokémon within SoulSilver itself, trading opens up a world of possibilities. You can trade with players who own HeartGold to obtain version-exclusive Legendaries like Groudon or Latias. Using online trading features and interacting with other players is the only way to fill your Legendary roster completely.
Remember to explore reputable online communities and forums to find reliable trading partners.
FAQs: Legendary Pokémon in SoulSilver
1. What is the base catch rate of most Legendaries in SoulSilver?
Most Legendary Pokémon in SoulSilver have a base catch rate of 3, which translates to a very low chance of catching them with a standard Poké Ball at full health.
2. Can Legendary Pokémon be shiny in SoulSilver?
Yes, all Legendary Pokémon that can be encountered in the wild in SoulSilver can be shiny. However, encountering a shiny Legendary is incredibly rare, with a 1 in 8192 chance (without considering any shiny-boosting methods).
3. Do Legendaries respawn in SoulSilver if I accidentally defeat them?
Yes, in HeartGold and SoulSilver, if you accidentally defeat a Legendary such as Lugia, they will respawn each time you beat the Elite Four.
4. What Legendary Pokémon can I get before the Elite Four in SoulSilver?
Before the Elite Four in SoulSilver, you can catch Lugia and, depending on events, potentially Celebi and Arceus as mentioned earlier.
5. Can I get both Lugia and Ho-Oh in SoulSilver?
Yes! It has been confirmed, Ho-Oh can be obtained in each version of the game, just at different points in the story depending on your version. If you’re playing Silver version, you’re going to be encountering Lugia much earlier in the story than Ho-Oh, before the Elite Four.
6. What is the best Poké Ball to use for catching Legendaries?
While Master Balls guarantee a catch, they are limited. Ultra Balls are the next best option, especially when combined with status conditions and low health. Timer Balls become increasingly effective over time, and Dusk Balls are useful in caves or at night.
7. How do I encounter Raikou and Entei in SoulSilver?
Raikou and Entei are roaming Legendaries that appear randomly in the Johto region after being released from the Burned Tower. Use the Marking Map app on your PokéGear to track their locations.
8. How do I get the National Pokédex in SoulSilver?
You obtain the National Pokédex by defeating the Elite Four and then talking to Professor Oak in his lab.
9. Can I get Deoxys in SoulSilver?
In Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver, the only way to catch Deoxys is in the Pal Park.
10. Can I still get Arceus in SoulSilver?
Unfortunately, if you missed the distribution event when the game was first released, you cannot legitimately obtain Arceus on SoulSilver; unless you can find someone to trade it with. The only way to get Arceus is by an event, and the event passed long ago.
11. What are the unobtainable Pokémon in SoulSilver?
Unobtainable Pokémon include Mew, Celebi (without the event), Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Jirachi, Deoxys, and the Three Starters from Hoenn / Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald.
12. What is the rarest Pokémon type?
Ice-Type Pokémon are the rarest.
13. Can there be more than one of a Legendary Pokémon?
There can be more than one Pokémon within a species of Legendary Pokémon, but not all Legendary Pokémon have more than one pokemon within the species.
14. Is Phione a Legendary Pokémon?
Phione has a debated Legendary status as is.
15. Is Pokémon considered learning material?
Absolutely! Games like Pokémon can foster strategic thinking, problem-solving, and even collaboration. Organizations such as the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) actively explore the educational potential of games.