When to Fight Kimono Girls?

To fight the Kimono Girls, you must first earn all eight Johto Badges and obtain the Master Ball from Professor Elm, after which you can travel to Ecruteak City and battle the five Kimono Girls consecutively to obtain the Clear Bell in HeartGold or the Tidal Bell in SoulSilver. The battle with the Kimono Girls is a crucial step in the game, and understanding when and how to engage in this battle is essential for progressing through the story and unlocking certain Pokémon, such as Lugia.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. Do you have to fight the Kimono Girls? Yes, fighting the Kimono Girls is a required step in the game to obtain the Clear Bell or Tidal Bell, which are necessary for summoning Ho-oh and Lugia.
2. How to challenge Kimono Girls? To challenge the Kimono Girls, you need to beat all the Gym Leaders, then go to Professor Elm’s lab, where Lyra will inform you that the Kimono Girls are waiting at the Ecruteak Dance Theater.
3. What level are the Kimono Girls’ Pokémon? Each of the Kimono Girls has a single level 38 Pokémon, which can be quite powerful, making the battles challenging even for a party of level 40 Pokémon.

Preparing for the Battle

4. Where to train before fighting the Kimono Girls in SoulSilver? Recommended places to train include Route 45, Seafoam Islands, Route 47 (inside the cave), Route 44, and the Ice Path, to ensure your team is at least at level 40.
5. What is the best Pokémon to start with in SoulSilver? Totodile is considered one of the best starting Pokémon due to its high attack and defense stats, as well as its water type, which has fewer weaknesses.

Post-Battle Actions

6. Where do you go after defeating the Kimono Girls? After defeating the Kimono Girls, you need to follow them to the Whirl Islands, where they will summon Lugia. To get there, fly to Cianwood City and start surfing east towards the Whirlpool Islands.
7. What do you do after beating the Kimono Girls in HeartGold? After defeating the Kimono Girls, you will earn the Clear Bell, which, when combined with the Rainbow Wings, can be used to summon Ho-oh.

Additional Tips and Information

8. How to get to the Kimono Girls?! After beating all the Gym Leaders and receiving the Master Ball from Professor Elm, go to his lab, where you will be directed to the Ecruteak Dance Theater.
9. Where to find the Kimono Girls in SoulSilver? The Kimono Girls can be found outside the Ecruteak Dance Theater, and their roles are expanded in HeartGold and SoulSilver, allowing you to meet them in other locations such as Violet City, Ilex Forest, and when being harassed by Team Rocket.
10. Can I open the kimono? The phrase “open the kimono” refers to sharing internal workings or projects with a potential partner or buyer in a business context and does not literally relate to the Kimono Girls or their kimonos.

Pokémon and Battles

11. What level are Whitney’s Pokémon? Whitney’s Miltank is a level 20 Normal-type Pokémon with moves like Attract, Milk Drink, Rollout, and Stomp.
12. How do I pick the right kimono? When choosing a kimono, consider the width; it should be at least 16” (40cm) greater than your hip size for a perfect fit, and between 10-16” (25-40cm) for a slightly tighter fit.
13. Can you fight in a kimono? Traditional kimonos are not suitable for fighting, except perhaps in the context of traditional Japanese performances or the humorous mention of the “ancient art of fan slapping.”

Game Progression

14. How do you unlock the 7th gym in SoulSilver? To unlock the 7th gym, you need to beat all the Team Rocket grunts and the Team Rocket Boss (Giovanni), then heal your Pokémon and proceed to the gym, where you will face Pryce, who specializes in Ice-type Pokémon.
15. What to do after beating Clair in SoulSilver? After defeating Clair, you won’t receive a badge but will instead need to go behind the gym to the Dragon’s Den, where you can surf around and occasionally encounter a Dratini.