15 March 2026

Don’t Forget About Rayquaza When Deciding to Play Pokemon HeartGold or SoulSilver

By newsgame

If you’re like me, you’ve recently beaten Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Switch, and the idea of playing through all the major regions ahead of Pokemon Winds and Waves is tantalizing. There’s plenty of time before their 2027 release, sure, but there’s no time like the present to play the Johto remakes, Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. However, before diving into it, it’s best to understand the exclusive legendary Pokemon and how they work, especially Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza.

Interestingly, Ho-Oh and Lugia can both be caught in Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver—one as the story legendary, the other as an endgame legendary. Latias and Latios return as roaming legendaries in the endgame as well, with native, non-event appearances exclusive to HeartGold and SoulSilver, respectively. Meanwhile, Rayquaza can be caught in both games, but there is a version-exclusive step to consider when choosing one on top of that.

Rayquaza Should Determine Whether You Play HeartGold or SoulSilver (Assuming You Don’t Have Both)

Namely, catching Rayquaza in Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver requires someone to have both games, to beat both games, and to have two pieces of Nintendo DS hardware. Alternatively, the better solution is to pick the opposite game of a friend because Rayquaza requires trading between the two Pokemon games. If someone is joining you on this journey or, at least, owns one of the two games, then it’s best to buy the opposite. If you have a friend with Pokemon HeartGold, play SoulSilver; if you have a friend with Pokemon SoulSilver, buy Pokemon HeartGold. You’re not getting Rayquaza otherwise.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

To catch Rayquaza, players need to be in Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver‘s endgame. There are quite a few steps, but the first in-game step is the hardest on this journey (beating Red). The first thing to note, however, is Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver’s exclusive legendary Pokemon. Kyogre is encountered in Pokemon HeartGold, and Groudon is encountered in Pokemon SoulSilver, and players are going to need both for Rayquaza (which is why two systems or a friend is necessary).

How to Catch Rayquaza in Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Play to the endgame, where you can defeat Red on Mt. Silver
Visit Professor Oak and choose your Kanto Starter
Beat the Pokemon League Again
Complete the Copycat Girl (Saffron City) Quest, which requires you to speak to her, retrieve her Clefairy doll from the Vermillion City Pokemon Fan Club, and return it to her for the Magnet Train Pass.
You’ll be able to talk to Steven in Silph. Co to receive a Hoenn starter, which also unlocks the Weather Trio.
Go to the Embedded Tower on Route 47 and complete it, catching Kyogre or Groudon, depending on your version.
Trade your Kyogre/Groudon to one another. You’ll need both for a limited time.
Return to the Embedded Tower with both Kyogre and Groudon in your party to trigger Rayquaza’s spawn

The most important thing to remember is that you and a friend (or you, if you want to play through both games and have two systems) will need different versions. If you and a friend both have Pokemon HeartGold, for example, then there’s no catching Rayquaza.

groudon-kyogre-pokemon-anime — Groudon and Kyogre in Pokemon anime

Recreating the Weather Trio’s Storyline Through Trading

Two facets of this Rayquaza are so interesting. First, this little quest is designed to encourage trading in Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver (not to mention that the remake swaps some of the standard version exclusive Pokemon). That’s not surprising, but it shows how often connectivity is a major theme of the franchise.

Secondly, via trading, players are essentially recreating the Weather Trio’s storyline from Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, where Rayquaza has to descend to basically babysit its counterparts. Of course, if you’re playing through the remakes of all the Pokemon games, then Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire obviously reintroduce this storyline with a fun twist: Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, and Primal Kyogre.