Pokémon HeartGold Version: Refined Gold Overhaul 
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Pokémon HeartGold Version: Refined Gold Overhaul is a ROM hack of Pokémon HeartGold for Nintendo DS. This modification enhances gameplay by introducing nonlinear progression, revamped trainers, and improved difficulty management, while preserving the essence of the original. Players venture through Johto and Kanto with expanded Pokémon availability and quality-of-life features, creating an engaging experience.
PLEASE see the accompanying Readmes in the .zip file for specific details. See the attached readme for a link to them in Google Docs if desired.
This is Refined Gold Overhaul, aka RefGold Overhaul or RGO. For the original hack, please see https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/5938/. Both are standalone hacks, but Refined Gold is closer to vanilla while Overhaul has a new level curve. If you are not sure which to play, you probably want Refined Gold Overhaul.
The base Refined Gold currently lacks many features and improvements pending a TBD update, as I am working on other G4 projects for the foreseeable future.
EDIT 7/09/2024: THIS IS NOW VERSION 3.3!
Current AP patching for Twilight Menu+:
(Go into _nds/TWiLightMenu/extras and create a folder named apfix. Then stick the IPS patch (do not rename it) inside that folder. Do not attempt to apply the patch to the ROM.)
The whole game is finished, including Kanto!!
This was based on the 4787 version of the HeartGold ROM. DSPRE and Pokeditor v2 were used for scripting and editing.
Refined Gold Overhaul is an expansion of the original Refined Gold hack that substantially improves trainers and the difficulty curve along with meaningful QoL such as the Platinum shard tutors.
However, the game is still true to vanilla where possible, modernizing unique design choices of HeartGold by using first-of-its-kind features such as nonlinear progression in the midgame and move tutors that take shards like in Platinum.
All exotic Pokémon are in the postgame, meaning the player's options mirror vanilla HeartGold. Gameplay changes instead focus on allowing access to options such as Houndour and Yanma to make proper use of the preexisting Johto Dex.
Despite having engaging and competent trainer design this is not a difficulty hack. It should be easier than Renegade Platinum and feel more like vanilla B2W2 Challenge Mode applied to all trainers than anything else.
Refined Gold Overhaul also features several novel advancements in the scripting department that serve to better capture the intended original experience.
* Move Tutors that accept shards in Ecruteak and Lake of Rage to match Platinum's R212 and Snowpoint tutors respectively, in addition to earlier Relearner and Deleter access. A Saffron tutor covers the Survival Area moves.
* Kanto has been segmented into three phases. You can pick the gyms of each phase in any order, Mega Man 7 style. It goes Surge/Janine/Erika/Sabrina-Brock/Misty/Blaine-Blue. This offers a more cohesive and engaging postgame campaign because frankly vanilla Kanto is a mess.
* As of v2.0, the entirety of the Kanto postgame is redone with new teams on every trainer along with a fresh level curve building right from Lance.
* Additional field dialogue to chat with the Johto Elite Four and other such NPCs is available as the player progresses.
And, of course, THE OVERHAUL:
* From post-Morty to Radio Tower is fully nonlinear, allowing the player to pick their own path.
* This recreates the original choice in vanilla without sacrificing player agency or gameplay quality.
* Both trainers and wild encounters will become more powerful after completing a "track", either by finishing Rocket HQ or getting the SecretPotion.
* Gym trainers and leaders scale off of the player's badge count, with the 7th Gym being a real threat and packing 5 mons instead of 4.
Refined Gold Overhaul patch for Pokemon Heartgold
By RefinedPlat
Link to this changelog on Google Docs
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I_Vukoq3CK2q4BtcglUp9x-OZh4hEJqHhfzjmPQv0l8/edit?usp=sharing
For the record, this is only associated with Refined Gold, Refined Platinum, and not-yet-released Gen 5 patches.
Absolutely NO connection to Refined Crystal or anything.
1X Introduction
1X0 List of Changelogs
General Changelog (encounters, evolutions, additional ground items, technical stuff) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I_Vukoq3CK2q4BtcglUp9x-OZh4hEJqHhfzjmPQv0l8/edit?usp=sharing
Trainer Changes Johto
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e-8zYV6Y3WI7-58M7Q8jibizpzi_eTJJq-Bi3lxxdq4/edit?usp=sharing
Trainer Changes Kanto
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FYcb91VcAZV70QW7axim6V7Qe97v_FCHdHKxJiH3ZKM/edit?usp=sharing
Moveset Changes
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ra0BZ8W9yurPtCScD2yKljOnLlEFM6T3fpBtAheTIyI/edit?usp=sharing
Wild Held Items Changes
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QSrpM1LBqMNHrK2TXg1l1J07b_TU4rZuKEm5LCXDiRE/edit?usp=sharing
Download Link (in case you found the document via Google Docs only)
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/7752/
1a Table of Contents
1X Introduction
1X0 List of Changelogs
1a Table of Contents
1b Releases
1cX About
1c0 Which to Play
1c1 General Refined Gold
1c2 The Overhaul
1d Applying
2X Pokemon Changes
2a Evolution Changes
2bX Movepool Changes
2b1 Legendary Movepool Changes
3X Wild Encounters
3aX Johto-Dex Accessibility
3a1 Formerly Kanto-only
3a2 Formerly Kanto or Safari-only
3bX Wild Encounters - Radio
3b1 Hoenn Radio
3b2 Sinnoh Radio
3b3 Unedited Radio Encounters
3cX Wild Encounters - Walking
3c1 Johto
3c2 Kanto
3c3 Rock Smash Encounters
3c4 Dynamic Encounters
3c5 Safari Zone
3dX Wild Encounters - Surfing
3d1 Johto
3d2 Kanto
3eX Wild Encounters - Fishing
3e1 Johto
3e2 Kanto
3f Wild Encounters - Starters
4X Event Changes
4a Overview and Levels
4b Event Changes List
4c Legendary Encounters
4c0 Vanilla
4c1 Post-Dex
4c2 Post-Blue
4c3 Post-Red
4c4 Main Game Rematches
4dX NPC Field Additions
4d1 Superbosses
4d2 Gym Leaders
4d3 Elite Four
4d4 Frontier Brains
5X Item Changes
5aX Evolution Items in the Overworld
5a1 About
5a2 Johto
5a3 Kanto
5b Shop Changes
5c TMs
5d Fossil Guild
5e Misc.
5fX Held Item Changes
5f1 Legendary Items
6X Technical Stuff
6aX Flags
6a1 Important Flags
6a2 Formerly Unused Flags
6b Variables Used
6c Script Archives Added
6d Event Files
6e Text Archives Added
6f Encounter Files Added
6g Notable Maps
6h MISC.
7X Trainers
7a Trainer IDs Added
8X Random Stuff
8a Random Thoughts
8b Bugs
9X FAQ
ZX Disclaimer and Credits
1b Releases
v3.3 - July 7, 2024
Caves and Myths
- Added “rematches” for each of the legendaries that are normally fightable during the main game. These are predominantly near where you would fight them to begin with, to allow the player to redo the fight at their leisure. See section 4c4.
- Mr. Fuji is having difficulty with a pesky poltergeist. Stop by at night and help him out!
- Revamped the Frontier Access Legendary hints to use ListLocalText and be easier to navigate.
- Improved all of the ListLocalTexts to use the Cancel parameter so the player can leave with B instead of having to scroll to the bottom.
- Reworked Route 8, 9, 10 and 11 Hoenn and Sinnoh Radio encounter tables.
- Rotom is now exclusive to Sinnoh Radio encounters.
- Nuked the dinosaurs from orbit. It was the only way to be sure.
* They remain in abundance in Cerulean Cave.
- The Fossil Guild will now let you purchase Skull and Armor fossils in exchange for Root and Claw fossils. Just bring some nice Pearls to help sweeten the deal!
- Revised Ponyta and Lickitung level up move tables.
- Revised Johto Legendary level up move tables.
- Spiritomb now has Memento as a level 1 relearner move and Pain Split at level 43.
- Finally got around to teaching the brass whispers about concise communication.
- Corrected some wild held item rates that were much too high.
- Tweaked encounters for routes 7, 8, 11, 21, 28
- Assorted minor bugfixes and text tweaks.
v3.2.3 - June 5, 2024
- Fixed a crashing bug in Ruins of Alph.
- Fixed a crashing bug with the Icy Rock gentleman in Celadon Dept. Store.
- Revised and improved the Arceus scripts.
v3.2.2 - March 9, 2024
- Fixed a crashing bug in Viridian Forest and Route 4 that would happen on real hardware. Separate from the v3.2.1 bugfix.
- Replaced the Potion in Dark Cave R31 with a Blue Shard.
v3.2.1 - February 29, 2024
- Fixed a major bug that would crash the game when entering Route 4.
v3.2 - February 24, 2024
Tavern Trawl
- The entire fishing encounter table has been revised and improved! Documentation reflects this and now both lists accurate information and accounts for Night fishing.
- A variety of NPCs consisting of Johto Elite Four members and figures from Sinnoh will now appear and be available to be talked to as the player progresses.
* Johto and Kanto Gym Leaders now have additional dialogue at their photo locations and can be talked to repeatedly after refusing a photo. (Photos can still be taken infinitely by reentering the area)
- Using the postgame Block system, 2nd stage Johto Starters can be found in the Safari Zone. This means once the player has access to 1 block of the respective biome, they can acquire Johto Starters without further delay. Johto Starters have been removed from standard encounters altogether. See 3c5 for more details.
* Kanto Starters remain in lategame Kanto, along with Hoenn and Sinnoh starters found via Radio in those routes.
- Made it clearer that the first tier of superbosses are available in the dialogue after getting Rock Climb from Professor Oak.
- Redid the former Johto starter routes as well as 47 and 48.
- Reworked Hoenn and Sinnoh Radio encounters to improve cohesion.
- Reverted Bugsy's Scyther back to having Quick Attack instead of Cut. Also tweaked Whitney.
- Optimized Superboss teams with better movepool and item synergies.
- Fixed a bug where Clair's Fighting Dojo rematch would not shut off the rain afterwards.
- Fixed a bug where entering the Furret House on a bike would crash the game.
- Various minor fixes and improvements.
v3.1 - December 11, 2023
Climax of Avaritia
- The Superboss update is finally out after a year and a half! This is post-Blue content and not to be taken lightly. See the Kanto Trainer Changelog for more details!
* After defeating two of Mr. Game, Elder Li and Kimono Girl Kuni, you will get a strange call to go to Viridian Forest!
* Proton, Petrel, Archer, Ariana, and Eusine are all available as team-testing postgame content.
* The preexisting fights have been rebalanced to improve level balancing and battle quality.
* Added three normal trainers to Ariana’s location.
- Fixed a major bug involving Safari Zone.
* You should now be able to complete the Warden’s Owner Aptitude Exams and catch Pokemon in the right areas.
- Fixed a bug with certain fights repeating mid-battle dialogue by removing the offending lines.
- Removed a small amount of irrelevant content that was intended to be scrapped a long time ago.
- Added the Furret House.
- Various minor fixes and improvements.
v3.0.6 - November 18, 2023
From Whitney, With Spite
- Substantial reworks to the early and midgame Johto exp curve to make the game flow better and have a more organic curve.
* Exp Curve is now balanced such that a team of 5 will not overlevel; formerly it was balanced around a team of 4 which caused moderate grindiness.
* See the Trainer changelog for more details.
* No meaningful changes to Radio Tower onwards.
- A Move Relearner is now in Cianwood.
- The Snowpoint Move Tutor is now in Lake of Rage regardless of player choices.
- Player is now given 10 Poke Balls after completing the catching tutorial instead of 5 to match modern games.
- Slowpoke now evolves into Slowking by leveling up while holding a King’s Rock instead of by using a Water Stone
* Poliwhirl still evolves into Politoed after learning Rain Dance
- Fixed a bug with Onix not evolving in the day.
- Fixed a bug where Move Tutors required you to have at least one of all 4 shards.
- Small changes to Kanto's wild encounter levels.
- Minor bug fixes and improvements, replaced most MultiLocalText with ListLocalText for ease of use.
v2.0.2 - September 3, 2023
- Buffed Suicune and Regigigas’s levels.
- Buffed various trainers around Goldenrod.
- Nerfed the level of Route 34 Eevees so they can evolve into Leafeon and still learn Razor Leaf.
v2.0.1 - September 3, 2023
- Very disappointed in Registeel.
- Minor fixes and improvements.
v2.0 - August 30, 2023
Kant Stop Me Now
- KANTO HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OVERHAULED!
- Kanto is now an engaging postgame and features a level curve from mid 50s way off to the grand finale against Blue's level 72 Umbreon.
* Trainers in Kanto are much stronger with bigger, more intricate teams. Nothing obscenely difficult, but be careful - they just might surprise you!
* Kanto's progression is more "directed" levelwise, giving a faint sense of movement and texture instead of mush.
* Kanto wilds have been blanket buffed. May be tweaked more later.
* Fighting Dojo Rematches have been buffed accordingly.
* There is no significant plot in Kanto, only coherent trainer progression.
- Minor buffs to the initial Elite Four, especially Lance.
- Improved some trainer text and Pokegear conversations to reflect changed trainer classes.
- Fine-tuning of some encounter files in both Kanto and Johto.
* A few repel manips from vanilla are now possible again, but you'll have to check the new levels required in DSPRE by yourself.
- Gave Registeel a can of tuna and told him to do a crime.
- Added Stone Edge TM to the Waterfall area in R47.
- Gracieda now works with all Shaymin.
- Additional minor fixes and optimizations.
v1.4.3 - August 1, 2023
- Hugh in post-Waterfall Mt. Mortar now has a proper team.
- The Thief TM in Mt. Mortar and the Thief TM in Rocket HQ now properly use the same flag.
- Minor fixes and tweaks.
v1.4.2 - Unknown
- Re-fixed a major glitch that made the game load the incorrect variant of nonlinear trainers.
v1.4 - July 25, 2023
Jot Down Johto
- Substantial Johto trainer tweaks to have more random moves like Taunt to make the team composition feel more organic.
- The final first tier gym leader in Kanto (Erika, Janine, Sabrina) will now have a sixth Pokemon.
* All of the second tier Kanto Gym Leaders (Brock, Blaine, Misty) now have six Pokemon instead of just Brock.
- Rematch Clair in the Dojo now has a new team and calls auto-Rain.
v1.3 - July 18, 2023
- Fixed a bug where Kanto gym leaders would load the wrong trainer file
- The player now goes through Diglett’s Cave after the first tier of Kanto to Pewter instead of taking Route 19. Basically to get the Pewter and Cinnabar it’s like vanilla HG now instead of heading south from Fuchsia and wrapping around.
- Various minor fixes.
v1.2.3 - June 29, 2023
- Whitney has been nerfed somewhat.
v1.2.2 - Unknown
- There is now a lady who will trade you Shards in exchange for your Athlete Points.
- Various shards added to ground items; see 5X for more details.
v1.1 - Unknown
- The Fossil Guild is now open in the Route 2 Nugget house.
- A lady in Ruins of Alph will now let you revive Fossils after completing all of the panel puzzles.
- An Old Amber can now be found in Dark Cave Route 45 side.
* Old Amber can no longer be found in Ruins of Alph. It is still renewable by trading Rare Bones to the Fossil Guild.
- Fixed a gamebreaking glitch involving level 0 encounters spawning.
- Minor improvements and optimizations.
v1.0.4 - Unknown
- Various minor level up and encounter tweaks
- Ruins of Alph and Cliff Cave now give access to version exclusive fossils.
v1.0 - May 8, 2023
The Overhaul, first release!!!
Main Changes
- The entirety of post-Morty up until Radio Tower is now fully nonlinear.
* All relevant trainers, including Gym Leaders, will scale based on completion of the “tracks” of Olivine and Mahogany.
* Wild encounters also scale. Saving and reloading in a map will load the weaker version, but will update to the appropriate level on reentering the map.
* The 7th Gym Leader will now have 5 Pokemon instead of 4.
- Lake of Rage trainers are now post-Pryce content to mirror Route 47.
- The entire game has been overhauled for a difficulty curve below Renegade Platinum but firm enough to challenge the average player. The level curve also is now functional and does not leave Johto with a dearth of exp.
- While incomplete, Kanto has had some band-aid changes to bosses. Trainers are not comprehensively fixed yet.
Other changes
- Additional movepool changes, namely to Sandshrew and Typhlosion.
- Move Tutors that accept shards have been added.
* There is one in Ecruteak, one in Saffron, and depending on your path one in either Lake of Rage or Cianwood City.
- A woman on the way to Pokeathlon Dome will trade Athlete Points for shards.
- You can now skip the catching tutorial. Additional text has been optimized.
- Improved in-battle text on boss fights. Format is now First Non-OHKO Hit->Last Pokemon instead of Last Pokemon->Last Pokemon Critical HP. Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney are unaffected.
- Moomoo Farm Miltank now takes 5 Oran Berries to be fully healed instead of 7.
- Rocket HQ now has text on the computers. This elaborates on the plot of the game with only a little conjecture.
- Various minor text changes and script fixes.
1cX About
1c0 Which to Play
If you are starting a new playthrough but are not sure which hack to play, you probably want *Refined Gold Overhaul*.
Basically, if you want the full experience of the revamped Heartgold, want to experience nonlinear progression during the midgame, or are interested in a complete HGSS romhack that doesn’t have the bells and whistles of Sacred Gold et al, play *Refined Gold Overhaul*.
If you simply want to replay vanilla Heartgold with the option of completing the National Pokedex and encounter/boss options that don’t have the diversity of boiled cabbage, play base Refined Gold.
This is NOT like Renegade Platinum where there is a “full” version of the hack and one with dialed back balancing tweaks but the same basic gameplay. Refined Gold Overhaul is its own hack, being a very different experience with vastly more rebalancing, trainer changes, and overall improvements.
1c1 General Refined Gold
**THIS IS A 493 PATCH, MEANING ALL POKEMON INCLUDING LEGENDARIES AND MYTHICALS ARE AVAILABLE**
Refined Gold is a hack intended to allow the player to complete the National Pokedex in Heartgold as well as providing moderate QoL improvements. It's basically a "remaster" of HG with QoL while still staying as true as possible to the vanilla experience. All exotic Pokemon are in the postgame, meaning it plays fairly similarly to the vanilla Heartgold. The focus on the main game encounters is instead opening up options and being more flexible with the RNG instead of having things like 5 different 1% encounters.
The core plot is identical to vanilla Heartgold. If you want to go back to Heartgold, whether to revisit memories or make new ones, this mod is meant to help make them a little more vivid.
* All 1% chances (Yanma, Marill, etc) have been increased to 4% minimum where possible.
* Legendaries are also scattered across the map as NPCs, with most willing to fight you after you've beaten Lance or Blue.
* Kanto now has a wild level curve meant to go from “post-Victory Road” up to an appropriate level to make it into an actual postgame. This is a big departure from vanilla, but because Kanto's wild Pokemon feel bland in vanilla in both difficulty and variety, this is an acceptable cost.
* Every TM, berry, and evolution item has been made renewable. TMs are sold in the Good Rod Angler's house in Olivine once you beat Lance, while additional evolution items and berries can be bought in Vermillion with 10 badges.
* Johto itself has a very poor power curve, so I have taken the liberty of adding in certain evolution items and select TMs to improve the player's tool access. Normally, you would HAVE access to, say, a Leaf Stone but only by farming phone calls with Gina or using the Pokeathlon; now you can find one post-Surf in Cherrygrove. Of the Gen 4 evolution items, only 1 Shiny Stone and 1 Dusk Stone have been added.
* HP counters fall up to 2x faster. This is purely aesthetic. Gen 4 is famous for its HP counter falling incredibly slow in this generation, as it never increases in speed to make up for higher HP foes. So, this hack inherently has 2x HP drain speed in effect. This isn’t too noticeable, but helps a lot in the endgame with high HP foes. Credit to Nitram for the specific method used.
* I cannot confirm the edited ROM is still compatible with additional edits to the speed, and am not responsible if doing so breaks your game. But, if the appropriate change is made to the relevant overlay, it should be fine. Remember to make backups and be safe.
1c2 The Overhaul
Because Heartgold has such a painful level curve and Pokemon distribution, I did an "Overhaul" of my original hack. While it's still within Johto Dex limitations, the wild encounters are much more interesting and trainers are competently built with engaging teams. Pokemon such as Swinub and Houndour are available in time for the main game, and important trainers such as Proton and Eusine have more impactful and thematic teams.
It's not a difficulty hack and should feel a little harder than USUM without being overboard.
In essence, RGO is what I imagine Heartgold *would* have been if it was a new game with HG’s dex but Platinum’s standards for gameplay and quality, plus some additional revamping for fun. Although the maps and plot are for better or for worse the same tier as GSC, the trainers are engaging and the atmosphere is as top-notch as it always has been.
At its core, think of this less as an enhancement hack like Drayano’s work and more as a *restoration*; the hack goes to great lengths to maintain key components of the original (freedom to pick their path post-Morty, the HGSS Johto Dex, etc) while still doing its best to improve upon equivocally flawed parts of it (terrible boss teams, poor access to Johto Pokemon on trainers and wilds, lack of direct access to evolution items, etc).
That said, what really sets apart Refined Gold Overhaul is that there are several novel advancements in the scripting department that I made to better capture the original experience. These include shop scripts, shard move tutors, and my crown jewel, the nonlinear segment.
* From post-Morty to Radio Tower is fully nonlinear, allowing the player to pick their own path. This recreates the original choice in vanilla without sacrificing player agency or gameplay quality.
* Both trainers and wild encounters will become more powerful after completing a "track", either by finishing Rocket HQ or getting the SecretPotion.
* Gym trainers and leaders scale off of the player's badge count, with the 7th Gym being a real threat and packing 5 mons instead of 4.
* Kanto has been segmented into three phases. You can pick the gyms of each phase in any order, Megaman 7 style. It goes Surge/Janine/Erika/Sabrina-> Brock/Misty/Blaine-> Blue. This offers a more cohesive and engaging postgame campaign because frankly vanilla Kanto is a mess.
1d Applying
To apply this patch, just get your CLEAN UNEDITED COPY OF Pokemon Heartgold, then pull out Delta Patcher and apply the patch. Do not attempt to apply the patch to an already patched ROM.
Hex edits and cheat codes may not be fully compatible with this patch. PkHex is fully compatible.
Delta Patcher can be found here https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/704/
To check if the patch was applied correctly, look in the Cherrygrove City PC. A Painter NPC will be present. Oak’s introduction text should also be changed.
Info on the specific dump:
File: Pokemon - HeartGold Version (USA).nds
CRC-32: c180a0e9
MD5: 258cea3a62ac0d6eb04b5a0fd764d788
SHA-1: 4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37
SHA-256: 65f02a56842b75aa92d775d56d657a56fe3fa993550b04dc20704ab82d760105
2X Pokemon Changes
There are no stat or typing changes. No moves have been changed (ex Rock Climb is still Normal, Whirlpool is still 35 BP/70% acc)
These are small-scale, primarily serving to make a 493 possible and make movepools more streamlined within the bounds of HG-legal moves.
2a Evolution Changes
Haunter and Graveler evolve upon learning a key move for their skillsets. Politoed is heavily associated with Drizzle, so Poliwhirl evolves into it by learning Rain Dance.
Evolutions not mentioned here have not been edited. All preexisting methods still work.
Move Evolutions
Haunter - Evolves when leveling up while knowing Shadow Ball (Level 36)
Graveler - Evolves when leveling up while knowing Earthquake (Level 36)
Poliwhirl - Evolves into Politoed when leveling up while learning Rain Dance (Level 36)
Level Evolutions
Kadabra - Evolves at level 38
Machoke - Evolves at level 38
Held Item Evolutions
Slowpoke - Evolves into Slowking by leveling up while holding King’s Rock
Magneton - Evolves into Magnezone by leveling up while holding Dubious Disc
Eevee - Evolves into Glaceon by leveling up while holding Blue Shard at Night
Eevee - Evolves into Leafeon by leveling up while holding Green Shard in the Day
Magmar - Evolves into Magmortar by leveling up while holding Magmarizer
Electabuzz - Evolves into Electivire by leveling up while holding Electrizer
Rhydon - Evolves into Rhyperior by leveling up while holding Protector
Scyther - Evolves into Scizor by leveling up while holding Metal Coat
Onix - Evolves into Steelix by leveling up while holding Metal Coat
Seadra - Evolves into Kingdra by leveling up while holding Dragon Scale
Porygon - Evolves into Porygon2 by leveling up while holding Up-Grade
Porygon2 - Evolves into Porygon Z by leveling up while holding Dubious Disc
Nosepass - Evolves into Probopass by leveling up while holding Yellow Shard
Feebas - Evolves into Milotic by leveling up while holding Pamtre Berry
Dusclops - Evolves into Dusknoir by leveling up while holding Reaper Cloth
Clamperl - Evolves into Huntail by leveling up while holding Deep Sea Tooth
Clamperl - Evolves into Gorebyss by leveling up while holding Deep Sea Scale
Stone Evolutions
Slowpoke - Evolves into Slowking by using a Water Stone (REMOVED as of v3.0.6)
2bX Movepool Changes
**PLEASE SEE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS**
Modest changes. These should have a moderate impact on your playthrough, instead just letting you fine tune some builds without having to get a new Pokemon. All of these are moves the Pokemon can legally know in this generation (as of HGSS), only changed to make it less problematic to get them. Includes things like fixing pre-evolution only moves, updating a few learnset levels to B2W2 tier so you don't wait until level 60 before getting a good STAB, and giving the Dratini line Extremespeed to match the HGSS event. There's also a fair few Move Tutor moves from HGSS thrown in.
It isn't the most dramatic changelog, but Pokemon like Wooper and Natu should be much easier to use this way.
2b1 Legendary Movepool Changes
Legendary level up moves have been changed significantly to make them into worthwhile fights at the levels they are fought. They still can't hold a candle to even basic trainer AI, but hopefully it's more exciting.
Some of these are approximations, and moot points if you're not importing low-level legends. All of their normal level up moves are still there, these are just shoved into the right place to give them those movepools in their fights.
All movesets are still legal in Gen 4. Yes, this means no Sacred Fire Entei, I’m sorry.
Events are not included as legal move options with the exception of Arceus's Spacial Rend.
Ho-Oh - 55
Post Dex - level 60, 70 for Suicune, Lugia
Post Blue - level 70, 80 for Regigigas
Post Red - level 80 for Groudon/Kyogre, level 85 for the rest
Arceus is level 95
Articuno - Ice Beam, Aerial Ace, Ancient Power, Signal Beam at level 70
Zapdos - Discharge, Drill Peck, Mud-Slap, Heat Wave at level 70
Moltres - Heat Wave, Air Slash, Ominous Wind, Solarbeam at level 70
Mewtwo - Aura Sphere, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Recover at level 75
Mew - Hidden Power, Superpower, Ancient Power, Earth Power at level 85
Raikou (Roamer) - Reflect, Spark, Quick Attack, Roar at level 40
Entei (Roamer) - Flamethrower, Stomp, Fire Spin, Roar at level 40
Suicune - Extrasensory, Surf, Calm Mind, Blizzard at level 70
Lugia - Aeroblast, Roost, Psychic, Calm Mind at level 70
Ho-Oh - Sacred Fire, Steel Wing, Aerial Ace, Punishment at level 55
Celebi - Charge Beam, Leaf Storm, Psychic, Seed Bomb at level 60
Raikou (Rematch) - Signal Beam, Discharge, Calm Mind, Thunder at level 70
Entei (Rematch) - Shadow Ball, Lava Plume, Calm Mind, Eruption at level 70
Ho-Oh (Rematch) - Sacred Fire, Zen Headbutt, Sky Attack, Protect at level 70
Regirock - Mud-Slap, Rock Slide, Earthquake, Stealth Rock at level 60
Regice - Charge Beam, Ice Beam, Signal Beam, Hyper Beam at level 60
Registeel - Curse, Iron Head, Amnesia, Superpower at level 60
Latias - Attract, Surf, Dragon Pulse, Mist Ball at level 65
Latias - Healing Wish is at 75
Latios - Mud-Slap, Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Luster Purge at level 65
Latios - Memento is at 75
Kyogre - Calm Mind, Thunder, Ice Beam, Water Spout at level 80
Groudon - Swords Dance, Thunder Punch, Earthquake, Superpower at level 80
Rayquaza - Dragon Dance, Extremespeed, Outrage, Rest at level 85
Jirachi - Cosmic Power, Drain Punch, Iron Head, Psychic at level 70
Deoxys - Cosmic Power, Psycho Boost, Energy Ball, Charge Beam at level 70
Uxie - Calm Mind, Extrasensory, Yawn, Signal Beam at level 60
Mesprit - Reflect, Light Screen, Psychic, Energy Ball at level 60
Azelf - Zen Headbutt, Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Facade at level 60
Dialga - Dragon Claw, Iron Tail, Thunder Wave, Bulk Up at level 85
Palkia - Spacial Rend, Surf, Earth Power, Mud-Slap at level 85
Giratina - Calm Mind, Shadow Ball, Draco Meteor, Will-O-Wisp at level 85
Regigigas - Zen Headbutt, Fire Punch, Thunder Wave, Crush Grip at level 80
Heatran - Lava Plume, Metal Sound, Flash Cannon, Magma Storm at level 70
Cresselia - Psychic, Protect, Light Screen, Confusion at level 70
Manaphy - Tail Glow, Energy Ball, Surf, Psychic at level 60
Darkrai - Dark Void, Dark Pulse, Psychic, Nasty Plot at level 70
Shaymin - Seed Flare, Air Slash, Mud-Slap, Leech Seed at level 60
Arceus - Spacial Rend, Recover, Flamethrower, Judgement at level 95
3X Wild Encounters
To save space, these are sorted by method, route and then by time. Various values may be omitted because they were unimportant, the Pokemon is found everywhere, or I neglected to mention them.
Like in Refined Platinum, functionally all non-Johto Dex Pokemon are strictly found via post-E4 means. There's also a very diverse selection now in Post-E4 areas (read: Kanto), with a huge amount of Pokemon from other regions dwelling in it. Johto should be a revamped vanilla with extra seasoning, while Kanto is a whole new ballgame.
Individual level changes are not mentioned. Evolved mons are not always mentioned.
If no time is specified, it takes effect all day.
All Pokemon unique to a given area are still there, though Pokemon like Graveler and Golbat may not appear at all in certain areas to make space for new Pokemon.
Sinnoh Radio and Hoenn Radio are always 20% chances, and replace the 10% slots. Since it's easy to change the date and put the radio on, I'm using it for a lot of exotic and Safari Pokemon.
If only one Radio Pokemon is mentioned, it is a 40% chance there.
Various Radio Pokemon in Kanto have been upgraded to their evolved forms - be prepared to see Luxrays and Bronzongs, Hariyamas and Camerupts. These are not listed.
3aX Johto-Dex Accessibility
These are Pokemon that are normally Kanto (or Safari-only) exclusive but have been added to Johto areas. Their evolutions may not be accessible before beating the Elite Four.
3a1 Formerly Kanto-only
Electabuzz
Omanyte
Kabuto
Aerodactyl
Sneasel
Houndour
Slugma
3a2 Formerly Kanto or Safari-only
Jigglypuff
Grimer
Murkrow
Larvitar
3bX Wild Encounters - Radio
3b1 Hoenn Radio
Cliff Cave - Trapinch, Cacnea
Diglett's Cave - Trapinch, Cacturne
Ice Path (1F) - Castform, Spheal
Ice Path (B1F-B3F) - Castform, Sealeo
Mt. Moon (All) - Sableye, Mawile
Mt. Mortar (B1F) - Meditite, Makuhita
National Park - Volbeat, Illumise
Ruins of Alph - Baltoy, Vigoroth
Seafoam Islands (1F-B3F) - Sealeo, Castform
Seafoam Islands (B4F) - Walrein, Castform
Route 4 - Sableye, Mawile
Route 8 - Gardevoir, Mightyena
Route 9 - Exploud, Manectric
Route 10 - Exploud, Manectric
Route 11 - Gardevoir, Mightyena
Route 13 - Kecleon, Tropius
Route 14 - Kecleon, Tropius
Route 15 - Kecleon, Tropius
Route 16 - Swalot, Weezing
Route 17 - Swalot, Weezing
Route 18 - Swalot, Weezing
Route 29 - Poochyena, Gulpin
Route 33 - Shroomish, Seedot
Route 36 - Baltoy, Vigoroth
Route 37 - Baltoy, Vigoroth
Route 42 - Seviper, Zangoose
Route 43 - Seviper, Zangoose
Route 44 - Metang, Shelgon
Route 45 - Mightyena, Swalot
Route 46 - Poochyena, Gulpin
Route 1 - Sceptile
Route 3 - Blaziken
Route 24 - Swampert
3b2 Sinnoh Radio
Cliff Cave - Hippopotas, Nosepass
Diglett's Cave - Hippowdon, Nosepass
Ice Path (All) - Snorunt, Snover
Mt. Moon (All) - Lunatone, Solrock
Mt. Mortar (B1F) - Gabite, Riolu
Mt. Silver (Snowy) - Froslass, Bronzong
National Park - Beautifly, Dustox
Ruins of Alph - Riolu, Burmy
Seafoam Islands (All) - Glalie, Abomasnow
Route 4 - Lunatone, Solrock
Route 8 - Purugly, Rotom
Route 9 - Luxray, Pachirisu
Route 10 - Luxray, Pachirisu
Route 11 - Purugly, Rotom
Route 13 - Cherrim, Lopunny
Route 14 - Cherrim, Lopunny
Route 15 - Cherrim, Lopunny
Route 16 - Skorupi, Toxicroak
Route 17 - Drapion, Toxicroak
Route 18 - Drapion, Toxicroak
Route 29 - Swablu, Ralts
Route 33 - Croagunk, Skorupi
Route 36 - Riolu, Burmy
Route 37 - Riolu, Burmy
Route 42 - Munchlax, Tyrogue
Route 43 - Munchlax, Tyrogue
Route 44 - Gabite, Drifblim
Route 45 - Altaria, Kirlia
Route 46 - Swablu, Ralts
Route 1 - Torterra
Route 3 - Infernape
Route 24 - Empoleon
3b3 Unedited Radio Encounters
Just in case anyone needs them. Pokemon may be evolved relative to vanilla.
Hoenn Radio
Bell Tower - Linoone, Spinda
Burned Tower - Linoone, Spinda
Dark Cave - Absol, Makuhita
Ilex Forest - Spoink, Numel
Mt. Mortar 1F, Back, Waterfall - Absol, Makuhita
Rock Tunnel - Absol, Hariyama
Slowpoke Well - Absol, Makuhita
Sprout Tower - Zigzagoon, Spinda
Tohjo Falls - Absol, Hariyama
Union Cave - Absol, Makuhita
Victory Road - Absol, Hariyama
Viridian Forest - Grumpig, Camerupt
Route 2 - Plusle, Minun
Route 5 - Plusle, Minun
Route 6 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 7 - Plusle, Minun
Route 25 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 26 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 27 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 28 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 30 - Whismur, Zigzagoon
Route 31 - Whismur, Zigzagoon
Route 34 - Whismur, Zigzagoon
Route 35 - Whismur, Zigzagoon
Route 38 - Plusle, Minun
Route 39 - Plusle, Minun
Route 47 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 48 - Plusle, Minun
Sinnoh Radio
Bell Tower - Chatot, Medicham
Burned Tower - Chatot, Meditite
Dark Cave - Bronzor, Chingling
Ilex Forest - Budew, Carnivine
Mt. Mortar 1F, Back, Waterfall - Bronzor, Chingling
Rock Tunnel - Bronzong, Chimecho
Slowpoke Well - Bronzor, Chingling
Sprout Tower - Chatot, Meditite
Tohjo Falls - Bronzong, Chimecho
Union Cave - Bronzor, Chingling
Victory Road - Bronzong, Chimecho
Viridian Forest - Roselia, Carnivine
Route 2 - Luxray, Luxray
Route 5 - Luxray, Luxray
Route 6 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 7 - Luxray, Luxray
Route 25 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 26 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 27 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 28 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 30 - Buizel, Bidoof
Route 31 - Buizel, Bidoof
Route 34 - Buizel, Bidoof
Route 35 - Buizel, Bidoof
Route 38 - Luxio, Luxio
Route 39 - Luxio, Luxio
Route 47 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 48 - Luxio, Luxio
3cX Wild Encounters - Walking
3c1 Johto
Johto Dungeons
Bell Tower 2F - Ariados 20%, Weepinbell 10%, Murkrow 4%
Bell Tower 2F (Morning, Day) - Noctowl 30%, Raticate 30%, Haunter 4%, Rattata 1%
Bell Tower 2F (Night) - Noctowl 40%, Haunter 14%, Raticate 10%, Gastly 1%
Bell Tower 3F-9F - Noctowl 30%, Murkrow 10%, Weepinbell 5%
Bell Tower 3F-9F (Morning, Day) - Raticate 30%, Ariados 15%, Haunter 10%
Bell Tower 3F-9F (Night) - Ariados 20%, Haunter 15%, Raticate 10%, Gengar 5%
Burned Tower 1F - Rattata 20%, Koffing 34%
Burned Tower 1F (Morning) - Raticate 19%, Grimer 15%, Zubat 10%, Magmar 2%
Burned Tower 1F (Day) - Raticate 22%, Grimer 10%, Zubat 10%, Magmar 4%
Burned Tower 1F (Night) - Raticate 19%, Grimer 15%, Zubat 15%, Magmar 2%
Burned Tower B1F - Koffing 50%, Raticate 20%
Burned Tower B1F (Morning) - Grimer 10%, Magmar 5%, Rattata 10%, Zubat 5%
Burned Tower B1F (Day) - Grimer 5%, Magmar 10%, Rattata 10%, Zubat 5%
Burned Tower B1F (Night) - Grimer 10%, Magmar 5%, Zubat 15%
Cliff Cave - Golbat 20%, Graveler 20%, Krabby 10%, Kingler 10%, Machop 10%, Onix 10%, Machoke 5%, Quagsire 8%, Steelix 2%
Cliff Cave (Morning, Day) - Misdreavus 5%
Cliff Cave (Night) - Misdreavus 10%
Dark Cave R31 Side - Geodude 45%, Zubat 34%, Phanpy 10%
Dark Cave R31 Side (Morning, Day) - Poliwag 7%, Dunsparce 4%
Dark Cave R31 Side (Night) - Dunsparce 6%, Poliwag 5%
Dark Cave R45 Side; Pre-Archer - Graveler 25%, Zubat 20%, Wobbuffet 15%, Golbat 11%, Geodude 10%, Dunsparce 4%
Dark Cave R45 Side; Pre-Archer (Morning, Day) - Phanpy 10%, Teddiursa 5%
Dark Cave R45 Side; Pre-Archer (Night) - Teddiursa 10%, Phanpy 5%
Ilex Forest - Butterfree 4%, Beedrill 4%
Ilex Forest (Morning) - Caterpie 20%, Weedle 20%, Paras 15%, Metapod 10%, Kakuna 10%, Hoothoot 10%, Pineco 10%, Venonat 5%, Oddish 2%
Ilex Forest (Day) - Caterpie 20%, Weedle 20%, Metapod 10%, Kakuna 10%, Hoothoot 10%, Pineco 10%, Paras 5%, Venonat 5%, Oddish 2%
Ilex Forest (Night) - Oddish 52%, Hoothoot 20%, Venonat 15%, Paras 5%
Ice Path 1F - Golbat 30%, Piloswine 20%, Swinub 10%, Teddiursa 10%, Zubat 10%
Ice Path 1F (Morning) - Sneasel 10%, Delibird 5%
Ice Path 1F (Day) - Sneasel 5%, Delibird 5%
Ice Path 1F (Night) - Delibird 10%, Sneasel 5%
Ice Path B1F-3F - Golbat 40%, Piloswine 20%, Swinub 10%
Ice Path B1F-3F (Morning) - Delibird 15%, Sneasel 10%
Ice Path B1F-3F (Day) - Delibird 15%, Sneasel 5%
Ice Path B1F-3F (Night) - Delibird 20%, Sneasel 5%
Mt. Mortar Entrance - Zubat 40%, Machop 20%, Golbat 10%, Raticate 10%, Rattata 5%, Slugma 5%
Mt. Mortar Entrance (Morning, Day) - Marill 6%, Geodude 4%
Mt. Mortar Entrance (Night) - Marill 8%, Geodude 2%
Mt. Mortar Back - Machop 36%, Rattata 10%, Raticate 5%, Zubat 5%, Marill 4%
Mt. Mortar Back (Morning, Day) - Gedoude 30%, Slugma 10%
Mt. Mortar Back (Night) - Geodude 20%, Slugma 20%
Mt. Mortar Waterfall Cave - Golem 20%, Machamp 20%, Graveler 10%, Machoke 10%, Golbat 10%, Azumarill 4%
Mt. Mortar Waterfall Cave (Morning, Day) - Raticate 15%, Tyrogue 6%, Magcargo 5%
Mt. Mortar Waterfall Cave (Night) - Raticate 10%, Magcargo 10%, Tyrogue 5%, Hitmontop 1%
Mt. Mortar Karate King - Zubat 40%, Raticate 20%, Machop 10%, Machoke 10%
Mt. Mortar Karate King (Morning, Day) - Marill 6%, Geodude 5%, Slugma 5% Tyrogue 4%
Mt. Mortar Karate King (Night) - Slugma 10%, Marill 8%, Tyrogue 2%
National Park - Butterfree 20%, Beedrill 20%, Yanma 1%
National Park (Morning) - Pidgey 25%, Psyduck 10%, Venonat 10%, Sunkern 6%, Scyther 4%, Pinsir 4%
National Park (Day) - Sunkern 25%, Psyduck 20%, Scyther 6%, Pinsir 4%, Pidgey 4%
National Park (Night) - Hoothoot 24%, Venonat 15%, Psyduck 10%, Pinsir 6%, Scyther 4%
Ruins of Alph Exterior - Natu 70%, Smeargle 30%
Ruins of Alph Interior - Unown 100%
Slowpoke Well B1F - Zubat 70%, Slowpoke 20%, Psyduck 10%
Slowpoke Well B2F - Golbat 35%, Zubat 30%, Slowpoke 21%, Psyduck 10%, Slowbro 4%
Sprout Tower - Hoothoot 20%, Bellsprout 5%
Sprout Tower (Morning, Day) - Rattata 65%, Sentret 10%
Sprout Tower (Night) - Gastly 65%, Rattata 10%
Union Cave 1F - Geodude 30%, Sandshrew 30%, Zubat 25%, Rattata 10%, Onix 5%
Union Cave B2F - Raticate 30%, Zubat 20%, Golbat 20%, Geodude 15%, Onix 5%
Union Cave B2F (Morning) - Sandshrew 6%, Sandslash 4%
Union Cave B2F (Day, Night) - Sandshrew 8%, Sandslash 2%
Whirl Islands 1F, B1F; Base - Kingler 20%, Krabby 20%, Zubat 20%, Seel 15%, Poliwhirl 10%, Golbat 10%, Corsola 5%
Whirl Islands B2F; Base - Kingler 20%, Golbat 20%, Seel 20%, Krabby 10%, Poliwhirl 10%, Zubat 10%, Dewgong 5%, Corsola 5%
Victory Road 1F - Golbat 30%, Graveler 20%, Ursaring 15%, Donphan 15%, Rhyhorn 10%, Larvitar 4%, Onix 4%, Rhydon 2%
Victory Road 2F, 3F - Graveler 20%, Golbat 20%, Ursaring 10%, Donphan 10%, Rhyhorn 10%, Golem 5%, Steelix 5%, Larvitar 4%, Rhydon 2%
Victory Road 2F, 3F (Morning, Day) - Sandslash 10%, Arbok 4%
Victory Road 2F, 3F (Night) - Arbok 10%, Sandslash 4%
Johto Routes
Route 26 - Sandslash 30%, Arbok 10%, Ponyta 10%, Rapidash 10%, Jumpluff 5%
Route 26 (Morning, Day) - Doduo 20%, Dodrio 10%, Raticate 5%
Route 26 (Night) - Raticate 20%, Quagsire 10%, Dodrio 5%
Route 27 - Jumpluff 20%, Arbok 15%, Raticate 10%, Sandslash 5%, Ponyta 5%
Route 27 (Morning, Day) - Doduo 25%, Dodrio 10%
Route 27 (Night) - Quagsire 40%, Doduo 5%
Route 29 (Morning, Day) - Pidgey 50%, Sentret 40%, Hoppip 5%, Rattata 5%
Route 29 (Night) - Hoothoot 60%, Rattata 35%, Sentret 5%
Route 30 (Morning, Day) - Caterpie 20%, Weedle 20%, Hoppip 10%
Route 30 (Morning) - Ledyba 30%, Pidgey 10%, Poliwag 5%, Spinarak 5%
Route 30 (Day) - Pidgey 30%, Ledyba 10%, Spinarak 10%
Route 30 (Night) - Spinarak 30%, Hoothoot 30%, Rattata 20%, Poliwag 5%, Caterpie 5%, Weedle 5%, Ledyba 5%
Route 31 - Bellsprout 20%
Route 31 (Morning, Day) - Caterpie 20%, Weedle 20%, Hoppip 6%, Poliwag 5%
Route 31 (Morning) - Pidgey 10%, Ledyba 15%, Spinarak 4%
Route 31 (Day) - Pidgey 21%, Ledyba 4%, Spinarak 4%
Route 31 (Night) - Rattata 20%, Spinarak 15%, Poliwag 11%, Caterpie 10%, Weedle 10%, Hoothoot 10%, Ledyba 4%
Route 32 - Bellsprout 20%, Ekans 20%
Route 32 (Morning) - Mareep 20%, Hoppip 20%, Rattata 15%, Zubat 5%
Route 32 (Day) - Mareep 20%, Hoppip 20%, Rattata 20%
Route 32 (Night) - Wooper 30%, Rattata 10%, Mareep 10%, Zubat 5%, Hoppip 5%
Route 33 - Ekans 20%
Route 33 (Morning, Day) - Wooper 20%, Spearow 20%, Psyduck 10%, Hoppip 5%
Route 33 (Morning) - Rattata 20%, Zubat 5%
Route 33 (Day) - Rattata 25%
Route 33 (Night) - Wooper 30%, Zubat 25%, Rattata 20%, Psyduck 5%
Route 34 - Drowzee 40%, Rattata 20%, Abra 15%, Ditto 6%, Eevee 4%
Route 34 (Morning, Day) - Jigglypuff 10%, Grimer 5%
Route 34 (Night) - Grimer 10%, Jigglypuff 5%
Route 35 - Drowzee 25%, NidoranM 20%, NidoranF 20%
Route 35 (Morning) - Pidgey 10%, Abra 15%, Ditto 6%, Yanma 4%
Route 35 (Day) - Pidgey 10%, Abra 10%, Yanma 11%, Ditto 4%
Route 35 (Night) - Hoothoot 10%, Abra 15%, Ditto 6%, Yanma
This is Refined Gold Overhaul, aka RefGold Overhaul or RGO. For the original hack, please see https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/5938/. Both are standalone hacks, but Refined Gold is closer to vanilla while Overhaul has a new level curve. If you are not sure which to play, you probably want Refined Gold Overhaul.
The base Refined Gold currently lacks many features and improvements pending a TBD update, as I am working on other G4 projects for the foreseeable future.
EDIT 7/09/2024: THIS IS NOW VERSION 3.3!
Current AP patching for Twilight Menu+:
(Go into _nds/TWiLightMenu/extras and create a folder named apfix. Then stick the IPS patch (do not rename it) inside that folder. Do not attempt to apply the patch to the ROM.)
The whole game is finished, including Kanto!!
This was based on the 4787 version of the HeartGold ROM. DSPRE and Pokeditor v2 were used for scripting and editing.
Refined Gold Overhaul is an expansion of the original Refined Gold hack that substantially improves trainers and the difficulty curve along with meaningful QoL such as the Platinum shard tutors.
However, the game is still true to vanilla where possible, modernizing unique design choices of HeartGold by using first-of-its-kind features such as nonlinear progression in the midgame and move tutors that take shards like in Platinum.
All exotic Pokémon are in the postgame, meaning the player's options mirror vanilla HeartGold. Gameplay changes instead focus on allowing access to options such as Houndour and Yanma to make proper use of the preexisting Johto Dex.
Despite having engaging and competent trainer design this is not a difficulty hack. It should be easier than Renegade Platinum and feel more like vanilla B2W2 Challenge Mode applied to all trainers than anything else.
Refined Gold Overhaul also features several novel advancements in the scripting department that serve to better capture the intended original experience.
* Move Tutors that accept shards in Ecruteak and Lake of Rage to match Platinum's R212 and Snowpoint tutors respectively, in addition to earlier Relearner and Deleter access. A Saffron tutor covers the Survival Area moves.
* Kanto has been segmented into three phases. You can pick the gyms of each phase in any order, Mega Man 7 style. It goes Surge/Janine/Erika/Sabrina-Brock/Misty/Blaine-Blue. This offers a more cohesive and engaging postgame campaign because frankly vanilla Kanto is a mess.
* As of v2.0, the entirety of the Kanto postgame is redone with new teams on every trainer along with a fresh level curve building right from Lance.
* Additional field dialogue to chat with the Johto Elite Four and other such NPCs is available as the player progresses.
And, of course, THE OVERHAUL:
* From post-Morty to Radio Tower is fully nonlinear, allowing the player to pick their own path.
* This recreates the original choice in vanilla without sacrificing player agency or gameplay quality.
* Both trainers and wild encounters will become more powerful after completing a "track", either by finishing Rocket HQ or getting the SecretPotion.
* Gym trainers and leaders scale off of the player's badge count, with the 7th Gym being a real threat and packing 5 mons instead of 4.
Refined Gold Overhaul patch for Pokemon Heartgold
By RefinedPlat
Link to this changelog on Google Docs
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I_Vukoq3CK2q4BtcglUp9x-OZh4hEJqHhfzjmPQv0l8/edit?usp=sharing
For the record, this is only associated with Refined Gold, Refined Platinum, and not-yet-released Gen 5 patches.
Absolutely NO connection to Refined Crystal or anything.
1X Introduction
1X0 List of Changelogs
General Changelog (encounters, evolutions, additional ground items, technical stuff) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I_Vukoq3CK2q4BtcglUp9x-OZh4hEJqHhfzjmPQv0l8/edit?usp=sharing
Trainer Changes Johto
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e-8zYV6Y3WI7-58M7Q8jibizpzi_eTJJq-Bi3lxxdq4/edit?usp=sharing
Trainer Changes Kanto
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FYcb91VcAZV70QW7axim6V7Qe97v_FCHdHKxJiH3ZKM/edit?usp=sharing
Moveset Changes
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ra0BZ8W9yurPtCScD2yKljOnLlEFM6T3fpBtAheTIyI/edit?usp=sharing
Wild Held Items Changes
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QSrpM1LBqMNHrK2TXg1l1J07b_TU4rZuKEm5LCXDiRE/edit?usp=sharing
Download Link (in case you found the document via Google Docs only)
https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/7752/
1a Table of Contents
1X Introduction
1X0 List of Changelogs
1a Table of Contents
1b Releases
1cX About
1c0 Which to Play
1c1 General Refined Gold
1c2 The Overhaul
1d Applying
2X Pokemon Changes
2a Evolution Changes
2bX Movepool Changes
2b1 Legendary Movepool Changes
3X Wild Encounters
3aX Johto-Dex Accessibility
3a1 Formerly Kanto-only
3a2 Formerly Kanto or Safari-only
3bX Wild Encounters - Radio
3b1 Hoenn Radio
3b2 Sinnoh Radio
3b3 Unedited Radio Encounters
3cX Wild Encounters - Walking
3c1 Johto
3c2 Kanto
3c3 Rock Smash Encounters
3c4 Dynamic Encounters
3c5 Safari Zone
3dX Wild Encounters - Surfing
3d1 Johto
3d2 Kanto
3eX Wild Encounters - Fishing
3e1 Johto
3e2 Kanto
3f Wild Encounters - Starters
4X Event Changes
4a Overview and Levels
4b Event Changes List
4c Legendary Encounters
4c0 Vanilla
4c1 Post-Dex
4c2 Post-Blue
4c3 Post-Red
4c4 Main Game Rematches
4dX NPC Field Additions
4d1 Superbosses
4d2 Gym Leaders
4d3 Elite Four
4d4 Frontier Brains
5X Item Changes
5aX Evolution Items in the Overworld
5a1 About
5a2 Johto
5a3 Kanto
5b Shop Changes
5c TMs
5d Fossil Guild
5e Misc.
5fX Held Item Changes
5f1 Legendary Items
6X Technical Stuff
6aX Flags
6a1 Important Flags
6a2 Formerly Unused Flags
6b Variables Used
6c Script Archives Added
6d Event Files
6e Text Archives Added
6f Encounter Files Added
6g Notable Maps
6h MISC.
7X Trainers
7a Trainer IDs Added
8X Random Stuff
8a Random Thoughts
8b Bugs
9X FAQ
ZX Disclaimer and Credits
1b Releases
v3.3 - July 7, 2024
Caves and Myths
- Added “rematches” for each of the legendaries that are normally fightable during the main game. These are predominantly near where you would fight them to begin with, to allow the player to redo the fight at their leisure. See section 4c4.
- Mr. Fuji is having difficulty with a pesky poltergeist. Stop by at night and help him out!
- Revamped the Frontier Access Legendary hints to use ListLocalText and be easier to navigate.
- Improved all of the ListLocalTexts to use the Cancel parameter so the player can leave with B instead of having to scroll to the bottom.
- Reworked Route 8, 9, 10 and 11 Hoenn and Sinnoh Radio encounter tables.
- Rotom is now exclusive to Sinnoh Radio encounters.
- Nuked the dinosaurs from orbit. It was the only way to be sure.
* They remain in abundance in Cerulean Cave.
- The Fossil Guild will now let you purchase Skull and Armor fossils in exchange for Root and Claw fossils. Just bring some nice Pearls to help sweeten the deal!
- Revised Ponyta and Lickitung level up move tables.
- Revised Johto Legendary level up move tables.
- Spiritomb now has Memento as a level 1 relearner move and Pain Split at level 43.
- Finally got around to teaching the brass whispers about concise communication.
- Corrected some wild held item rates that were much too high.
- Tweaked encounters for routes 7, 8, 11, 21, 28
- Assorted minor bugfixes and text tweaks.
v3.2.3 - June 5, 2024
- Fixed a crashing bug in Ruins of Alph.
- Fixed a crashing bug with the Icy Rock gentleman in Celadon Dept. Store.
- Revised and improved the Arceus scripts.
v3.2.2 - March 9, 2024
- Fixed a crashing bug in Viridian Forest and Route 4 that would happen on real hardware. Separate from the v3.2.1 bugfix.
- Replaced the Potion in Dark Cave R31 with a Blue Shard.
v3.2.1 - February 29, 2024
- Fixed a major bug that would crash the game when entering Route 4.
v3.2 - February 24, 2024
Tavern Trawl
- The entire fishing encounter table has been revised and improved! Documentation reflects this and now both lists accurate information and accounts for Night fishing.
- A variety of NPCs consisting of Johto Elite Four members and figures from Sinnoh will now appear and be available to be talked to as the player progresses.
* Johto and Kanto Gym Leaders now have additional dialogue at their photo locations and can be talked to repeatedly after refusing a photo. (Photos can still be taken infinitely by reentering the area)
- Using the postgame Block system, 2nd stage Johto Starters can be found in the Safari Zone. This means once the player has access to 1 block of the respective biome, they can acquire Johto Starters without further delay. Johto Starters have been removed from standard encounters altogether. See 3c5 for more details.
* Kanto Starters remain in lategame Kanto, along with Hoenn and Sinnoh starters found via Radio in those routes.
- Made it clearer that the first tier of superbosses are available in the dialogue after getting Rock Climb from Professor Oak.
- Redid the former Johto starter routes as well as 47 and 48.
- Reworked Hoenn and Sinnoh Radio encounters to improve cohesion.
- Reverted Bugsy's Scyther back to having Quick Attack instead of Cut. Also tweaked Whitney.
- Optimized Superboss teams with better movepool and item synergies.
- Fixed a bug where Clair's Fighting Dojo rematch would not shut off the rain afterwards.
- Fixed a bug where entering the Furret House on a bike would crash the game.
- Various minor fixes and improvements.
v3.1 - December 11, 2023
Climax of Avaritia
- The Superboss update is finally out after a year and a half! This is post-Blue content and not to be taken lightly. See the Kanto Trainer Changelog for more details!
* After defeating two of Mr. Game, Elder Li and Kimono Girl Kuni, you will get a strange call to go to Viridian Forest!
* Proton, Petrel, Archer, Ariana, and Eusine are all available as team-testing postgame content.
* The preexisting fights have been rebalanced to improve level balancing and battle quality.
* Added three normal trainers to Ariana’s location.
- Fixed a major bug involving Safari Zone.
* You should now be able to complete the Warden’s Owner Aptitude Exams and catch Pokemon in the right areas.
- Fixed a bug with certain fights repeating mid-battle dialogue by removing the offending lines.
- Removed a small amount of irrelevant content that was intended to be scrapped a long time ago.
- Added the Furret House.
- Various minor fixes and improvements.
v3.0.6 - November 18, 2023
From Whitney, With Spite
- Substantial reworks to the early and midgame Johto exp curve to make the game flow better and have a more organic curve.
* Exp Curve is now balanced such that a team of 5 will not overlevel; formerly it was balanced around a team of 4 which caused moderate grindiness.
* See the Trainer changelog for more details.
* No meaningful changes to Radio Tower onwards.
- A Move Relearner is now in Cianwood.
- The Snowpoint Move Tutor is now in Lake of Rage regardless of player choices.
- Player is now given 10 Poke Balls after completing the catching tutorial instead of 5 to match modern games.
- Slowpoke now evolves into Slowking by leveling up while holding a King’s Rock instead of by using a Water Stone
* Poliwhirl still evolves into Politoed after learning Rain Dance
- Fixed a bug with Onix not evolving in the day.
- Fixed a bug where Move Tutors required you to have at least one of all 4 shards.
- Small changes to Kanto's wild encounter levels.
- Minor bug fixes and improvements, replaced most MultiLocalText with ListLocalText for ease of use.
v2.0.2 - September 3, 2023
- Buffed Suicune and Regigigas’s levels.
- Buffed various trainers around Goldenrod.
- Nerfed the level of Route 34 Eevees so they can evolve into Leafeon and still learn Razor Leaf.
v2.0.1 - September 3, 2023
- Very disappointed in Registeel.
- Minor fixes and improvements.
v2.0 - August 30, 2023
Kant Stop Me Now
- KANTO HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OVERHAULED!
- Kanto is now an engaging postgame and features a level curve from mid 50s way off to the grand finale against Blue's level 72 Umbreon.
* Trainers in Kanto are much stronger with bigger, more intricate teams. Nothing obscenely difficult, but be careful - they just might surprise you!
* Kanto's progression is more "directed" levelwise, giving a faint sense of movement and texture instead of mush.
* Kanto wilds have been blanket buffed. May be tweaked more later.
* Fighting Dojo Rematches have been buffed accordingly.
* There is no significant plot in Kanto, only coherent trainer progression.
- Minor buffs to the initial Elite Four, especially Lance.
- Improved some trainer text and Pokegear conversations to reflect changed trainer classes.
- Fine-tuning of some encounter files in both Kanto and Johto.
* A few repel manips from vanilla are now possible again, but you'll have to check the new levels required in DSPRE by yourself.
- Gave Registeel a can of tuna and told him to do a crime.
- Added Stone Edge TM to the Waterfall area in R47.
- Gracieda now works with all Shaymin.
- Additional minor fixes and optimizations.
v1.4.3 - August 1, 2023
- Hugh in post-Waterfall Mt. Mortar now has a proper team.
- The Thief TM in Mt. Mortar and the Thief TM in Rocket HQ now properly use the same flag.
- Minor fixes and tweaks.
v1.4.2 - Unknown
- Re-fixed a major glitch that made the game load the incorrect variant of nonlinear trainers.
v1.4 - July 25, 2023
Jot Down Johto
- Substantial Johto trainer tweaks to have more random moves like Taunt to make the team composition feel more organic.
- The final first tier gym leader in Kanto (Erika, Janine, Sabrina) will now have a sixth Pokemon.
* All of the second tier Kanto Gym Leaders (Brock, Blaine, Misty) now have six Pokemon instead of just Brock.
- Rematch Clair in the Dojo now has a new team and calls auto-Rain.
v1.3 - July 18, 2023
- Fixed a bug where Kanto gym leaders would load the wrong trainer file
- The player now goes through Diglett’s Cave after the first tier of Kanto to Pewter instead of taking Route 19. Basically to get the Pewter and Cinnabar it’s like vanilla HG now instead of heading south from Fuchsia and wrapping around.
- Various minor fixes.
v1.2.3 - June 29, 2023
- Whitney has been nerfed somewhat.
v1.2.2 - Unknown
- There is now a lady who will trade you Shards in exchange for your Athlete Points.
- Various shards added to ground items; see 5X for more details.
v1.1 - Unknown
- The Fossil Guild is now open in the Route 2 Nugget house.
- A lady in Ruins of Alph will now let you revive Fossils after completing all of the panel puzzles.
- An Old Amber can now be found in Dark Cave Route 45 side.
* Old Amber can no longer be found in Ruins of Alph. It is still renewable by trading Rare Bones to the Fossil Guild.
- Fixed a gamebreaking glitch involving level 0 encounters spawning.
- Minor improvements and optimizations.
v1.0.4 - Unknown
- Various minor level up and encounter tweaks
- Ruins of Alph and Cliff Cave now give access to version exclusive fossils.
v1.0 - May 8, 2023
The Overhaul, first release!!!
Main Changes
- The entirety of post-Morty up until Radio Tower is now fully nonlinear.
* All relevant trainers, including Gym Leaders, will scale based on completion of the “tracks” of Olivine and Mahogany.
* Wild encounters also scale. Saving and reloading in a map will load the weaker version, but will update to the appropriate level on reentering the map.
* The 7th Gym Leader will now have 5 Pokemon instead of 4.
- Lake of Rage trainers are now post-Pryce content to mirror Route 47.
- The entire game has been overhauled for a difficulty curve below Renegade Platinum but firm enough to challenge the average player. The level curve also is now functional and does not leave Johto with a dearth of exp.
- While incomplete, Kanto has had some band-aid changes to bosses. Trainers are not comprehensively fixed yet.
Other changes
- Additional movepool changes, namely to Sandshrew and Typhlosion.
- Move Tutors that accept shards have been added.
* There is one in Ecruteak, one in Saffron, and depending on your path one in either Lake of Rage or Cianwood City.
- A woman on the way to Pokeathlon Dome will trade Athlete Points for shards.
- You can now skip the catching tutorial. Additional text has been optimized.
- Improved in-battle text on boss fights. Format is now First Non-OHKO Hit->Last Pokemon instead of Last Pokemon->Last Pokemon Critical HP. Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney are unaffected.
- Moomoo Farm Miltank now takes 5 Oran Berries to be fully healed instead of 7.
- Rocket HQ now has text on the computers. This elaborates on the plot of the game with only a little conjecture.
- Various minor text changes and script fixes.
1cX About
1c0 Which to Play
If you are starting a new playthrough but are not sure which hack to play, you probably want *Refined Gold Overhaul*.
Basically, if you want the full experience of the revamped Heartgold, want to experience nonlinear progression during the midgame, or are interested in a complete HGSS romhack that doesn’t have the bells and whistles of Sacred Gold et al, play *Refined Gold Overhaul*.
If you simply want to replay vanilla Heartgold with the option of completing the National Pokedex and encounter/boss options that don’t have the diversity of boiled cabbage, play base Refined Gold.
This is NOT like Renegade Platinum where there is a “full” version of the hack and one with dialed back balancing tweaks but the same basic gameplay. Refined Gold Overhaul is its own hack, being a very different experience with vastly more rebalancing, trainer changes, and overall improvements.
1c1 General Refined Gold
**THIS IS A 493 PATCH, MEANING ALL POKEMON INCLUDING LEGENDARIES AND MYTHICALS ARE AVAILABLE**
Refined Gold is a hack intended to allow the player to complete the National Pokedex in Heartgold as well as providing moderate QoL improvements. It's basically a "remaster" of HG with QoL while still staying as true as possible to the vanilla experience. All exotic Pokemon are in the postgame, meaning it plays fairly similarly to the vanilla Heartgold. The focus on the main game encounters is instead opening up options and being more flexible with the RNG instead of having things like 5 different 1% encounters.
The core plot is identical to vanilla Heartgold. If you want to go back to Heartgold, whether to revisit memories or make new ones, this mod is meant to help make them a little more vivid.
* All 1% chances (Yanma, Marill, etc) have been increased to 4% minimum where possible.
* Legendaries are also scattered across the map as NPCs, with most willing to fight you after you've beaten Lance or Blue.
* Kanto now has a wild level curve meant to go from “post-Victory Road” up to an appropriate level to make it into an actual postgame. This is a big departure from vanilla, but because Kanto's wild Pokemon feel bland in vanilla in both difficulty and variety, this is an acceptable cost.
* Every TM, berry, and evolution item has been made renewable. TMs are sold in the Good Rod Angler's house in Olivine once you beat Lance, while additional evolution items and berries can be bought in Vermillion with 10 badges.
* Johto itself has a very poor power curve, so I have taken the liberty of adding in certain evolution items and select TMs to improve the player's tool access. Normally, you would HAVE access to, say, a Leaf Stone but only by farming phone calls with Gina or using the Pokeathlon; now you can find one post-Surf in Cherrygrove. Of the Gen 4 evolution items, only 1 Shiny Stone and 1 Dusk Stone have been added.
* HP counters fall up to 2x faster. This is purely aesthetic. Gen 4 is famous for its HP counter falling incredibly slow in this generation, as it never increases in speed to make up for higher HP foes. So, this hack inherently has 2x HP drain speed in effect. This isn’t too noticeable, but helps a lot in the endgame with high HP foes. Credit to Nitram for the specific method used.
* I cannot confirm the edited ROM is still compatible with additional edits to the speed, and am not responsible if doing so breaks your game. But, if the appropriate change is made to the relevant overlay, it should be fine. Remember to make backups and be safe.
1c2 The Overhaul
Because Heartgold has such a painful level curve and Pokemon distribution, I did an "Overhaul" of my original hack. While it's still within Johto Dex limitations, the wild encounters are much more interesting and trainers are competently built with engaging teams. Pokemon such as Swinub and Houndour are available in time for the main game, and important trainers such as Proton and Eusine have more impactful and thematic teams.
It's not a difficulty hack and should feel a little harder than USUM without being overboard.
In essence, RGO is what I imagine Heartgold *would* have been if it was a new game with HG’s dex but Platinum’s standards for gameplay and quality, plus some additional revamping for fun. Although the maps and plot are for better or for worse the same tier as GSC, the trainers are engaging and the atmosphere is as top-notch as it always has been.
At its core, think of this less as an enhancement hack like Drayano’s work and more as a *restoration*; the hack goes to great lengths to maintain key components of the original (freedom to pick their path post-Morty, the HGSS Johto Dex, etc) while still doing its best to improve upon equivocally flawed parts of it (terrible boss teams, poor access to Johto Pokemon on trainers and wilds, lack of direct access to evolution items, etc).
That said, what really sets apart Refined Gold Overhaul is that there are several novel advancements in the scripting department that I made to better capture the original experience. These include shop scripts, shard move tutors, and my crown jewel, the nonlinear segment.
* From post-Morty to Radio Tower is fully nonlinear, allowing the player to pick their own path. This recreates the original choice in vanilla without sacrificing player agency or gameplay quality.
* Both trainers and wild encounters will become more powerful after completing a "track", either by finishing Rocket HQ or getting the SecretPotion.
* Gym trainers and leaders scale off of the player's badge count, with the 7th Gym being a real threat and packing 5 mons instead of 4.
* Kanto has been segmented into three phases. You can pick the gyms of each phase in any order, Megaman 7 style. It goes Surge/Janine/Erika/Sabrina-> Brock/Misty/Blaine-> Blue. This offers a more cohesive and engaging postgame campaign because frankly vanilla Kanto is a mess.
1d Applying
To apply this patch, just get your CLEAN UNEDITED COPY OF Pokemon Heartgold, then pull out Delta Patcher and apply the patch. Do not attempt to apply the patch to an already patched ROM.
Hex edits and cheat codes may not be fully compatible with this patch. PkHex is fully compatible.
Delta Patcher can be found here https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/704/
To check if the patch was applied correctly, look in the Cherrygrove City PC. A Painter NPC will be present. Oak’s introduction text should also be changed.
Info on the specific dump:
File: Pokemon - HeartGold Version (USA).nds
CRC-32: c180a0e9
MD5: 258cea3a62ac0d6eb04b5a0fd764d788
SHA-1: 4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37
SHA-256: 65f02a56842b75aa92d775d56d657a56fe3fa993550b04dc20704ab82d760105
2X Pokemon Changes
There are no stat or typing changes. No moves have been changed (ex Rock Climb is still Normal, Whirlpool is still 35 BP/70% acc)
These are small-scale, primarily serving to make a 493 possible and make movepools more streamlined within the bounds of HG-legal moves.
2a Evolution Changes
Haunter and Graveler evolve upon learning a key move for their skillsets. Politoed is heavily associated with Drizzle, so Poliwhirl evolves into it by learning Rain Dance.
Evolutions not mentioned here have not been edited. All preexisting methods still work.
Move Evolutions
Haunter - Evolves when leveling up while knowing Shadow Ball (Level 36)
Graveler - Evolves when leveling up while knowing Earthquake (Level 36)
Poliwhirl - Evolves into Politoed when leveling up while learning Rain Dance (Level 36)
Level Evolutions
Kadabra - Evolves at level 38
Machoke - Evolves at level 38
Held Item Evolutions
Slowpoke - Evolves into Slowking by leveling up while holding King’s Rock
Magneton - Evolves into Magnezone by leveling up while holding Dubious Disc
Eevee - Evolves into Glaceon by leveling up while holding Blue Shard at Night
Eevee - Evolves into Leafeon by leveling up while holding Green Shard in the Day
Magmar - Evolves into Magmortar by leveling up while holding Magmarizer
Electabuzz - Evolves into Electivire by leveling up while holding Electrizer
Rhydon - Evolves into Rhyperior by leveling up while holding Protector
Scyther - Evolves into Scizor by leveling up while holding Metal Coat
Onix - Evolves into Steelix by leveling up while holding Metal Coat
Seadra - Evolves into Kingdra by leveling up while holding Dragon Scale
Porygon - Evolves into Porygon2 by leveling up while holding Up-Grade
Porygon2 - Evolves into Porygon Z by leveling up while holding Dubious Disc
Nosepass - Evolves into Probopass by leveling up while holding Yellow Shard
Feebas - Evolves into Milotic by leveling up while holding Pamtre Berry
Dusclops - Evolves into Dusknoir by leveling up while holding Reaper Cloth
Clamperl - Evolves into Huntail by leveling up while holding Deep Sea Tooth
Clamperl - Evolves into Gorebyss by leveling up while holding Deep Sea Scale
Stone Evolutions
Slowpoke - Evolves into Slowking by using a Water Stone (REMOVED as of v3.0.6)
2bX Movepool Changes
**PLEASE SEE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS**
Modest changes. These should have a moderate impact on your playthrough, instead just letting you fine tune some builds without having to get a new Pokemon. All of these are moves the Pokemon can legally know in this generation (as of HGSS), only changed to make it less problematic to get them. Includes things like fixing pre-evolution only moves, updating a few learnset levels to B2W2 tier so you don't wait until level 60 before getting a good STAB, and giving the Dratini line Extremespeed to match the HGSS event. There's also a fair few Move Tutor moves from HGSS thrown in.
It isn't the most dramatic changelog, but Pokemon like Wooper and Natu should be much easier to use this way.
2b1 Legendary Movepool Changes
Legendary level up moves have been changed significantly to make them into worthwhile fights at the levels they are fought. They still can't hold a candle to even basic trainer AI, but hopefully it's more exciting.
Some of these are approximations, and moot points if you're not importing low-level legends. All of their normal level up moves are still there, these are just shoved into the right place to give them those movepools in their fights.
All movesets are still legal in Gen 4. Yes, this means no Sacred Fire Entei, I’m sorry.
Events are not included as legal move options with the exception of Arceus's Spacial Rend.
Ho-Oh - 55
Post Dex - level 60, 70 for Suicune, Lugia
Post Blue - level 70, 80 for Regigigas
Post Red - level 80 for Groudon/Kyogre, level 85 for the rest
Arceus is level 95
Articuno - Ice Beam, Aerial Ace, Ancient Power, Signal Beam at level 70
Zapdos - Discharge, Drill Peck, Mud-Slap, Heat Wave at level 70
Moltres - Heat Wave, Air Slash, Ominous Wind, Solarbeam at level 70
Mewtwo - Aura Sphere, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Recover at level 75
Mew - Hidden Power, Superpower, Ancient Power, Earth Power at level 85
Raikou (Roamer) - Reflect, Spark, Quick Attack, Roar at level 40
Entei (Roamer) - Flamethrower, Stomp, Fire Spin, Roar at level 40
Suicune - Extrasensory, Surf, Calm Mind, Blizzard at level 70
Lugia - Aeroblast, Roost, Psychic, Calm Mind at level 70
Ho-Oh - Sacred Fire, Steel Wing, Aerial Ace, Punishment at level 55
Celebi - Charge Beam, Leaf Storm, Psychic, Seed Bomb at level 60
Raikou (Rematch) - Signal Beam, Discharge, Calm Mind, Thunder at level 70
Entei (Rematch) - Shadow Ball, Lava Plume, Calm Mind, Eruption at level 70
Ho-Oh (Rematch) - Sacred Fire, Zen Headbutt, Sky Attack, Protect at level 70
Regirock - Mud-Slap, Rock Slide, Earthquake, Stealth Rock at level 60
Regice - Charge Beam, Ice Beam, Signal Beam, Hyper Beam at level 60
Registeel - Curse, Iron Head, Amnesia, Superpower at level 60
Latias - Attract, Surf, Dragon Pulse, Mist Ball at level 65
Latias - Healing Wish is at 75
Latios - Mud-Slap, Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Luster Purge at level 65
Latios - Memento is at 75
Kyogre - Calm Mind, Thunder, Ice Beam, Water Spout at level 80
Groudon - Swords Dance, Thunder Punch, Earthquake, Superpower at level 80
Rayquaza - Dragon Dance, Extremespeed, Outrage, Rest at level 85
Jirachi - Cosmic Power, Drain Punch, Iron Head, Psychic at level 70
Deoxys - Cosmic Power, Psycho Boost, Energy Ball, Charge Beam at level 70
Uxie - Calm Mind, Extrasensory, Yawn, Signal Beam at level 60
Mesprit - Reflect, Light Screen, Psychic, Energy Ball at level 60
Azelf - Zen Headbutt, Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Facade at level 60
Dialga - Dragon Claw, Iron Tail, Thunder Wave, Bulk Up at level 85
Palkia - Spacial Rend, Surf, Earth Power, Mud-Slap at level 85
Giratina - Calm Mind, Shadow Ball, Draco Meteor, Will-O-Wisp at level 85
Regigigas - Zen Headbutt, Fire Punch, Thunder Wave, Crush Grip at level 80
Heatran - Lava Plume, Metal Sound, Flash Cannon, Magma Storm at level 70
Cresselia - Psychic, Protect, Light Screen, Confusion at level 70
Manaphy - Tail Glow, Energy Ball, Surf, Psychic at level 60
Darkrai - Dark Void, Dark Pulse, Psychic, Nasty Plot at level 70
Shaymin - Seed Flare, Air Slash, Mud-Slap, Leech Seed at level 60
Arceus - Spacial Rend, Recover, Flamethrower, Judgement at level 95
3X Wild Encounters
To save space, these are sorted by method, route and then by time. Various values may be omitted because they were unimportant, the Pokemon is found everywhere, or I neglected to mention them.
Like in Refined Platinum, functionally all non-Johto Dex Pokemon are strictly found via post-E4 means. There's also a very diverse selection now in Post-E4 areas (read: Kanto), with a huge amount of Pokemon from other regions dwelling in it. Johto should be a revamped vanilla with extra seasoning, while Kanto is a whole new ballgame.
Individual level changes are not mentioned. Evolved mons are not always mentioned.
If no time is specified, it takes effect all day.
All Pokemon unique to a given area are still there, though Pokemon like Graveler and Golbat may not appear at all in certain areas to make space for new Pokemon.
Sinnoh Radio and Hoenn Radio are always 20% chances, and replace the 10% slots. Since it's easy to change the date and put the radio on, I'm using it for a lot of exotic and Safari Pokemon.
If only one Radio Pokemon is mentioned, it is a 40% chance there.
Various Radio Pokemon in Kanto have been upgraded to their evolved forms - be prepared to see Luxrays and Bronzongs, Hariyamas and Camerupts. These are not listed.
3aX Johto-Dex Accessibility
These are Pokemon that are normally Kanto (or Safari-only) exclusive but have been added to Johto areas. Their evolutions may not be accessible before beating the Elite Four.
3a1 Formerly Kanto-only
Electabuzz
Omanyte
Kabuto
Aerodactyl
Sneasel
Houndour
Slugma
3a2 Formerly Kanto or Safari-only
Jigglypuff
Grimer
Murkrow
Larvitar
3bX Wild Encounters - Radio
3b1 Hoenn Radio
Cliff Cave - Trapinch, Cacnea
Diglett's Cave - Trapinch, Cacturne
Ice Path (1F) - Castform, Spheal
Ice Path (B1F-B3F) - Castform, Sealeo
Mt. Moon (All) - Sableye, Mawile
Mt. Mortar (B1F) - Meditite, Makuhita
National Park - Volbeat, Illumise
Ruins of Alph - Baltoy, Vigoroth
Seafoam Islands (1F-B3F) - Sealeo, Castform
Seafoam Islands (B4F) - Walrein, Castform
Route 4 - Sableye, Mawile
Route 8 - Gardevoir, Mightyena
Route 9 - Exploud, Manectric
Route 10 - Exploud, Manectric
Route 11 - Gardevoir, Mightyena
Route 13 - Kecleon, Tropius
Route 14 - Kecleon, Tropius
Route 15 - Kecleon, Tropius
Route 16 - Swalot, Weezing
Route 17 - Swalot, Weezing
Route 18 - Swalot, Weezing
Route 29 - Poochyena, Gulpin
Route 33 - Shroomish, Seedot
Route 36 - Baltoy, Vigoroth
Route 37 - Baltoy, Vigoroth
Route 42 - Seviper, Zangoose
Route 43 - Seviper, Zangoose
Route 44 - Metang, Shelgon
Route 45 - Mightyena, Swalot
Route 46 - Poochyena, Gulpin
Route 1 - Sceptile
Route 3 - Blaziken
Route 24 - Swampert
3b2 Sinnoh Radio
Cliff Cave - Hippopotas, Nosepass
Diglett's Cave - Hippowdon, Nosepass
Ice Path (All) - Snorunt, Snover
Mt. Moon (All) - Lunatone, Solrock
Mt. Mortar (B1F) - Gabite, Riolu
Mt. Silver (Snowy) - Froslass, Bronzong
National Park - Beautifly, Dustox
Ruins of Alph - Riolu, Burmy
Seafoam Islands (All) - Glalie, Abomasnow
Route 4 - Lunatone, Solrock
Route 8 - Purugly, Rotom
Route 9 - Luxray, Pachirisu
Route 10 - Luxray, Pachirisu
Route 11 - Purugly, Rotom
Route 13 - Cherrim, Lopunny
Route 14 - Cherrim, Lopunny
Route 15 - Cherrim, Lopunny
Route 16 - Skorupi, Toxicroak
Route 17 - Drapion, Toxicroak
Route 18 - Drapion, Toxicroak
Route 29 - Swablu, Ralts
Route 33 - Croagunk, Skorupi
Route 36 - Riolu, Burmy
Route 37 - Riolu, Burmy
Route 42 - Munchlax, Tyrogue
Route 43 - Munchlax, Tyrogue
Route 44 - Gabite, Drifblim
Route 45 - Altaria, Kirlia
Route 46 - Swablu, Ralts
Route 1 - Torterra
Route 3 - Infernape
Route 24 - Empoleon
3b3 Unedited Radio Encounters
Just in case anyone needs them. Pokemon may be evolved relative to vanilla.
Hoenn Radio
Bell Tower - Linoone, Spinda
Burned Tower - Linoone, Spinda
Dark Cave - Absol, Makuhita
Ilex Forest - Spoink, Numel
Mt. Mortar 1F, Back, Waterfall - Absol, Makuhita
Rock Tunnel - Absol, Hariyama
Slowpoke Well - Absol, Makuhita
Sprout Tower - Zigzagoon, Spinda
Tohjo Falls - Absol, Hariyama
Union Cave - Absol, Makuhita
Victory Road - Absol, Hariyama
Viridian Forest - Grumpig, Camerupt
Route 2 - Plusle, Minun
Route 5 - Plusle, Minun
Route 6 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 7 - Plusle, Minun
Route 25 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 26 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 27 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 28 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 30 - Whismur, Zigzagoon
Route 31 - Whismur, Zigzagoon
Route 34 - Whismur, Zigzagoon
Route 35 - Whismur, Zigzagoon
Route 38 - Plusle, Minun
Route 39 - Plusle, Minun
Route 47 - Exploud, Linoone
Route 48 - Plusle, Minun
Sinnoh Radio
Bell Tower - Chatot, Medicham
Burned Tower - Chatot, Meditite
Dark Cave - Bronzor, Chingling
Ilex Forest - Budew, Carnivine
Mt. Mortar 1F, Back, Waterfall - Bronzor, Chingling
Rock Tunnel - Bronzong, Chimecho
Slowpoke Well - Bronzor, Chingling
Sprout Tower - Chatot, Meditite
Tohjo Falls - Bronzong, Chimecho
Union Cave - Bronzor, Chingling
Victory Road - Bronzong, Chimecho
Viridian Forest - Roselia, Carnivine
Route 2 - Luxray, Luxray
Route 5 - Luxray, Luxray
Route 6 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 7 - Luxray, Luxray
Route 25 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 26 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 27 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 28 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 30 - Buizel, Bidoof
Route 31 - Buizel, Bidoof
Route 34 - Buizel, Bidoof
Route 35 - Buizel, Bidoof
Route 38 - Luxio, Luxio
Route 39 - Luxio, Luxio
Route 47 - Floatzel, Bibarel
Route 48 - Luxio, Luxio
3cX Wild Encounters - Walking
3c1 Johto
Johto Dungeons
Bell Tower 2F - Ariados 20%, Weepinbell 10%, Murkrow 4%
Bell Tower 2F (Morning, Day) - Noctowl 30%, Raticate 30%, Haunter 4%, Rattata 1%
Bell Tower 2F (Night) - Noctowl 40%, Haunter 14%, Raticate 10%, Gastly 1%
Bell Tower 3F-9F - Noctowl 30%, Murkrow 10%, Weepinbell 5%
Bell Tower 3F-9F (Morning, Day) - Raticate 30%, Ariados 15%, Haunter 10%
Bell Tower 3F-9F (Night) - Ariados 20%, Haunter 15%, Raticate 10%, Gengar 5%
Burned Tower 1F - Rattata 20%, Koffing 34%
Burned Tower 1F (Morning) - Raticate 19%, Grimer 15%, Zubat 10%, Magmar 2%
Burned Tower 1F (Day) - Raticate 22%, Grimer 10%, Zubat 10%, Magmar 4%
Burned Tower 1F (Night) - Raticate 19%, Grimer 15%, Zubat 15%, Magmar 2%
Burned Tower B1F - Koffing 50%, Raticate 20%
Burned Tower B1F (Morning) - Grimer 10%, Magmar 5%, Rattata 10%, Zubat 5%
Burned Tower B1F (Day) - Grimer 5%, Magmar 10%, Rattata 10%, Zubat 5%
Burned Tower B1F (Night) - Grimer 10%, Magmar 5%, Zubat 15%
Cliff Cave - Golbat 20%, Graveler 20%, Krabby 10%, Kingler 10%, Machop 10%, Onix 10%, Machoke 5%, Quagsire 8%, Steelix 2%
Cliff Cave (Morning, Day) - Misdreavus 5%
Cliff Cave (Night) - Misdreavus 10%
Dark Cave R31 Side - Geodude 45%, Zubat 34%, Phanpy 10%
Dark Cave R31 Side (Morning, Day) - Poliwag 7%, Dunsparce 4%
Dark Cave R31 Side (Night) - Dunsparce 6%, Poliwag 5%
Dark Cave R45 Side; Pre-Archer - Graveler 25%, Zubat 20%, Wobbuffet 15%, Golbat 11%, Geodude 10%, Dunsparce 4%
Dark Cave R45 Side; Pre-Archer (Morning, Day) - Phanpy 10%, Teddiursa 5%
Dark Cave R45 Side; Pre-Archer (Night) - Teddiursa 10%, Phanpy 5%
Ilex Forest - Butterfree 4%, Beedrill 4%
Ilex Forest (Morning) - Caterpie 20%, Weedle 20%, Paras 15%, Metapod 10%, Kakuna 10%, Hoothoot 10%, Pineco 10%, Venonat 5%, Oddish 2%
Ilex Forest (Day) - Caterpie 20%, Weedle 20%, Metapod 10%, Kakuna 10%, Hoothoot 10%, Pineco 10%, Paras 5%, Venonat 5%, Oddish 2%
Ilex Forest (Night) - Oddish 52%, Hoothoot 20%, Venonat 15%, Paras 5%
Ice Path 1F - Golbat 30%, Piloswine 20%, Swinub 10%, Teddiursa 10%, Zubat 10%
Ice Path 1F (Morning) - Sneasel 10%, Delibird 5%
Ice Path 1F (Day) - Sneasel 5%, Delibird 5%
Ice Path 1F (Night) - Delibird 10%, Sneasel 5%
Ice Path B1F-3F - Golbat 40%, Piloswine 20%, Swinub 10%
Ice Path B1F-3F (Morning) - Delibird 15%, Sneasel 10%
Ice Path B1F-3F (Day) - Delibird 15%, Sneasel 5%
Ice Path B1F-3F (Night) - Delibird 20%, Sneasel 5%
Mt. Mortar Entrance - Zubat 40%, Machop 20%, Golbat 10%, Raticate 10%, Rattata 5%, Slugma 5%
Mt. Mortar Entrance (Morning, Day) - Marill 6%, Geodude 4%
Mt. Mortar Entrance (Night) - Marill 8%, Geodude 2%
Mt. Mortar Back - Machop 36%, Rattata 10%, Raticate 5%, Zubat 5%, Marill 4%
Mt. Mortar Back (Morning, Day) - Gedoude 30%, Slugma 10%
Mt. Mortar Back (Night) - Geodude 20%, Slugma 20%
Mt. Mortar Waterfall Cave - Golem 20%, Machamp 20%, Graveler 10%, Machoke 10%, Golbat 10%, Azumarill 4%
Mt. Mortar Waterfall Cave (Morning, Day) - Raticate 15%, Tyrogue 6%, Magcargo 5%
Mt. Mortar Waterfall Cave (Night) - Raticate 10%, Magcargo 10%, Tyrogue 5%, Hitmontop 1%
Mt. Mortar Karate King - Zubat 40%, Raticate 20%, Machop 10%, Machoke 10%
Mt. Mortar Karate King (Morning, Day) - Marill 6%, Geodude 5%, Slugma 5% Tyrogue 4%
Mt. Mortar Karate King (Night) - Slugma 10%, Marill 8%, Tyrogue 2%
National Park - Butterfree 20%, Beedrill 20%, Yanma 1%
National Park (Morning) - Pidgey 25%, Psyduck 10%, Venonat 10%, Sunkern 6%, Scyther 4%, Pinsir 4%
National Park (Day) - Sunkern 25%, Psyduck 20%, Scyther 6%, Pinsir 4%, Pidgey 4%
National Park (Night) - Hoothoot 24%, Venonat 15%, Psyduck 10%, Pinsir 6%, Scyther 4%
Ruins of Alph Exterior - Natu 70%, Smeargle 30%
Ruins of Alph Interior - Unown 100%
Slowpoke Well B1F - Zubat 70%, Slowpoke 20%, Psyduck 10%
Slowpoke Well B2F - Golbat 35%, Zubat 30%, Slowpoke 21%, Psyduck 10%, Slowbro 4%
Sprout Tower - Hoothoot 20%, Bellsprout 5%
Sprout Tower (Morning, Day) - Rattata 65%, Sentret 10%
Sprout Tower (Night) - Gastly 65%, Rattata 10%
Union Cave 1F - Geodude 30%, Sandshrew 30%, Zubat 25%, Rattata 10%, Onix 5%
Union Cave B2F - Raticate 30%, Zubat 20%, Golbat 20%, Geodude 15%, Onix 5%
Union Cave B2F (Morning) - Sandshrew 6%, Sandslash 4%
Union Cave B2F (Day, Night) - Sandshrew 8%, Sandslash 2%
Whirl Islands 1F, B1F; Base - Kingler 20%, Krabby 20%, Zubat 20%, Seel 15%, Poliwhirl 10%, Golbat 10%, Corsola 5%
Whirl Islands B2F; Base - Kingler 20%, Golbat 20%, Seel 20%, Krabby 10%, Poliwhirl 10%, Zubat 10%, Dewgong 5%, Corsola 5%
Victory Road 1F - Golbat 30%, Graveler 20%, Ursaring 15%, Donphan 15%, Rhyhorn 10%, Larvitar 4%, Onix 4%, Rhydon 2%
Victory Road 2F, 3F - Graveler 20%, Golbat 20%, Ursaring 10%, Donphan 10%, Rhyhorn 10%, Golem 5%, Steelix 5%, Larvitar 4%, Rhydon 2%
Victory Road 2F, 3F (Morning, Day) - Sandslash 10%, Arbok 4%
Victory Road 2F, 3F (Night) - Arbok 10%, Sandslash 4%
Johto Routes
Route 26 - Sandslash 30%, Arbok 10%, Ponyta 10%, Rapidash 10%, Jumpluff 5%
Route 26 (Morning, Day) - Doduo 20%, Dodrio 10%, Raticate 5%
Route 26 (Night) - Raticate 20%, Quagsire 10%, Dodrio 5%
Route 27 - Jumpluff 20%, Arbok 15%, Raticate 10%, Sandslash 5%, Ponyta 5%
Route 27 (Morning, Day) - Doduo 25%, Dodrio 10%
Route 27 (Night) - Quagsire 40%, Doduo 5%
Route 29 (Morning, Day) - Pidgey 50%, Sentret 40%, Hoppip 5%, Rattata 5%
Route 29 (Night) - Hoothoot 60%, Rattata 35%, Sentret 5%
Route 30 (Morning, Day) - Caterpie 20%, Weedle 20%, Hoppip 10%
Route 30 (Morning) - Ledyba 30%, Pidgey 10%, Poliwag 5%, Spinarak 5%
Route 30 (Day) - Pidgey 30%, Ledyba 10%, Spinarak 10%
Route 30 (Night) - Spinarak 30%, Hoothoot 30%, Rattata 20%, Poliwag 5%, Caterpie 5%, Weedle 5%, Ledyba 5%
Route 31 - Bellsprout 20%
Route 31 (Morning, Day) - Caterpie 20%, Weedle 20%, Hoppip 6%, Poliwag 5%
Route 31 (Morning) - Pidgey 10%, Ledyba 15%, Spinarak 4%
Route 31 (Day) - Pidgey 21%, Ledyba 4%, Spinarak 4%
Route 31 (Night) - Rattata 20%, Spinarak 15%, Poliwag 11%, Caterpie 10%, Weedle 10%, Hoothoot 10%, Ledyba 4%
Route 32 - Bellsprout 20%, Ekans 20%
Route 32 (Morning) - Mareep 20%, Hoppip 20%, Rattata 15%, Zubat 5%
Route 32 (Day) - Mareep 20%, Hoppip 20%, Rattata 20%
Route 32 (Night) - Wooper 30%, Rattata 10%, Mareep 10%, Zubat 5%, Hoppip 5%
Route 33 - Ekans 20%
Route 33 (Morning, Day) - Wooper 20%, Spearow 20%, Psyduck 10%, Hoppip 5%
Route 33 (Morning) - Rattata 20%, Zubat 5%
Route 33 (Day) - Rattata 25%
Route 33 (Night) - Wooper 30%, Zubat 25%, Rattata 20%, Psyduck 5%
Route 34 - Drowzee 40%, Rattata 20%, Abra 15%, Ditto 6%, Eevee 4%
Route 34 (Morning, Day) - Jigglypuff 10%, Grimer 5%
Route 34 (Night) - Grimer 10%, Jigglypuff 5%
Route 35 - Drowzee 25%, NidoranM 20%, NidoranF 20%
Route 35 (Morning) - Pidgey 10%, Abra 15%, Ditto 6%, Yanma 4%
Route 35 (Day) - Pidgey 10%, Abra 10%, Yanma 11%, Ditto 4%
Route 35 (Night) - Hoothoot 10%, Abra 15%, Ditto 6%, Yanma
Time to Beat
Main Story 37h 0m
Main + Extras 67h 2m
ttb_all 46h 57m
ttb_multi_comp 15h 0m
Speedrun Avg 27h 56m
Release Date
Jul 9, 2024
11 months ago
NDS Core Required
Pokémon HeartGold Version: Refined Gold Overhaul ROM
Download the Pokémon HeartGold Version: Refined Gold Overhaul ROM free and start playing in minutes on any top emulator—desktop, mobile, or web. Enjoy lightning-fast Pokémon HeartGold Version: Refined Gold Overhaul ROM downloads with full setup guides, cheats, and retro gaming tips so you can relive the classics today.