The Pokéwalker is a device that was released with Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version. It is a pedometer-based virtual pet that allows the player to take any one Pokémon that they have captured in the game and download it onto the Pokéwalker from their in-game storage PC. Players can also get Pokémon and items that can be transferred back into Pokémon HeartGold Version or Pokémon SoulSilver Version.

Usage[]

To access the Pokéwalker, the player must have at least one Pokémon in a PC Box and select the CONNECT TO Pokéwalker option from the menu. From there, the player must select a Pokémon from their PC Boxes and select a path. Once the transfer is completed, they will be able to walk around with the Pokémon that they downloaded onto the Pokéwalker.

Every time the built in pedometer device records 10 steps taken by the player, they receive a Watt (W). Watts are a type of currency that can be used to play minigames and unlock new routes in the Pokéwalker. Every time a Pokémon is transferred into the Pokéwalker after a long walk, it gains one level. Its happiness increases as you walk with it as well.

Poké Radar[]

To use the Poké Radar, a player is charged 10 Watts. Once PokéRadar mode is selected 4 patches of grass are shown on screen. One patch of grass is then highlighted at random with an exclamation point. The number of exclamation points range from 1-3 and the aim is to select a higher number of exclamation points. Once selected, a battle will commence or another highlighted section of grass may show up with a higher number of exclamation points. In battle if the player is defeated or defeats the enemy Pokémon without capture, the game will end. Both Pokémon will have only 4 HP, and the player is given three options: Attack, Evade, and Catch which effect the game as follows.

• Attack means that the players Pokémon does 1 HP damage to their enemy. Critical hits can occur at random, resulting in 2 HP damage.
• Evade is a preemptive dodge of an enemies attack and can be used by either side. If the player uses evade it can heighten the risk of a wild Pokémon running away.
• Catch allows the player to throw a Poké Ball at the Pokémon, which will either capture it or cause it to run away. Pokémon with lower health are easier to catch.

Dowsing Machine[]

To use the Dowsing Machine, a player is charged 3 Watts. The player is shown six patches of grass and has two guesses to find an item hidden in one of them. if the player is unsuccessful, the game will end. If the player is one patch away from finding the item the Dowsing Machine will show a message saying "It's near". if the item is farther than one patch away a message will appear on screen saying "It's far away".

Locations[]

There is a total of 27 different locations to explore on the PokéRadar. Both Refreshing Field and Noisy Forest are the only locations available at first, but the player can unlock more as they earn a certain number of watts. In every location, when a player chooses the Poké Radar or Dowsing Machine, they have a chance to fight or find one of six wild Pokémon or ten specific items in the location. All wild Pokémon have a predetermined gender, level, and set of four moves.

Before receiving the National Pokédex, there are eight possible locations to explore, with several also requiring a certain number of watts to unlock:

• Refreshing Field
• Noisy Forest
• Rugged Road - 50 watts
• Beautiful Beach - 200 watts
• Suburban Area - 500 watts
• Dim Cave - 1,000 watts
• Blue Lake - 2,000 watts
• Town Outskirts - 3,000 watts

Twelve more locations, which also require a certain number of watts to unlock, can become available only after receiving the National Pokédex, as they feature at least one Pokémon from Hoenn or Sinnoh:

• Hoenn Field - 5,000 watts
• Warm Beach - 7,500 watts
• Volcano Path - 10,000 watts
• Treehouse - 15,000 watts
• Scary Cave - 20,000 watts
• Sinnoh Field - 25,000 watts
• Icy Mountain Rd. - 30,000 watts
• Big Forest - 40,000 watts
• White Lake - 50,000 watts
• Stormy Beach - 65,000 watts
• Resort - 80,000 watts
• Quiet Cave - 100,000 watts

Seven locations were available through special criteria, usually through special events in the past, making a majority of the following inaccessible to newer players:

• Beyond the Sea - Receive a Pokémon from a player in a different country through the Global Trade System. The location is inaccessible to newer players ever since Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection shut down on May 20, 2014.
• Night Sky's Edge - Receiving a Jirachi from a trade
• Yellow Forest - Through an event
• Rally - Through an event
• Sightseeing - Through an event
• Winner's Path - Through an event
• Amity Meadow - Through an event

Gallery[]

The Poke Transfer screen of a HeartGold or SoulSilver game's Pokéwalker menu.

A diagram of a Pokéwalker and its use.

Pokéwalker insides.

The circuitry of a HeartGold/SoulSilver cartridge illustrating how it connects to the Pokéwalker.

A Pokéwalker connecting to a HeartGold or SoulSilver cartridge.

Trivia[]

• The Pokéwalker is often compared to the Pokémon Pikachu pedometer series.
• Alternate versions of all Pokémon are shown on the Pokéwalker including Giratina's origin form and the Notch Eared Pichu. Shaymin's sky form is the only alternate form that's omitted because of the requirements for its activation.
• The Pokéwalker comes with two backings, with one being a belt clip and the other as just a plain backing with copyright information.
• The Pokéwalker works very similarly to the Poké Ball Plus, which came out in 2017 for the Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee games.