How to Find and Catch Suicune in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

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Capture Suicune and add this legendary Pokémon to your team

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Ishrak

Last Updated: December 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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Preparation

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Finding Suicune

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Suicune is a powerful legendary Pokémon that's part of a trio in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Unlike its pals, Entei and Raikou, it doesn't randomly wander the map. Suicune will spawn in select places on the map; it will remain unmoving until you approach it. Since it's a quite elusive Pokémon, you need patience to capture it. Fortunately, the wild goose chase to capture Suicune is well worth it. Read on to find out how to find this awesome Pokémon.

Catching Suicune in HGSS

To start, encounter Suicune in the Burned Tower in Ecruteak City. Then you must find it in Cianwood City, on Route 42, the Vermillion City Harbor, on Route 14, and finally on Route 25. Suicune will continue to run until you find it on Route 25, where you can then battle and capture it.

Section 1 of 2:

Preparation

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1
Level up your party. You'll want to bring a number of strong Pokémon to fight Suicune. Since Suicune is a Water-type Pokémon, you might want to bring an Electric or Grass type to fight it, since Suicune will be extra weak to those moves. However, you might want to avoid these types, since you run the risk of accidentally knocking Suicune out with a super-effective move.
- Avoid bringing Fire, Ground, or Rock types to the battle, since Suicune will be super effective against them.
- If you have a Pokémon that knows False Swipe, this move will make sure that Suicune doesn't go below 1 HP.
- Bring a Pokémon that can inflict Frozen or Sleep. These status effects will make Suicune easier to catch. Avoid bringing Pokémon that can inflict Burn or Poison, as these status effects cause tick damage that can accidentally knock Suicune out.
  - You can also bring a Pokémon that can inflict Paralyze, but Frozen or Sleep has a higher effect on the catch rate.
- Bring a Pokémon that knows Cut. You'll need to use Cut once during the process to find Suicune.
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Bring lots of Ultra or Net Balls. Net Balls are your best chance for catching Suicune. If you don't have Net Balls, Ultra Balls are the next best choice.
- If Suicune is at 1 HP and is Asleep or Frozen, a Net Ball has about a 7% chance of capturing the Suicune, while an Ultra Ball has about a 4% chance.^{[1]
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- Bring at least 40 Ultra Balls and 40 Net Balls, if you can.
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The battle with Suicune might be tricky if your Pokémon are between levels 40 and 50. To be safe, bring a lot of healing items so you can keep your Pokémon's HP and PP topped up during the battle.

Section 2 of 2:

Finding Suicune

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You'll be directed to go to this tower during the story of the game, so you won't be able to rush your way through to getting Suicune.
Walk to the right, then upwards, and climb down the ladder. Walk towards Suicune, Raikou, and Entei. They will run away.[Image:Find Suicune in Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver Step 3.jpg|center]]
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Go to Cianwood City. Walk north and you'll see Suicune again. It will run off, but you'll be able to catch it soon.
- You'll also fight Eusine while you're here. His team consists of a level 25 Drowzee, a level 25 Haunter, and a level 27 Electrode.^{[2]
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Fly to either Ecruteak City and run right or Mahogany Town and run left. Either way gets you to Route 42. Go to the entrance of Mt. Mortar, and you'll see Suicune again.^{[3]
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- You'll need to use the HM Cut to get to Suicune.
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Beat the Elite Four. To continue searching for Suicune, you must beat the Elite Four and the Champion. These fights will be tough, so bring your strongest Pokémon and a lot of healing items.^{[4]
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- Elite Four member Will has a level 40 Xatu, a level 41 Jynx, a level 41 Exeggutor, a level 41 Slowbro, and a level 42 Xatu.
- Elite Four member Koga has a level 40 Ariados, a level 41 Venomoth, a level 43 Forretress, a level 42 Muk, and a level 44 Crobat.
- Elite Four member Bruno has a level 42 Hitmontop, a level 42 Hitmonlee, a level 42 Hitmonchan, a level 43 Onix, and a level 46 Machamp.
- Elite Four member Karen has a level 42 Umbreon, a level 42 Vileplume, a level 45 Gengar, a level 44 Murkrow, and a level 47 Houndoom.
- Champion Lance has a level 44 Gyarados, a level 49 Dragonite, a level 49 Dragonite, a level 48 Aerodactyl, a level 48 Charizard, and a level 50 Dragonite.
You can do this by boarding the S.S. Aqua in Olivine City. You'll see Suicune in the Vermillion City Harbor, but it will run away immediately.
Route 14 is on the right side of Fuchsia City. Don't worry, as this is the last time Suicune runs away.
If you skip ahead and go directly to Route 25, you won't find Suicune. Once Misty goes into her gym, go inside and come back out before continuing.^{[5]
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Go to Bill's (the creator of the Pokémon Storage System) house, and you'll see Suicune again. This time, it won't back off. Approaching Suicune will initiate a battle, so make sure you save before walking up to it!