HeartGold & SoulSilver Whirl Islands
Whirlpools guard every entrance to this drowned cave maze west of Cianwood. Hold the Silver Wing and Lugia rises from its lowest hollow, SoulSilver's cover legend.
Whirl Islands is in Johto, with Route 41 to the south. In the story it comes after Bell Tower and before Route 27.
WHIRL ISLANDS MAP
A Whirlpool off Route 41 is the only way into the four flooded grottoes of the Whirl Islands, where Surf then carries you down to the new B3F at the bottom.
Whirl Islands Walkthrough
1F
- Use SurfMoveSurfWaterClassSpecialPower95Accuracy100%PP15It swamps the entire battlefield with a giant wave. It can also be used for crossing water. and WhirlpoolMoveWhirlpoolWaterClassSpecialPower15Accuracy70%PP15Traps the foe inside a whirlpool that lasts for two to five turns. The user can pass through whirlpools. to reach the entrances; Tentacool shares the water with Horsea and Tentacruel. Collect the Ultra BallUltra BallAn ultra-performance Ball that provides a higher Pokemon catch rate than a Great Ball. in the southwest entrance's east section.
- Inside the southeast island entrance, search the northwest corner's rock for the hidden Rare CandyRare CandyA candy that is packed with energy. It raises the level of a single Pokemon by one.Southeast island entrance; in rock in northwest corner (hidden).
- Re-enter the northeastern mouth, take the upper branch at the fork and descend the far northern ladder to B1F.
Rare CandyB1F
Keep that approach separate from the pickup detours entered through the other island ladders.
- For Carbos, search B1F southwest of the northwest island ladder; the visible Full Restore sits southeast of that northwest ladder.
- Collect the Nugget near the center of B1F's northern room edge; Calcium waits northeast of the southeast island ladder.
- Use HM04 StrengthMoveStrengthNormalClassPhysicalPower80Accuracy100%PP15The foe is slugged with a punch thrown at maximum power. It can also be used to move boulders. with the Plain Badge to shift the boulder when exploring its side path. The Escape Rope lies east of the southwest island ladder.
- For Lugia, follow the eastern approach south, then turn west to the ladder into B2F's upper passage.
Carbos
Nugget
Calcium
Requires HM04 StrengthMoveStrengthNormalClassPhysicalPower80Accuracy100%PP15The foe is slugged with a punch thrown at maximum power. It can also be used to move boulders. + Plain Badge
Nothing is locked behind the Strength Boulder. It opens no new ground and saves no steps on the way through.
B2F
- Take the Max ReviveMax ReviveA medicine that revives a fainted Pokemon. It fully restores the Pokemon's HP.B2F; west of main ladder located at the top west of B2F's main ladder at the top; search the wall northwest of that ladder for the hidden Full RestoreFull RestoreA medicine that fully restores the HP and heals any status problems of a single Pokemon.B2F; in wall northwest of main ladder (hidden).
- The Max ElixirMax ElixirIt fully restores the PP of all the moves learned by the targeted Pokemon.B2F; southwest of ladder in enclosed section needs a separate descent: enter the enclosed B2F section from B1F's southwestern ladder, then search southwest of the arrival ladder.
- Return to the main approach, speak to the monk with the Silver Wing, then take the higher cave doorway onto B3F.
Max Revive
Max Elixir
Full RestoreB3F
- Take the visible Rare CandyRare CandyA candy that is packed with energy. It raises the level of a single Pokemon by one.Southeast island entrance; in rock in northwest corner (hidden) from the ledge overlooking Lugia's chamber.
- Leave through the same door to B2F, then follow the descending path to the lower cave opening for LugiaDoes not evolve.
- In SoulSilver, complete the summoning scene before approaching Lugia; the Silver Wing belongs to this story encounter.
- For HeartGold, make this chamber visit after the main story, with the Silver Wing checked on the approach.
- After the encounter, use an Escape Rope to return outside, then head south onto Route 41.
Rare CandyStory catch in the Whirl Islands with the Silver Wing
Pokemon Encounters
Lugia rests in the heart of the sea caves, a steep level 70 in HeartGold but an easier level 45 in SoulSilver. The wild catches are thinner, Golbat in the tunnels and a Horsea or Seadra on the rods on the way to a Kingdra.
Old Rod2
Good Rod3
Super Rod4
Old Rod2Good Rod3Super Rod4Lugia
ITEMS
The flooded passages around Lugia hide a strong vitamin run, a Calcium, a Carbos, and two Rare Candy spread across the islets. A Nugget and a hidden Pearl reward the swim through.
Rare Candy
A candy that is packed with energy. It raises the level of a single Pokemon by one.
Rare Candy
A candy that is packed with energy. It raises the level of a single Pokemon by one.
Calcium
A nutritious drink for Pokemon. It raises the base Sp. Atk (Special Attack) stat of a single Pokemon.
Carbos
A nutritious drink for Pokemon. It raises the base Speed stat of a single Pokemon.
Rare Candy
A candy that is packed with energy. It raises the level of a single Pokemon by one.
Full Restore
A medicine that fully restores the HP and heals any status problems of a single Pokemon.
Ultra Ball
An ultra-performance Ball that provides a higher Pokemon catch rate than a Great Ball.
Escape Rope
A long, durable rope. Use it to escape instantly from a cave or a dungeon.
Nugget
A nugget of pure gold that gives off a lustrous gleam. It can be sold at a high price to shops.
Max Elixir
It fully restores the PP of all the moves learned by the targeted Pokemon.
Max Revive
A medicine that revives a fainted Pokemon. It fully restores the Pokemon's HP.
Pearl
A somewhat-small pearl that sparkles in a pretty silver color. It can be sold cheaply to shops.
Revive
A medicine that revives a fainted Pokemon. It restores half the Pokemon's maximum HP.
Super Repel
An item that prevents weak wild Pokemon from appearing for 200 steps after its use.
Ultra Ball
An ultra-performance Ball that provides a higher Pokemon catch rate than a Great Ball.
Full Restore
A medicine that fully restores the HP and heals any status problems of a single Pokemon.
Whirl Islands Guide
Lugia waits deep in the Whirl Islands on Route 41, between Johto and Cianwood, and you only reach it with Surf and Whirlpool once the Silver Wing is in your bag. It is Level 45 in SoulSilver, its mascot game, and Level 70 in HeartGold. Ho-Oh mirrors that, sitting at Level 45 in HeartGold and Level 70 in SoulSilver, since each mascot is Level 45 in its own game.