Pokémon HGSS: All In-Game Trades + Locations

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, there are 10 in-game NPCs that will offer to trade you a Pokémon for one of yours.

These NPCs can be found in various locations throughout the game, and the Pokémon obtained through these in-game trades will sometimes hold special items, or know certain rare moves that they don’t normally learn through training.

For the most part, each Trainer will request a certain type of Pokémon from you in exchange for the Pokémon that they are offering. The Pokémon they request should be in your party when speaking to them, since you can’t trade Pokémon that are stored in the PC.

#1: Bellsprout for Onix

Once you reach Violet City, you’ll be able to trade with Rudy in the house just below the Pokémon Center. He’ll want a Bellsprout for his Onix.

You should be able to catch a Bellsprout in the grass on Route 31.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Bellsprout	Onix
Original Trainer Location Held Item Rudy Violet City In the house just left of the Pokémon Center. Persim Berry

#2: Drowzee for Machop

On the 5th floor of the Goldenrod City Department Store, you’ll find a Trainer who’ll be willing to trade you his female Machop (holding a Macho Brace) for a Drowzee.

You should be able to catch a Drowzee in the grass on Route 35.

NOTE: The Macho Brace is especially useful when training a Pokémon’s EVs, as it doubles any EVs gained by the holder during a battle.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Drowzee	Machop
Original Trainer Location Held Item Jose Goldenrod City On the 5th floor of the Goldenrod City Department Store. Macho Brace

#3: Krabby for Voltorb

Just north of the Poké Mart in Olivine City, there’s a set of houses. The house on the left is home to a fisherman that will trade you a Voltorb in exchange for a Krabby.

You should be able to catch a Krabby in Olivine City through fishing.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Krabby	Voltorb
Original Trainer Location Held Item Richard Olivine City In the house on the left, north of the Poké Mart. Cheri Berry

#4: Dragonair for Dodrio

In the easternmost house in Blackthorn City, you’ll find a Trainer looking to trade her Dodrio for a female Dragonair holding a Smoke Ball.

Although Dragonair is relatively rare, you should be able to catch a female Dratini in the Dragon’s Den (located underneath Blackthorn City). Dratini evolves into Dragonair at level 30.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Dragonair	Dodrio
Original Trainer Location Held Item Ayana Blackthorn City In the house on the eastern side, to the right of the Pokémon Center. Smoke Ball

#5: Haunter for Xatu

You’ll find another Trainer willing to trade in the Pewter City Pokémon Center in Kanto.

Mondo will offer you his Xatu in exchange for a Haunter.

While Haunter is not a common encounter, you should be able to catch one with enough patience on Route 8. Alternatively, you can catch a Gastly at either Sprout Tower or Bell Tower and level it up to 25 for it to evolve into Haunter.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Haunter	Xatu
Original Trainer Location Held Item Mondo Pewter City In the Pokémon Center. Wacan Berry

#6: Dugtrio for Magneton

There’s a scientist named Lorenzo in the Power Station on Route 10, in Kanto. He’s located at the top of the room.

He will offer to trade you his Magneton, holding a Metal Coat, for a Dugtrio.

Both Dugtrio and Diglett can be caught at Diglett’s Cave. But it might be easier to catch a Diglett, level it up to level 26, and have it evolve into Dugtrio.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Dugtrio	Magneton
Original Trainer Location Held Item Lorenzo Kanto Power Plant Located on Route 10. Metal Coat

#7: Pikachu for Pikachu

Once you’ve defeated Lt. Surge a second time, he’ll be at the Train Station in Saffron City.

He’ll offer to trade you his foreign Pikachu, holding a Yellow Shard, for another Pikachu.

You can catch a Pikachu in Viridian Forest, but it has a low appearance rate (around 6%).

Note: The Pikachu acquired through this trade isn’t treated as a foreign Pokémon when it comes to attempting to breed Shiny Pokémon by way of the Masuda method.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Pikachu	Pikachu
Original Trainer Location Held Item Surge Saffron City In the Magnet Train Station. Yellow Shard

#8: Forretress for Beldum

After speaking to Steven and obtaining one of the Hoenn starters, you’ll need to go talk to him at the Museum of Science in Pewter City. After that, he’ll return to the Silph Co. lobby.

There he’ll offer to trade you his Beldum (holding a Dawn Stone) in exchange for a Forretress.

Forrestress can’t be caught in the wild, but they do evolve from Pineco at level 31.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Forretress	Beldum
Original Trainer Location Held Item Steven Saffron City In the Silph Co. lobby. Dawn Stone

#9: Bonsly for Rhyhorn

After defeating Brock, he can be found in the entrance at Diglett’s Cave between 17:00 and 20:00 (5PM-8PM) on Saturdays (if he isn’t at the Fighting Dojo).

He will offer to trade you his female Rhyhorn for a Bonsly.

To obtain a Bonsly, you’ll need to breed with a Sudowoodo while it’s holding the Rock Incense. The Rock Incense can be found deeper within Diglett’s Cave.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Bonsly	Rhyhorn
Original Trainer Location Held Item Brock Diglett’s Cave Brock will be standing at the entrance, between 17:00 and 20:00 on a Saturday. Passho Berry

#10: Steelix for Any Pokémon

After defeating Jasmine in a rematch, and visiting her at the Olivine City Gym between 13:00 and 14:00 (1PM-2PM), she’ll offer to trade you her Steelix for any one of your Pokémon.

Her Steelix will be holding a Soothe Bell, which is an item that’s quite useful when attempting to increase the happiness level of Pokémon.

Requested Pokémon	Offered Pokémon
Any Pokémon	Steelix
Original Trainer Location Held Item Jasmine Olivine City In the Olivine City Gym. Jasmine will offer to trade between 13:00 and 14:00. Soothe Bell

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Shaun van Rensburg

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Shaun van Rensburg lives in South Africa and holds a BA in creative writing. He primarily writes fiction, but when he was a child, he wanted to be a cryptozoologist--hence his fondness for the monster-taming genre. Equine-inspired Pokémon are his favourite.

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