Where To Get The Life Orb in Pokémon HGSS

In Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver, the Life Orb can be found in a hidden room in the Ruins of Alph. You can reach this room by going through Union Cave, but it can only be accessed by using Surf and by having a Ho-Oh in your party.

There is only one Life Orb in HG/SS, so there are no other methods of getting more (aside from trading).

The Life Orb is a held item that increases the damage of the holder’s moves at the cost of some of its HP. It may seem like a harsh trade-off at first, but if used correctly it can allow your Pokémon to do devastating amounts of damage.

Life Orb Location (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: The hidden room can only be accessed by going through Union Cave. Start by entering the cave through the entrance on Route 32.

The player standing at the entrance to Union cave on Route 32

Step 2: After entering the cave, head west along the body of water. Once you reach the point pictured below, head north.

Head North at this point

Step 3: Continue north and enter the staircase to the left. If you follow the exact path shown in the image below, you can avoid the battle with the Firebreather.

The player standing in front of the staircase

Step 4: After descending the stairs, use Surf to cross the water and head north.

Head North past this body of water

Step 5: Continue heading North past the Hiker.

Head North past the Hiker

Step 6: Head west past the other Hiker and continue up the stairs.

Head West towards the staircase

Step 7: Use Surf to cross the water and head north. Then on the other side, go up the staircase to the West and exit the cave.

Head North past this body of water

Step 8: After exiting the cave, you will arrive at the Ruins of Alph. Walk through the archways to reach the building on the right. This is the entrance to the hidden room.

You’ll need to defeat the Psychic standing in front of the entrance first, and then you can enter the building.

The player standing outside the exit to Union cave in the Ruins of Alph

Step 9: After entering the building, interact with the slab in the back of the room with Ho-Oh in the first slot of your party. The wall will open, revealing a secret room.

The player standing in front of the Ho-Oh panel in the Ruins of Alph

Step 10: In the secret room, there will be four items on the floor. The bottom left item is the Life Orb.

The player picking up the Life Orb

How The Life Orb Works

When held by a Pokémon, the Life Orb increases the damage of the user’s moves by 30%. The drawback is that the user also loses 10% of their max HP each time it lands an attack.

The Life Orb is one of the most commonly used items in competitive battling. It can vastly increase your Pokémon’s damage output while only carrying a minor trade-off.

The positives greatly outweigh the negatives, making it a necessity for any competitive Pokémon team.