A rebuilt foundation
v2.0.0 rebuilds Heart & Soul on pokeemerald-expansion. The change supports the broader mechanics and content in this release, but it also makes pre-2.0 saves incompatible.
Pokemon Heart & Soul · v2.0.4
Pokemon Heart & Soul v2.0.4 Features
v2.0.4 builds on the major v2.0.0 rebuild with new randomizer controls, challenge improvements, rematch scaling and fixes, while keeping the features that already define Heart & Soul.
v2.0.4 update
Current-release improvements
v2.0.4 adds more control over randomizer and challenge settings, badge-scaled rematches, the Goldenrod Move Deleter and a broad collection of fixes.
- Choose Gen 1-3 or Gen 1-9 randomizer pools, with Gen 1-3 as the default.
- Change the EXP multiplier after starting from the PC challenge menu.
- Trainer rematch parties now scale with your Badge count.
- Use the Move Deleter in Goldenrod.
- Includes additional randomizer, challenge, battle and progression fixes.
Added in v2.0.0
Trainer numbers matter again
Register trainers in the Pokégear, hear from them again, and return for rematches or item gifts, the kind of interaction that makes Johto feel lived in.
- v2.0.0 adds the GSC Pokégear rematch trainers plus additional rematches, including new Kanto battles inspired by HGSS. Rematches unlock after the third Badge.
- Route-based targeting helps registered trainers become ready while you spend time in their area, and some trainers can call with items for you.
Replaced & expanded in v2.0.0
The radio is back where it belongs
The old standalone radio item is gone. v2.0.0 builds the radio into the Pokégear with the Crystal channels and new Heart & Soul additions.
- Buena's Password returns as part of the expanded radio lineup.
- Kanto adds a Hoenn Sound station. Keep it playing in the overworld to increase the chance of finding Hoenn Pokemon there.
- The new Pokégear UI also adds a Condition menu alongside the expanded phone and radio systems.
Changed in v2.0.0
Ice Path brings back the boulder puzzle
The old bike-reaction puzzles are removed. Ice Path restores its Strength boulder puzzle, while Seafoam Islands gets a changed layout of its own.
- The puzzle change puts exploration back on planning and positioning rather than reaction timing.
- Snowy caves and other locations also receive new battle backgrounds so battles better match the places you are exploring.
Expanded in v2.0.0
More control over the run you want
Heart & Soul already had deep challenge, randomizer and Nuzlocke options. v2.0.0 expands and reorganizes them instead of treating them as an entirely new system.
- Challenge settings can now be revisited from a Pokemon Center after the game begins. Settings that would increase the challenge may only be changed in the easier direction.
- The current options include Gen 3 or Gen 7 learnsets, detailed difficulty controls, expanded randomizer settings, Nuzlocke rules and special challenge modifiers.
- The randomizer can draw from Pokemon across Generations 1-9 and includes new seeding behavior, while the Fairy toggle now applies to moves as well as Pokemon.
More added or changed in v2.0.0
The Pokégear is only one part of the rebuild.
Kanto, TMs, mechanics, roamers, quality-of-life systems and the postgame all receive meaningful changes in the v2.x rebuild.
Kanto gets a major pass
Many Kanto maps and tilesets are overhauled, wild encounters are raised into the 40s, and Kanto gains rematch trainers, in-game trades and new postgame content.
All 92 HGSS TMs
The old Emerald TM list is replaced with all 92 TMs from HeartGold and SoulSilver, with TM locations updated to fit the adventure.
GB Player from the start
The GB sounds item is placed in your inventory at the start, letting you switch to Gen 2 music and sounds when you want the older Johto feel.
Modern mechanics, on your terms
Choose Gen 7 learnsets, use abilities updated through Gen 9, and decide whether newer mechanics such as the physical/special split and Fairy typing belong in your run.
More after the League
v2.0.0 adds new postgame content alongside Kanto changes, a Spiky-eared Pichu event in Viridian, updated roamers and more reasons to keep exploring.
New in v2.0.0
- Hidden items return to the ground, with the Itemfinder obtained in Ecruteak.
- Voltorb Flip and Mom's Savings are added.
- Link trading and battling are available from the Goldenrod Pokemon Center. Multiplayer is intended for compatible Heart & Soul 2.0/fork builds, not official Pokemon games, Heart & Soul 1.X, Modern Emerald or unrelated pokeemerald-expansion projects.
- Kanto gains in-game trades, while tutors and trades can use Pokemon stored in the PC.
- The Start Menu gains a clock, the Bag gains more pockets, and more routes and Pokemon Centers become Fly destinations.
- Room decoration is available in the New Bark Town bedroom with dolls.
- New battle backgrounds cover cave ponds, snowy routes, snowy mountain/cave areas, volcano caves and beaches.
- The Spiky-eared Pichu event is added in Viridian, alongside other new postgame content.
Expanded or improved in v2.0.0
- Challenge, Randomizer and Nuzlocke systems are rebuilt and expanded, with many challenge settings revisitable from Pokemon Centers after starting.
- The randomizer can use Pokemon from Generations 1-9 and gains new seed behavior and additional controls.
- The Fairy-type setting now affects moves as well as Pokemon, while the optional Gen 7 learnsets include Heart & Soul-specific changes.
- Abilities are updated through Gen 9, including Hidden Abilities, and many later-generation items are available.
- Entei, Raikou and the new Kanto roamer act independently; Kanto also lets you choose one Lati to roam while the other appears at Southern Island.
- Roamers no longer deliberately avoid your route, and a sound cue plus animation can signal when you enter the same route as one.
- Surf and Bike music are restored with an option to disable them, while the GB Player adds Gen 2 music and sounds.
- Kurt's Berry Balls combine Heart & Soul's 1.2 type-affinity behavior with their GSC/HGSS-style effects.
- Shiny markers and related UI changes improve shiny visibility and shiny-hunting quality of life.
- Battle Tents now award BP, and several maps, progression beats and facility details receive targeted updates.
Established Heart & Soul features
The features that already defined Heart & Soul are still here.
The v2.x game keeps the core Johto experience and many systems from the 1.x game while building on the v2.0.0 foundation.
- The full Johto story and Kanto postgame, including the Kimono Girls and Eusine.
- Pokemon from Generations 1-3 plus later-generation evolutions, excluding the Regis.
- Following Pokemon, unique surfing Pokemon sprites and overworld Pokemon that hint at notable route encounters.
- Day/night encounters, dynamic overworld palettes and HGSS music, with timekeeping handled through progression rather than days of the week.
- Varied trainer teams and encounters influenced by Crystal Legacy, plus an improved level curve.
- Field HMs can be used by a Pokemon that can learn the move without teaching that move to it.
- 16 Gym Leader rematches and two Safari Zones.
- Built-in Randomizer, Nuzlocke, difficulty and special-challenge systems introduced during the 1.x releases.
- The Emerald Battle Frontier and Battle Tents added in the 1.x era remain part of Heart & Soul.
- Customizable shiny rate, physical/special split, Fairy type, AutoRun and FastSurf.
- Quick-run controls and ball prompts for faster everyday play.
Important 1.x milestones
Some of the game's biggest systems arrived before v2.0.0.
These remain central to Heart & Soul and should not be mistaken for brand-new v2.0.0 or v2.0.4 additions.
Challenge runs were already part of Heart & Soul
v1.2 introduced dedicated Nuzlocke, Randomizer and Special Challenge menus plus a PC viewer. v2.0.0 rebuilds and expands those systems rather than introducing the idea for the first time.
Battle Frontier arrived before v2.0
v1.2 added the Emerald Battle Frontier and Battle Tents. They remain part of Heart & Soul, with v2.0.0 adding further facility and reward changes such as Battle Tents awarding BP.
Johto was already alive after dark
Following Pokemon, overworld Pokemon, day/night encounters, dynamic palettes and HGSS music all predate v2.0.0. The rebuild keeps those identity-defining systems while adding new presentation and audio options.
The two-region adventure was already complete
Heart & Soul already carried the full Johto story into a Kanto postgame. v2.0.0 expands that foundation with overhauled Kanto maps, new rematches, trades, higher-level encounters and additional postgame content.
How this Johto differs
Familiar regions, deliberate Heart & Soul changes.
Heart & Soul follows the Johto-to-Kanto journey, but it is not a one-to-one copy of GSC or HGSS. These differences help define its version of the adventure.
- The level curve is significantly improved from the official Johto games.
- Apricorns are replaced by berries, including for Kurt's custom Poké Balls.
- Kanto routes can include a 5% Hoenn encounter, and the Hoenn Sound radio station can raise that chance while it plays in the overworld.
- Ruins of Alph back-room requirements are slightly altered from the official games.
- There is no Pokéathlon Dome; Heart & Soul instead retains the Emerald Battle Frontier and Battle Tents as major optional facilities.
Customization
Build the Johto run that sounds fun to you.
Heart & Soul's challenge tools predate v2.0.0. v2.0.4 adds Gen 1-3 / Gen 1-9 randomizer control and lets the EXP multiplier be changed after starting.
Core rules
- Recommended preset or a fully custom setup.
- Gen 3 or Gen 7 learnsets with Heart & Soul-specific changes.
- Physical/special split, Fairy typing, reusable TMs and several modern-vs-Gen-3 mechanic choices.
- Real-time clock or the game's progression-friendly fake RTC.
- Multiple shiny-rate choices, alternate shiny palettes, optional item drops and configurable Battle Frontier bans.
- Nature Mints can be made available from the Goldenrod Flower Shop after Badge 3 or held until after the game.
Randomizer
- Randomize starters, wild Pokemon, trainers, static encounters, typings, moves, abilities, evolutions, items and more.
- Choose map-seeded consistency, balancing rules, legendary inclusion and evolution-line behavior.
- Choose a Gen 1-3 or Gen 1-9 Pokemon randomizer pool. v2.0.4 defaults to Gen 1-3, and the setting can be changed after starting from the PC challenge menu.
- Chaos Mode can reroll the seed whenever a random value is generated.
Nuzlocke & difficulty
- Nuzlocke Off, Easy, Normal or Hard, with catch-limit, wipe, nickname, dupes and shiny-clause controls.
- Nuzlocke runs can use the PC Cemetery or automatic release for fainted Pokemon, with Infinite Rare Candy available only when Nuzlocke is enabled.
- Set party size, level caps, EXP multiplier and battle-item rules. In v2.0.4, the EXP multiplier can also be changed after starting from the PC challenge menu.
- Control player/trainer IVs and EVs, escape behavior, and dungeon-exit tools.
Special challenges
- Disable Pokemon Center healing or increase shop prices.
- Limit evolutions, play a one-type run or use BST Equalizer.
- Mirror Mode can replace your party with a copy of the opposing trainer's team for trainer battles.
v2.0.4 is ready to play
Pick your settings, then head back to Johto.
The Download page has the live browser patcher, exact Pokemon Emerald requirement and direct UPS patch download.