Look, I get the frustration. You’re playing through Johto, you’ve got your team planned out, and you want that legendary-looking fire dog by your side. You start searching the tall grass near Goldenrod City, expecting a Pokemon Soul Silver Growlithe to jump out, but all you find are Meowth or Vulpix.
Here is the cold, hard truth: you aren't finding it because it isn't there.
Growlithe is a version exclusive. In the 2010 remakes, Game Freak decided that if you bought Soul Silver, you were a Vulpix fan. If you bought Heart Gold, you got the Growlithe. It's an old-school move to force trading, but it’s incredibly annoying when you just want a reliable Fire-type that isn't your starter.
How to actually get a Growlithe in Soul Silver
Since you can't walk into a patch of grass and find one, you have to get a bit creative. The most straightforward way is trading. If you have a friend with Heart Gold, they can find Growlithe on Routes 36, 37, or 48. Route 36 is the easiest spot, right near where Sudowoodo was blocking the path.
If you’re playing on original hardware and don't have a second DS, you’re basically stuck unless you use the PokeWalker. Interestingly, the PokeWalker (that little pedometer that came with the game) can actually bypass version exclusivity. If you unlock the Amity Meadow course, you can catch a Growlithe there regardless of which version you’re playing. You need 5,000 Watts to unlock that route, so start walking.
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The Fire Stone Struggle is Real
Let’s say you successfully traded for one. Now you have a Growlithe, but you want an Arcanine. You need a Fire Stone, and Soul Silver is notoriously stingy with them before the Elite Four.
Honestly, the easiest way is the Pokeathlon Dome. On Tuesdays, you can buy a Fire Stone for 2,500 points. It takes some grinding in the mini-games, but it’s a guaranteed way to get one.
There is also a trainer named School Kid Alan on Route 36. If you take his phone number in the Pokegear, he will occasionally call you to give you a Fire Stone. The problem? It’s completely random. He might call you in ten minutes, or he might not call you until you’ve already beaten Red at Mt. Silver. Don't rely on Alan if you're in a hurry.
When should you evolve?
This is where most people mess up. If you use that Fire Stone at level 15, you’re going to have a very fast, very strong Arcanine that knows... Ember.
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Arcanine doesn't learn many moves by leveling up. Growlithe, on the other hand, learns the heavy hitters. You basically have two choices for your Pokemon Soul Silver Growlithe evolution:
- Level 34: This is when it learns Flamethrower. If you’re okay with a special-attacking Arcanine, this is a solid breakpoint.
- Level 45: This is the big one. Growlithe learns Flare Blitz here. Since Arcanine has a massive base Attack stat of 110, you really want this physical move.
If you evolve before these levels, you’ll have to rely on TMs, and TMs like Flamethrower are expensive at the Goldenrod Game Corner.
Is Arcanine actually worth the hassle?
Arcanine is a beast, but it’s a high-maintenance beast. Its base stats are incredible—totaling 555. That’s higher than some "pseudo-legendaries."
In the Johto meta, a physical Arcanine with ExtremeSpeed (which it learns at level 39 after evolving) is a revenge-killing machine. It cleans up late-game fights where your opponent has 10% health left.
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However, you have to watch out for the typing. Johto is covered in Water and Rock types. Between the 8th gym leader, Clair, and the inevitable surfers you'll face, Arcanine can feel like a glass cannon if you don't play it smart.
Best Natures and Abilities
If you’re the type who resets their game to get the perfect stats, look for an Adamant nature (+Attack, -Special Attack) or Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack).
For abilities, Intimidate is king. Cutting the opponent's Attack just by switching in is one of the best utility moves in the game. Flash Fire is okay, but it's situational. Intimidate helps you survive hits you have no business surviving.
Moving Forward with your Team
If you’ve realized that getting a Growlithe in Soul Silver is too much of a headache, don’t sleep on Magmar at the Burned Tower or even the gift Eevee from Bill (which you can turn into Flareon, though Flareon’s movepool in Gen 4 is... tragic).
But if you’re dead set on the dog, get those Pokeathlon points ready. It’s a grind, but seeing that Arcanine sprite follow you around in the overworld makes the effort feel earned.
Check your Pokegear for Alan's number, head to the Pokeathlon on a Tuesday, and make sure you don't use that stone until you've hit at least level 34. Your future Arcanine will thank you for not being stuck with Ember for the entire Kanto post-game.