How to Rebattle Gym Leaders in Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver (Complete HGSS Guide)
If you're playing Pokémon HeartGold or Pokémon SoulSilver and wondering how to rebattle Gym Leaders, this complete guide explains everything step-by-step.
Rebattling Gym Leaders in HGSS is one of the best ways to:
Level up your Pokémon fast
Earn money
Test competitive teams
Prepare for the Battle Frontier
But the system is hidden and time-based — and many players don’t understand how it works.
Let’s break it down.
📞 Step 1: Unlock the Pokégear Phone Rematch System
To rebattle Gym Leaders, you must:
1️⃣ Defeat the Elite Four
2️⃣ Travel to Kanto
3️⃣ Unlock Saffron City access
Once unlocked, you can collect Gym Leader phone numbers.
⚠ Important: Gym Leaders do NOT automatically offer rematches.
You must talk to them at specific times.
🏯 Step 2: Where Do Gym Leader Rematches Happen?
All rematches take place at:
🥋 Fighting Dojo – Saffron City
After scheduling a rematch, the Gym Leader will appear inside the Fighting Dojo.
This works for:
Johto Gym Leaders
Kanto Gym Leaders
⏰ Step 3: Gym Leader Rematch Schedule (VERY IMPORTANT)
Each Gym Leader appears only on specific days and times.
Here is the full schedule:
| Gym Leader | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Falkner | Monday | Morning |
| Bugsy | Thursday | Afternoon |
| Whitney | Saturday | Afternoon |
| Morty | Tuesday | Night |
| Chuck | Wednesday | Night |
| Jasmine | Sunday | Afternoon |
| Pryce | Monday | Morning |
| Clair | Friday | Night |
| Brock | Saturday | Night |
| Misty | Wednesday | Morning |
| Lt. Surge | Friday | Afternoon |
| Erika | Sunday | Morning |
| Janine | Tuesday | Afternoon |
| Sabrina | Monday | Afternoon |
| Blaine | Tuesday | Morning |
| Blue | Sunday | Night |
🕒 Morning: 4 AM – 9:59 AM
🌤 Afternoon: 10 AM – 7:59 PM
🌙 Night: 8 PM – 3:59 AM
If you show up at the wrong time, they won’t appear.
📲 Step 4: How to Get Gym Leader Phone Numbers
Some Gym Leaders give their number automatically after:
Talking to them again
Completing certain story events
Solving side quests (like returning items)
Example:
Blue gives his number after talking in Viridian Gym.
Misty requires finding her at Route 25 before she returns to the gym.
Make sure to re-visit all gyms after beating the Elite Four.
💪 How Strong Are Rematch Gym Leaders?
Rematch teams are MUCH stronger.
Features include:
Pokémon levels between 50–65
Competitive movesets
Held items
Fully evolved teams
Example:
Clair uses a level 60+ Dragonite with competitive coverage moves.
These are perfect for:
EV training
Testing battle strategies
Earning large amounts of money
💰 Why You Should Rebattle Gym Leaders
🔥 1. Fast Leveling
Their Pokémon give high EXP.
💸 2. Easy Money
Use Amulet Coin to double prize money.
🏆 3. Prepare for Battle Frontier
HGSS Battle Frontier requires strong teams — Gym rematches help you practice.
🎯 Pro Tips for Efficient Rematching
✔ Change Nintendo DS clock to access different times
✔ Save before entering dojo
✔ Bring type advantage team
✔ Use Exp. Share to train weaker Pokémon
✔ Combine with Lucky Egg for faster leveling
⚠ Changing system clock may delay time-based events temporarily.
❓ Common Mistakes Players Make
❌ Not defeating Elite Four first
❌ Going at wrong time of day
❌ Forgetting to get phone number
❌ Not checking correct day
Most players think the feature is random — it’s not. It’s strictly scheduled.
🏆 Final Summary
To rebattle Gym Leaders in:
Pokémon HeartGold
Pokémon SoulSilver
You must:
1️⃣ Beat the Elite Four
2️⃣ Get their phone numbers
3️⃣ Go to Saffron Fighting Dojo
4️⃣ Arrive at correct day & time
Once unlocked, this becomes one of the best post-game features in HGSS.