Heartgold Any% FAQ

> Are you playing on an emulator?
> I am playing on a DS Phat modded with a capture card so that I can record video.

> Why do you choose Cyndaquil?
> While Cyndaquil isn't used for the entire run, but it has the most advantages for the portion of the run in which it is used. It has type advantage over Bugsy's gym, and has the notable advantage of hugely benefiting from the Fire Blast TM in the Goldenrod department store. Totodile and Chikorita in contrast do not gain access to a hugely powerful stab move from the department store, or have type advantage over the first 3 gyms. Finally, Cyndaquil evolves at level 14, the earliest of the three starters. In contrast, Chikorita doesn't evolve until level 16, while Totodile must reach level 18.

> What are Cyndaquil's stats like?
> Cyndaquil's stats are manipulated, and thus will be identical each run as long as I hit the correct starting seed. The Cyndaquils IVs are 4/23/21/28/5/31 with a Rash (+SpAtk, -SpDef) nature.

> If Cyndaquil isn't used for the entire run, then what will replace it?
> Before Morty's gym, you visit the Burned Tower to release the legendary trio. While Suicune is only available through continued story related events, Raikou and Entei are both available from that point onward, roaming Johto. The goal is to manipulate both the Raikou's stats and the location it roams to after its release for a fast capture. Raikou is level 40 at the time of its release, which is a significant jump from where our Quilava will be at that point.

> What are Raikou's stats like?
> Raikou has IVs of 16/4/22/31/17/4 with a Rash (+SpAtk, -SpDef) Nature.

> Are there any glitches in this run?
> There is only one glitch used, known as tweaking, but has many utilities making it useful repeatedly throughout the run.

> What is tweaking?
> Tweaking is a glitch present in all gen 4 Pokemon games. The game's map is a grid divided into 32x32 squares, and at any time only 4 of those squares are loaded. In the center of each square, load lines exist that are used to know which squares to load ahead as well as to unload behind in order to create the impression of a seamless world. Crossing these squares quickly in certain patterns will cause the map to load improperly, with varied results depending on the pattern and whether or not the bike is used for additional speed.

For more information on tweaking, including various patterns that can be used: https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Tweaking

> Why do you play as the girl?
> The character you don't choose will give you the catching tutorial, and the boy does it faster, so you choose the girl.

> Why Heartgold over Soulsilver?
> The run is the same on both versions besides a small difference in the first encounter of the run. The Sentret I encounter is level 2 in Heartgold, but would be level 4 in Soulsilver as a result of the encounter table for the area being slightly different. This Sentret would take slightly more time to defeat making Heartgold the faster version for this route.

> What is WR?
> http://www.speedrun.com/pkmnhgss#Any