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To get the Pokéflute in Pokémon Heartgold & Soulsilver, you’ll need to get the EXPN Card which plays the Pokéflute music on a radio station. This is technically the only “Pokéflute” item in the game, since the actual flute in HG/SS is replaced by the radio station card.
But to get this, you’ll need to complete a small side quest that begins in Kanto’s Power Plant.
The quest involves tracking down the Team Rocket Grunt in Cerulean City, recovering the hidden part from Cerulean Gym, returning the part to the Power Plant, and finally receiving the EXPN Card as your prize from the radio tower director in Lavender Town.
This card allows you to pick up radio broadcasts in Kanto, including the Pokéflute channel.
With it, you can wake the sleeping Snorlax and create shortcuts around Kanto; plus catch one of these iconic Pokémon for yourself.
We’ll walk you through the quest in detail below.
Getting Your EXPN Card
Begin in Cerulean City, with a Pokémon that knows Surf in your party.
Take the exit heading east to Route 9.
The road out of Cerulean City to the east that takes you to Route 9
Keep heading all the way to the east along Route 9 until you come to a place with Cut-able trees and steps leading down to a river.
The surf-able river at the end of Route 9
Surf on the river and head south down Route 10.
Before long, you’ll see the Power Plant to your left.
The Kanto Power Plant at the end of Route 10
Enter the Power Plant and find the manager toward the back of the room.
Talk to him, and he’ll angrily threaten whichever thief stole the Power Plant’s essential part.
The Power Plant’s manager, who you must speak with to begin the quest
Now as you try to leave, the security guard will get word there’s a shady character hanging around Cerulean Gym. He’ll ask you to investigate.
Fly back to Cerulean City and go inside the gym, which is immediately to the right of the Pokémon Center.
The gym in Cerulean City, where a suspicious character awaits
Immediately after entering, you’ll be confronted by a Team Rocket Grunt who speaks to you in broken English before running away.
The Team Rocket Grunt in Cerulean Gym
To find him, take the city’s north exit onto the golden bridge of Route 24. He’ll be in the middle of the bridge.
Upon confronting him again, he’ll try to hide between a couple gazing out over the water.
Talk to him again and he’ll challenge you to a battle.
The Team Rocket Grunt attempting to hide between the couple on Route 24’s golden bridge
After defeating him, he’ll admit that he hid the machine part near some rubber rings inside Cerulean Gym.
Fly back to the city and head back inside the gym. The machine part is hidden in the back left pile of rubber rings. You’ll need Surf to reach it.
The location of the hidden machine part in Cerulean Gym
Now it’s back to the Power Plant to talk to the manager again.
He will thank you for your help and reward you with the TM57 Charge Beam.
Next, Fly to Lavender Town and enter the Kanto Radio Tower, to the right of the Pokémon Center.
The entrance to Kanto Radio Tower in Lavender Town
Once inside, you’ll see the director at the back of the room.
Talk to him and inform him that you solved Kanto’s power crisis. He’ll reward you with an EXPN Card that allows you to tune into Kanto radio broadcasts – one of which is a 24/7 station playing Pokéflute music (for some reason).
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