How To Get Tyrogue From The Karate King (Pokémon HGSS)

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Kiyo, the Karate King, is a special trainer hidden deep within Mt. Mortar on Route 42. If you can defeat him, he gives you the only Tyrogue available in HeartGold/SoulSilver.

You’ll need the ability to use HM03 Surf and HM07 Waterfall outside of battle to reach him, so that means having collected all 8 Johto gym badges.

Tyrogue is given as a gift Pokémon directly after winning the battle. You’ll need a free space in your party in order to receive it, so only bring a maximum of 5 Pokémon of your own.

The path through Mt. Mortar to reach Kiyo can be confusing, as there are lots of ways to get off track.

We’ve included a full walkthrough below to ensure you don’t get lost.

Tip: It would be a good idea to bring an Escape Rope (or a Pokémon with the move Dig) to get out of the cave easily after beating Kiyo.

To get to the right section of Mt. Mortar, start by flying to Ecruteak City and take the east exit out onto Route 42.

 
Route 42, as seen immediately after leaving Ecruteak City's east exit / Pokemon HGSS
Route 42, as seen immediately after leaving Ecruteak City’s east exit
 

Don’t take the first entrance into Mt. Mortar that you see.

Instead, Surf across the water and head further east.

 
 Surfing further east to reach the correct entrance to Mt. Mortar on Route 42 / Pokemon HGSS
Surfing further east to reach the correct entrance to Mt. Mortar on Route 42
 

Once you’ve crossed this body of water, you should see a second entrance to Mt. Mortar. This time, head inside.

Note: You can reach this section of Mt. Mortar from Mahogany Town, too. Simply reverse the process by leaving the town’s west gate and surfing to the west over the first body of water you reach.

 
The correct entrance to Mt. Mortar on Route 42 / Pokemon HGSS
The correct entrance to Mt. Mortar on Route 42
 

After entering the cave, use Surf on the water on either side of the land. It doesn’t matter which side you choose.

 
Using Surf on the water inside Mt. Mortar's entrance / Pokemon HGSS
Using Surf on the water inside Mt. Mortar’s entrance
 

Whichever side you choose, Surf to the north a short distance and you’ll soon come across a waterfall. Use your Pokémon to climb it.

 
Climbing the waterfall inside Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
Climbing the waterfall inside Mt. Mortar
 

Again, when you get to the top of the waterfall, it doesn’t matter which direction you pick. Simply Surf north a small distance and you’ll see a small patch of land with another cave entrance.

 
The next cave entrance after climbing the waterfall in Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
The next cave entrance after climbing the waterfall in Mt. Mortar
 

Go through the entrance and then walk immediately to the right.

Keep walking as far as possible in a straight line and you’ll reach some water.

 
The first body of water you need to reach in this section of Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
The first body of water you need to reach in this section of Mt. Mortar
 

Surf across the water, still going in a straight line directly to the right until you hit dry land again.

 
The next section of dry land in Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
The next section of dry land in Mt. Mortar
 

Once you’re back on the ground, Surf across the other water to the north and disembark on the other side.

Upon landing, take a few steps north and Surf again on the next bit of water.

 
The next body of water to Surf upon in Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
The next body of water to Surf upon in Mt. Mortar
 

This time, get off on the first bit of dry land to the left.

 
The correct place to disembark after surfing on the previous body of water / Pokemon HGSS
The correct place to disembark after surfing on the previous body of water
 

Now, walk to the left as far as possible, then take a few steps south.

You should reach the jump-able ledge in the picture below. Hop over it.

 
The one-way ledge you'll need to jump over next / Pokemon HGSS
The one-way ledge you’ll need to jump over next
 

Once you’ve jumped over, walk to the left again for as long as possible until you reach – you guessed it – another body of water.

 
The next body of water you'll need to Surf across / Pokemon HGSS
The next body of water you’ll need to Surf across
 

Head north across this water until you hit dry land once again.

Then, walk to the right until you reach more water and Surf again.

 
The next surfing spot in Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
The next surfing spot in Mt. Mortar
 

Disembark at any of the available spots on the north bank.

Your next Surf spot is the pool to the right of the previous one.

 
The next body of water to cross, just a few steps to the right of the previous one / Pokemon HGSS
The next body of water to cross, just a few steps to the right of the previous one
 

Hop back onto land using the only other available spot.

Then, head as far left as possible. You should see another body of water just to the south.

Next to that body of water is a downward ladder separated from you by a one-way ledge.

Surf on the water to make your way around the ledge.

 
The final body of water before descending to the next level of Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
The final body of water before descending to the next level of Mt. Mortar
 

Climb down the ladder to the next floor.

Walk to the right and then head south, taking the second set of steps on the left-hand side, as pictured below.

 
The correct set of steps to take after descending a floor deeper into Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
The correct set of steps to take after descending a floor deeper into Mt. Mortar
 

The thin passages at this point may look confusing, but there’s actually only one way you can go.

Walk to the right and up until you reach another set of steps leading to a T-junction.

 
The T-junction on the lower floor of Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
The T-junction on the lower floor of Mt. Mortar
 

Take the southern path at the T-junction, following it until you come to another ladder leading downward.

 
The next, and final, ladder you'll need to descend in Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
The next, and final, ladder you’ll need to descend in Mt. Mortar
 

Climb down the ladder.

Then, go down the first set of steps and head immediately to the right.

 
Heading to the right after climbing down the last ladder in Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
Heading to the right after climbing down the last ladder in Mt. Mortar
 

Head south here and you’ll soon see a long set of stairs with a trainer at the bottom.

Congratulations, you’ve reached the Karate King!

 
Kiyo, the Karate King, waiting to battle the player at the bottom of Mt. Mortar / Pokemon HGSS
Kiyo, the Karate King, waiting to battle the player at the bottom of Mt. Mortar
 

Talk to him to initiate a battle.

He has two quite tough Pokémon, Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, both at level 34.

Both are weak to Flying-Type and Psychic-Type moves, although his Hitmonchan carries both Ice Punch and Thunder Punch to threaten Flying-Type Pokémon.

 
Battling Karate King Kiyo's Hitmonlee / Pokemon HGSS
Battling Karate King Kiyo’s Hitmonlee
 

If you manage to defeat him, he’ll gift you a level 10 Tyrogue of your very own – provided you have enough space in your party.

Don’t worry if you forgot to make room for your new companion. The Karate King will continue to offer your prize every time you talk to him until you take it with you. You will need to repeat all that surfing again, though.

 
The Tyrogue received as a gift for defeating the Karate King / Pokemon HGSS
The Tyrogue received as a gift for defeating the Karate King
 

Your Tyrogue will begin to evolve at level 20. However, which Pokémon it evolves into will depend on his highest stat.

  • If Tyrogue’s attack exceeds its defense, it will evolve into Hitmonlee
  • If its defense exceeds its attack, you’ll get Hitmonchan
  • If both stats are equal, its evolved form will be Hitmontop

Although the Karate King’s gift is the only Tyrogue available as you play through the game, you can still collect all three evolutions.

To do so, first evolve your Tyrogue into either Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, or Hitmontop. Then, put the adult version in the Day Care with a Ditto and hatch yourself another baby Tyrogue to evolve as you see fit. This way, you can collect the whole trio.

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Louie Neale

Full-time freelance copywriter and long-time Pokémon trainer, currently rediscovering my childhood love for the classic games by bringing you all the info you need.