How Do I Install Pokémon Sacred Gold?

Pokémon Sacred Gold is Drayano’s enhancement hack of Pokémon HeartGold and one of the most influential Nintendo DS Pokémon ROM hacks ever made.

Instead of replacing Johto with a new region, Sacred Gold keeps the basic HeartGold storyline and dramatically expands the game around it. All 493 Pokémon available through Generation 4 can be obtained, Trainer teams are substantially stronger, Gym Leaders carry full teams, trade evolutions are replaced with single-player-friendly methods, new scripted battles and events are added, and the notorious HeartGold level curve is substantially reworked.

As of August 30, 2026, the latest original Drayano release remains:

Pokémon Sacred Gold v1.05

Drayano’s own v1.05 release announcement says the update fixed numerous bugs and included both the Complete and Classic versions.

You may also encounter files labeled v1.1, but that is an unofficial Fairy-type modification by mikelan98/MeroMero, not a newer original Drayano release.

For a normal installation today, the safest formula is:

Clean Pokémon HeartGold USA + corrected Sacred Gold v1.05 xDelta patch = Pokémon Sacred Gold

Rom Professor does not provide, host, or link to copyrighted Pokémon HeartGold ROM files or pre-patched Sacred Gold ROMs. Use your own legally obtained clean HeartGold ROM and apply the fan-made patch yourself.

What You Need Before Installing Pokémon Sacred Gold

You need:

A clean USA Pokémon HeartGold ROM
Pokémon Sacred Gold v1.05
The corrected xDelta patch package
An xDelta-compatible patcher
A Nintendo DS emulator
Normal in-game save support
A backup of your clean HeartGold ROM
A backup location for your Sacred Gold save

Pokémon Sacred Gold Installation Requirements

Requirement	Correct Choice
Hack	Pokémon Sacred Gold
Creator	Drayano
Base game	Pokémon HeartGold
Platform	Nintendo DS
Region	USA
Current original version	v1.05
Patch format	xDelta
Correct base SHA-1	`4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37`
Correct base MD5	`258cea3a62ac0d6eb04b5a0fd764d788`
Correct base CRC32	`c180a0e9`
Versions	Complete / Classic
Optional speed-up patch	Yes
Emulator	melonDS / DeSmuME
Status	Complete

The standard clean USA HeartGold ROM is independently identified with those CRC32, MD5, and SHA-1 values.

What Is the Latest Version of Pokémon Sacred Gold?

The latest verified original Drayano version is:

Sacred Gold v1.05

Drayano released v1.05 in 2012 and described it as fixing a large number of bugs. His announcement also explained that v1.03 fixed a progression-blocking bug and that v1.04 fixed evolution and other issues, making v1.05 the version you actually want for a complete playthrough.

RetroAchievements also still identifies Sacred Gold’s supported original Drayano build as:

Sacred Gold v1.05.

What About Sacred Gold v1.1?

You may see:

v1.1

on ROM-hack databases.

That is not Drayano’s original next version.

It is an unofficial modification by mikelan98/MeroMero that adds Fairy typing and changes certain Pokémon and moves to match later-generation Fairy-type behavior.

If you want Drayano’s original game:

use v1.05.

What About Sacred Gold 2.0?

Some third-party databases list or reference a “v2.0” concept or future update, but I could not verify a released Drayano Sacred Gold 2.0 that supersedes v1.05.

For Rom Professor:

current original release = v1.05

Do not replace that with an unverified v2 label.

Is Pokémon Sacred Gold Complete?

Yes.

Sacred Gold is a completed HeartGold enhancement hack.

It includes the full:

Johto campaign
Eight Johto Gyms
Pokémon League
Kanto region
Kanto Gyms
Red battle
Legendary content
Expanded side events

along with additional battles and scripted events that do not exist in normal HeartGold.

The game is designed as a complete replacement-style enhancement rather than a demo.

What Is the Difference Between Sacred Gold and Storm Silver?

They are companion versions.

Sacred Gold

Uses:

Pokémon HeartGold

and keeps the HeartGold version identity, including Ho-Oh as its mascot focus.

Storm Silver

Uses:

Pokémon SoulSilver

and keeps the SoulSilver version identity with Lugia.

The underlying enhancement philosophy and most major gameplay changes are shared between the two.

For this article:

we are installing Sacred Gold onto HeartGold.

Do not use SoulSilver as the Sacred Gold base.

What Base ROM Does Pokémon Sacred Gold Use?

Use:

Pokémon HeartGold Version — USA

The clean verified SHA-1 is:

4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37

Correct HeartGold Checksums

Checksum	Value
CRC32	`c180a0e9`
MD5	`258cea3a62ac0d6eb04b5a0fd764d788`
SHA-1	`4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37`

If your ROM does not match:

stop before patching.

Possible reasons include:

European HeartGold
Japanese HeartGold
Modified ROM
Another ROM hack
Already AP-patched ROM
Bad dump
Trimmed or altered ROM

The Old Sacred Gold “Bad Dump” Problem

This is one of the most important Sacred Gold-specific installation issues.

A 2026 compatibility report documents two different v1.05 packages:

Older v1.0.5_SacredGoldStormSilver.zip
Newer v1.0.5_SacredGoldStormSilver_xdeltaPatches.zip

The report notes that the older patch package used a bad dump as its base, while the newer xDelta package was created for the proper clean HeartGold USA ROM with SHA-1:

4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37.

That means if you have a verified clean USA HeartGold ROM and an old Sacred Gold patch refuses to work:

the ROM may not be the problem.

You may have the older patch package.

For a new installation:

use the corrected xDelta patch package.

Where to Get the Sacred Gold Patch

Drayano’s original release materials have historically been distributed through his project folder and release posts.

Drayano’s Sacred Gold / Storm Silver patch folder

Drayano’s original v1.05 release video also explains the Complete/Classic versions and points players toward the release files and documentation.

Drayano’s Sacred Gold / Storm Silver v1.05 release video

For a current installation, look specifically for the corrected:

v1.0.5_SacredGoldStormSilver_xdeltaPatches

package rather than an unknown pre-patched ROM.

Avoid Pre-Patched Sacred Gold ROMs

Do not search for:

Pokemon Sacred Gold ROM download

and grab a random .nds.

Besides the copyright problem, you may receive:

v1.03
v1.04
v1.05
Unofficial v1.1 Fairy mod
Complete version
Classic version
Speed-up variant
Another community modification
A ROM built from the old bad-dump patch
A modified or corrupted copy

Patch it yourself so you know exactly what you are playing.

What Patch Format Does Sacred Gold Use?

The corrected installation package uses:

xDelta

Sacred Gold documentation instructs players to select:

The xDelta patch
A clean HeartGold ROM
An output location

and generate the patched Sacred Gold ROM.

This means you should use an xDelta-compatible patcher.

Examples include:

xDelta UI
Delta Patcher
Rom Patcher JS where compatible

Do not use Lunar IPS for an .xdelta patch.

Complete Version vs. Classic Version

Sacred Gold v1.05 comes in two primary variants:

Complete

and:

Classic

Drayano describes the difference very clearly.

Sacred Gold Complete

Includes:

all of Drayano’s changes.

That means both world/gameplay changes and direct Pokémon changes.

Those direct changes can include:

Base stats
Types
Abilities
Level-up moves
TM compatibility
Other Pokémon-specific balance adjustments

Sacred Gold Classic

Includes most of the hack’s:

Encounter changes
Trainer changes
Events
Evolution changes
Difficulty changes
Availability changes

but removes many direct modifications to Pokémon themselves.

Drayano’s own shorthand was essentially:

Complete = all changes

Classic = no Pokémon changes

Which Version Should I Play?

For most Rom Professor readers:

play Complete.

It represents the full intended Drayano enhancement experience.

Choose Classic if you specifically want Pokémon to behave more like their original Generation 4 versions while still benefiting from the expanded Sacred Gold world and difficulty.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Complete	Classic
Harder Trainers	Yes	Yes
Expanded encounters	Yes	Yes
All 493 obtainable	Yes	Yes
New events	Yes	Yes
Evolution changes	Yes	Yes
Pokémon stat changes	Yes	Limited/No
Pokémon type changes	Yes	No
Modified learnsets	Yes	Limited/No
Altered TM compatibility	Yes	Limited/No
Best for full Drayano experience	Yes	No
Best for purists	No	Yes

What Is the Sacred Gold Speed-Up Patch?

Sacred Gold v1.05 was also distributed with an optional:

Speed-Up Patch

This is not a different difficulty mode.

It is designed to make the game move faster.

Current documentation describes the speed-up modifications as including:

Instant dialogue
Instant HP/EXP gauge movement
Removal of the normal 30 FPS cap
Gameplay capable of running up to 60 FPS
Music remaining unaffected

If you find normal Nintendo DS Pokémon battles too slow:

the speed-up version can be attractive.

For your first installation, though:

get the normal game working first.

Then experiment with the speed-up variant separately.

How to Install Pokémon Sacred Gold

Step 1: Get Sacred Gold v1.05

Use the original Drayano project materials.

You want:

Sacred Gold v1.05

not the unofficial Fairy v1.1 mod.

If possible, use the corrected xDelta package created for clean HeartGold.

Step 2: Decide Between Complete and Classic

For most players:

Complete

is the recommendation.

If you want fewer direct Pokémon changes:

choose Classic.

Do not apply both.

Step 3: Prepare Clean USA Pokémon HeartGold

Verify:

SHA-1: 4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37

The ROM should be a clean:

.nds

file.

If it is inside:

.zip
.rar
.7z

extract it first.

Step 4: Keep a Clean Backup

Create a permanent copy:

Pokemon HeartGold CLEAN.nds

Do not overwrite it.

That clean ROM will be useful for:

Sacred Gold Complete
Sacred Gold Classic
Speed-up variants
Future repatching
Troubleshooting
Other HeartGold ROM hacks

Step 5: Open an xDelta Patcher

Open an xDelta-compatible patching program.

You should see fields similar to:

Patch

Source

Output

Step 6: Select the Sacred Gold Patch

Choose either:

Sacred Gold Complete

or:

Sacred Gold Classic

from the corrected v1.05 package.

Step 7: Select Clean HeartGold

Choose your verified clean USA HeartGold ROM.

Again:

SHA-1: 4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37

Step 8: Choose an Output File

For example:

Pokemon Sacred Gold Complete.nds

or:

Pokemon Sacred Gold.nds

Do not overwrite:

Pokemon HeartGold CLEAN.nds

Step 9: Apply the Patch

Run xDelta.

If the patch completes successfully:

you now have Sacred Gold.

If xDelta reports that the source ROM is wrong:

do not force it.

First check:

HeartGold region
SHA-1
Whether you are using the corrected xDelta package

Step 10: Open Sacred Gold in an Emulator

Launch a Nintendo DS emulator.

Good modern choices include:

melonDS
DeSmuME

melonDS currently supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and other platforms, along with standard DS save functionality.

Step 11: Start a New Game

For your first Sacred Gold installation:

start a new save.

Do not immediately import an old vanilla HeartGold save.

Sacred Gold modifies:

Events
Pokémon encounters
Trainers
Pokémon data
Evolution methods
Story scripts

enough that starting fresh is the safest route.

Step 12: Verify the Early Game

You should begin seeing Sacred Gold-specific content very quickly.

One of the easiest signs is the dramatically expanded encounter availability.

Sacred Gold makes Pokémon from across all four generations available within the game rather than limiting you to HeartGold’s normal Johto selection.

Step 13: Make a Normal In-Game Save

Before committing hours to the game:

Save through the Pokémon menu.
Close the emulator completely.
Reopen Sacred Gold.
Confirm your save appears.
Load it.
Save again.

Do not rely only on a save state.

Best Emulator for Pokémon Sacred Gold on Windows

Two strong choices are:

melonDS

and:

DeSmuME

melonDS

melonDS is a current open-source DS emulator with support for:

Windows
macOS
Linux
Android
Nintendo DS saves
RTC/system time
Wi-Fi development
DS hardware features

For most new desktop installations:

melonDS is a good starting point.

DeSmuME

DeSmuME is another mature Nintendo DS emulator and was historically one of the primary emulators used for Sacred Gold.

Drayano’s old release notes also referred players to DeSmuME or NO$GBA-era options depending on their computer.

For a modern PC:

I would start with:

melonDS or DeSmuME

before using older alternatives.

Best Emulator for Pokémon Sacred Gold on Mac

melonDS currently provides macOS support.

The process is straightforward:

Patch Sacred Gold.
Open the completed .nds.
Start a new game.
Save normally.
Completely close melonDS.
Reopen it.
Verify your save.

Can I Play Pokémon Sacred Gold on Android?

Yes.

melonDS currently provides an Android build as well.

That makes it one of the cleanest current recommendations for Android.

What About DraStic?

DraStic was historically one of the best Android DS emulators.

However, it was removed from the Google Play Store in 2025 and no longer has a normal official storefront distribution channel.

Because of that:

I would recommend melonDS first for a new Android installation in 2026.

If you already legally have DraStic installed and Sacred Gold works properly:

there is no reason you must stop using it.

Can I Play Pokémon Sacred Gold on iPhone or iPad?

Yes.

Delta officially supports:

Nintendo DS

games on iPhone and iPad.

For iOS:

Patch Sacred Gold first.
Import the completed .nds into Delta.
Start the game.
Make a normal in-game save.
Fully close and reopen the game.
Confirm the save.

Do not import the .xdelta patch as though it were a game.

Best Emulator Settings for Sacred Gold

Setting	Recommendation
System	Nintendo DS
Windows	melonDS / DeSmuME
macOS	melonDS
Android	melonDS
iPhone/iPad	Delta
Save type	Automatic/default
System clock	Normal
Save states	Secondary only
In-game saves	Essential
Fast-forward	Optional
Speed-up Sacred Gold build	Optional

Does Sacred Gold Need RTC?

Pokémon HeartGold uses the Nintendo DS system clock for:

Day/night
Daily events
Certain encounters
Phone/rematch schedules
Other time-dependent systems

Sacred Gold retains this underlying HGSS behavior.

You do not need a cartridge-style RTC configuration like you would for Pokémon Crystal.

You simply need your DS emulator to handle system date/time correctly.

melonDS supports RTC-related DS behavior.

Does Sacred Gold Include an Anti-Piracy Patch?

The Sacred Gold distribution documentation states that the hack’s patch already includes the needed anti-piracy modifications.

Therefore:

use a clean HeartGold ROM.

Do not independently apply another AP patch first unless the specific patch package tells you to.

Applying extra modifications before Sacred Gold can make your source ROM incompatible with xDelta.

Can You Catch All 493 Pokémon?

Yes.

This is one of Sacred Gold’s defining features.

All:

493 Pokémon from Generations 1–4

are obtainable within Sacred Gold and Storm Silver.

That includes species that normally require:

Other versions
Trading
Sinnoh games
Event distributions
Special evolution conditions

The game modifies encounters and evolutions so a single-player save can obtain the full Generation 4 National Pokédex.

Do Trade Evolutions Require Trading?

No.

Sacred Gold modifies trade evolutions so that they can be completed without another DS/game.

In many cases, trade items become directly usable evolution items.

Other awkward HGSS evolution methods are replaced with new items or alternate conditions.

This is part of what makes all 493 Pokémon obtainable in one playthrough.

Are Gym Leaders Harder?

Very much so.

Sacred Gold substantially rebuilds Trainer rosters, and important bosses commonly use:

full teams of six Pokémon.

The game is designed around a much higher difficulty curve than normal HeartGold.

Even Falkner and the early Johto sections require substantially more preparation than vanilla HGSS.

Are There New Trainer Battles?

Yes.

Drayano added new scripted battles where appropriate.

Examples in the original documentation include battles against:

Ethan/Lyra
Cynthia
Steven

This makes Sacred Gold feel like an expanded HeartGold rather than simply a difficulty patch.

Is Sacred Gold Good for Nuzlockes?

Yes—but it is significantly more difficult than vanilla HeartGold.

Sacred Gold is still actively used in hardcore Nuzlocke communities and appears in the “Drayano Gauntlet” alongside other major Drayano hacks.

For a first-ever Nuzlocke:

I would not choose Sacred Gold.

For experienced players:

it is one of the genre’s classic challenge games.

How to Update Pokémon Sacred Gold Without Losing Your Save

For most players, this is not a major issue because:

v1.05 has been the final original Drayano version for years.

But the same principles matter if you:

Move from an old v1.03/v1.04 build
Switch patch packages
Experiment with Complete versus Classic
Add the speed-up build

Step 1: Make a Normal In-Game Save

Open your current Sacred Gold ROM.

Use the normal:

SAVE

option.

Then completely close the emulator.

Step 2: Back Up Your Save

Create a copy of your save before changing anything.

Depending on the emulator, it may use:

.sav
.dsv
Another emulator-specific backup format

melonDS uses raw save files and includes save-import functionality for formats from DeSmuME, DraStic, and flashcarts.

Step 3: Keep Your Old ROM

Never delete the ROM associated with your working save.

Keep:

Old Sacred Gold ROM
Old save

together.

Step 4: Patch a Fresh HeartGold ROM

Drayano’s installation documentation says updates should be applied to:

the clean base ROM

not:

an already patched Sacred Gold ROM.

So:

clean HeartGold + replacement patch

not:

old Sacred Gold + replacement patch

Step 5: Test a Copy of the Save

I could not verify a blanket developer statement guaranteeing that every Sacred Gold variant or historical update is save-compatible.

Therefore:

use a duplicate save.

Check:

Party
PC boxes
Items
Badges
Pokédex
Current map
Story progress
Key items

Step 6: Avoid Changing Three Things at Once

Do not simultaneously:

Change Sacred Gold version
Switch Complete → Classic
Switch emulator
Convert save format

unless necessary.

Make one change at a time.

That way, if something breaks, you know what caused it.

Step 7: Save Again

After the new ROM successfully loads the copied save:

Make an in-game save.
Close the emulator.
Restart.
Confirm the save still loads.

Should I Switch Between Complete and Classic Mid-Save?

I would be cautious.

The two versions deliberately differ in direct Pokémon data such as:

Stats
Types
Abilities
Learnsets
TM compatibility

I did not find a reliable original Drayano statement guaranteeing seamless Complete ↔ Classic save swapping.

For Rom Professor’s recommendation:

pick one version at the beginning and stay with it.

If you want to experiment:

backup first.

Do Not Update Using a Save State

Use the normal in-game save.

Save states capture:

Running RAM
Script state
Emulator state
Old ROM state

and are much less suitable for moving between different ROM builds.

Common Pokémon Sacred Gold Installation Problems

“xDelta Says My ROM Is Wrong”

Check the HeartGold hash.

You need:

SHA-1: 4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37

If that matches and the patch still fails:

you may have the older Sacred Gold patch package built around a bad dump.

Use the corrected xDelta package.

“My HeartGold ROM Is Clean but the Old Patch Still Rejects It”

This is exactly the known bad-dump problem.

Do not go hunting for a bad ROM just to satisfy the old patch.

Use the newer corrected xDelta patches designed for the proper clean USA HeartGold dump.

“Should I AP-Patch HeartGold First?”

Normally:

no.

The Sacred Gold package already includes the anti-piracy patching needed for the hack.

Use clean HeartGold.

“I Used SoulSilver”

That is the base for:

Storm Silver.

Sacred Gold uses:

HeartGold.

“My Emulator Won’t Open the xDelta File”

That is normal.

.xdelta is a patch.

You must:

Apply the xDelta to HeartGold.
Generate a new .nds.
Open the .nds in your emulator.

“Can I Rename the xDelta File to .nds?”

No.

Renaming a patch does not create the game.

“Vanilla HeartGold Starts”

You opened the clean ROM rather than your Sacred Gold output.

Keep filenames obvious:

Pokemon HeartGold CLEAN.nds

Pokemon Sacred Gold.nds

“Which Version Should I Use: Complete or Classic?”

For most players:

Complete.

Use Classic only if you specifically want to avoid Drayano’s direct Pokémon stat/type/learnset changes.

“What Is the v1.1 Fairy Version?”

It is an unofficial later modification by mikelan98/MeroMero.

It adds Fairy typing and related later-generation changes.

It is not Drayano’s original v1.05.

“Is v1.1 Better Than v1.05?”

That depends on what you want.

If you want:

original Drayano Sacred Gold

play:

v1.05.

If you intentionally want an unofficial Fairy-type extension:

that is a separate choice.

Rom Professor treats them as distinct versions rather than pretending v1.1 is simply the official sequel to v1.05.

“My Flashcart Gives a White Screen”

Hardware compatibility can be more complicated than emulator compatibility.

A July 2026 report documented Sacred Gold failing to boot through DSpico/pico-loader even though the same patched ROM could run through TWiLight Menu++/nds-bootstrap.

If Sacred Gold works in melonDS or DeSmuME but not on your flashcart:

the patch may be fine.

The hardware loader may be the problem.

“Can Sacred Gold Run Through TWiLight Menu++?”

Current compatibility reporting indicates Sacred Gold can work through:

TWiLight Menu++ with nds-bootstrap

even in at least some cases where another flashcart loader white-screens.

Hardware behavior varies, so make a save backup before experimenting.

“My Save Doesn’t Appear After Switching Emulators”

Different DS emulators may use different save formats.

melonDS has an:

Import savefile

feature that can import saves from DeSmuME, DraStic, or flashcart workflows.

Do not assume your progress is gone.

You may simply need to convert/import the save.

“Can I Catch All 493 Pokémon Before the Elite Four?”

Many Pokémon are available before the Elite Four, but not necessarily every single species.

Sacred Gold dramatically expands early availability, with substantial portions of the National Dex available very early.

Use our Sacred Gold Pokémon-locations guide for exact availability.

“Why Does Falkner Have Such a Strong Team?”

Because Sacred Gold substantially increases the boss difficulty.

Important Trainers, including Gym Leaders, use much stronger rosters than normal HeartGold.

Your patch is working.

“Does Sacred Gold Fix the HGSS Level Curve?”

It significantly reworks the level/Trainer curve and wild encounter distribution compared with vanilla HGSS.

That is one of the primary reasons players still recommend it more than a decade later.

How to Verify That Pokémon Sacred Gold Installed Correctly

Verify Your Clean HeartGold ROM

Before patching:

SHA-1: 4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37

Verify Your Version

Original Drayano release:

v1.05

Verify Your Variant

Know whether you installed:

Complete
Classic
Speed-up variant

Check Encounters

Sacred Gold quickly introduces Pokémon availability that differs significantly from vanilla HeartGold.

Check Trainer Teams

Important Trainers should have significantly stronger rosters.

Check Saving

Save normally.
Close the emulator.
Restart Sacred Gold.
Confirm the save appears.
Load it.
Save again.

If:

Expanded encounters are present
Trainer teams are changed
Sacred Gold events appear
Your save survives a full restart

your installation is ready.

Pokémon Sacred Gold Installation FAQ

What is the latest version of Pokémon Sacred Gold?

The latest original Drayano release is:

v1.05.

Who created Pokémon Sacred Gold?

Drayano.

Is Sacred Gold complete?

Yes.

It is a complete HeartGold enhancement hack.

What base ROM does Sacred Gold use?

Pokémon HeartGold USA

SHA-1:

4fcded0e2713dc03929845de631d0932ea2b5a37

What patch format does Sacred Gold use?

The corrected modern v1.05 package uses:

xDelta.

Why does my clean ROM fail with an old patch?

Some older Sacred Gold v1.05 patch files were built against a bad dump.

Use the corrected xDelta package designed for the proper clean USA HeartGold ROM.

Should I use Complete or Classic?

For most players:

Complete.

Classic removes many direct Pokémon stat/type/moveset changes.

Is Sacred Gold v1.1 official?

No.

The commonly distributed v1.1 is an unofficial Fairy-type modification by mikelan98/MeroMero.

What is the Speed-Up Patch?

An optional Sacred Gold variant that speeds dialogue, HP/EXP animations, and gameplay execution while leaving music unaffected.

Where should I get Sacred Gold?

Use Drayano’s original release materials and corrected patch package rather than pre-patched ROM websites.

Drayano’s Sacred Gold / Storm Silver patch folder

Can I download a pre-patched ROM?

Rom Professor does not recommend or link to pre-patched copyrighted Pokémon ROMs.

Use your own clean HeartGold ROM plus the xDelta patch.

What emulator should I use?

For desktop:

melonDS or DeSmuME.

melonDS is actively available across current desktop platforms.

Can I play Sacred Gold on Android?

Yes.

melonDS currently offers Android support.

Can I play Sacred Gold on iPhone?

Yes.

Delta supports Nintendo DS games on iPhone and iPad.

Does Sacred Gold need RTC?

It uses the Nintendo DS system clock for normal HGSS time-based events.

No special cartridge RTC configuration is required in modern DS emulators.

Can I catch all 493 Pokémon?

Yes.

Do trade evolutions require trading?

No.

Sacred Gold changes evolution methods so the game can be completed as a single-player experience.

Are Gym Leaders harder?

Yes.

Sacred Gold substantially redesigns major Trainer rosters and difficulty.

Can I use my old HeartGold save?

I would not recommend starting Sacred Gold from an important vanilla HeartGold save.

Start a new game unless you are intentionally testing a backed-up copy.

Can I update by patching over Sacred Gold?

No.

Patch each version onto a fresh clean HeartGold ROM.

Should I use save states when updating?

No.

Use normal in-game save data.

Is Sacred Gold still worth playing?

It remains one of the foundational DS enhancement hacks and continues to be used in current Nuzlocke/Drayano challenge runs.

Where should I go after installing Pokémon Sacred Gold?

Once the game is working, read our Pokémon Sacred Gold beginner guide.

Sacred Gold changes enough that normal HeartGold documentation will not always tell you what you need to know. Useful supporting guides should include:

Pokémon Sacred Gold Gym Leader teams
Sacred Gold Pokémon locations
Sacred Gold evolution changes
Sacred Gold important item locations
Sacred Gold Elite Four guide
Sacred Gold Kanto walkthrough
Sacred Gold Complete vs. Classic
Sacred Gold latest version guide

Suggested article screenshots: Use an xDelta patching screenshot showing the verified clean HeartGold SHA-1, a screenshot of the Complete and Classic patch options, and an early Sacred Gold gameplay screenshot showing a modified encounter or Trainer battle. A screenshot of the corrected xDelta package filename would also be extremely useful because the old bad-dump patch is one of the most confusing Sacred Gold installation problems.