Gen 2 DV math · Original GBC · not HGSS
Pokemon Gold & Silver Hidden Power calculator
Dial in Attack / Defense / Speed / Special DVs and read the real cartridge type and base power (31–70) for Hidden Power. Reverse-search any of the 16 legal types, check shiny Grass/Dragon-only locks, and jump to TM10 on the Lake of Rage map, Damage Calculator, and Type Chart.
Fast answer
Type from Atk+Def · power from four high bits
Hidden Power never stays Normal. Type is fixed by Attack DV & 3 and Defense DV & 3 (16 outcomes from Fighting through Dark). Power uses the high bit of Attack, Defense, Speed, and Special, plus Special & 3, then maps to 31–70. In Gen 2, the damage formula still treats the result as a Physical or Special type—Fighting through Steel hit with Attack; Fire through Dark hit with Special Attack. Grab the free TM10 at Lake of Rage whenever you can reach the house; the Red Gyarados event is not a script prerequisite. Extras are sold in Celadon.
Interactive tool
DV → Hidden Power workbench
DV inputs
Pick a type to snap Attack/Defense low bits to a legal pair. Speed/Special stay under your control for power.
Hidden Power type
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Base power
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Shiny DV check
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16 legal types
Type map from Attack & Defense low bits
Tap a card to load that type into the calculator. Physical group (Fighting→Steel) uses Attack; Special group (Fire→Dark) uses Special Attack on original G/S.
TM10 Hidden Power
Where to get the move on original G/S
Free gift · Lake of Rage house
Talk to the man in the Hidden Power House north of the lake for one free TM10. Reaching the house is sufficient; the gift script does not check the Red Gyarados event.
Shop · Celadon Dept Store 3F
Buy more copies for ₽3,000 on 3F after you reach Kanto on the S.S. Aqua. TM10 is single-use on original GBC—not reusable like HMs.
Unown · only Hidden Power
Unown learns Hidden Power at level 1 and nothing else. Type/power still come from DVs—perfect for testing this tool after the Ruins of Alph puzzles.
Almost every mon can learn it
242 species learn TM10. Use the move page or Team Planner to confirm coverage before burning a copy. Pair with the Damage calculator once you know power and type.
Shiny DVs
Grass or Dragon only
Shiny DV lock
- Defense = 10, Speed = 10, Special = 10
- Attack ∈ {2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15}
- That forces Defense&3 = 2, so type is only Grass (Atk&3 = 2) or Dragon (Atk&3 = 3)
Power on shiny samples
- Low Attack shinies (2–7): power often lands near the mid band (~49 with Spc=10)
- High Attack shinies (10–15): power climbs toward ~69
- You cannot force shiny Dark / Fighting / Fire Hidden Power on cartridge Gen 2
Breeding path: catch Lake of Rage Red Gyarados (guaranteed shiny DV spread) or hunt a shiny Ditto, then pass Defense/Speed/Special through the Day Care rules detailed in the breeding tool.
Cartridge math
pret/pokegold Hidden Power routine
Type
index = (Attack DV & 3) × 4 + (Defense DV & 3) types[0..15] = Fighting, Flying, Poison, Ground, Rock, Bug, Ghost, Steel, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Psychic, Ice, Dragon, Dark
Normal and the unused Bird slot are skipped in the disassembly, which is why Hidden Power never rolls Normal.
Power
bits = (Atk high)×8 + (Def high)×4 + (Spe high)×2 + (Spc high)×1 power = (bits × 5 + (Special DV & 3)) // 2 + 31 // result is always 31–70 inclusive
“High” means the 8-value bit of that DV (DV ≥ 8). Max 70 needs all four high bits set and Special&3 = 3.
| Type | Atk & 3 | Def & 3 | Category | Example max-power DVs |
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Play tips
Using Hidden Power on a real cart run
Coverage, not raw power
Even at 70 BP, Hidden Power trails many STAB STABs. Use it to patch holes—Ice on a Water mon, Ground on a Fire mon—then confirm damage on the calculator.
Physical vs Special matters
Hidden Power Dark hits with Special Attack in Gen 2. A physical attacker may prefer Fighting/Rock/Ground/Steel HP over a “cooler” special type.
DV trade-offs
Chasing a type locks Attack/Defense low bits. That can soft-cap Attack DV for physical sweepers. Plan breeding DVs before spending rare TM10 copies.
Checklist the TM
Mark Lake of Rage and Celadon on the TM checklist, log catches on the Catch board, and keep a Team Planner snapshot of who holds the move.
Progress
Hidden Power checklist
FAQ
Common Hidden Power questions
How does Hidden Power work in Pokemon Gold and Silver?
Type comes from the low two bits of Attack and Defense DVs. Power (31–70) comes from the high bit of Attack, Defense, Speed, and Special, plus Special’s low two bits. Category follows the Gen 2 type group (Physical vs Special), not a fixed “special move” flag.
Where is TM10 Hidden Power?
Free copy in the Lake of Rage Hidden Power House as soon as you can reach it; no Red Gyarados event flag is required. Extra copies cost ₽3,000 on Celadon Dept Store 3F.
Can a shiny get Hidden Power Dark?
No. Shiny DVs only allow Grass or Dragon Hidden Power on original Gen 2 cartridges.
Does Unown only know Hidden Power?
Yes—level 1 Hidden Power only. DVs still set type and power, so the same calculator applies.
Is this HeartGold / SoulSilver?
No. Remakes use IVs and a different formula. This tool is original Game Boy Color Gold and Silver only.
How do I turn this into real damage numbers?
Copy the type and power into the Damage calculator, pick attacker/defender, and apply STAB only if the mon actually shares that type.
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