Original Game Boy Color · not HeartGold / SoulSilver
How to beat Pryce — Mahogany Gym
Pryce can be your fifth, sixth, or seventh Johto leader depending on how you order Chuck, Jasmine, and Mahogany after Morty. After the Rocket Hideout, he uses Seel, Dewgong, and ace Piloswine. Glacier Badge unlocks outdoor Whirlpool; reward is TM16 Icy Wind.
At a glance
Fast facts
Unlock: Clear Lake of Rage + Mahogany Rocket Hideout first — the gym stays locked while the radio signal plot is active.
Floor: Ice slides; take it slow or you loop trainers. Boarders Douglas / Brad / Ronald and Skiers Roxanne / Clarissa are optional EXP.
Win condition: Glacier Badge (Sp. Atk boost plus a bug-dependent Sp. Def attempt) + outdoor Whirlpool (needs HM06 from the hideout) + TM16 Icy Wind.
Story gate
Mahogany path before the gym
1 · Route 42 → Mahogany
From Ecruteak / Olivine side, cross Route 42 (Surf optional for side water; main road is land). Heal in Mahogany before the lake.
2 · Lake of Rage
Surf the lake, catch or defeat the Lv.30 Red Gyarados, and talk to Lance. That opens the Rocket investigation under the shop.
3 · Rocket Hideout
Clear the underground base with Lance. Defeat the three Electrode for HM06 Whirlpool. Field Whirlpool still needs Pryce’s badge.
4 · Mahogany Gym
Ice-tile gym. Pryce waits at the north end. Optional trainers give solid mid-20s EXP before the leader fight.
Gym floor
Ice slides & trainers
Ice tiles slide you until you hit a wall, object, or dark tile. Nudge into walls to stop; rush corners and you re-trigger trainers. Boarders and Skiers are skippable if you only want Pryce.
Boarder Douglas
Lv.24–25 · Shellder ×2 + Cloyster
- Water / Water-Ice shells; Aurora Beam + Protect on Cloyster
- Electric or Grass clears the set
Skier Roxanne
Lv.28 · Jynx
- Ice/Psychic; Lovely Kiss sleep is the real threat
- Pack Full Heals; Fire / Steel / Dark answers help
Boarder Brad
Lv.26 · Swinub ×2
- Ice/Ground previews Piloswine’s immunities
- Fighting / Fire / Water / Grass at 2×; Rock is neutral; not Electric
Boarder Ronald
Lv.24–25 · Seel ×2 + Dewgong
- Mini-Pryce with Rest stalls
- Same Electric/Grass plan as the leader openers
Skier Clarissa
Lv.28 · Dewgong
- Aurora Beam + Rest; chip and heal carefully
- Good dress rehearsal for Pryce’s middle mon
Leader party
Exact levels & moves
Slot 1
Seel · Lv.27
- Moves: Headbutt, Icy Wind, Aurora Beam, Rest
- Threat: Pure Water; Rest fully heals and sleeps two turns; Icy Wind can drop Speed early
- Answer: Electric or Grass 2×. Press damage on Rest turns so it does not stall forever
Slot 2
Dewgong · Lv.29
- Moves: Headbutt, Icy Wind, Aurora Beam, Rest
- Threat: Bulkier dual-type with the same Rest kit; Fighting and Rock also hit 2× from Ice
- Answer: Electric / Grass still 2× Water; Fighting / Rock / Fire are fine if they can tank Aurora Beam
Slot 3 · Ace
Piloswine · Lv.31
- Moves: Icy Wind, Fury Attack, Mist, Blizzard
- Threat: Blizzard (120 power, 70% acc); Ground immunity blanks Electric; Mist blocks your stat drops
- Answer: Fighting, Fire, Water, or Grass 2×. Rock is neutral because Ground cancels Ice’s Rock weakness. Hyper Potion can top it mid-fight
Why stalls happen
Threat kit
Rest loops
Seel and Dewgong fully heal with Rest. Status-only stalls lose. Keep hard-hitting Electric/Grass ready and press turns after Rest lands.
Icy Wind Speed control
Every mon can lower Speed. Slow teams get double-tapped by Aurora Beam or Blizzard. Lead with something already faster or accept a switch.
Electric into Ground
The classic wipe: Thunderbolt Seel and Dewgong, then click Electric into Piloswine for 0 damage. Switch before the ace if your only special is Electric.
Blizzard + Hyper Potion
Piloswine’s Blizzard can delete a weak mon; Pryce may Hyper Potion the ace. Do not chip to 1 HP and end turn — finish when the AI heals.
Coverage paths
Electric · Fighting · Fire · Grass answers
Electric path
- Mareep → Flaaffy / Ampharos from Route 32 is the default special openers cleaner.
- Magnemite / Magneton (Route 38+) Thunder Waves and chips Water mon; still immune-blocked by Piloswine.
- Jolteon if you already have a Thunderstone — same Electric limitation on the ace.
- Pair Electric with Fighting or Fire so you are not stuck after Dewgong falls.
Fighting path
- Heracross (Headbutt rare trees) is a top in-game answer for Ice and the ace.
- Goldenrod Underground Machop trade → Machoke covers Piloswine if leveled.
- The Mt. Mortar Tyrogue path requires outdoor Waterfall, so it is normally unavailable until after Clair; use Machop/Machoke or another Fighting option for Pryce.
- Seel is only neutral to Fighting — still use Electric/Grass for the lead if needed.
Fire path
- Cyndaquil line is excellent into Piloswine; Seel resists Fire so keep a Water-answer partner.
- Growlithe / Arcanine (Gold) or Vulpix / Ninetales (Silver) if you have the stones.
- Magmar from the Burned Tower / trade routes is a solid special Fire option.
- Fire Punch TM from Goldenrod Dept. Store 5F upgrades many Fighting mon for the ace.
Grass path
- Grass hits Seel, Dewgong, and Piloswine for 2×. Ice does not add a second Grass weakness to Piloswine.
- Bellsprout line / Victreebel, Exeggcute / Exeggutor, or Meganium if you started Chikorita.
- Watch Aurora Beam and Blizzard — Grass bulk varies; Full Restores help.
- Pair with a Fire or Fighting switch if Grass is low after Rest stalls.
Suggested order
Mahogany loop into Blackthorn
- Finish Jasmine (and Chuck / Fly if you took the coastal loop).
- Travel Route 42 to Mahogany; heal; head north to Lake of Rage.
- Catch or defeat Red Gyarados; meet Lance; clear the Rocket Hideout; pocket HM06 Whirlpool.
- Restock Full Heals / Hyper Potions; enter Mahogany Gym; slide the ice floor carefully.
- Defeat optional trainers if you need levels (~30–34), then Pryce’s three-mon team.
- Claim Glacier Badge + TM16; teach Whirlpool for later islands; continue Route 44 → Ice Path → Blackthorn / Clair.
Checklist
Track Pryce prep on this device
Checklist saves in this browser (localStorage). Pair with Run Progress and Local Saves for a full Johto run.
Tips
Common wipe causes
Gym still locked
If the door will not open, finish Lake of Rage and the Rocket base under the shop first. Pryce is not available during the radio signal arc.
All-Electric team
Works until Piloswine. Teach a Fighting or Fire coverage move, or switch to Grass / Water / Rock for the ace.
Ice-tile rage
Sliding into the same trainer twice wastes resources. Stop on dark tiles and plan one clean route to Pryce.
Skipping Whirlpool HM
HM06 is in the hideout, not from Pryce. Grab it before you leave Mahogany so Glacier Badge is useful immediately later.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is Pryce the same on Gold and Silver?
Yes. Seel Lv.27, Dewgong Lv.29, and Piloswine Lv.31 with the same fixed moves, Glacier Badge, TM16, and Hyper Potion AI. Only your version-exclusive team options change.
What level should I be for Pryce?
Around Lv.30–34 with super-effective coverage is comfortable. Ace is Lv.31; underleveled mono-Water teams struggle with Rest and Blizzard.
Does Glacier Badge raise Special Attack and Special Defense?
In non-link battles, Glacier Badge boosts Special Attack by 9/8. Its attempted Special Defense boost is affected by a cartridge bug and does not always apply. It also enables outdoor Whirlpool with HM06. Full badge list: gym levels checklist.
Is Icy Wind worth teaching?
Power 55, 95% accuracy, and lowers Speed — solid control for slower teams and mid-game ice coverage. Item page: TM16 Icy Wind. Move entry: Icy Wind.
Is this HeartGold / SoulSilver?
No — original Game Boy Color Gold and Silver only. Remakes change gym puzzles, levels, and rewards.
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