Guides & Resources
Comprehensive guides to help you master Pokémon Polished Crystal
Welcome to the PolishedDex Guide Library. Whether you're revisiting Johto with fresh eyes or spending time fine-tuning teams and mechanics, these guides are here to support the way you play!
These guides are a WIP! There is a strong chance they may contain incomplete or evolving information. I plan to expand this library over time, so if there's a topic you'd like to see covered, please send the request in the feedback form below and I will try and source the information.
Community contributions are welcome! If you'd like to write a guide or have expertise to share, please reach out via the feedback form or contact page. All contributors will be credited.
If you need further assistance or are looking for more guidance, I strongly implore you to join the Discord for Pokemon Polished Crystal. The community there is very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Many contributors and passionate players may also be able to help. It's where I got started! Many times questions there have been asked and answered by others so the search function in the Discord is also a great resource.
Anyways, Pokémon Polished Crystal expands on the original Pokémon Crystal with modern additions like the Physical/Special split, abilities, natures, and the Fairy type, all while preserving the balance and charm that made Gen II memorable. PolishedDex exists to document those systems clearly and thoughtfully, from core gameplay mechanics to breeding, team building, and long-term strategy.
The focus throughout is clarity and usefulness. You'll find straightforward explanations, reference tables, and practical examples meant to help you understand your options, compare strategies, and make decisions that fit your own goals—not force a single "correct" way to play.
Core Guides
Essential guides for understanding Polished Crystal
Differences From Vanilla Crystal
Comprehensive comparison of Pokémon Polished Crystal vs vanilla Crystal. Discover 289 Pokémon, modern mechanics, restored content, and everything that makes Polished Crystal the definitive Gen II experience.
Beginner's Guide
Complete beginner guide with setup, mechanics, and progression tips for Pokémon Polished Crystal
Quality-of-Life Improvements
Complete list of QOL improvements in Polished Crystal. From running shoes to unlimited TMs, discover all the enhancements that make this the definitive Gen II experience.
How Difficulty Scaling Works
Guide to badge-based level scaling, dynamic scaling, and AI improvements in Polished Crystal
Changelog
Complete version history, design philosophy, and development roadmap for Pokémon Polished Crystal
Battle & Strategy
Master the competitive side of Pokémon
Type Chart
Interactive type effectiveness chart for all 18 Pokémon types. Learn about STAB bonuses, type coverage, defensive synergies, and the Fairy type.
Abilities
Strategic guide to Pokémon abilities in Polished Crystal. Learn about ability categories, competitive strategies, and the best abilities for different playstyles.
IVs & EVs
Complete guide to Individual Values (IVs) and Effort Values (EVs) in Polished Crystal. Learn about the hybrid Gen II/modern mechanics, Hyper Training, EV training spots, Power Items, and the Stats Judge.
Battle Tower
Complete Battle Tower guide for Polished Crystal. Browse all 400+ Pokémon sets across 4 tiers, learn about the tier system, and prepare for challenging battles.
Pokémon Knowledge
Everything about catching, evolving, and raising Pokémon
Evolution
Complete guide to all evolution methods in Pokémon Polished Crystal including level-up, stones, trade, friendship, location-based, move-based, and special cases.
Friendship
Complete guide to Friendship (Happiness) mechanics in Polished Crystal. Learn how to increase friendship, evolution requirements, Affection bonuses, and hybrid mechanics from Gen II and modern generations.
Breeding
Comprehensive breeding mechanics including IVs, natures, egg moves, and competitive strategies
Shiny Rates
Complete guide to shiny encounter rates, bonuses, and mechanics in Pokémon Polished Crystal.
Hidden Grottoes
Complete guide to Hidden Grottoes in Pokémon Polished Crystal. Learn about all 22 hidden grotto locations, which Pokémon appear, item drops, and spawn probabilities.
Wonder Trade
Complete guide to Wonder Trade in Polished Crystal. Learn how to use the offline Wonder Trade system, item rewards, and strategies for getting rare Pokémon.
NPC Trades
Complete list of all in-game NPC trades in Polished Crystal. Find out what Pokémon you can trade for, their stats, natures, abilities, and held items.
Bug Catching Contest
Complete guide to the Bug Catching Contest in Polished Crystal. Learn the scoring system, best Pokémon to catch, time-based prizes (Evolution Stones), and optimal strategies for winning.
Items & Resources
Useful NPCs, items, and game mechanics
Other Guides
Additional resources and information
Buena's Password
Complete guide to Buena's Password mini-game in Polished Crystal. Learn how to earn Blue Card points, daily password mechanics, and redeem points for rare items like Ultra Balls, Rare Candies, and Nuggets.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Things experienced players wish they'd known earlier. Avoid these frequent mistakes and save yourself frustration.
What Makes Pokémon Polished Crystal the Definitive Way to Play Johto
Why Polished Crystal is the preferred way to play Generation 2—preserving the core design while fixing fundamental mechanical flaws.
Early Johto Gym Strategies
How to beat Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney, and Morty without overleveling or cheese strategies.
Emulators
Complete guide to emulators for playing Pokémon Polished Crystal. Find recommended emulators for PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and other platforms.
Gift Pokémon
Complete list of all gift Pokémon and in-game trades in Pokémon Polished Crystal
Late Johto & Kanto Gym Strategies
How to beat Chuck through Blue, plus Elite Four preparation. No grinding required.
Move Tutors & TM Management
Which TMs are reusable, which tutors are worth using, and how to avoid wasting limited resources.
Natures
Complete guide to Pokémon natures and their stat modifiers. Learn which natures boost and reduce stats, and how to choose the best nature for your strategy.
Recommended Teams by Phase
Team building options for each stage of the game. Not the 'best' teams—just solid choices that work.
Softlocks & Missables
Can you miss this? Did you mess up your save? Complete guide to what's permanent, what's not, and how to avoid softlocking yourself.