Beginner's Guide

Getting Started

Polished Crystal adds modern mechanics, quality-of-life fixes, and rebalances to Gen II without changing the story or world design.

This guide covers new game options, core mechanics changes, and progression differences from vanilla Crystal. If you've played Crystal before, most of this will be familiar—just with better systems underneath.

For philosophy and design rationale, see What Makes Polished Crystal the Definitive Way to Play Johto.

For a complete changelog, see Differences From Vanilla.

New Game Options

Polished Crystal adds several configuration options at game start. Most are self-explanatory. Here's what matters:

Text Speed

Fast: Use this
Med/Slow: Slower dialogue

Battle Scene

On: Shows animations
Off: Skips animations (faster)

Battle Style

Set (Default): No free switch when opponent faints—more strategic
Shift: Free switch prompt (vanilla default, easier)

Sound Type

Stereo/Mono: Audio output type

Game Mode Options

Build Selection:

Polished: Type changes, modernized mechanics, expanded features
Faithful: Closer to vanilla Crystal

See Differences From Vanilla for build comparison.

Abilities:

Yes: Enables Abilities (Gen III+ mechanic)
No: Gen I/II-style (no abilities)

Perfect Stats:

No: Stats use actual IVs
Yes: All Pokémon treated as Hyper Trained

Color Variation:

No: Standard colors
Yes: IVs affect coloration (separate from shininess)

EV Gain:

510: Standard competitive limit (252/stat, 510 total)
All: Unlimited EVs
No: EVs disabled (Gen I-style)

Core Battle Mechanics

Physical vs. Special Split

Updated Only Polished Crystal uses the Physical/Special split from Gen IV+:

Physical moves: Attack vs. Defense
- Examples: Tackle, Earthquake, Iron Head
Special moves: Sp.Atk vs. Sp.Def
- Examples: Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Surf

Vanilla Gen II determines Physical/Special by type instead (e.g., all Fire moves are Special).

Fairy Type

Updated Only Fairy type from Gen VI is implemented:

Super Effective Against: Dragon, Dark, Fighting
Weak To: Poison, Steel
Immune To: Dragon
Resists: Fighting, Bug, Dark

Notable Fairy-types: Clefable, Azumarill, Togekiss, Granbull

See Type Chart for full type effectiveness.

Abilities System

If you enabled Abilities:

Each Pokémon has one Ability with passive effects
Hidden Abilities are rarer variants obtained from:
- Hidden Grottoes
- NPC Trades (all have Hidden Abilities)
- Breeding with Hidden Ability parents

Examples: Intimidate (lowers opponent Attack on switch), Levitate (Ground immunity), Huge Power (doubles Attack)

See Abilities Guide.

STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus)

Moves matching a Pokémon's type get 1.5× damage:

Feraligatr (Water/Dark) using Surf: 90 power × 1.5 = 135 effective power

Evolution Methods

Trade Evolutions

Updated Only Trade evolutions have alternative methods:

Most can evolve by level (varies by species)
Some use evolution items
Linking Cord triggers trade evolutions without trading

Examples:

Kadabra → Alakazam: Level 37 OR Linking Cord
Machoke → Machamp: Level 37 OR Linking Cord
Haunter → Gengar: Level 37 OR Linking Cord

Time-Based Evolutions

Eevee → Espeon: High friendship during day
Eevee → Umbreon: High friendship at night

Location-Based Evolutions

Some Pokémon require specific locations:

Eevee → Leafeon: Level up near Ilex Forest shrine
Eevee → Glaceon: Level up in Ice Path

See Evolution Guide for complete evolution methods.

Progression & Team Building

Team Composition

Balanced teams need:

Type Coverage – Moves that hit many types super effectively
Defensive Synergy – Pokémon covering each other's weaknesses
STAB Moves – At least one per Pokémon
Utility – Status moves, healing, support

Example early-game team:

Feraligatr (Water/Dark) - Physical attacker
Ampharos (Electric) - Special attacker
Heracross (Bug/Fighting) - Physical attacker
Espeon (Psychic) - Special attacker
Skarmory (Steel/Flying) - Physical wall
Arcanine (Fire) - Mixed attacker

Level Scaling

Updated Only Optional areas use badge-based level scaling. Wild Pokémon and trainers scale with badge count.

See Difficulty Scaling.

Updated Only Exp. Share gives full EXP to both the active Pokémon and the holder (like Gen VI+ Exp. All). Vanilla splits EXP between them.

Move Tutors & Relearners

Move Relearner (Goldenrod) – Relearn previously learned moves (free)
Move Deleter (Blackthorn) – Delete any move, including HMs
Move Tutors – Scattered throughout the world

Essential Features

Infinite TMs

Updated Only All TMs are infinitely reusable (like Gen V+). Use the same TM on multiple Pokémon.

HM Changes

Updated Only HMs are buffed:

Cut: Steel-type, 60 power (buffed)
Strength: Fighting-type, 85 power (buffed)
Surf: Remains excellent (90 power, Water-type)
Waterfall: 85 power with flinch chance
Rock Smash: Fighting-type, can lower Defense

HMs can be deleted at the Move Deleter in Blackthorn City.

Bag Organization

Updated Only Bag has categorized pockets:

Items – Potions, status healers, held items
Key Items – Plot items, bikes, rods
Balls – Poké Ball types
TMs & HMs – Technical and Hidden Machines
Berries – Berry types

Running Shoes

Updated Only Running works from the start. Hold B to run (no item needed).

PC Access

Updated Only Bill's PC is accessible immediately.

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