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Complete guide to configuring your Polished Crystal experience with the initial options menu
This guide has not been peer reviewed yet!
The information presented may be incomplete, inaccurate, or represent a single perspective. Please verify critical details independently or join the discord for community support if needed.
When starting a new game in Pokémon Polished Crystal, you'll be presented with the Initial Options Menu. This menu lets you customize your gameplay experience by enabling or disabling various mechanics introduced in later Pokémon generations.
The menu is divided into two pages with seven options each. You can navigate between pages using the "Next" and "Previous" options.
Source: engine/menus/init_options.asm — engine/menus/init_options.asm
Options: Yes / No Default: Yes Introduced: Generation 3
Natures raise one stat by 10% while lowering another stat by 10%. This adds extra strategy to teambuilding and lets you specialize your Pokémon.
When to enable:
When to disable:
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: Yes / No Default: Yes Introduced: Generation 3
Abilities provide passive effects both inside and outside of battle. They significantly impact team composition and battle strategy.
When to enable:
When to disable:
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: Yes / No Default: Yes Introduced: Generation 4
With the Physical/Special split enabled, moves are categorized as physical or special independently of their type. Without it, all moves of a type share the same category (like in Gen 1-3).
Impact: This is arguably the most impactful option. Many Pokémon become significantly more or less viable depending on this setting.
When to enable:
When to disable:
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: All / Modern / No Default: Modern
EVs (Effort Values) boost stats by up to 63 points, with one stat point gained per 4 EVs.
Options explained:
When to use All:
When to use Modern:
When to use No:
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: Old / New / No Default: New
This controls how experience points are awarded after battles.
Options explained:
When to use Old:
When to use New:
When to use No:
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: Yes / No Default: Yes Introduced: Generation 6
When enabled, Pokémon with high friendship gain battle bonuses such as:
When to enable:
When to disable:
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: Yes / No Default: Yes
Controls whether the game uses real-time clock functionality.
When to enable:
When to disable:
Note: If your hardware doesn't support RTC, disabling this provides a 6× speedup for time-based events.
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: Yes / No Default: No
When enabled, all stats are calculated as if IVs (Individual Values) were perfect 15s, for both your Pokémon and opponents'.
When to enable:
When to disable:
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: Yes / No Default: No
When enabled, traded Pokémon will obey you even without sufficient badges and can be nicknamed, but won't receive the experience boost.
When to enable:
When to disable:
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: Yes / No Default: No Inspired by: Anime battles
When enabled, your Pokémon can evolve during trainer battles (not just after).
When to enable:
When to disable:
Source: data/options/descriptions.asm — data/options/descriptions.asm
Options: Yes / No Default: Yes Inspired by: Pokémon Stadium
When enabled, individual Pokémon (both regular and shiny) will have subtly varied colors based on their DVs. Each DV affects a specific RGB channel in the sprite palette.
See: Color Variation Guide for full details.
When to enable:
When to disable:
Source: engine/gfx/vary_colors.asm
Enable: Natures, Abilities, Phys/Spcl Split, Modern EVs, New Exp, Affection This provides the full modern Pokémon experience with Gen 3-6 mechanics.
Disable: Natures, Abilities, Phys/Spcl Split, No EVs, Old Exp Enable: RTC This keeps the game closest to the original Gold/Silver/Crystal experience.
Enable: Natures, Abilities, Phys/Spcl Split, Modern EVs, Perfect Stats Disable: Affection Bonus Ideal for players who want to focus on competitive team building without RNG.
Disable: Affection Bonus Set: No EXP (use Exp. Candy only), Modern EVs Enable: Everything else For experienced players seeking a difficult playthrough.
Enable: All options on Page 1 Enable: Perfect Stats, Traded Pokémon Obey, Evolve in Battle Perfect for players who want to enjoy the story without stat optimization.