Introduction

Key items are important and unique items that can help players advance through Polished Crystal. Unlike other items, key items cannot be dropped or stored in the Pokémon’s inventory and can only be kept in one of the pockets of your bag. There are many uses for key items, and they can help you explore new areas, catch Pokemon, and more.

This comprehensive guide will cover all important items within the game, and they will be organized based on their functions. In this guide, you will find the exact locations and uses of all these items to avoid missing any crucial equipment within the game.

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Essential Items

These are the fundamental key items you'll receive early in your journey!

Pokédex

• Location: Mr. Pokémon's House (Route 30)
• How to obtain: Automatically received during the early story sequence when you visit Mr. Pokémon after receiving your starter Pokémon from Professor Elm
• Use: Records data on Pokémon you've seen and caught. Provides detailed information including base stats, wild locations, evolution methods, and move learning. An essential reference tool for completionists

Pokégear

• Location: Player's House 1F
• How to obtain: Your mother gives it to you at the start of your journey
• Use: Multifunctional device that houses the Map Card, Radio Card, and Phone features. Essential for navigation, communication with trainers, and listening to radio programs. Upgradeable with additional cards

Map Card

• Location: Cherrygrove City
• How to obtain: The Guide Gent in Cherrygrove City gives it to you after showing you around town
• Use: Adds a map display to your Pokégear, showing your current location and notable landmarks. Critical for navigation

Radio Card

• Location: Radio Tower 1F (Goldenrod City)
• How to obtain: Complete the Radio Tower tour quiz on the first floor. Answer all questions correctly to receive the card
• Use: Enables radio functionality on your Pokégear. Listen to various radio stations including Pokémon March (raises wild encounter rate), Pokémon Lullaby (lowers wild encounter rate), and the Pokéflute channel (wakes sleeping Pokémon)

Bicycle

• Location: Goldenrod Bike Shop
• How to obtain: Given to you for free by the bike shop owner after speaking with them. No prerequisites required
• Use: Doubles your movement speed on land. Essential for efficient travel and required for accessing Cycling Road. Cannot be used indoors or in certain areas

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Fishing Rods

The fishing rods enable you to catch Water-type Pokémon in bodies of water. Each rod provides access to different quality encounters, with better rods unlocking rarer Pokémon.

Old Rod

• Location: Route 32 Pokémon Center 1F
• How to obtain: Speak to the Fishing Guru near the entrance. No prerequisites
• Use: Enables fishing for basic Water-type Pokémon. Primarily encounters Magikarp and Tentacool, but required to begin building your aquatic collection

Good Rod

• Location: Olivine City Good Rod House
• How to obtain: Given by the Fishing Guru inside the house. Accessible once you reach Olivine City
• Use: Enables fishing for intermediate Water-type Pokémon. Access to a wider variety of species including Shellder, Krabby, Corsola, and Chinchou depending on location

Super Rod

• Location: Route 12 Fishing Guru House
• How to obtain: Given by the Fishing Guru inside his house. Requires access to Kanto
• Use: Enables fishing for the best Water-type Pokémon. Access to rare and powerful species like Gyarados, Kingler, and Lanturn. The ultimate fishing tool

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Progression Items

These key items are necessary to advance through specific parts of the story or access blocked areas.

SquirtBottle

• Location: Goldenrod City Flower Shop
• How to obtain: After defeating Whitney, the Flower Shop owner gives it to you when you speak to her
• Use: Waters the suspicious tree on Route 36, revealing it to be Sudowoodo and allowing you to battle or catch it. Required to proceed west from Goldenrod City

SecretPotion

• Location: Cianwood City Pharmacy
• How to obtain: Given by the Pharmacist after speaking with him about the sick Ampharos in the Olivine Lighthouse
• Use: Cures the sick Ampharos at the top of the Olivine Lighthouse, allowing Jasmine to return to the Olivine Gym

HM03 Surf

• Location: Ecruteak City Dance Theater
• How to obtain: Defeat the Kimono Girls in the Dance Theater. All five must be defeated before a man in the theatre gives you Surf
• Use: Allows you to travel across water surfaces. Essential for exploration and accessing many areas. Usable both as a field move and in battle (90 Base Power Water-type attack)

HM04 Strength

• Location: Cianwood City Pokemon Center
• How to obtain: Visiting the Cianwood City Pokémon Center.
• Use: Allows you to push heavy boulders in dungeons and caves. Required for progressing through certain areas and accessing hidden items

HM05 Flash

• Location: Sprout Tower 3F
• How to obtain: Given by the Elder at Sprout Tower after defeating him
• Use: Illuminates dark caves like Dark Cave and Rock Tunnel. Also lowers opponent's accuracy when used in battle

HM06 Whirlpool

• Location: Route 42
• How to obtain: Given to you by Lyra on Route 42
• Use: Allows you to navigate through whirlpool obstacles in water. Required for accessing certain islands and areas like the Whirl Islands

HM07 Waterfall

• Location: Ice Path 1F
• How to obtain: Found on the ground while navigating through the Ice Path
• Use: Enables climbing up waterfalls. Essential for reaching areas like the Elite Four and various routes in Kanto. Also a powerful 80 Base Power Water-type attack with a chance to flinch

Basement Key

• Location: Goldenrod City Warehouse Entrance
• How to obtain: Found during the Team Rocket takeover sequence
• Use: Unlocks the basement door at the Warehouse Entrance, allowing access to the Underground Warehouse where Team Rocket is holding the Radio Tower Director

Card Key

• Location: Underground Warehouse
• How to obtain: Found in the Underground Warehouse during the Team Rocket takeover
• Use: Unlocks the security shutters on Radio Tower 3F, allowing you to reach the upper floors and confront Team Rocket

Go-Goggles

• Location: Olivine Port
• How to obtain: Found in an itemball on the harbor. Surf south along the eastern edge of the dock to reach it
• Use: Protects you from sandstorm and hail damage, allowing access to Rugged Road

Lift Key

• Location: Rocket Hideout B4F
• How to obtain: Dropped by a Rocket Grunt after defeating them in Rocket Hideout B4F
• Use: Operates the elevators in the Rocket Hideout, allowing access to all floors including the basement where Team Rocket's executives are located

Lost Item

• Location: Pokémon Fan Club (Vermilion City)
• How to obtain: Given by the Clefairy Guy at the Pokémon Fan Club after the Power Plant is restored
• Use: A Clefairy Doll that belongs to Copycat in Saffron City. Return it to her to receive the Pass for the Magnet Train

Machine Part

• Location: Cerulean Gym
• How to obtain: Found as a hidden item in the water inside Cerulean Gym
• Use: The stolen component from the Power Plant. Return it to the Power Plant Manager to restore power to the Magnet Train and Kanto's railway system

SilphScope2

• Location: Soul House (Lavender Town)
• How to obtain: Given by Mr. Fuji at the Soul House
• Use: An upgraded version of the original Silph Scope. Reveals ghost-type Pokémon and allows you to see hidden spirits in battle

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Legendary Access Items

These special items grant access to encounters with Legendary Pokémon.

Harsh Lure

• Location: Rocket Hideout B4F
• How to obtain: Defeat Candela in Rocket Hideout B4F
• Use: Used at the Great Tree in Cherrygrove Bay to encounter Galarian Moltres (Level 65)

Potent Lure

• Location: Rocket Hideout B4F
• How to obtain: Defeat Blanche in Rocket Hideout B4F
• Use: Used at the Great Tree in Cherrygrove Bay to encounter Galarian Articuno (Level 65)

Malign Lure

• Location: Rocket Hideout B4F
• How to obtain: Defeat Spark in Rocket Hideout B4F
• Use: Used at the Great Tree in Cherrygrove Bay to encounter Galarian Zapdos (Level 65)

Silver Wing

• Location: Collector Lawrence
• How to obtain: Catch all 3 kanto legendary birds, then battle Lawrence at the Shamouti Islands
• Use: Required to summon and battle Lugia at the bottom of the Whirl Islands

Rainbow Wing

• Location: Radio Tower Director (Goldenrod City)
• How to obtain: Catch all 3 legendary dogs and return to the Tin Tower after beating the Elite Four
• Use: Required to summon and battle Ho-Oh at the top of the Tin Tower

Clear Bell

• Location: Radio Tower Director
• How to obtain: Automatically given as part of the story after clearing Team Rocket from the Radio Tower
• Use: Summons Suicune to the Tin Tower

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Event Tickets

These tickets grant access to special event areas and Mythical Pokémon.

Blue Card

• Location: Radio Tower 2F (Goldenrod City)
• How to obtain: Given by Buena on the second floor of the Radio Tower
• Use: Used to participate in Buena's Password game. Listen to her radio show for daily passwords to earn points, which can be exchanged for prizes at the Radio Tower

GBC Sounds

• Location: Radio Tower
• How to obtain: Given after defeating Team Rocket at the Radio Tower
• Use: Play any track in Polished Crystal anywhere you like! Includes some fun secret songs :)

GS Ball

• Location: Goldenrod Pokécom Center 1F
• How to obtain: Received via Wonder Trade at the Pokécom Center
• Use: A mysterious Poké Ball. Bring it to Kurt in Azalea Town to unlock a special encounter with Celebi in Ilex Forest

Related Guide: Legendary Pokémon

MysticTicket

• Location: Silver Cave Room 3 (Mt. Silver)
• How to obtain: Defeat Red at the summit of Mt. Silver. After the battle, he gives you the MysticTicket as a reward
• Use: Grants passage on the Seagallop Ferry from Vermilion City to Navel Island

Old Sea Map

• Location: Pokémon Mansion B1F (Cinnabar Island)
• How to obtain: Found as an item ball in the basement of the Pokémon Mansion
• Use: Grants passage on the Seagallop Ferry from Vermilion City to Faraway Island

Related Guide: Legendary Pokémon

OrangeTicket

• Location: Seagallop Ferry Gate (Vermilion City)
• How to obtain: Speak to the Sailor at the Seagallop Ferry gate in Vermilion City. He gives it to you for free on your first visit
• Use: Grants passage on the Seagallop Ferry to Shamouti Island, home to the Legendary Birds shrine

Pass

• Location: [Copycat's House (Saffron City)](/locations/saffron city)
• How to obtain: Return the Lost Item (Clefairy Doll) to Copycat after finding it in the Vermilion City Pokémon Fan Club. This can't be done until after the power plant is fixed.
• Use: Grants access to the Magnet Train between Goldenrod City and Saffron City, enabling quick travel between Johto and Kanto

S.S. Ticket

• Location: Vermilion City S.S. Aqua Building
• How to obtain: Elm will give you this item after beating the Elite Four.
• Use: Grants passage on the S.S. Aqua ship between Olivine City and Vermilion City

Mystery Egg

• Location: Mr. Pokémon's House
• How to obtain: Given by Mr. Pokémon during your first visit as part of the early story sequence
• Use: Return it to Professor Elm, who will send it back to you after getting your first gym badge as it needs to be around Pokémon to hatch. Hatches into Togepi after walking with it in your party.

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Collection & Storage

These items help manage your Pokémon collection and storage.

Apricorn Box

• Location: Kurt's House (Azalea Town)
• How to obtain: Given by Kurt after clearing Slowpoke Well of Team Rocket
• Use: Stores Apricorns collected from Apricorn trees. Bring Apricorns to Kurt, who will craft them into special Poké Balls based on the Apricorn color

Coin Case

• Location: Goldenrod City Underground
• How to obtain: Found on the ground in the underground
• Use: Stores coins won or purchased at the Game Corner. Required for purchasing prizes like TMs and Pokémon at the Game Corner

Itemfinder

• Location: Route 11 Gate House
• How to obtain: Given by a man in one of the homes in Ecruteak City
• Use: Detects hidden items on the ground. Beeps when you're standing on or adjacent to a hidden item, making it invaluable for completionists.
• When used, the text will say "...Nope! Itemfinder isn't responding." if there are items to be found in the area, but not on the visible tiles. If the entire map is clear of hidden items the text will say "Nope! There's nothing hidden here."

Red Scale

• Location: Lake of Rage
• How to obtain: Automatically received after defeating or catching the Red Gyarados
• Use: Can be traded to Mr. Pokémon for Masuda the Ditto, (basically your top tier breeding Ditto)

Type Chart

• Location: Violet City Trainer School
• How to obtain: Given by Earl at the Trainer School
• Use: Quick reference tool that displays type matchups and advantages in battle. Helpful for learning which types are super effective or resistant against others

Wing Case

• Location: Ilex Forest
• How to obtain: Given by the Headbutt Guy in Ilex Forest
• Use: Stores wings collected from wild Pokémon encounters. Wings provide small stat boosts when used on Pokémon

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Gameplay Enhancers

These special items improve various aspects of gameplay and provide significant advantages.

Candy Jar

• Location: Goldenrod City Underground
• How to obtain: Speak to the Candy Man in the underground. He'll give you the Candy Jar for free, along with your first Exp. Candy S to try it out
• Use: Stores up to 99 of each type of Exp. Candy. After obtaining it, you can purchase additional Exp. Candies from the same NPC. Essential for managing your collection of experience-boosting items!

Exp. Share

• Location: Ilex Forest Azalea Gate
• How to obtain: Earliest is from Elm's aide in Azalea/Ilex Forest gate. Can also be purchased from Indigo Plateau mart
• Use: When held by a Pokémon, it receives 50% of experience from battles even if it doesn't participate. Invaluable for training low-level Pokémon or balancing your team's levels

Shiny Charm

• Location: Oak's Lab (Pallet Town)
• How to obtain: Complete the Pokédex by catching all Pokémon, then speak to Professor Oak
• Use: Changes your chances of encountering shiny Pokémon from 1/4096 to 3/4096. An essential tool for shiny hunters

Oval Charm

• Location: Oak's Lab (Pallet Town)
• How to obtain: View every Pokémon, then speak to Professor Oak. All forms are not required, one will do
• Use: Increases the chance of finding Eggs at the Day Care, speeding up the breeding process significantly

Catch Charm

• Location: Oak's Lab (Pallet Town)
• How to obtain: Speak to Oak for the first time in his Lab and he will give it to you
• Use: Slightly increases catch rates for all Poké Balls, making it easier to catch wild Pokémon, especially stubborn or rare species