Key Items
Complete guide to all key items in Polished Crystal. Find locations, uses, and how to obtain every key item in your adventure.
Author: Cammy and CensoredHarp
Last updated: February 21, 2026
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.
These are the fundamental key items you'll receive early in your journey!
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
These key items are necessary to advance through specific parts of the story or access blocked areas.
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
These special items grant access to encounters with Legendary Pokémon.
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
These tickets grant access to special event areas and Mythical Pokémon.
- 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 :)
- 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
- 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
- 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.
These items help manage your Pokémon collection and storage.
- 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."
- 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
- 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)
These special items improve various aspects of gameplay and provide significant advantages.
- 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!
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
