Key Items

Introduction

Key items are essential, unique tools that enable progression through Polished Crystal. Unlike regular items, key items cannot be sold, tossed, or held by Pokémon, and they remain in a dedicated pocket of your bag. Each key item serves a specific purpose, whether it's accessing new areas, catching Pokémon, or unlocking special features.

This comprehensive guide details every key item in the game, organized by function. You'll find precise locations, acquisition methods, and practical uses for each item to ensure you never miss a critical piece of equipment.

Essential Items

These are the fundamental key items you'll receive early in your journey, forming the core of your adventure toolkit.

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

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

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
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 they give 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: Olivine City Café
How to obtain: Defeat the sailor at the Olivine Café. He'll give it to you after your victory
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 or Goldenrod Department Store
How to obtain: Given by the Elder at Sprout Tower after defeating all trainers, or can be purchased at the Department Store
Use: Illuminates dark caves like Dark Cave and Rock Tunnel. Also lowers opponent's accuracy when used in battle

HM06 Whirlpool

Location: Team Rocket HQ B2F
How to obtain: Found on the floor in Team Rocket's hideout beneath the Goldenrod Department Store during the Radio Tower story sequence
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

Legendary Access Items

These special items grant access to encounters with Legendary Pokémon.

Silver Wing

Location: Pewter City Old Man or Ecruteak City Radio Tower Director
How to obtain: Given by the Radio Tower Director after clearing the Team Rocket story, or by the old man in Pewter City after obtaining the Rainbow Wing
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: Given by the Radio Tower Director after defeating Team Rocket and clearing the Radio Tower storyline
Use: Required to summon and battle Ho-Oh at the top of the Tin Tower (Bell 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: In combination with the Rainbow Wing, allows access to Ho-Oh at the Tin Tower

Tidal Bell

Location: Ecruteak City Wise Trio
How to obtain: After obtaining the Silver Wing, speak to the Wise Trio in Ecruteak City
Use: In combination with the Silver Wing, allows access to Lugia in the Whirl Islands

Event Tickets

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

GB Sounds

Location: Lavender Town Pokémon Fan Club
How to obtain: Given by the Game Boy kid after restoring the Power Plant and gaining access to Kanto
Use: Changes the in-game music to the original Game Boy style chiptune versions. A nostalgic bonus for long-time fans

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
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: Speak to the receptionist in the S.S. Aqua building after obtaining all 16 Gym Badges
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: Hatches into Togepi after walking with it in your party. Becomes Togepi Egg in your party after receiving it from Professor Elm

Collection & Storage

These items help manage your Pokémon collection and storage.

Itemfinder

Location: Route 11 Gate House
How to obtain: Given by one of Professor Oak's Aides after catching a certain number of Pokémon (check with the Aide for the exact requirement)
Use: Detects hidden items on the ground. Beeps when you're standing on or adjacent to a hidden item, making it invaluable for completionists

Coin Case

Location: Goldenrod City Underground
How to obtain: Given by a man in the Underground after you help him
Use: Stores coins won or purchased at the Game Corner. Required for purchasing prizes like TMs and Pokémon at the Game Corner

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 an Exp. Share, an extremely valuable training item

Gameplay Enhancers

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

Location: Mr. Pokémon's House
How to obtain: Trade the Red Scale to Mr. Pokémon
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: Triples 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: Show Professor Oak a hatched Egg Pokémon
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: See all Pokémon species, then speak to Professor Oak
Use: Slightly increases catch rates for all Poké Balls, making it easier to catch wild Pokémon, especially stubborn or rare species

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