Introduction

Move Tutors are special NPCs scattered throughout Johto and Kanto who can teach your Pokémon powerful moves that they may not learn naturally. Unlike TMs, most move tutors require Silver Leaves or Gold Leaves as payment for their services. These tutors offer exclusive moves, competitive strategies, and valuable coverage options for your team.

This comprehensive guide details every move tutor in Polished Crystal, organized by location and item requirement. Each entry includes the exact location, the move taught, and any special requirements.

---

Available Move Tutors

Goldenrod City - Elemental Punches

Location: Speak to the NPC standing near the northeastern area of Goldenrod City (near the Radio Tower)

Moves Taught:

• Fire Punch (MT12)
• Thunder Punch (MT27)
• Ice Punch (MT15)

How to obtain: Simply speak to the tutor and select which punch move you'd like to teach. This is one of the few free tutors in the game, making it excellent for early-game coverage.

---

Ilex Forest - Headbutt

Location: Speak to the NPC in the main area of Ilex Forest, near the shrine

Move Taught: Headbutt (MT13)

Use: Headbutt allows you to shake trees and encounter Pokémon hiding in them. Essential for completing your Pokédex and finding rare species like Heracross.

---

Goldenrod Harbor - Hyper Voice

Location: Talk to the Fisher NPC standing near the water in the northwest area of the harbor

Move Taught: Hyper Voice (MT14)

Use: Powerful 90 Base Power Normal-type special move. Excellent for Special Attack-focused Pokémon.

---

Goldenrod Museum 2F - Baton Pass

Location: Speak to the NPC on the second floor of the Goldenrod Museum

Move Taught: Baton Pass (MT03)

Use: Allows you to switch out while passing stat boosts to your next Pokémon. Advanced competitive strategy move.

---

Route 31 - Sleep Talk

Location: Speak to the NPC along Route 31

Move Taught: Sleep Talk (MT24)

Use: Allows a sleeping Pokémon to use one of its moves randomly. Pairs well with Rest for defensive strategies.

---

Route 35 - National Park Gate - Charm

Location: Speak to the NPC inside the gate building between Route 35 and National Park

Move Taught: Charm (MT05)

Use: Sharply lowers the opponent's Attack stat. Useful for defensive Pokémon and stall strategies.

---

Mahogany Mart - Agility

Location: Speak to the NPC inside Mahogany Mart (available after Team Rocket has been cleared out)

Move Taught: Agility (MT01)

Use: Sharply raises your Pokémon's Speed. Great setup move for offensive sweepers.

---

Route 40 - Knock Off

Location: Speak to the NPC along Route 40

Move Taught: Knock Off (MT18)

Use: Dark-type move that removes the opponent's held item. Competitively valuable for item removal and damage.

---

Route 46 - Rollout

Location: Speak to the NPC on Route 46

Move Taught: Rollout (MT20)

Use: Rock-type move that builds power over consecutive turns. Pairs well with Defense Curl.

---

Cianwood City - Move Maniac's House - Move Relearner

Location: Inside the Move Maniac's house in Cianwood City

Move Taught: Any move your Pokémon has previously learned (including level-up moves, egg moves, and evolution moves)

How to obtain: This is the Move Reminder/Move Relearner service. Speak to the Move Maniac and select the Pokémon whose move you want to restore. You'll be shown a list of all moves that Pokémon can relearn.

---

Mount Mortar B1F - Defense Curl

Location: Speak to the NPC on the first basement floor of Mount Mortar

Move Taught: Defense Curl (MT07)

Use: Raises Defense and doubles the power of Rollout. Useful for defensive setups.

---

Snowtop Mountain Inside - Icy Wind

Location: Speak to the Skier NPC inside Snowtop Mountain

Move Taught: Icy Wind (MT16)

Use: Ice-type move that lowers the opponent's Speed. Good for Speed control and coverage.

---

Cherrygrove Bay - Earth Power

Location: Speak to the NPC at Cherrygrove Bay

Move Taught: Earth Power (MT10)

Use: Powerful 90 Base Power Ground-type special move with a chance to lower Special Defense. Excellent for special attackers needing Ground coverage.

---

Scary Cave 1F - Sucker Punch

Location: Speak to the NPC on the first floor of Scary Cave

Move Taught: Sucker Punch (MT25)

Use: Priority Dark-type move. Only works if the opponent is using an attacking move. Great for revenge killing.

---

Battle Tower 1F - Trick

Location: Speak to the NPC on the first floor of the Battle Tower

Move Taught: Trick (MT28)

Use: Swaps your held item with the opponent's. Advanced competitive strategy for item manipulation.

---

Viridian City - Dream Eater

Location: Speak to the NPC in Viridian City

Move Taught: Dream Eater (MT09)

Use: Psychic-type move that damages sleeping opponents and restores your HP. Pairs well with sleep-inducing moves.

---

Pewter City - Museum of Science 2F - Seismic Toss

Location: Speak to the NPC on the second floor of the Pewter Museum

Move Taught: Seismic Toss (MT22)

Use: Fighting-type move that deals damage equal to your Pokémon's level. Consistent damage output regardless of stats.

---

Route 4 - Iron Head & Aqua Tail

Location: Speak to the NPCs along Route 4 (between Cerulean City and Mt. Moon)

Moves Taught:

• Iron Head (MT17)
• Aqua Tail (MT02)

Use:

• Iron Head: 80 Base Power Steel-type move with a flinch chance
• Aqua Tail: 90 Base Power Water-type physical move

---

Celadon City - Swagger

Location: Speak to the NPC in Celadon City

Move Taught: Swagger (MT26)

Use: Sharply raises the opponent's Attack but confuses them. Risky strategy move for competitive play.

---

Celadon Department Store 3F - Counter

Location: Speak to the NPC on the third floor of Celadon Department Store

Move Taught: Counter (MT06)

Use: Returns double the damage from a physical attack. Excellent for bulky Fighting-types and defensive strategies.

---

Route 16 South Gate - Trick Room

Location: Speak to the NPC on the second floor of the gate building south of Route 16

Move Taught: Trick Room (MT29)

Use: Reverses Speed order for 5 turns. Core move for Trick Room team strategies.

---

Saffron City - Mr. Psychic's House - Zen Headbutt

Location: Inside Mr. Psychic's house in Saffron City

Move Taught: Zen Headbutt (MT31)

Use: 80 Base Power Psychic-type physical move with a flinch chance. Great for physical Psychic-types.

---

Route 27 Rest House - Skill Swap

Location: Inside the Rest House on Route 27

Move Taught: Skill Swap (MT23)

Use: Swaps abilities with the opponent. Advanced competitive move for ability manipulation strategies.

---

Power Plant - Zap Cannon

Location: Speak to the NPC inside the Power Plant

Move Taught: Zap Cannon (MT30)

Use: 120 Base Power Electric-type move that always paralyzes but has 50% accuracy. High risk, high reward.

---

Yellow Forest - Seed Bomb

Location: Speak to the NPC in Yellow Forest

Move Taught: Seed Bomb (MT21)

Use: 80 Base Power Grass-type physical move. Excellent physical Grass coverage.

---

Warm Beach Shack - Body Slam & Endure

Location: Speak to the NPCs inside the Warm Beach Shack

Moves Taught:

• Body Slam (MT04)
• Endure (MT11)

Use:

• Body Slam: 85 Base Power Normal-type move with a paralysis chance
• Endure: Ensures your Pokémon survives with 1 HP for one turn

---

Goldenrod Game Corner - Pay Day

Location: Speak to the NPC inside the Goldenrod Game Corner

Move Taught: Pay Day (MT19)

Use: Damages the opponent and earns money after battle. Fun utility move for money grinding.

---

Safari Zone North - Double-Edge

Location: Speak to the NPC in the north section of the Safari Zone

Move Taught: Double-Edge (MT08)

Use: 120 Base Power Normal-type move with recoil damage. High-power option for physical attackers.

---

Tips

Early-Game Priorities

1. Elemental Punches (Goldenrod City) - Coverage moves available as soon as you reach Goldenrod
2. Headbutt (Ilex Forest) - Essential for encountering tree Pokémon and Pokédex completion
3. Hyper Voice (Goldenrod Harbor) - Powerful Special Attack move for early-game teams

Competitive Must-Haves

• Knock Off (Route 40) - Item removal is extremely valuable
• Trick Room (Route 16 Gate) - Core strategy move for slow, powerful teams
• Earth Power (Cherrygrove Bay) - Best special Ground move
• Zen Headbutt (Saffron City) - Essential for physical Psychic-types

Coverage Options

• Iron Head (Route 4) - Steel coverage for Fairy and Rock-types
• Aqua Tail (Route 4) - Strong physical Water move
• Seed Bomb (Yellow Forest) - Physical Grass coverage

Utility Moves

• Baton Pass (Goldenrod Museum) - Pass stat boosts to teammates
• Skill Swap (Route 27) - Ability manipulation
• Trick (Battle Tower) - Item manipulation

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I teach the same move multiple times?

Yes! All move tutors are reusable. You can teach the same move to as many compatible Pokémon as you want, but you'll need a Silver Leaf (or Gold Leaf for the Move Relearner) for each teaching.

What Pokémon can learn tutor moves?

Each move has specific compatibility requirements. Check the individual move pages to see which Pokémon can learn each tutor move.

Can I get back tutor moves if I delete them?

Yes! The Move Relearner in Cianwood City can restore any move your Pokémon has learned, including tutor moves. This requires a Gold Leaf.

Are tutor moves better than TMs?

It depends on the move and your strategy. Some tutor moves (like Earth Power, Knock Off, and Trick Room) are extremely valuable and not available as TMs. Others provide coverage options that complement TM moves.

Do I need to teach moves in a specific order?

No. You can visit move tutors in any order, as long as you have the required Silver or Gold Leaves.

---

Complete Move Tutor List

Here's a quick reference table of all move tutors:

---

Source References

All move tutor data extracted from:

• /rom/data/moves/tmhm_moves.asm - Move tutor move definitions (MT01-MT31)
• /rom/maps/*.asm - Individual map files containing NPC tutor scripts and requirements