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Helpful NPCs

This guide explains helpful NPCs in Polished Crystal. Find move tutors, daily events, special services, and important locations for key NPCs.

Introduction

Polished Crystal features numerous NPCs who provide essential services, daily events, and rare items throughout Johto and Kanto. Many of these NPCs have been relocated or enhanced from their original positions to improve accessibility and gameplay flow.

This guide catalogs all helpful NPCs, their locations, services, and optimal usage strategies. Whether you're seeking move tutors, IV training, or daily event rewards, this comprehensive reference ensures you never miss a valuable opportunity.

Quick Start: NPCs You Should Visit Early

If you're just starting Polished Crystal, here is a quick TL;DR:

Core Services (Visit more than once)

These NPCs provide fundamental services essential for team building and Pokémon management.

Move Maniac

  • Location: Cianwood City
  • The point: Re-teaches level-up moves previously learned or missed
  • Cost: Gold Leaf
  • Best used for: Essential for recovering forgotten moves, or moves that an evolution gets new access to such as Ancient Power for Piloswine

Move Deleter

  • Location: Blackthorn City
  • The point: Deletes any move, including HMs
  • Best used for: Helpful for making space for moves being transferred via Mirror Herb

Stats Judge Machine

  • Location: Goldenrod City Pokémon Communication Center
  • The point: Provides a visual graphical representation of a Pokémon's potential (IVs) and effort (EVs)
  • Best used for: Reviewing IVs/EVs of different Pokémon
  • When to use: Anytime after breeding an egg. Mystery and Odd Egg do not count!

Name Rater

Friendship Rater

Evolution & Training (For advancing your game!)

NPCs who assist with evolution items, IVs, and nature optimization.

Bill’s Grandpa

  • Location: Goldenrod City
  • The point: Rewards Evolution Stones for showing specific Pokémon
  • Best used for: Reliable source of limited evolution items

Hyper Training (Mr. Hyper)

  • Location: Celadon City, Hotel 2F
  • The point: Treats a stat as if it has maximum IVs
  • Cost: Bottle Cap per stat
  • Requirements:
    • EV total = 510 → Level 50+
    • EV total < 510 → Stat must have 252 EVs
  • Best used for: Correct imperfect IVs without breeding

Nature Changer

  • Location: Celadon City, Condos 1F
  • The point: Changes Pokémon nature
  • Item Required: Mint Leaf
  • Best used for: Optimize stats without breeding

Day Care & Breeding

Day Care

  • Location: Route 34
  • The point: Leveling and breeding
  • Cost: ¥100 per level gained
  • Best used for: Breeding-compatible Pokémon can produce eggs; leveling does not grant EVs

Move Tutors

Elemental Punches Tutor

Repeated Events & Activities (Worth visiting when you can!)

NPCs and events that reset daily so you can benefit repeatedly!

Rei’s Blessing or Battle

  • Location: Ecruteak City, Shrine
  • Frequency: Daily
  • Best used for: Choose between a blessing (boosts friendship) or a battle each day

Daisy’s Grooming

  • Location: Pallet Town
  • Time: 3:00–4:00 PM
  • Best used for: One of the fastest friendship boosts

Bug-Catching Contest

  • Location: National Park
  • Days: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
  • Rewards: Time of day based first prize evolution stone:
    • Morning: Shiny Stone
    • Day: Sun Stone
    • Evening: Dusk Stone
    • Night: Moon Stone
  • Tip: Scyther and Pinsir score high, but Venomoth at level 18 will often win.

Buena’s Password

Loto-ID

Berry Girl

  • Location: Goldenrod Department Store 5F
  • Frequency: Daily
  • Best used for: Free berries including Lum Berry

Special Item Services

Photographer

  • Location: Cianwood City
  • The point: Grows friendship and nifty screenshots if you take them

Hidden Power Type Rater

Leftovers Seller

Mulch Seller

  • Location: Goldenrod Plant Shop
  • Best used for: Immediately harvest a tree again after use

Sweet Honey Seller

  • Location: Goldenrod house left of the Game Corner
  • Item: Sweet Honey
  • Best used for: Summon wild Pokémon at the same level as your lead

Safari Balls Seller

  • Location: Fuchsia City
  • Best used for: Use Safari Balls outside the Safari Zone

Collection Maniacs

ALL of these NPCs pay 2x price for items they are interested in.

Gourmet Maniac

  • Location: Route 32 Coast
  • Best used for: Sell mushrooms and other edible items at premium prices

Ore Maniac

  • Location: Shamouti Island
  • Best used for: Buys nuggets, pearls and other minerals at premium prices

Rare Bone & Fossil Maniac

  • Location: Diglett’s Cave
  • Best used for: Sell Rare Bones and Fossils at premium prices

Battle Facilities

Battle Tower

  • Best used for: Challenging Pokémon battles
  • Location: Outside Olivine City
  • Requirement: Defeat the Elite Four
  • Rewards: BP, Ability Patch

Battle Factory

  • Best used for: Rental Pokémon battles
  • Location: Vermilion City
  • Requirement: Restore the Power Plant
  • Rewards: BP, Mint Leaf

Phone Contacts

Register trainers after defeating them to gain:

  • Items: Free berries, stones, and consumables
  • Rematches: Scaled battles for EXP and money
  • Information: Swarms, rare encounters, events

Tip: Register every trainer to maximize late-game rewards.

Permanent Contacts

These contacts are automatically registered and cannot be deleted:

  • Prof. Elm (New Bark Town) – Storyline information
    • Prof. Elm will also tell you how to evolve the first Pokémon in your party if you call him.
  • Mom (New Bark Town) – Notifies about purchases she makes for you
    • Mom will buy you items with the money you save with her, this includes decorations for your room and the only way to get Choice Scarf before the Elite Four.

Functional Contacts

  • Bill (Goldenrod City) – Alerts when a PC Box is about to be filled
  • Buena (Goldenrod City) – Obtained after collecting 30 Blue Card points; provides tips and stories

Swarm Snitches

These trainers call to notify you when specific rare Pokémon are available:

Charitable Donors

These trainers periodically offer free items:

Other Services

  • Camper Todd (Route 34) – Reminds about sales at Goldenrod Department Store

Late-Game NPC Priorities

Once you reach postgame or competitive play, these NPCs become especially important:

  • Hyper Training – Patch imperfect IVs
  • Nature Changer – Fix natures without restarting breeding
  • Battle Tower – Farm Ability Patches and battle items!
  • Hidden Power Rater – Finalize competitive coverage
Author: Cammy and Censoredharp
Last updated: January 28, 2026