Known issues

These entries can freeze the game, cost you something, or close a quest or battle for good. Everything else on this page is cosmetic, in your favour, or can't happen in normal play.

English RC8 retained risks: the S.S. Anne Honey/Blue softlock correction, trainer Ability corrections, Safari Zone closure correction and Route 3 Misty actor correction remain switched off. The Pidgeot loan still permanently costs the original Pokémon; Sprout Tower offerings, the Misty love-letter branch and losing to Deoxys retain the Chinese game’s behavior.

• Still a freeze risk: Goldenrod City crash on entry. Rock Tunnel corner kid loss and Pokémon Tower Magcargo loss were fixed in RC7; Department Store Double Battle with one Pokémon was fixed in RC8.
• Can leave you stuck: S.S. Anne party never starts, No Struggle when a Pokémon runs out of PP.
• Writes to your Pokédex data: Out-of-range story records (save data).
• Can take more money or items than it should: Sprout Tower offerings, Charcoal Kiln HM01, Pidgeot loan returns a different Pidgeot.
• Lost for good unless you act first: Bruno's Pewter City challenge, Pikachu starters' Charmander quest, Virtue trial and the four-leaf clover, Cerulean burglary deadline, Route 5 shelter raid, Pokémon Tower Magcargo is missable, Skipped Pokémon Tower Trainers vanish, Misty's Gyarados and the Viridian Gym trials, Switching sides at the construction clash, Swimmer Marina and the Dragonair delivery, Losing on the Celadon roof, Sitrus Berries and the eating contest, Grandma's treats deadlines, Cynthia and Steven in Fuchsia City, Misty missing from Cerulean Gym, TM14 Blizzard, Crystal Onix, Cinnabar graffiti couple, TM86 Grass Knot, Losing to Deoxys, Bikers' red envelope and Big Sis, Cherrygrove Wooper boy and the clover hunter, Pokémon Academy class and Youngster Ward, Losing to Goh in Union Cave, HM08 and Mr. Pokémon's quiz, Pewter Museum Brock and the Route 30 Chikorita, Koume, Sakura and the bug hunt, Rocky Helmet and the bug hunt, Purugly quest and the bug hunt, Forest of Time during the bug hunt, Dream World battles before the old man, Burned Tower beasts scene and the expedition leader (and the three beasts), Jirachi stone and the story counter, Durin Berries for the Anti-Age Spray, Blackthorn Gym Trainers.
• One chance only (save first): Lugia: one chance, Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf: one chance, Petrel's Chatot: one chance, Raikou: one chance, Dialga and Palkia: one chance, Giratina after Lance's visit, Arceus and Regigigas out of reach.

Quests on this page

Mankey thief quest and Blue's Viridian scene

Blue's scene in Viridian City could end the Mankey thief quest, but in practice it can't. If Blue's farewell scene in Viridian City played while the Mankey quest was still open, the Mankey would vanish and the Fast Ball would be lost. In normal play Blue's scene always comes first: it blocks the only way north from the Route 1 gatehouse, before you can reach the street-light keeper. The Route 1 tutorial has also already closed the same step, so nothing changes. Harmless. tested in an emulator by the translation team (English build): you can't walk around Blue, because the way round is a pond, and stepping on the spot plays his scene.

Unused thief-quest version

The game holds an unused version of the thief quest. In it the Pikachu or Mankey runs off, and on Route 22 an angry man wants to kill the Mankey ("Stop him?"). No player can see it. One of its unused scenes even plays Arcanine's cry for the Mankey, with a "Meowth: Meo-!" line. Harmless.

Pidgeot loan returns a different Pidgeot

The Viridian Forest Pidgeot loan gives you back a different Pidgeot. The flower keeper borrows your Pidgeot. When she returns it, you get a fixed Lv. 20 Pidgeot instead of your own, although she says she's giving yours back. Lend her a Pidgeot you don't mind losing (see Viridian Forest: lend her a Pidgeot). tested in an emulator by the translation team: the returned Pidgeot is Lv. 20 with no item, a blank OT and ID No. 04336.

Pidgeotto or Pidgeot request

In the Chinese hack, the same request names a Pidgeotto, then a Pidgeot. The flower keeper first says she needs a Pidgeotto, then asks for a Pidgeot, and only a Pidgeot is accepted. This English translation asks for a Pidgeot both times. Cosmetic.

Poliwag nickname prompt says Poliwhirl

In the Chinese hack, the game asks "Give Poliwhirl a nickname?" after you receive Poliwag. You do get a Poliwag. The English patch asks "Give Poliwag a nickname?" from rc6 on; rc5 and earlier name Poliwhirl, as the Chinese does. Cosmetic. A separate Poliwhirl gift in the same house can't be reached.

Unused Route 2 eavesdropping scene

An unused Route 2 scene would end the Viridian Forest flower quest. The files hold a scene where Jessie, James and Meowth eavesdrop on you. It would mark the flower quest's Spearow step as done, closing the quest (and its 2 Honey) unplayed. Jessie and James never appear on Route 2, so the scene can't start. Harmless.

Yellow's and Cynthia's dates skip the partner check

Yellow's and Cynthia's dates don't check who you confessed to. They only check that you confessed to someone and that their own route isn't locked. This doesn't matter in practice: every Dream World ending locks every partner except the one you picked.

The two rescued Charmanders

The two rescued Charmanders share one switch, but it does no harm. The Route 2 Charmander that later waits in the Pewter Pokémon Center and the Route 3 "letter" Charmander use the same on/off switch. The Route 3 one can never appear anyway (see Pewter City to Vermilion City), and taking the Pokémon Center one removes it for good, as intended. If you don't take it, it stays in the Pokémon Center after the Cascade Badge.

Route 22 grunt and Victory Road Blue share a record

Beating the Route 22 grunt and helping Blue correctly on Victory Road are stored as one thing. No visible effect was found: the grunt leaves Route 22 when you go through Viridian Forest, and Brock's Badge scene resets the record long before Victory Road, which sets it again either way. Harmless.

Friend Ball never taken

The Apricorn Ball maker never takes the Friend Ball he asks for. You only need to have one in your Bag, and you keep it. tested in an emulator by the translation team: after "Give him a Friend Ball?" → Yes and the whole Nidoran♀ scene, the Friend Ball is still in the Bag.

Moving in with your partner

Moving in with your partner looks impossible for everyone. At the stage where you check the Mailbox on the PC upstairs at home, the game stops for every player who has picked a starter, which is everyone, before it looks at your partner. So the love letter and the move-in scenes after it never play. For the same reason, Mom's visit at each partner's fifth stage always plays Cynthia's version. tested in an emulator by the translation team with Yellow as the partner: Cynthia comes to the house, and the PC upstairs does nothing at the move-in stage.

Romance Mail mismatches

English RC8 fixes Cynthia’s Snow Mail and busy-dialogue mismatch; other romance limitations below remain.

The romance Mail requests don't match what is taken. If moving in could be reached, some partners would ask for one Mail and take another, and two of those Mails can't be obtained anywhere. Red has no love-letter scene at all. Only matters if moving in is ever reachable (see the entry above). Fixed in rc8 for Cynthia's scenes in the Pallet Town house: she now takes the Snow Mail she asks for and her "I'm busy" reply shows her own line. Cynthia's "Rest in my room" has its own entry in Ilex Forest and Goldenrod City.

English RC8 version note: Cynthia’s Pallet Town scenes now take the Snow Mail they check for, and her busy reply uses her own line. This fixes the Mail/dialogue mismatch below; it does not prove the move-in route is reachable or add an acquisition route for unavailable Mail.

Virtue trial and the four-leaf clover

Yellow's Virtue trial shares a switch with the Five Island four-leaf clover story. Talking to the Virtue trial examiner at the Viridian Gym door, before you've helped Yellow, hides the sick Trainer on Five Island and stops the clover hunter's scene. It comes back after the scene with the old monk in the house by the One Island ferry (see Five Island: the four-leaf clover). If you meet the examiner again after that scene, before helping Yellow and before the clover scene, the sick Trainer is gone again. To be safe, help Yellow straight after talking to the examiner, or finish the Five Island clover scene before you go to the Viridian Gym. In the other direction, the clover scene can make Yellow ask for help in Viridian City even if you never met the examiner. Not confirmed in game.

Pokémon Academy resets after the Apricorn quest

Finishing the Apricorn Ball maker's quest turns the Pokémon Academy back to its early state. For Pikachu starters, who have no Apricorn quest, the Viridian Forest Team Rocket scene does the same. Afterwards, the teacher (Earl) goes back to asking you to beat the two exchange students, although Steven and Cynthia have left (so players who never did that challenge can't finish it now), and two pupils go back to their lines from before Cynthia left. Cosmetic.

Quests on this page

Route 3 letter Charmander

The Route 3 "letter" Charmander never appears. Its wild battle (Lv. 15) and its letter can't be reached. The Ralts version of the same scene works. Side effect: the Pewter Pokémon Center Charmander isn't removed by it (see Pallet Town to Pewter City).

Unused Route 3 roadblock scene

An unused Route 3 scene would have been a second way past the Mt. Moon roadblock. In it Steven would join the roadblock group straight from Route 3. Nothing in the game starts it, so beating Steven in the Pewter Museum and then talking to him inside Mt. Moon is the only way. Harmless.

Bruno's Pewter City challenge

Losing to Bruno in Pewter City still counts as done. He never offers the challenge again, win or lose, and he leaves Pewter City for good after the Mt. Moon roadblock. Save before you talk to him. Possibly intended (a one-shot challenge).

Pikachu starters' Charmander quest

Pikachu starters can miss their Charmander quest without warning. Winning the Cascade Badge removes the Trainer in the Pewter Pokémon Center who starts it. Do that quest before Misty's Gym (see Pallet Town to Pewter City).

Route 9 mushroom picker for Pikachu starters

Pikachu starters never meet the Route 9 mushroom picker. Players with other starters find him from the start. For Pikachu players he is removed in the Mt. Moon Square scene and nothing brings him back.

Mt. Moon battle records reused

Two Mt. Moon battle records are reused later. One is reused by the Magnet that a Vermilion City resident gives you after the construction-site clash. Getting it before Mt. Moon is impossible, because Vermilion City can't be reached before the Mt. Moon roadblock is cleared. The other is reused by Lt. Surge's gift scene after the Thunder Badge, and it is also what makes the runaway Teddiursa appear in the S.S. Anne kitchen during the party. If you could leave the ship after Teddiursa runs off and win the Thunder Badge before fetching it, Teddiursa would vanish. Fetch Teddiursa as soon as it runs off. Not confirmed in game.

Cerulean burglary deadline

The Cerulean burglary can't be finished after Sabrina's scene in Pokémon Tower. If you haven't beaten the Team Rocket grunt on Route 24 by then, the TM Case and TM28 ×5 are lost. If you beat him but didn't go back to the officer, only the 2 Cheri Berries are lost. Finish the burglary before you make Sabrina laugh in Pokémon Tower.

Route 5 shelter raid

The Route 5 shelter raid can be walked around, and it closes at the same Sabrina scene. The raid starts when you cross one spot about 11 steps north of the shelter's door; walking down either side lane skips it. It can only start after Misty's Cascade Badge. If the raid hasn't happened by Sabrina's scene in Pokémon Tower, it's lost: the Bulbasaur and Growlithe on Route 5 disappear and there's no reward.

Misty's Cerulean Cape photo

Misty's Cerulean Cape photo can never appear for players who didn't confess to her. After your final Hall of Fame entry, Misty is meant to stand at the tip of Cerulean Cape on Route 25 for a friendly photo if you never confessed to anyone or her romance is closed. The game seems to allow her only during one hour of the afternoon, but the check is written so that she is hidden at every hour. Nothing else brings her there. Players on Misty's romance route get her date photo as normal. tested in an emulator by the translation team: at 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00 she isn't there.

Pewter City sign

The Pewter City town sign says "If you want to learn it, come back anytime." The hack points the sign at a line of the Metal Claw tutor's instead of the sign's own text. Cosmetic; the Chinese does the same.

Quests on this page

Vermilion Fan Club: Green and Red

Green and Red never appear in the Vermilion Fan Club. Their two lines (one per player gender) and the Ivysaur standing with them can't be seen. Harmless.

S.S. Anne TM price

Version note: fixed in English RC8. The original-game issue and the specific correction are described below.

The S.S. Anne ship shop's TM checks for $400 but takes $4,000. With $400–$3,999 you can still buy it, and your money drops to $0 (tested in an emulator by the translation team: $1,000 → $0, $5,000 → $1,000). The menu says "TM63" (the Chinese too), but you get TM21 Frustration. Fixed in rc8: the shop now refuses you below $4,000. On rc7 and earlier, have at least $4,000 before buying.

S.S. Anne party never starts

On the S.S. Anne, giving the girl her Honey too early, or talking to Blue first, leaves you stuck on the ship. The party is announced only if you give the girl the Honey after battling the old man in the main hall ("this old boy"). If you give it before that battle, or talk to Blue in the hall before giving it (he starts a battle at once), the party never starts, the hijack never comes, and you can't leave: the sailor at the exit doesn't move and losing a battle sends you back to the hall. Save before you board, battle the old man first, and leave Blue until the party is announced. The Captain doesn't give HM01 on this voyage at all; the new captain of the S.S. Anne gives it later (after Sabrina's Badge), and Cut isn't needed before then. tested in an emulator by the translation team. See S.S. Anne: Teddiursa's honey and the salt.

Archie's Walrein cry

Archie says "Walrein", but you hear Wailord's cry. Cosmetic.

S.S. Anne records reused

Several S.S. Anne records are reused elsewhere, harmlessly. They are reset when the S.S. Anne party starts, and the other places that use them come later in the story, so nothing you'd notice was found. The Raticate gentleman's party battle also keeps the Flareon Trainer and his Flareon on Route 7 out of sight until Misty's sparring match there, which is the intended order. The grandfather's Water Stone gift and that battle both happen on the ship before you can leave it, so they can't come after the Route 7 scene.

Unused Regice scene copy

The game holds an unused copy of the Rock Tunnel Regice scene. Harmless.

Unreachable Dark Cave copy

An unreachable copy of Dark Cave holds leftover scenes. Nothing leads into it. Harmless.

Mushroom picker keeps your Repel

The Route 9 mushroom picker never takes your Repel. He asks for a Repel, but tries to take Oak's Parcel instead, so you keep the Repel and get the Zinc for free. (Pikachu starters never meet him; see Pewter City to Vermilion City.)

Marisa's Badge check

Marisa on Route 11 asks for seven Badges but only checks for the Marsh Badge. She only appears after the Radio Tower Observation Deck scene in Goldenrod City, long after you've earned the Marsh Badge, so it changes nothing.

Veteran Dawn's Badge check

Veteran Dawn on Route 9 only needs the Marsh Badge. She tells you to come back once you've "collected a few more" Badges, but the only Badge she checks is the Marsh Badge. Possibly intended. Low priority. tested in an emulator by the translation team: with the Marsh Badge alone she accepts; with every other Badge but that one she refuses.

Pokémon Tower Magcargo loss

Fixed in English RC7: a loss now triggers a normal blackout. The following describes Chinese v4.0.3 and English RC6 or earlier. Losing to the Magcargo in Pokémon Tower freezes the game. The battle doesn't send you to a Pokémon Center: the game tries to start the fight again without returning to the map, and the screen stays black. Heal and save before you challenge it, and make sure you can win. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build).

Pokémon Tower Magcargo is missable

The Pokémon Tower Magcargo is easy to miss. Knocking it out, catching it or running away removes it for good, and so does leaving the floor by any staircase before you deal with it. Answering No to "Catch it?" is safe while you stay on the floor. The prompt doesn't warn you. Catch it on your first try.

Skipped Pokémon Tower Trainers vanish

Pokémon Tower Trainers you haven't battled disappear once you beat the two illusion grunts. Medium Colette (on Blue's floor) and the illusion "Prof. Oak", "Archie" and "Petrel" are gone the next time a floor loads, for example after a staircase, and their battles are lost. None of them has an item. Battle them on the way up. "Mom" blocks the way, so you've always beaten her by then. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build).

Romance and Pokémon Tower counter

The romance date counter is also the Pokémon Tower story counter, harmlessly. Beating Blue in Pokémon Tower is required: the Team Rocket HQ scene only starts after it. The same counter later drives the Route 25 scene and the post-game dates, which come long after, and the tower scene can't replay.

Sabrina's tower task record reset

Two later scenes reset the record of Sabrina's Pokémon Tower task, probably harmlessly. Answering No to Sabrina's plan on Route 8 during the Team Rocket takeover, and the post-game Route 25 scene with Misty, Brock and Curtis, both reset it. By the time either can happen Sabrina has left the tower, so the task is over, and her own scene in the Saffron Gym after Saffron is freed resets it anyway.

Route 11 girl and Swablu

The Route 11 girl may mourn a Swablu you never saw taken. If you skipped the Route 5 shelter raid, she cries "Little Swablu got taken away!", although that scene never played. Cosmetic.

Unused Zapdos and Lum Berry scenes

Two unused scenes are left in the files. A wild Zapdos (Lv. 50) on Route 10 and a Lum Berry from the Route 9 Squirtle for non-Pikachu players can't be reached; the Squirtle only appears for Pikachu starters. Harmless.

Early Lavender curse

Reaching Lavender Town before Prof. Hale's Rock Tunnel scene would start the Lavender curse early. Every exit on foot would pull you back ("A mysterious force pulled you closer!"), as in the curse side quest, but without its normal setup. Fly still gets you out. It can't happen in normal play: before that scene the only way into Lavender Town is through Rock Tunnel. The sleeping Snorlax closes Route 12, Saffron City's gates are shut, and you can't reach Celadon City or Route 8 yet.

Misty's Gyarados and the Viridian Gym trials

Misty's Gyarados is lost if you finished the early Viridian Gym trials. Misty's Gyarados gift is for male players who chose Bulbasaur. If such a player met Giovanni at the end of those trials, he never gets the Gyarados. Misty's goodbye still says "Keep that Gyarados of mine", and it says so to anyone who finished the trials. The same mix-up also blocks a trade on One Island (see Sevii Islands and Indigo Plateau).

Auction room and Blastoise

The auction room calls a lone Blastoise "common as stray dogs". If Blastoise is your only Pokémon from the Kanto starter lines, the "sell" check misses it. The other Kanto starter-line Pokémon work. Use a different one.

Celadon street photographer

The Celadon street photographer never appears. He would need the day to be Tuesday and Friday at once. The photographer on Department Store 2F (Fridays) works.

Celadon Gym sneak-in friend

On your first try to sneak into Celadon Gym, the friend at the door is always Misty, even for Charmander starters. Charmander players see Green only after a failed attempt. Cosmetic.

Waiter Grant's Gloom leads

Waiter Grant needs both Gloom leads, not just one. Collect both before you talk to him.

Eviolite man's thanks

The Eviolite man thanks you for driving out Team Rocket even if you haven't yet. He hands over his 5 Eviolites at any time. Cosmetic.

Gloom-lead records reused

Some Gloom-lead records are reused by later scenes, probably harmlessly. All of those scenes come after the Celadon City story, when Waiter Grant no longer checks them.

Lt. Surge's thank-you line

Lt. Surge never says his thank-you line for siding with the law. Players who sided with Blue at the construction clash hear the townsfolk line too. Cosmetic.

Brock in Diglett's Cave

Brock never appears in Diglett's Cave. He would need the hour to be 17, 18 and 19 at once. tested in an emulator by the translation team at 17:30, 18:30 and 19:30 after the final Hall of Fame: he isn't there.

Rock Tunnel Signal Beam tutor

The Rock Tunnel tutor who asks for a Dusk Ball teaches Pollen Puff, and the English now says so. He's the Trainer who thought Signal Beam lights up caves (that joke is unchanged). In the Chinese hack every line still says Signal Beam, but your Pokémon learns Pollen Puff (a Bug-type special move, 90 power). In this translation his offer, the learn, thanks, forget and give-up lines all name Pollen Puff, so the text matches what you get. This is a deliberate, user-approved change from the Chinese dialogue. He takes one Dusk Ball either way. tested in an emulator by the translation team on the Chinese ROM: with three moves and with four, the Pokémon learned Pollen Puff, and one Dusk Ball was taken.

Rock Tunnel corner kid loss

Fixed in English RC7: a loss now triggers a normal blackout. The following describes Chinese v4.0.3 and English RC6 or earlier. Losing to the corner kid in Rock Tunnel freezes the game. His battle doesn't send you to a Pokémon Center: the game goes on with the disguised "Pikachu" kid's dialogue before the field has come back, and the screen stays black. Save before you talk to him and make sure you can win. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build).

Switching sides at the construction clash

Switching sides after losing the Vermilion construction clash locks out both partners. Every loss sends you to a Pokémon Center and lets you choose a side again, but the romance lock from your first choice stays. If you then pick the other side, both partners tied to the clash are locked. Only the wish in Island Forest on Six Island can undo it (see Saffron City to Cinnabar Island). Stick with your first choice. Partly confirmed in an emulator: the restart and the double lock were seen; the lost battle itself wasn't played.

Quests on this page

Swimmer Marina and the Dragonair delivery

Beating Swimmer Marina on Route 41 before the Secret Potion delivery kills the Dragonair. The Cycling Road "too late" check looks at whether you've beaten Marina, probably by mistake, instead of a Cycling Road biker. If you have beaten her, the delivery fails. Route 41 is in Johto, so this only matters if you leave the delivery open that long. Do the Secret Potion delivery before you battle her.

Secret Potion hand-over check

The Secret Potion hand-over doesn't check that you carry one. Safari Zone Warden Baoba "takes" the Secret Potion at the Cycling Road gate without checking that you have it. Harmless in normal play: the scene only starts while you're on the delivery, and you can't get rid of the potion.

Sound Designer's Badge check

The Game Freak Club Sound Designer asks for all eight Kanto Badges but only checks for the Earth Badge. He gives you GB Sounds as soon as you have Giovanni's Earth Badge, whatever other Badges you hold. Harmless.

Losing on the Celadon roof

Losing to Jessie & James on the Celadon roof still completes Tony and Mary's grooming quest. You're sent to a Pokémon Center and miss the ending, but the scene doesn't replay, and Suzie's massage is free from then on. Only losing to the Beedrill first replays the scene. Save before the roof if you want to see the ending.

Celadon roof scene before Route 7

You might reach the Celadon roof scene before its Route 7 scene, but only in a short window. The roof scene is meant to come after the Route 7 scene and Suzie's free massage, but nothing stops it from playing earlier if you reach the roof first. The Underground Path lets you skip the Route 7 scene, but its doors are only open from the Mt. Moon roadblock until Prof. Hale's Rock Tunnel rescue (when you can't reach Route 8 yet), and again from Team Rocket's Saffron takeover. If it happens, the later Route 7 scene and Suzie's massage set the roof scene up again, so it may try to replay with Tony and Mary already gone. Other ways to the roof weren't checked. Not confirmed in game.

Sitrus Berries and the eating contest

Holding ten or more Sitrus Berries silently blocks the eating-contest prize. The rule is only hinted at ("eat all the Sitrus Berries you win"). Store extra Sitrus Berries in the PC first.

Grandma's treats deadlines

Grandma's treats for Shota have deadlines nobody mentions. The delivery closes when Team Rocket takes over Saffron City, because Shota disappears. Grandma's reward (the Master Ball, or 2 Rare Candies if you keep the truth from her) is lost if you haven't reported back to her before Saffron is freed. Do both right away.

Lass Eve's incense

Lass Eve on Route 13 offers "incense", then gives a Miracle Seed. The Chinese says incense too. Cosmetic.

Lara's Heart Scales

Lara on Route 14 promises "these Heart Scales" but gives one Heart Scale. The Chinese says the same. Cosmetic. tested in an emulator by the translation team: exactly one Heart Scale arrives.

Cynthia and Steven in Fuchsia City

Cynthia and Steven leave Fuchsia City when Team Rocket takes over Saffron City, and in the usual order they don't come back. They appear when you get the Soul Badge, and the takeover removes them. Only the Soul Badge scene brings them back, so if you already have the badge when the takeover starts (the usual order), they're gone for good. Battle them before Sabrina's call in Pokémon Tower.

Unreachable second Silph Co. ending

A second Silph Co. ending with extra rewards can't be reached. In it Lance would give you an Exp. Share and 10 Rare Candies. You get the Vs. Recorder instead. In normal play it can't start: during the takeover you only enter the president's office as part of the finale, which marks it done before you can move again.

Sub. Doll not checked

The Saffron finale never checks that you carry the Sub. Doll. Harmless: the scene plays the same way with or without it.

Fuchsia "Surf TM" man

In the Chinese, the man in the Fuchsia City southwest house asks about the "Surf TM" but checks for HM04 Strength. His line also talks about moving the big boulder in his house, which is Strength's job, so the English patch says "Strength HM". Only his line changes; nothing is given. Cosmetic. tested in an emulator by the translation team: with HM04 in the Bag he says the HM line; without it, the pond line.

Route 17 Shiny Stone

The Shiny Stone on Route 17 never appears. Its item ball is removed during the Mt. Moon roadblock scene, long before you can reach Route 17, and nothing brings it back. tested in an emulator by the translation team: with the mark the Mt. Moon scene leaves, the ball isn't there; without it, the ball is there and gives the Shiny Stone. That the Mt. Moon scene sets the mark is read from its script.

Colette and the Cycling Road record

The people who show up after the Cycling Road gang leaves share a record with Medium Colette in Pokémon Tower. These are the Route 16 Quick Ball kid, the Route 18 Air Slash tutor and the ordinary Route 17 cyclists. If you haven't beaten Colette, they already stand there before the gang is driven off. If you beat her later, they disappear, and they come back when the gang is driven off or after Sabrina's Marsh Badge. In the usual order (Colette first) it works as intended. If they're there and you haven't beaten Colette yet, talk to them first. If Colette has vanished unbeaten (see Skipped Pokémon Tower Trainers vanish), the record is never set, so these people simply stay. Low impact.

Misty missing from Cerulean Gym

Winning Misty's Resort Zone date leaves her missing from Cerulean Gym, and her romance stalls. Starting the date removes Misty from the Gym. After a win the date ends in the Gym, but she doesn't reappear there or at Cerulean Cape, so her next date ("I want you to meet my mom"), which only she can offer in the Gym, never starts. Every other scene that brings her back to the Gym is part of the main story, which is over before the dates unlock after your final Hall of Fame entry, so nothing found undoes this. If you lose one of the date's battles instead, Misty waits at the tip of Cerulean Cape: take her photo there, the Cape date plays again, and she's back in the Gym (Resort Zone: Misty's date). Save before the date. Suspected hack bug. tested in an emulator by the translation team: after the date's ending Misty is neither in the Gym, also after leaving and coming back, nor at the Cape.

Pal Park Fixed Catch show never ends

A Fixed Catch show at the Pal Park never ends with a score or a prize. You pay $10,000, the countdown starts and you can catch the park's wild Pokémon, but the show only counts the six Pokémon stocked from a Game Boy Advance game, so "caught all six" never happens however many you catch. The score and the Berry prize (one of them the Nanab Berry, for 3,300–3,499 points) are only given in the normal show, which needs six Pokémon migrated from a GBA game. Keep what you catch and leave the park when you're done. Suspected hack bug. tested in an emulator by the translation team: six catches in Fixed Catch mode changed nothing; with six stocked Pokémon written into the save the normal show ended after the sixth catch, scored and gave a Berry.

Safari Zone Double Battle freeze

Fixed in the English patch from rc6: Safari Zone wild encounters are always single battles. In the Chinese hack, and in English patches up to rc5, about one in four wild encounters in the Safari Zone can turn into a broken Double Battle that freezes the game. If you have two or more Pokémon that can battle, the game may set up a wild Double Battle, but the Safari Zone only creates one wild Pokémon: the second one is invisible garbage and the game freezes at the command menu. On rc5 or earlier, enter the Safari Zone with only one Pokémon that can battle (deposit the rest or carry fainted ones). tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build) and reported by players; the fix was tested in DeSmuME and melonDS.

Quests on this page

Lightning Whip lesson teaches Charge

Fixed in rc8: Ma Baoguo's "Lightning Whip" lesson at the Saffron Fighting Dojo now always teaches Volt Switch. On rc7 and earlier it taught Charge to a Pokémon with a free move slot, and only a Pokémon that already knew four moves (and forgot one) learned Volt Switch. Either way he says it learned the Lightning Whip and takes $10,000; on those versions, teach it to a Pokémon that knows four moves. tested in an emulator by the translation team: a Pikachu with three moves learned Charge, one with four moves learned Volt Switch; $10,000 was taken both times.

TM14 Blizzard

TM14 Blizzard can be missed. The only TM14 comes from Articuno's no-Poké-Ball battle in the Seafoam Islands: beat it, choose to catch it, and the researcher stops you and gives you TM14. The post-game Team Rocket scene there (Lawrence and Archie) removes Articuno until Lance visits your home after the final Hall of Fame, and after that only the catch battle is left. Get TM14 before that Team Rocket scene. Before it, Articuno is there for everyone.

Moltres and the S.S. Anne guest

An S.S. Anne guest's battle shares a record with the post-game Moltres, harmlessly. Moltres can only be challenged after your first final Hall of Fame entry, which resets that record. Later Hall of Fame entries don't, so a caught, defeated or fled-from Moltres is gone for good. If you never battled that guest, Moltres already stands at the volcano before then, but you can't reach it.

Route 21 Lairon called Onix

The Route 21 Trainer's Lairon is called Onix once, and you hear Onix's cry. You don't battle him; his Lairon stands next to him trying to break Mr. Mime's barrier. The Chinese says Onix in that line too. Cosmetic. In rc8 the two lines where he sends the Lairon in say Lairon, as the Chinese does (earlier English patches said Onix there); his later remark and the cry are still Onix, as in the hack.

Unused Cinnabar riddle menu

An unused riddle menu in Cinnabar Island shows the wrong lines. Its answer options are Amber's lines. Nothing leads to it. Harmless.

Seafoam Islands ice (not a bug)

The ice in the Seafoam Islands does not come back after the Team Rocket scene. This isn't a bug: an earlier note said the ice returns after Lawrence's Moltres melts it, but removing the ice blocks in that scene marks them as melted for good, the same as melting them with your own Magcargo or Moltres.

Mismatched Pokémon cries

Some Pokémon cries don't match the Pokémon. You hear Ursaring for "Zangoose: Zaaaa-go!" and Flygon for "Shiftry" in Island Forest, Spinda for "Butterfree" on Two Island and Poliwhirl for "Manaphy". Cosmetic.

Island Forest wish

The Island Forest wish undoes romance choices that other scenes treat as final. Wishing "I want to be more attractive" reopens every partner, including Blue's Victory Road lock and the Vermilion construction-site locks, as long as you haven't talked to the Dream World old man or fought Will or Karen there, and haven't entered the dream at MooMoo Farm without the fortune-teller's "near future" love reading. It works once. It may be an intended second chance.

Crystal Onix

The Crystal Onix is only Lv. 40, and you get one try. Every Trainer on its island is Lv. 62 or higher, so the level looks like a leftover. Whatever happens in the battle (caught, knocked out, run away or you lose), the Onix is gone afterwards. Bring Poké Balls and save first.

Manaphy at Lv. 1

Manaphy is given at Lv. 1. Most legendary gifts are Lv. 80–95 (Jirachi is Lv. 5). Possibly intended ("just hatched").

Cinnabar graffiti couple

Losing to the Cinnabar graffiti couple counts as letting them carve their names. You can't retry. Save before the battle. tested in an emulator by the translation team: after the loss you wake up in the Pokémon Center, and the couple then only say their names are carved into the rock.

Choice-item merchant's goodbye

"Nothing, thanks" at the Saffron Choice-item merchant shows a menu label instead of his goodbye. You see "The Pokémon League's reforms" instead of "If you're interested, come back next time!" The same happens if you back out of the menu. Cosmetic. tested in an emulator by the translation team.

Quests on this page

Pilgrimage skips Six Island

You can finish the island pilgrimage without doing the Six Island trial. That also skips the Deoxys theft. Seven Island's final trial never checks Six Island; every other island's trial is checked.

TM86 Grass Knot

TM86 Grass Knot can be lost. The Roserade woman on One Island, its only source, acts as if you've already traded if you got Misty's Gyarados (male Bulbasaur players) or finished the early Viridian Gym trials. She then only explains how Grass Knot works and never offers the trade. Nothing can undo this.

Six Island Shell Bell price

The Six Island Shell Bell costs $200, not the $5,000 the menu says. In your favour.

Losing to Deoxys

Losing to Deoxys on Six Island loses Deoxys and the whole Lucky Meowth God story after it. The Fallen Red Star vanishes for good the moment the post-game Deoxys battle starts. If you lose, you white out, and the chief's claim, Jessie, James and Meowth at the One Island restaurant, the Lucky Meowth God and the Island Forest change never happen. Running away or knocking Deoxys out also loses Deoxys, but the story then goes on as normal. Save before you check the Red Star, and reload if you lose (see Six Island: Deoxys and the Lucky Meowth God). tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build): after a loss the Red Star is gone, and the switch that brings Jessie, James and Meowth to the restaurant is still off.

Four Island chief's Doubles

Choosing "Doubles" against the Four Island chief makes you fight Gentleman Bernard's team (as a Double Battle) instead of the chief's. "Singles" gives the right battle. Pick Singles if you want to fight the chief.

Seven Island Kecleon

The Seven Island Kecleon scene wants an Alomomola in the lead, but plays Noctowl's cry. After the tourist complains that her snacks keep vanishing, the invisible blocker only reacts if the first healthy Pokémon in your party is an Alomomola. You then hear Noctowl's cry with your Alomomola's name and a "Nooo-tow!" line. It was probably meant to be Noctowl, but only an Alomomola works, so put one first. tested in an emulator by the translation team: with an Alomomola the scene and the Kecleon battle play; with a Noctowl nothing happens.

Unused One Island biker scene

An unused restaurant scene duplicates the One Island biker request. The working one is in the One Island Pokémon Center. Harmless.

Bikers' red envelope and Big Sis

Taking the bikers' red envelope even once means Big Sis never switches sides. In the Shipyard Ruins on Three Island, the Chief offers you a red envelope ($200,000). If you accept, a League inspector later fines you on One Island, and after that Paxton's final battle always treats Big Sis as untaught: even if you taught her to ride, she fights against you. She has already left her house by then, so you can't teach her again. If you want her on your side, choose "I'll teach you to ride a bike" with Big Sis and refuse the envelope. This may be intended as a penalty for taking the bribe, rather than a bug. Not confirmed in game.

Azure Flute after the Hall of Fame

The Azure Flute can't be obtained after the Hall of Fame. The Seven Island shrine keeper only ever says to keep it safe. Without it the Ruins of Alph replay and the Sinjoh Ruins stay locked (see Lake of Rage, Blackthorn City and beyond). The keeper's check was tested in an emulator by the translation team: after the League HQ report she only says to keep it safe, and one story step earlier she lends it. That the report always comes first is read from the scripts.

Victory Road guard's Badge check

The Victory Road guard asks for eight Badges but only checks for the Earth Badge. With the Earth Badge he lets you through, however many other Badges you have.

Two Janine reveals

Two disguised staff members can both reveal themselves as Janine. This only happens for a male Charmander player who sided with the environmentalist on Route 11 and let the S.S. Anne sink: Ruin Maniac Axel and Aroma Lady Wendy on Victory Road both give the reveal. Harmless.

Quests on this page

Yellow's Champion room Singles

Yellow's "Singles" in the Champion's room is a Double Battle. When you call Yellow to the Champion's room with "Call a Trainer", both options give the same Double Battle. Yellow's Singles on Mt. Silver is correct. tested in an emulator by the translation team: "Singles" sends out two of her Pokémon at once.

Luxio and Luxray

In the Chinese, the Sinnoh traveller calls her Pokémon "Luxio" after you answer "Luxray". The quiz and the cry both say Luxray, so the English patch says Luxray. Cosmetic.

Leech Seed tutor line

The Leech Seed tutor in the Cherrygrove Pokémon Center says your Pokémon "already knows Baton Pass". The line was copied from the New Bark Town Baton Pass tutor. Cosmetic.

Elite Four practice names

In the Chinese hack, the Elite Four practice rematches show another Trainer's name. In the post-game practice battles, Agatha or Lance does the talking, but the battle uses another Trainer's data, so the battle opens with "Elite Four Koga" in Agatha's room and "Elite Four Lorin" in Lance's room, under Agatha's and Lance's pictures. This English translation names those two Trainers Agatha and Lance, so you see the right names. The first-run battles use the right Trainers. Cosmetic. tested in an emulator by the translation team on both versions.

Uncle Apricorn's box

Uncle Apricorn doesn't check that you have Kurt's Apricorn Box. He admires "that thing you're holding" and buys it whether or not you carry one. Harmless: everyone gets the box, and key items can't be thrown away.

Route 26 Nugget

The Route 26 Phanpy Trainer gives you TM41 for your Nugget but lets you keep the Nugget. This happens when you choose to give it to him; selling it to him works normally. In your favour. tested in an emulator by the translation team: "Have it" gives TM41 and the Nugget stays in the Bag; "Sell" takes it and pays $30,000.

Cherrygrove Wooper boy and the clover hunter

The Cherrygrove Wooper boy and the Five Island clover hunter share a switch. Talking to the crying boy in Cherrygrove City (whose Poké Ball the Wooper snatched) also removes the clover hunter on Five Island, the man who finds the four-leaf clover. If you haven't done the Five Island clover scene yet, it can't be started until the Ruins of Alph scene where you promise Molly to look for Prof. Hale, which brings him back. Nothing is lost unless that Ruins of Alph scene never happens; the Mt. Silver Revival Herbs (which need the Five Island scene) just wait. Do the Five Island clover scene before you talk to the boy. Side effect: if you forced the sale on Five Island, the hunter comes back after the Ruins of Alph scene and just repeats a line. Cosmetic.

Marauder's Deoxys sprite

Executive Marauder's lead Deoxys uses a form the game doesn't define, so it shows up in battle as a small garbled figure. Cosmetic. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build). Read from the game code only: it uses normal Deoxys stats.

Quests on this page

Union Cave Marill choice

Letting Yamamoto catch Marill in Union Cave still counts as saving it. Even if you answer No to "Step in and stop Marill from being caught?", the owner and her Marill reappear in Violet City after Crystal's scene at the end of Ilex Forest, and she thanks you for stepping in. Harmless.

Marill owner's Azumarill

In the Chinese hack, the Marill owner mourns "my Azumarill". Her Pokémon is a Marill everywhere else. This English translation says Marill. The line only shows if you never met her Marill in Union Cave. Cosmetic.

Pokémon Academy class and Youngster Ward

Some answers in the Pokémon Academy class make losing to Youngster Ward cost you the reward. Your answers in the class decide the teacher's gift: most answers lead to TM67 Recycle, and only a full set of "safe" answers gives 2 Big Pearls instead. The answers that lead to TM67 also mark the class as finished, so if you then lose to Ward, the teacher only repeats his closing line and you get nothing. If you lose after only "safe" answers, the class simply starts again. Ward's Pokémon are Lv. 4–5, so losing is unlikely. Save before the class.

Sprout Tower offerings

The Sprout Tower monks take their offering even if you can't pay. When a monk on the ground floor asks for an offering and you say Yes, you're let through with too little money, and your money drops to $0. Answering No means battling him instead. The Elder on 3F does check your money before selling his sutras. tested in an emulator by the translation team with the first monk ($3,000): $1,000 → $0, $5,000 → $2,000.

Ruins of Alph Potion girl (not a bug)

The Ruins of Alph Potion girl's quest works. She asks "Do you have a Potion I could borrow?", takes a Potion if you have one ("Liar. You don't even have a Potion." if you say Yes without one), and then tells you about her face on the statue. An earlier version of this page said she skips the request and thanks you for a Potion you never gave; that rested on a Prof. Elm's Lab scene that never plays. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build): she asked for the Potion, took one and moved on to the statue step.

Route 32 Igglybuff counter

The Route 32 Igglybuff storm scene shares a progress counter with earlier story scenes, harmlessly. Several Kanto story scenes also change this counter, but they all happen before you reach Route 32 and leave it at a "not started" value, so the storm scene starts normally when you talk to Nurse Joy or the Igglybuff Trainer.

Bugsy's four-Pokémon rule

Bugsy's "no more than four Pokémon" rule never applies. You can bring six. The check reads a temporary number that the game resets to 0 before every conversation, so it never matches. tested in an emulator by the translation team: with six Pokémon he accepts, also right after another script had set that number to 5.

Bugsy's rematch line

After you win a Bugsy rematch, he gives his refusal line. You see "None of your Pokémon can have a type that's strong against Bug…" instead of a victory line. Cosmetic.

Charcoal Kiln HM01

The Charcoal Kiln apprentice takes HM01 without checking you have it. At "Give him the TM for Cut?" → Yes, players without HM01 still get the Leek, and players with it lose their HM01. If you still need HM01, answer No. tested in an emulator by the translation team: with HM01 you get the Leek and lose the HM; without it you still get the Leek.

Air Cutter or Solar Blade

The Charcoal Kiln master praises Air Cutter but teaches Solar Blade. The Chinese says Air Cutter in that line too; the rest of his lines say Solar Blade. Cosmetic.

Losing to Goh in Union Cave

Losing to Goh in Union Cave can repeat the lure scene. If you lose, answering Yes to "Help Goh move the rock?" starts the lure scene over, and No doesn't record the outcome. Win the battle. Not confirmed in game.

Kurt's five Tidal Bells

Kurt gives you five Tidal Bells. Probably copied from his Apricorn Ball gifts. Harmless.

Route 30 dates (pointer)

Green's and Red's Route 30 dates have the opposite confession check. See Ilex Forest and Goldenrod City for the full entry.

HM08 and Mr. Pokémon's quiz

Holding HM08 Rock Climb skips Mr. Pokémon's quiz for good. His quiz (prize: Exp. Share) only opens after the Dark Cave trouble is over. Once you carry HM08, which the Mt. Mortar Hiker gives you for his Map (see Mt. Mortar: the runaway Hitmontop and the Hiker's map), he only gives a Rock Climb tip. Do his quiz before you hand over the Map. Other Exp. Shares can be had in Viridian City and at Silph Co. Possibly deliberate (a late-game tip replaces the quiz).

Crystal's walk

Crystal's "Let's go for a walk together" leads nowhere. It shows one line and ends. Crystal has no date scenes or progress, although you can confess to her.

Pewter Museum Brock and the Route 30 Chikorita

Talking to Brock in the Pewter Museum can make the Route 30 Chikorita disappear. If you talk to him after the Cherrygrove orphanage scene but before the Route 30 Chikorita scene, while his siblings' quiz is unfinished, the Chikorita is gone for good. Do the Route 30 scene first. tested in an emulator by the translation team: talking to him sets the record that hides the Chikorita.

Gyro Ball TM kept

The Violet City Forretress kid lets you keep the Gyro Ball TM. In your favour. tested in an emulator by the translation team: after you hand it over, TM74 is still in the Bag.

Falkner's, Bugsy's and the fire-breather's type rules

Falkner's, Bugsy's and the Route 32 fire-breather's type rules let through Pokémon they shouldn't, and Falkner refuses some he should accept. Their checks are lists of banned Pokémon that stop at the Sinnoh Pokédex, so many later Pokémon get in (for example Yungoos or Gumshoos with Falkner). Falkner refuses Rotom even in its Flying form (Fan Rotom). Bugsy lets in Hippowdon. The fire-breather lets in Carnivine and Magnezone.

Quests on this page

Celebi's Sitrus Berries

Celebi's treatment never checks or takes the 10 Sitrus Berries the ranger asks for. Only the 10 Fresh Water are checked, and nothing is taken. In your favour.

Koume, Sakura and the bug hunt

Talking to Koume, Sakura or the fire ranger during the Ilex Forest bug hunt can break the hunt. They share the bugs' progress counters, so a bug could become catchable without Honey, or Bugsy's "all done" check could never pass. Their requests are meant for after the hunt, but they're already around during it. Finish the bug hunt before talking to them. Not confirmed in game.

Noah and Flo

Fisherman Noah and Ace Trainer Flo in Ilex Forest count as one Trainer. Beat one and the other only says the after-battle line. You lose one battle's prize money.

Haircut Brother's price

Version note: fixed in English RC8. The original-game issue and the specific correction are described below.

The younger Haircut Brother needs $500 but charges $300. In the US game he checks and charges $300; the hack raised only the check. Fixed in rc8: $300 is enough. On rc7 and earlier, have $500 on you.

Goldenrod clerk's warehouse line

The Goldenrod clerk's "secret deals in the warehouse" line can never be seen. After the photo case he always says "North of Azalea, Mary's the prettiest!" Flavour only.

Radio Tower grunt and the old man

A leftover branch in one Radio Tower takeover conversation can't be reached. In Goldenrod City during the takeover, a Team Rocket grunt is bullying an old man at his barricade. If you answered Yes to "Teach this Team Rocket grunt a lesson?" while standing between the two of them, the game would start the Extreme Speed tutor's Lemonade lesson instead of the battle. You can't stand there: a barricade fills that spot, so you always talk to them from another side. Harmless.

Radio quiz B button

Pressing B in the Radio Tower 1F radio quiz is not a shortcut (not a bug). An earlier note said B counts as a right answer. tested in an emulator by the translation team: B picks the last choice of the question, as if you had touched it. That happens to be right for the first question (4 channels) but wrong for the second, so B on every question fails the quiz. Answer normally.

Buena's lottery line

After a right password that doesn't bring a prize, Buena's scene ends with the lottery attendant's line. You see "The winning number is [your name]! Does it match the ID No. of any of your Pokémon? Let's check!", then Buena walks back. In the US game she says "Tune in to my show again tomorrow!" here. Your point is still saved. Cosmetic. tested in an emulator by the translation team: the scene prints Buena's "You earned one point!" and then the lottery line.

Bike Shop owner's lines

The Bike Shop owner's lines don't match what he checks. He thanks you for beating the bikers and says "You already have a Bicycle", but only checks whether you already have the Pass. Harmless.

Department Store Double Battle with one Pokémon

Fixed in rc8: speaking up for the blind man on Department Store 6F with fewer than two Pokémon no longer freezes the game; the Double Battle becomes a Single Battle. On rc7 and earlier it froze the game. The shoppers' Double Battle starts without checking your party size. With one Pokémon, a broken second Pokémon ("nnnnnnr", Lv. 2) stands next to yours, and the game hangs as soon as you choose FIGHT. On those versions, have at least two Pokémon before you answer Yes. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build); with a full party the same battle plays normally.

Fortune-teller's price

Version note: fixed in English RC8. The original-game issue and the specific correction are described below.

The fortune-teller's ideal-Pokémon reading checks for $300 but charges $10,000. With $300–$9,999 you still get the item, and your money drops to $0. Fixed in rc8: she now turns you down below $10,000. On rc7 and earlier, have $10,000 before asking. tested in an emulator by the translation team: $5,000 → $0 with the item; $20,000 → $10,000. If you ask for a love reading without $10,000, she turns you down and the touch menu on the bottom screen stays hidden; you can still walk and press X for the menu. Cosmetic.

Green's and Red's Route 30 dates

Confessing to anyone closes Green's and Red's Route 30 dates. This is the opposite of every other partner's dates, which need a confession. On top of that, the male-player branch checks the wrong thing, so Green's own lock is never checked: a male player who never confessed gets Green's dates whatever he picked in the Dream World.

Female players and Red's confession

A female player can never confess to Red after the Dream World. Red's confession checks Green's lock instead of Red's, and every Dream World choice a female player can make locks Green, including choosing Red.

Love readings and confessions

Any finished love reading counts for the confessions, even "Just friends is better" or wrong answers. This only matters for partners reopened after the Dream World.

Battle Tower partner room (pointer)

The Battle Tower partner-room scenes that would reopen Yellow and Misty can't be reached. See Battle Frontier, Cianwood City and Mahogany Town for the full entry.

Dream World battles before the old man

If you fight Will or Karen in the Dream World before talking to the old man, you lose the partner choice. He disappears after either battle, and leaving through the broken statue then locks every partner. Talk to the old man first. Probably intended, but easy to miss.

Rocky Helmet and the bug hunt

Taking the Rocky Helmet in Ilex Forest before the bug hunt is over spoils the hunt. The Helmet man is tied to the hunt's Ariados. If you take the Helmet first, the Ariados rock does nothing and the hunt counts the Ariados without crediting you. The hunt can still be finished, but you can deal with at most two bugs yourself, so you miss the top reward. If you find the Ariados first, he won't give the Helmet until the hunt ends. A Helmet taken mid-hunt means you can get a second one later. Finish the bug hunt first. The Helmet man's part was tested in an emulator by the translation team (his gift sets the Ariados record); the hunt itself wasn't replayed.

Purugly quest and the bug hunt

Leaving Ilex Forest mid-hunt can scramble the Goldenrod Purugly quest. The Team Rocket act may start as soon as you enter the girl's house, skip the clinic choice or count as "Purugly kept", and finishing the bug hunt later wipes your Purugly progress. Finish the bug hunt first. Not confirmed in game.

Friday's Daily Drawing prize

Friday's Daily Drawing prize isn't the one announced. The attendant announces a Cherish Ball, but the 1st prize is an Old Gateau. The Chinese says Cherish Ball too.

Game Corner 500-coin option

Version note: fixed in English RC8. The original-game issue and the specific correction are described below.

At the raised Game Corner price, "500 coins for $50000" gives only 50 coins. Fixed in rc8: the option gives 500 coins. On rc7 and earlier, choose "50 coins for $5000" instead, as often as you need. Tested: $60,000 → $10,000 for 50 coins; the $5,000 option gives the same 50 coins.

Cynthia's Rest in my room

English RC8 version note: Cynthia’s Pallet Town scenes now take the Snow Mail they check for, and her busy reply uses her own line. This fixes the Mail/dialogue mismatch below; it does not prove the move-in route is reachable or add an acquisition route for unavailable Mail.

Cynthia's "Rest in my room" asks for a Snow Mail but would take a Bubble Mail. At home in Pallet Town, Cynthia only adds "Rest in my room" to her menu if you carry a Snow Mail, but choosing it tries to take a Bubble Mail instead. In practice the option never appears: it needs the move-in step, which no player can finish, and neither Mail can be obtained anywhere in the game (see Pallet Town to Pewter City, which also lists the other Mail mismatches). In the same menu, "I'm busy" shows Misty's goodbye line instead of Cynthia's. Harmless.

English RC8 version note: Cynthia’s Pallet Town scenes now take the Snow Mail they check for, and her busy reply uses her own line. This fixes the Mail/dialogue mismatch below; it does not prove the move-in route is reachable or add an acquisition route for unavailable Mail.

Route 34 photographer

The photographer never appears on Route 34. His visit there checks for a Badge that doesn't exist, so he is always hidden and you can't get his photo on that route. Cosmetic. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Wednesday and Thursday, all 16 Badges). Read from the script only: one Route 30 line never shows for the same reason.

Goldenrod City crash on entry

Entering Goldenrod City can crash the game if both the townsfolk and the Team Rocket takeover crowd are switched on. The city then needs more character graphics than the game has room for. Normally the story swaps one group for the other, but a few scenes (the first Hall of Fame entry, the Radio Tower deck and 1F) switch only one, and it isn't known yet which real story order leaves both on. Keep a save from before you enter Goldenrod. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build) with both groups switched on.

Goldenrod Flower Shop sign

The sign beside the Goldenrod Flower Shop calls it a Poké Mart. The shop inside is still the Flower Shop (Berry Pots and other goods). The Chinese sign says the same; the English keeps it. Cosmetic.

Quests on this page

Pokéathlon Dome and the Route 36 tree (not a bug)

Visiting the Pokéathlon Dome doesn't affect the Route 36 tree. An earlier version of this page warned that a first visit to the Dome between the Plain Badge and the odd-tree scene would make Crystal vanish from the tree and block the road to Ecruteak City. The Dome's first-visit cutscene from the original game never plays in this hack, so nothing in the Dome touches Crystal. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build): walking in from the Dome's entrance after the Plain Badge played no scene, and Crystal's group stayed switched on.

Puppy-love quest counter

The puppy-love quest shares a progress counter with the Goldenrod Gym story, probably harmlessly. The Gym story is always over before the quest can start.

Route 35 Pidgey letter

Reading the Route 35 Pidgey's letter doesn't let Viridian City's Nurse Joy give her gift again. The two share a switch, but harmlessly: that Nurse Joy is gone by then and nothing brings her back.

Prof. Birch and the unmasked Sudowoodo

The unmasked Sudowoodo stands on Route 36 before the odd-tree scene, and Birch's memory of the rescue follows the Sudowoodo instead. Every player finds the Sudowoodo near the National Park gatehouse as soon as they reach that part of Route 36, before the odd-tree scene, whether or not they saved Prof. Birch on Route 12. After the Plain Badge, Birch in the Goldenrod friendship checker's house no longer "remembers" being rescued, even if you did save him. Finishing the Route 36 Sudowoodo story makes him "remember" it again, even if you never saved him. Cosmetic.

Will and Karen's National Park challenge

Will and Karen may skip their National Park challenge if you did certain other scenes first. Gold's Game Corner scene and the uncut-stone gamble in an Islander's House count as beating them, and he then just says "Beating us makes you feel pretty good about yourself, huh?". It also works the other way: beating Will and Karen skips Gold's Game Corner scene. The Plain Badge and Silver's Route 37 scene reset all this, so only scenes in between count. Cosmetic. Not confirmed in game.

Arthur's ribbon message

Fixed in rc8: Arthur's ribbon gift on Route 36 (and those of the other six weekday siblings) now ends normally. On rc7 and earlier it left its message on screen. This happened with all seven weekday siblings. Arthur gives his ribbon on Thursdays once you've met all seven. Your lead Pokémon gets the ribbon, but the scene stops right after the "put on the ribbon" message, which stays on screen. The game doesn't freeze: you can still walk, and pressing X opens the menu (which clears the message) and lets you save. Earlier versions of this page called it a freeze; tested in an emulator by the translation team, it isn't one.

Morty's post-game challenge size

Morty's post-game challenge asks for three Pokémon but requires six. If you come back after the final Hall of Fame without the Fog Badge, Morty asks for a 3-on-3, then says "Please use at least six Pokémon". The battle is still a 6-on-6 Double Battle. Bring six Pokémon.

Morty's Lv. 1 Pokémon

Morty's Gym team has three Lv. 1 Pokémon. His team data has Gengar, Dusclops and Mismagius at Lv. 80, plus Mimikyu, Dhelmise and Sinistcha at Lv. 1, six Pokémon in all. The battle does use this team: tested in an emulator by the translation team, his side has Gengar, Dusclops and Mismagius at Lv. 80 and Mimikyu, Dhelmise and Sinistcha at Lv. 1, so half of his side faints almost at once.

Morty's Ghost rule

Morty's "weak to Ghost" rule refuses some Pokémon it shouldn't and lets others in. It refuses Exeggutor and Rotom, which are Psychic or Ghost in this hack. It lets in Stunfisk, Yungoos and Gumshoos, which aren't. (Golduck and Noctowl are Psychic in this hack, so they're correct.)

Lantern riddle 2 (not a bug)

Lantern riddle 2's answer is correct. This isn't a bug. The clue "Round head, round hands, a body round too, round eyes, and antennae poking through" fits Ledyba, No. 165, so the answer is 5.

Dozen Moomoo Milk

The MooMoo Farm farmer promises a dozen Moomoo Milk but gives one. The Chinese says "a dozen" too. Cosmetic.

Jasmine's Defense rule

Jasmine's Defense rule refuses Aegislash and lets several weak Pokémon in. Her rule is three Pokémon with a base Defense of 130 or higher. Aegislash is refused although Doublade is allowed; Stunfisk, Yungoos and Gumshoos get in. Same gap as Morty's list.

Jasmine's cut-off TM line

Jasmine's "And this TM, too..." is cut off and no TM is given at the Gym. TM91 Flash Cannon comes later, at the Lighthouse, after you bring the Secret Potion. Probably intended (the Lighthouse emergency interrupts her), but it looks lost.

Unused Olivine port Machine Part

An unused Machine Part scene at the Olivine port can't be reached. The Café's Machine Part is the working one. Harmless.

Café Machoke record reset

Two story scenes reset whether you fed the Café Machoke, harmlessly. Both happen before you can reach the Café.

Route 38 gatehouse test character

A leftover test character could break the Alto Mare Bikers' story if it ever appeared. It sits hidden in the Route 38 gatehouse to Ecruteak City and offers to "Send them to Alto Mare" or "Keep them in Kanto". It should stay hidden. Harmless in normal play.

Will and Karen, fake grunt and Chimchar record

Declining Will and Karen, beating the Route 39 fake grunt and getting Prof. Rowan's Chimchar are all stored as one thing. In normal play this does nothing: Rowan is gone after the Plain Badge, and Route 39 can only be reached after Silver's Route 37 scene, which removes Will and Karen. Not confirmed in game.

Olivine Leppa Berry menu

The Olivine salesman's Leppa Berry menu never appears. He always sells Weakness Policies.

Lantern riddle failure order

A wrong answer at the 4th or 5th lantern riddle makes Grandpa ask riddles 2–5 again before telling you that you failed. Cosmetic.

Route 36 gatehouse talk

The people in the Route 36 gatehouse always say the odd tree still blocks the road, even after it's gone. Cosmetic. tested in an emulator by the translation team. Read from the script only: the Elite Four door's "already open" line and one Route 4 line never show for the same reason.

Quests on this page

Whirl Islands Challenge payout

The Whirl Islands Challenge pays out after only one island, again and again. After visiting just the northwest island you can claim a prize, accept the challenge again and report straight back for another prize. tested in an emulator by the translation team: report, accept again, report again: two prizes.

Northeast island quiz answer

The northeast island's quiz accepts Azalea Town, not Ecruteak City, as the other place tied to Lugia. Possibly intended (the Tidal Bell under Slowpoke Well).

Lugia: one chance

Lugia is gone for good once you catch it, knock it out or run away. Only a loss lets you try again. Save before the battle.

Mt. Mortar statue and the Lustrous Orb

The Mt. Mortar statue says it resonated with your Lustrous Orb without checking that you have one. It opens after the final Hall of Fame, not the first, and takes you to Palkia's space.

Dark Cave copy of the Whirl Islands Challenge

The unreachable Dark Cave copy also holds a copy of the Whirl Islands Challenge. Nothing leads into that cave. Harmless.

Yellow and Misty in the Battle Tower partner room

Yellow and Misty never appear in the Battle Tower partner room. So the scenes that would reopen their romance can't be reached. They are removed when Gold's scene on Route 39 plays, which you always see before the Battle Frontier opens; Yellow also leaves at your first Trainer House visit.

Jirachi stone without Star Pieces

The Jirachi stone can be "repaired" without any Star Pieces. Choose Yes repeatedly to repair the stone. Each repair takes a Star Piece if you have one, but still counts if you have none. In your favour. tested in an emulator by the translation team: with no Star Pieces the stone still wakes after seven repairs; with ten, seven are used.

Jirachi stone and the story counter

The Jirachi stone counts its repairs on a story counter, and its scene overwrites that story's progress. If you've finished the legendary story that ends with Crystal taking Suicune to the orphanage in Cherrygrove City, the stone needs exactly seven repairs. If you haven't, it needs more, and when the stone turns into Jirachi the scene overwrites that story's progress, so its remaining scenes may never play. Finish that story before you start repairing the stone. tested in an emulator by the translation team with the story finished: the seventh repair wakes Jirachi.

Battle Frontier Cut man without HM01

Without HM01, the Battle Frontier Cut man starts the photographer's routine instead. Almost every player has HM01 by then. tested in an emulator by the translation team: without HM01 talking to him takes a photo; with it he gives his Cut line.

Doubles memory battle announcement

The Doubles memory battle announces a Single Battle. Cosmetic.

Secret Potion handed out again

During the Amphy crisis, Gold and Crystal hand you another Secret Potion every time you talk to them without one. The scene in the Cianwood Pharmacy replays and the pharmacist gives you a new one, so you can end up with several. In your favour. Curing Amphy takes one; Gold and Crystal then leave the pharmacy, and the pharmacist's herbal-medicine counter (closed while they're there) opens again. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build): after the cure the counter sells again. The repeat hand-over is read from the script.

Lure Ball kept

The Lure Ball girl "receives" your Lure Ball but you keep it. In your favour.

Chuck's Fighting rule

Chuck's Fighting-only rule refuses Staraptor and lets a few non-Fighting Pokémon in. Staraptor is Fighting/Flying in this hack, yet it's refused. Stunfisk, Braviary, Yungoos and Gumshoos get in.

Green and Silver by the Persian statue (not a bug)

Green, Silver and their Pokémon by the Persian statue leave for good after their scene. This isn't a bug. An earlier version of this page said they might come back on every visit, but the scene's ending removes them permanently.

Petrel's Chatot: one chance

Petrel's Chatot can be caught only once, straight after the radio-room scene, and only before you leave Team Rocket HQ B2F. When the scene ends, everyone leaves except the Chatot. Talk to it: "Petrel's Chatot. Nobody wants it anymore. Catch it?" → Yes starts a wild battle with a Chatot (Lv. 10). Catching it, knocking it out, running away or losing all remove it for good, and so does leaving the floor without talking to it. Answering No is safe while you stay on the floor. Possibly intended. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build): after the scene the Chatot offers the battle.

Unused Mahogany Silver Wing gift

An unused Silver Wing gift in Mahogany Town can't be reached. Harmless.

Pryce's weather rule

Fixed in English RC7: Pryce checks actual weather-changing Abilities. The following species-based mismatch describes the original Chinese game and older English patches. Pryce's weather rule bans by Pokémon, not by Ability. His rule is "no Pokémon whose Abilities change the weather". It bans Probopass (whose Abilities here are Sturdy, Magnet Pull and Power Spot) and bans Charizard, Wailord and the others even without a weather Ability. Charizard's normal Abilities here (Solar Power, Blaze, Tough Claws) include no weather Ability; only a special form has Drought. Vanilluxe (Snow Warning) isn't banned, but it can't be obtained.

Burned Tower beasts scene and the expedition leader

The Entei, Raikou and Suicune scene in the Burned Tower can be lost, and the three beasts with it. After Lance visits your house, see the Burned Tower release scene before you talk to the Mt. Mortar expedition leader again. In that window he greets you as if you'd never met. If you say Yes to "Are you a really strong Trainer?" and beat him, his "Please join my expedition" resets the expedition. The release scene then never plays, so Entei (Ruins of Alph), Suicune (Route 25) and Raikou (Route 47) never appear. Answer No to avoid the battle. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build): after the win the Burned Tower basement stays quiet; after No the scene plays.

Satsuki's Lugia option

Satsuki's "Lugia" option can lead to the Ho-Oh path and a second Ho-Oh. If you've caught Ho-Oh but not Lugia, her first menu is "I want to see Lugia / Never mind", and choosing Lugia gives the Ho-Oh line ("the Clear Bell is still in Morty's hands"). Talk to her again and pick Lugia from the full menu instead. The wrong option also re-opens Morty's Clear Bell battle and the Bell Tower, so a second Ho-Oh can be caught, again and again while Lugia is uncaught. The menu part was tested in an emulator by the translation team: "I want to see Lugia" gives the Clear Bell line and resets the story step Morty checks; the second Ho-Oh wasn't played through.

Close Combat tutor's fee

The Close Combat tutor is free if your Pokémon has to forget a move. He still says he'll take the 3 Rare Candies. In your favour. tested in an emulator by the translation team: with a free move slot he took 3 Rare Candies; when a move was replaced he took none.

Lex's Doubles

Lex's "Doubles" on Route 41 is a Single Battle. Both options give the same Single Battle; Doubles only adds a party-size check. tested in an emulator by the translation team: "Doubles" sends out one Pokémon.

Boot Camp Ruins password lines

In the Boot Camp Ruins, female players see one of Silver's lines in the wrong place, and the digits read out are wrong. When Green tries the number from the crumpled paper, she reads out 0-7-3-2-2, which matches neither the paper (325003225300469) nor the real password 14246. Female players see Silver's "This crumpled paper says..." line there instead. Use 14246.

Quests on this page

Lake guardian's quiz answers

Two of the lake guardian's quiz answers look wrong. For the Koffing question, both 0 and 2 fit (10 Mankey, Koffing and Mareep with 26 legs allows 0–3 Koffing), but only 2 is accepted. The Pikachu question accepts 14, although four moves can be learned in 24 orders, and 24 isn't one of the options (12, 14, 16, 18). The Chinese may carry a hidden rule. Answer 2 and 14. The Pikachu question was tested in an emulator by the translation team: only 14 goes on; 12, 16, 18 and the B button (which picks the last choice, 18) fail.

Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf: one chance

Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf are gone for good once you catch them, knock them out or run away. Only a loss lets you try again. Save before each battle.

Anti-Age Spray never used up

The Anti-Age Spray is never used up. One bottle works forever. Because the old man won't make another while you have one ("Don't you already have an Anti-Age Spray? Use that one up first."), you can never get a second. In your favour.

Durin Berries for the Anti-Age Spray

The Anti-Age Spray needs 20 Durin Berries, but the game hands out only 16. Swinub has to eat 10 before the old man will make the spray, and the spray itself takes another 10. The Mahogany Pokémon Center gives 15 and Fuchsia City 1. You need the spray to follow Giovanni in the final chapter, so plant Durin Berries to grow more if you're short. Possibly intended.

Blackthorn Gym Trainers

The Blackthorn Gym Trainers may never battle you. If you accept the MooMoo Farm farmer's request to look into his sick Miltank (the request that leads into the Dream World; he makes it once the League HQ's third order has made the Miltank sick) before you reach Blackthorn City, the four Gym Trainers are skipped and the entrance Trainer just says "Welcome to the Blackthorn Gym, Champion." Clair can still be challenged. To get the Gym Trainer battles, do Blackthorn City before helping MooMoo Farm. The Gym side was tested in an emulator by the translation team: after the farmer's Yes the entrance Trainer only says his line; before it he battles you.

Clair's Dragon rule

Clair's Dragon-only rule lets many non-Dragon Pokémon in. Many Pokémon from after the Sinnoh Pokédex get in; of those you can get, Snivy, Excadrill, Stunfisk, Amaura, Yungoos and Gumshoos do. Among older Pokémon, Seadra is allowed but Horsea isn't; Magmar, Porygon, Kecleon, Corphish, Shieldon and Drapion are allowed; Trapinch and Swablu aren't.

Santos's and Wesley's ribbon message

Fixed in rc8: Santos's ribbon gift (and Wesley's at the Lake of Rage) now ends normally. On rc7 and earlier it left its message on screen. It was the same slip as with all seven weekday siblings. They only offer the ribbon once you've met all seven, on their own day. Your lead Pokémon gets the ribbon; walk away or press X to clear the message. The game doesn't freeze (tested in an emulator by the translation team; see Arthur's ribbon message).

Ice Path Darumaka and Zen Mode Darmanitan

The Darumaka in Ice Path (mornings and daytime) evolve into a Darmanitan stuck in Zen Mode. The Darumaka themselves look and battle like ordinary Fire-type Darumaka, but at Lv. 35 they become Zen Mode Darmanitan (Fire/Psychic, low Attack, high Sp. Atk), and nothing changes them back outside battle. tested in an emulator by the translation team.

Play Rough tutor teaches Flail

Fixed in rc8: the Blackthorn "Play Rough" tutor now teaches Play Rough. On rc7 and earlier he taught Flail. The runaway Dragonair Trainer's father promises Play Rough, and every line says Play Rough, but your Pokémon learned Flail. tested in an emulator by the translation team: a Pokémon with three moves and one with four both learned Flail; the forget-a-move screen already shows Flail as the new move.

Gallade's Berry Juice

The Route 48 Gallade "takes" your Berry Juice but you keep it. In your favour.

Dragon's Den Elder's quiz record

A wrong answer in the Dragon's Den Elder's quiz is noted but nothing uses it. Probably a removed reward (in HeartGold it decided the Dratini gift). Harmless.

Unused Dragon's Den scene and item

An unused Dragon's Den scene and item ball are left in the files. They can't be reached. Harmless.

Raikou: one chance

Raikou on Route 47 is gone for good once you catch it, knock it out or run away. Only a loss lets you try again. Save before the battle. It may be intended (same as Lugia).

Dialga and Palkia: one chance

Dialga and Palkia are gone for good once you catch them, knock them out or run away. Only a loss lets you try again. Save before each battle.

Route 45 Senior Trainer's line

The Route 45 Senior Trainer's "I've only got 1 left" line can't be seen. Harmless.

Arceus and Regigigas out of reach

Arceus can't be summoned in practice, because the Azure Flute can't be obtained after the Hall of Fame. Arceus needs the flute, and the centre circle of the Mystri Stage only reacts if your flute came from the Seven Island shrine keeper's post-game gift, which can't be reached (see Sevii Islands and Indigo Plateau). The same flute is the way back into the temple after the story, so the post-game Regigigas there is out of reach too.

Unused Kyogre room in Reversal Cave

A second Reversal Cave room with a Kyogre is still in the files, but nothing leads there. Harmless.

Palkia's space cabin

The cabin in Palkia's space can't be entered. So its Abra man and Cynthia scenes never play, and the Mystri Stage Arceus-circle scene can't be seen. Harmless. tested in an emulator by the translation team: walking into the cabin door does nothing.

Giratina after Lance's visit

Lance's visit could allow a second Giratina, but probably can't in practice. Lance's visit brings Giratina back. It plays only once, as soon as you get home after the final Hall of Fame, and Giratina can only be summoned after that same Hall of Fame entry, so there's no chance to fight it in between. Not confirmed in game.

Route 45 Dragonite counter

The Route 45 Dragonite quest shares a progress counter with early Kanto scenes, harmlessly. The S.S. Anne party scenes, the Vermilion construction clash and the Saffron City scenes use the same counter, and Team Rocket's Saffron takeover resets it. All of these are over before you can reach Route 45, so this can't cause trouble in normal play.

Quests on this page

Unown Report notes

The Ruins of Alph Research Center never gives any Unown Report notes. The researcher only ever says his "about 1,500 years old" line. The hidden rooms the later notes depend on can't be reached either: the four chamber walls now lead to the dream-world hall. Whether the ! and ? Unown depend on this wasn't checked.

Hidden Ruins of Alph rooms' exit

A leftover exit in the hidden Ruins of Alph rooms points into Island Forest. It can't be used: the rooms can't be reached. Harmless.

Ho-Oh panel and Silver's battle

Solving the Ho-Oh panel before the Molly chapter's dream world makes that dream world treat Silver's part as already done. The panel and Silver's part of the dream world share one record. The Ho-Oh chamber (north-west) is open from your first visit to the Ruins of Alph, and its panel has no story condition, so you can solve it first. Then, when you arrive in the dream world, Silver and his Croconaw already stand by the steps into the sky instead of arriving with you, and Gold and Crystal aren't gathered round you either. The opening scene would then move them from the wrong places, and Silver's battle in the dream world is skipped; whether the rest of the chapter then plays correctly wasn't tried. To be safe, leave the Ho-Oh panel until after the Molly chapter. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build), arrival only: with the panel solved, Silver and Croconaw stand by the steps and the group isn't gathered; without it, all three wait next to you.

Field moves without the move

Surf, Waterfall and the other field moves work without a Pokémon that knows them. You only need the Badge; your first healthy Pokémon is used. The party menu still only lists moves a Pokémon knows. This is an intended HM-free feature, not itself a bug. tested in an emulator by the translation team for Cut: with the Cascade Badge and a party in which nobody knows Cut, a Cut tree still offers to cut. The other field moves are read from the game code.

Forest of Time during the bug hunt

Version note: fixed in English RC8. The original-game issue and the specific correction are described below.

Entering the Forest of Time in the middle of the Ilex Forest bug hunt plays scenes from the later Sammy chapter. The two share a progress record. Depending on how far the hunt has got, stepping into the forest's entrance clearing plays the Sammy and Celebi arrival scene with Sammy, Celebi and the ranger missing, or the maze lets you through to the upper forest, where the Marauder scene starts at once and leads into his battle. Either one also changes the hunt's own progress, so the hunt may not carry on normally afterwards (not tried). Fixed in rc8: the two scenes only run while the Sammy chapter is active, so the hunt can no longer start them. On rc7 and earlier, finish the bug hunt before you go into the Forest of Time. From the moment Bugsy gives you the Honey, and after the hunt until the old ranger in Ilex Forest starts the Sammy chapter, the maze's last exit just sends you back to the entrance clearing, which is harmless. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build): with the hunt's values, the empty arrival scene plays in full and the Marauder scene runs into the battle; the maze test is in Forest of Time: the maze of clearings.

Island Forest wild Pokémon

Island Forest on Six Island has wild Pokémon from the start (not a bug). An earlier note said its grass and water stay empty until you've solved a Ruins of Alph panel. tested in an emulator by the translation team: with no panel solved, wild Pokémon appear in its tall grass as usual.

Moves that work differently

A few moves behave differently from the official games. These may be intended changes by the hack; they are listed so you know what to expect. All tested in an emulator by the translation team:

• Volt Tackle does no recoil damage (Double-Edge still does).
• Blast Burn doesn't need a recharge turn; you can act again on the next turn (Hyper Beam still needs one). Frenzy Plant, Hydro Cannon and Rock Wrecker use the same move data, but weren't tried.
• Lunar Dance doesn't make the user faint; it raises the user's Speed and Sp. Atk instead.
• Bounce attacks on the turn you choose it; the user does not spring up first (Fly still takes two turns). English RC8 corrects the description to match this existing behavior.

The translation team tested Bounce and Fly in an emulator on both the Chinese game and the English build. Bounce attacked without a preparation turn or a miss, and the command menu returned each turn. Fly prepared on the first turn and hit on the next. English RC8 corrects Bounce’s description to match its one-turn behavior.

Battle messages that name the wrong thing

English RC7 version note: battle messages now use the side prefix belonging to the Pokémon named. The older side-prefix mismatch below is historical; unrelated move behavior is unchanged.

A few battle messages print the wrong word or side. Cosmetic; the Chinese game does the same:

• After Soak, Protean, Color Change and similar type changes, the message names the move instead of the new type ("…transformed into the Soak type!"). Fixed in the English patch from rc6: the message names the new type ("…transformed into the Water type!").
• When a wild Pokémon's Future Sight hits your Pokémon, the message says "The wild …took the Future Sight attack!" with your Pokémon's name; when yours hits the wild one, it leaves out "The wild". The message follows the side of the Pokémon that used the move.

No Struggle when a Pokémon runs out of PP

Fixed in English RC7: selecting FIGHT uses Struggle when all known moves have zero PP. The following reset warning is historical, for Chinese v4.0.3 and English RC6 or earlier. A Pokémon with no PP left never uses Struggle. Choosing FIGHT opens the move list, and every move says it is out of PP, so you can't pick an attack. Switch to another Pokémon or use a Leppa Berry from the Bag (Ethers and Elixirs can't be used in battle, see Status medicine in battle). If your only Pokémon that can still battle has no PP left and you have no Leppa Berry, a Trainer battle can't go on and you have to reset. Watch out in the Route 12 battle against the boyfriend (Ace Trainer Newt): his Rattata knows only Normal-type moves, so a team of Ghost types can neither lose nor win there. Bring a Pokémon that isn't Ghost type. Suspected hack bug; the Chinese game does the same. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build).

Traded Pokémon get no Exp. boost

Pokémon from another Trainer get the same Exp. as your own. In the official games a traded Pokémon gets 1.5 times the Exp. and a "boosted" message; here it gets the normal amount and the normal message. Probably an intended change.

Partner calls about the Celadon Gym

Your partners say a Venonat would love the Celadon Gym, but it's a walking Tangela that reacts there. A walking Tangela wraps its vines around you and is having fun; a Venonat just "seems a bit nervous", like any other Pokémon. The Chinese calls say Venonat too.

Evolutions that cannot happen

A few Pokémon have an evolution method that the game never checks, so they can't evolve that way. Pancham never becomes Pangoro, and Gimmighoul, Kubfu, Galarian Yamask, White-Striped Basculin, Pawmo, Rellor and Finizen never evolve at all through the evolution their data gives them. Galarian Farfetch'd can't become Sirfetch'd by landing critical hits; a regular Farfetch'd still evolves into Sirfetch'd at Lv 40. Eevee can't become Leafeon at a Moss Rock and Nosepass can't become Probopass in a magnetic field, but a Leaf Stone and a Thunder Stone still work. English RC8 fixes Petilil only: leveling up by day while holding a Black Belt now evolves it directly into Hisuian Lilligant. In Chinese v4.0.3 and English RC7 or earlier, the buggy intermediate Petilil needed a Sun Stone afterwards. Most of these Pokémon can't be met in the game anyway. Each Pokémon's page (for example Eevee) marks these as not possible and lists any method that still works. Verified in the game code; tested in an emulator by the translation team for Pancham: a Pancham that reaches Lv. 32 with a Dark-type in the party stays a Pancham.

Things you can't get, although the game has them

A few Pokémon, items and forms exist in the game's data but can't be obtained. Read from the game code; not tried in game unless the entry says so.

• TM46 (Thief): its item ball is never placed on a map.
• Flapple, Appletun and Alcremie: Applin needs a Tart Apple or Sweet Apple and Milcery a Sweet, and none of these items can be obtained.
• Shaymin's Sky Forme: the Gracidea only works on an event Shaymin, and the Shaymin from the Forest of Time isn't one (tested in an emulator by the translation team: the Gracidea does nothing to it; on the same Shaymin marked as an event Pokémon it works).
• Unown letters: every wild Unown comes out as A (tested in an emulator by the translation team: 65 wild Unown, all A).
• Some later Pokémon and forms have stats and moves in the game's data but no normal-play route was found by the availability audit. The Pokédex keeps them as references and marks audited unavailable entries with a reason. A missing source on another entry means its availability is still uncertain; it is not proof that it cannot be obtained.
• Apicot Berry and Lansat Berry: no source was found in the expanded item audit. The older warning also listed Qualot, Tamato, Salac and Petaya, but those have sources: Qualot and Tamato are configured Battle Frontier Scratch-Off prizes; Salac and Petaya can be stolen from Trainers' Pokémon and kept after battle (tested in an emulator by the translation team). Those routes do not restore the old berry shops.
• Grip Claw: its item ball is never placed on a map, and no shop sells it.
• Volcanion: its April 16 calendar slot at the Lake of Rage never triggers (there's no grass there), and nothing else gives it. tested in an emulator by the translation team.
• Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre: the Red Orb and Blue Orb are key items that summon Groudon, Kyogre and Deoxys. They can't be given to a Pokémon, and even when one is held (save edit) no Primal Reversion happens. tested in an emulator by the translation team.

Thief in wild battles copies the item

Stealing a wild Pokémon's held item with Thief gives you the item twice. After the battle the Pokémon that used Thief holds the item, and another one is in your Bag. Against Trainers you only get the held one. In your favour. Suspected hack bug. tested in an emulator by the translation team (a wild Miltank's Moomoo Milk; an Eviolite).

Out-of-range story records (save data)

Two scenes write past the end of the game's story records. The Viridian Mart promoter on Route 1, who gives you a Berry Juice, and the end of the Mt. Mortar expedition each note that they've happened in a spot beyond the space the save keeps for story progress. Both scenes still play normally once. Measured in an emulator, both notes land in your save's Pokédex data. The promoter's sets a "seen" mark for entry No. 1335, past the end of the Pokédex; opening the Pokédex or the Trainer Card never reads it, so nothing visible changes. The expedition's sets the "caught" mark of Weezing (No. 110) without its "seen" mark; the Pokédex ignores it (tested in an emulator by the translation team: Weezing's slot stays empty until you've seen one). There's no way to avoid it: the expedition is needed in the final chapter.

Status medicine in battle

English RC8: ITEMS DEFAULT preserves the Chinese hack’s Trainer-battle Bag rules. ITEMS ALL adds the twenty extra medicines below. Held items and wild battles keep their original rules. The original restriction is described here; choose ITEMS ALL if you want the expanded selection. Most medicine can't be used from the Bag in battle. Antidote, Burn Heal, Ice Heal, Awakening, Paralyze Heal, Full Heal, Full Restore, Lava Cookie, Max Potion, Hyper Potion, Energy Powder, Energy Root, Revive, Max Revive, Revival Herb, Ether, Max Ether, Elixir, Max Elixir and Sacred Ash don't appear in the battle Bag. This may be intended; the Chinese game does the same. Carry status-healing Berries (Pecha, Cheri, Lum and others) or the Blue, Yellow and Red Flutes, which do appear; Heal Powder is listed under HP/PP Restore. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build).

Trainer Pokémon with unusual Abilities

Some Trainers' Pokémon have an Ability their species can't normally have, for example a Glalie that starts hail (Snow Warning) or a Houndoom that brings harsh sunlight (Drought). The battle uses the Trainer's Ability. About 165 of the game's 3,891 Trainer Pokémon; possibly intended. tested in an emulator by the translation team.

Pokédex stops at No. 709

The Pokédex list ends at No. 0709 (Kommo-o), and there is no National Pokédex mode. Pokémon after that point (and Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist) never get a Pokédex entry, even when you've seen or caught them, and from No. 0504 on the Pokédex number isn't the National Pokédex number. Your Pokémon themselves are unaffected. tested in an emulator by the translation team (Chinese ROM and English build).