Pokémon Crystal
Pokémon Crystal

Move Tutors and Important NPCs

Locate all Move Tutors and helpful NPCs in Pokémon Crystal. Learn where to find characters who teach new moves or provide essential items for your team.

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Move Tutors and Important NPCs

Beyond the main story, Pokémon Crystal offers a wealth of interactions with various NPCs who can teach your Pokémon new moves, provide valuable items, or offer unique services. Mastering these interactions is key to building a powerful and versatile team. Here's a detailed breakdown of the most important Move Tutors and other helpful characters you'll encounter.

Move Tutors

Unlike later generations, Move Tutors in Pokémon Crystal are few and far between, and their services are often limited to specific Pokémon or a single use. Plan carefully!

  • Headbutt Tutor (Ilex Forest)
    • Location: Deep within Ilex Forest, you'll find a man standing near a tree.
    • Service: This kind gentleman will teach the move Headbutt to one of your Pokémon. Headbutt is a Normal-type move with 70 power and a 30% chance to make the target flinch. More importantly, it's crucial for finding wild Pokémon hidden in trees (e.g., Aipom, Heracross).
    • Strategy: Teach Headbutt to a Pokémon with decent Attack and Speed to maximize its effectiveness in battle. However, its primary utility is for tree encounters. Consider teaching it to a Pokémon you don't mind having in your active party for exploration, or a strong Normal-type that can benefit from the STAB bonus. This tutor can teach the move multiple times, but only to one Pokémon at a time.
  • Move Deleter (Blackthorn City)
    • Location: In a house in the southwestern part of Blackthorn City, near the Dragon's Den entrance.
    • Service: The Move Deleter can make your Pokémon forget any move, including HMs (Hidden Machines). This is invaluable if you've taught an HM to a Pokémon you now want to trade or use competitively without the HM move.
    • Strategy: There's no cost for this service, so don't hesitate to use it when needed. It's particularly useful for removing HMs like Cut or Strength from your main battle Pokémon once you no longer need them for navigation.
  • Move Relearner (Indigo Plateau)
    • Location: Inside the Pokémon League building at Indigo Plateau, speak to the old man in the top-right corner.
    • Service: For the cost of one Heart Scale, this NPC can teach your Pokémon any move it would have learned at a previous level.
    • Strategy: Heart Scales are rare items. You can find them by using the Dowsing Machine in various locations, or as held items on certain wild Pokémon (e.g., Luvdisc, which are not in Crystal). In Crystal, you'll primarily find them as hidden items. Save your Heart Scales for crucial moves your Pokémon might have missed, or for optimizing their movesets for competitive play or the Battle Tower.

Important NPCs

These characters don't teach moves, but they offer services or items that are vital to your journey.

  • Name Rater (Goldenrod City)
    • Location: In a house just west of the Department Store in Goldenrod City.
    • Service: The Name Rater allows you to change the nickname of any Pokémon you caught yourself. Pokémon obtained in trades cannot have their nicknames changed.
    • Strategy: If you've had a change of heart about a Pokémon's nickname, or simply want to personalize your team further, this is your go-to NPC.
  • Bill's Grandfather (Cerulean City)
    • Location: In a house north of the Pokémon Center in Cerulean City.
    • Service: Bill's Grandfather will ask to see specific Pokémon. If you show him the correct one, he will reward you with an Evolution Stone.
    • Walkthrough & Rewards:
      1. Show him a Growlithe (found on Route 7, 8, 36, 37, or in the Burned Tower). Reward: Fire Stone.
      2. Show him a Staryu (found by fishing with a Super Rod in Cerulean City, Vermilion City, or Cinnabar Island). Reward: Water Stone.
      3. Show him an Oddish (found on Route 5, 6, 24, 25, or in Ilex Forest). Reward: Leaf Stone.
      4. Show him a Pichu (breed Pikachu/Raichu). Reward: Thunder Stone.
    • Strategy: These stones are essential for evolving certain Pokémon. Plan your captures accordingly to obtain these valuable items.
  • Day-Care Couple (Route 34)
    • Location: The small house on Route 34, south of Goldenrod City.
    • Service: You can leave up to two Pokémon with the Day-Care Couple. They will gain experience points as you walk, and if compatible, they might produce an Egg.
    • Strategy: This is the primary method for breeding Pokémon and obtaining powerful Egg Moves. Leave Pokémon you want to level up passively or those you wish to breed for competitive teams or Pokédex completion. Remember to pick up your Pokémon periodically, as they will stop gaining experience once they reach level 100. There's a small fee for each level gained.
  • TM Vendors (Goldenrod City Department Store)
    • Location: Goldenrod City Department Store, 5th Floor.
    • Service: Various vendors sell a selection of Technical Machines (TMs) that can teach specific moves to a wide range of Pokémon.
    • Key TMs to look out for:
      • TM38 (Fire Blast) - Powerful Fire-type special attack.
      • TM13 (Snore) - Useful for Pokémon with Rest.
      • TM25 (Thunder) - Strong Electric-type special attack.
      • TM14 (Blizzard) - Potent Ice-type special attack.
    • Strategy: TMs are single-use items in Crystal, so choose wisely which Pokémon learns which move. Stock up on essential TMs for your team composition.