The second generation invents the held item: a Pokémon can now carry an item that takes effect in battle. Berries, type-boosting items, Leftovers or Quick Claw changed strategy forever. Here are the items to know and where to find them.
Type-boosting items
When held by a Pokémon, each of these items increases the power of one type’s moves by 10%. Several are given out by the seven siblings, one member for each day of the week.
| Item | Type | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Charcoal | Fire | Azalea Town, given after rescuing the Farfetch’d; also on sale at the Azalea Town Pokémon Center |
| Mystic Water | Water | Cherrygrove City, on the island (Surf) |
| Miracle Seed | Grass | Route 32, given at the exit of Violet City |
| Magnet | Electric | Route 37, Sunny (Sunday) |
| NeverMeltIce | Ice | Ice Path |
| Black Belt | Fighting | Lake of Rage, Wesley (Wednesday); Fighting Dojo |
| Poison Barb | Poison | Route 32, Frieda (Friday) |
| Sharp Beak | Flying | Sea Route 40, Monica (Monday) |
| Hard Stone | Rock | Route 36, Arthur (Thursday) |
| Spell Tag | Ghost | Blackthorn City, Santos (Saturday) |
| Pink Bow | Normal | Route 29, Tuscany (Tuesday) |
| Soft Sand | Ground | Route 34, given by a Cooltrainer after you defeat her |
| Dragon Fang | Dragon | Dragon’s Den (Surf and Whirlpool) |
| Metal Coat | Steel | The S.S. Aqua (also evolves Onix and Scyther by trade) |
The most useful held items
| Item | Effect | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Leftovers | Restores a little HP every turn. | Celadon City, in the restaurant trash can |
| Quick Claw | Sometimes lets the holder attack first. | National Park, given by the woman with the Persian |
| Exp. Share | The holder receives part of the experience without battling. | Mr. Pokémon, in exchange for the Red Scale from Lake of Rage |
| Amulet Coin | Doubles the money won in battle if the holder took part. | Goldenrod Dept. Store basement |
| Everstone | Prevents the holder from evolving. | Professor Elm (by showing him Togepi), 2nd place in the Bug-Catching Contest |
| King’s Rock | May make the target flinch; evolves Poliwhirl and Slowpoke by trade. | Slowpoke Well (Surf and Strength) |
| Smoke Ball | Guarantees escape from a wild Pokémon. | Goldenrod Tunnel; held by the Dodrio you can trade for in Crystal |
| Cleanse Tag | Reduces wild encounters if the holder leads the party. | Route 5, given by an old woman |
| Berries | Automatically heal HP or status in battle. | Berry trees, one per day per tree |
Key items of the adventure
- PokéGear (New Bark Town): clock, phone, then Map (Cherrygrove City) and Radio (Goldenrod Radio Tower).
- Bicycle (Bike Shop, Goldenrod City).
- Old Rod (Route 32), Good Rod (Olivine City), Super Rod (Route 12).
- Squirt Bottle (Goldenrod Flower Shop, after Whitney): to wake up Sudowoodo.
- Coin Case (Goldenrod Tunnel) and Itemfinder (Ecruteak City).
- Secret Potion (Cianwood Pharmacy): to heal Ampharos.
- Basement Key and Card Key (Goldenrod Radio Tower).
- Rainbow Wing, Silver Wing and Clear Bell: the keys to the legendary Pokémon.
- S.S. Ticket (Professor Elm, after the League) and the Magnet Train Pass (Copycat in Saffron City).
- Machine Part (Cerulean Gym) and Red Scale (Lake of Rage).
- In Crystal: the Blue Card from Buena (Radio Tower) and the GS Ball (Virtual Console).
