In Pokémon Crystal, elemental evolution stones—Fire, Water, Thunder, and Leaf Stones—are crucial for evolving certain Pokémon. These stones can be obtained before reaching Kanto, but due to their randomness in acquisition, many players wonder how to get them quickly without waiting for long stretches of in-game time.
This guide will show you how to efficiently farm elemental stones before you reach Kanto, as well as provide alternative methods for those looking to complete their team quickly.
How to Obtain Elemental Stones Before Kanto
In Pokémon Crystal, you can obtain elemental stones through random phone calls from specific trainers. While it’s possible to get these stones later in the game (especially at the Celadon Department Store in Kanto), there are trainers scattered across Johto who will gift you a stone if you keep in contact with them via the phone. However, the process can take time due to the random nature of the calls.
Trainers Who Give Elemental Stones
Here’s a list of the trainers and the stones they’ll give you:
- Schoolboy Alan (Route 36) – Fire Stone
- Fisherman Tully (Route 42) – Water Stone
- Lass Dana (Route 38) – Thunder Stone
- Picnicker Gina (Route 34) – Leaf Stone
These trainers call you randomly, and each will give you one of the elemental stones once you’ve built a connection. However, the random nature of the calls means it can be time-consuming to get the stone you need. Fortunately, there are ways to speed this process up.
The Fastest Method: Forcing Phone Calls
Instead of waiting for the trainers to call you naturally, you can manipulate the game’s phone system to make the calls come faster. Here’s how you can do it:
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Track Trainer Phone Numbers:
- Make sure you have all the trainer numbers saved in your phone that are linked to the elemental stones you want. For example, if you’re looking for a Fire Stone, save the number of Schoolboy Alan on Route 36.
- Delete All Numbers Except the Desired Trainer:
- Go to your Pokégear and delete all trainer numbers except for the one that gives you the stone you’re after. This ensures that the only possible phone call you’ll receive is from that specific trainer.
- Manipulate the Daylight Saving Time (DST):
- To force the game to roll for a phone call, go to your Mom’s house and change the Daylight Saving Time (DST) setting back and forth. This will force the game to trigger the phone call mechanism.
- Each time you change the DST setting, the game will attempt to make a phone call, but since you’ve only kept the number of the trainer you need, the game will always trigger that specific trainer’s call.
- Rematch if Necessary:
- If the trainer calls for a rematch (which happens when you’ve battled them previously), go ahead and battle them. Once the rematch is over, continue manipulating the clock until the trainer offers you a gift—the elemental stone you’ve been waiting for.
- Repeat for Multiple Stones:
- If you need more than one stone, you can repeat this process as many times as you want. After each phone call, go back to the DST setting, change it, and the game will try again.
Alternative Method: Wait Until Kanto
If you’re not interested in manipulating the phone calls and want to keep things natural, you can wait until you reach Kanto. The Celadon Department Store in Kanto has a variety of elemental stones available for purchase. You can buy as many as you need once you’ve reached this part of the game.
However, the Celadon Department Store method won’t allow you to evolve your Pokémon before the Pokémon League, so using the phone manipulation technique is often preferred if you’re aiming to fill out your team before then.
Final Thoughts
Using the phone call trick to acquire elemental stones in Pokémon Crystal is a great way to speed up the process and evolve your Pokémon before the Pokémon League. By tracking the right trainers and manipulating the Daylight Saving Time setting, you can ensure you get the stones you need quickly. Alternatively, waiting until Kanto offers a more straightforward, though slower, method to obtain these items.
Whether you prefer a faster method or want to take your time, this guide helps you make the best decision for evolving your Pokémon in Pokémon Crystal before heading to Kanto. Happy hunting for those shiny new evolutions!
