Quartz Crystal

Pokémon Quartz Crystal (v1.0.0 Alpha)

Last updated: 2026-07-03 Latest version: v1.0.0

Welcome

Thank you for looking at the Quartz Crystal documentation. In here, you will find a list of changes to the Vanilla Crystal experience. There will undoubtedly be some things missing from this documentation, but we’ll just call those surprises.

Download

Click here to download version 1.0.0

This page contains spoilers, so please stop reading if you do not wish to see all the changes!

Core Gameplay Changes

Open World Mode

• The primary aim of this hack is to provide a true open world experience for Pokémon Crystal; all balancing has been created with this in mind, and the game has primarily been tested in open world mode. Linear mode may contain bugs and softlocks which have not yet been discovered.
• In Open World Mode, you can choose to spawn either in New Bark Town or Pallet Town; you will be given all the items required to explore both regions, the Magnet Train and SS Aqua will be active straight away.
• All Pokémon (except fishing) will scale their levels depending on the number of badges you have acquired; trainer parties and wild Pokémon will automatically evolve when they scale. You can disable scaling from the options menu.
• All trainers act as they do in Scarlet and Violet - they will not walk up to you to engage you in battle, you must interact with them to initiate a battle.

First Partner Pokémon Selection

When playing in Open World Mode, you are able to choose any Pokémon as your starter, for convenience, there is an option to pick from just the Generation 1, 2, and 3 starters. The selection of First Partner Pokémon has changed in linear mode in this ROM Hack. Instead of CHIKORITA, CYNDAQUIL, and TOTODILE, you can choose from TREECKO, TORCHIC, and MUDKIP.

Trade Evolutions

As multiplayer functionality has been removed from this ROM Hack, all Pokémon who evolve by trade now evolve in different ways. You can purchase a LINKING CORD to evolve HAUNTER, GRAVELER, MACHOKE, and KADABRA. All Pokémon who evolve while being traded holding an item will now evolve when you use the item on them from the Party Menu.

Friendship Evolutions

All Pokémon who evolve via Friendship may also now evolve via the FRIEND STONE; this will not increase their friendship, but provides a shortcut towards gaining the final evolutions. Gameplay Changes

Gameplay Tweaks

Several bugs and mechanics have been tweaked to make for a more balanced gameplay experience.

General Quality of Life Changes

• You no longer take POISON damage on the overworld.
• RARE CANDIES have been replaced with an infinitely reusable CANDY JAR. If you decline the CANDY JAR, an NPC will be located on the 2nd floor of any Pokémon Center and will sell it for ¥50,000
• You now turn around after healing at Pokémon Center.
• Nurse Joy’s text has been significantly shortened after the first heal.
• Healing at a Pokémon Center, and Saving have been sped up.
• The Game Clock can now be reset with an NPC on the 2nd floor of Pokémon Center.
• The Trainer Card now shows Kanto badges on the third page.
• REPEL Steps will show in the pause menu when a REPEL is active.
• Sweet Scent and Headbutt now prompt reuse after battle.
• Pressing B on the battle screen in a wild encounter will put the cursor over RUN.
• Kurt finishes Apricorn Balls immediately.
• TMs obtained in Item Balls on the overworld are recoloured to be green.
• Shiny Pokémon now have an extra dialogue box when encountered, and you are unable to run from them.
• Shiny Pokémon no longer take any kind of recoil damage.
• A third player gender has been implemented, allowing you to play as a non-binary character.
• Roaming Pokémon are the only Pokémon who will flee in battle.
• The Day Care now produces eggs twice as often, and will continue to produce eggs after declining one.
• You may now fish while surfing. Surfing sprites have been updated to show the player on the Pokémon.
• Wild Battles can be shortened with an option for Quick Intro, Quick Outro, or both.
• RUNNING SHOES have been added into the game.
• A MOVE REMINDER is located in BLACKTHORN CITY and will teach Pokémon any moves they could previously learn for ¥1000.
• You can now fly across regions between JOHTO and KANTO.
• A Gardener can chop down the grass near the Daycare on Route 34.
• Gender and Shininess are no longer linked to DVs; you can press SELECT on the Stats Screen to view DVs.
• Several minor bug-fixes.

Mechanic Changes

• Mass Outbreaks are now activated by talking to the TV in the Player's House. Mass Outbreaks now work in a similar way to Scarlet/Violet - a limited number of a Pokémon species will be generated on a specific route, and the more you knock out, the greater the Shiny Rate. These Pokémon CANNOT be chained.
• Headbutt and Rock Smash encounter levels now scale per Gym Badge, with the level being 5 times the number of Badges you have. If you have no badges, the level will be set to 5.
• Poké Mart inventories now scale per Gym Badge and are consistent throughout all the regular Poké Marts.
• Pokémon who evolve via TRADING will now evolve either via a LINKING CORD, or the item they need to hold to evolve.
• Several extra moves and Pokémon have been added to the game, including all the Hoenn Pokédex.
• The CHINCHOU line has been moved to the Medium Slow experience group.
• PRIMO returns to the VIOLET CITY Pokémon Center.
• Jasmine now gives EARTHQUAKE as a TM instead of IRON TAIL. IRON TAIL’s TM is in VICTORY ROAD.
• Cooldown for Wild Encounters has been doubled to 10 steps between Encounters.
• DARK-type moves are PHYSICAL, and GHOST-type moves are SPECIAL.
• FLOWERPOTS have been added to several Johto towns. These can be interacted with to encounter wild Pokémon.

Item Changes

• You can receive a MEDICINE BOX to heal outside of Pokémon Centers up to 3 times in a row.
• TMs are infinitely reusable and will display their names when obtaining them.
• Held Type Boosting items are available for sale in the Goldenrod Underground. 6 items are unlocked by default, with a further 6 being available after 5 badges, and all items available after 8 badges.
• Several new in and out of battle items.

Field Move Changes

• All Field Moves have been removed from the game. Most field moves have been replaced by either the Exploration Kit, or dedicated Field Move Items; in Linear Mode, you still unlock these items in the same place as in vanilla gameplay.

Move Tutors

• WATER PULSE - In a house in SPRUCE TOWN
• AERIAL ACE - In the Route 32 Pokémon Center, where the Fishing Guru used to be.
• MAGIC COAT - OLIVINE WAY house
• SIGNAL BEAM - Southern RUINS OF ALPH, requires SURF.
• FLASH CANNON - Trail of Rage
• OMINOUS WIND - Route 38, Night Time Only
• ANCIENTPOWER - Union Cave
• REFLECT - Ecruteak City
• LIGHT SCREEN - Ecruteak City
• BUG BUZZ - Route 35
• ROCK TOMB - Route 35
• WILL-O-WISP - Route 26
• DRAGON CLAW - Blackthorn City
• SHOCK WAVE - Lake of Rage

Micro Abilities

• Leading with Slowbro, Snorlax, Slowking, Teddiursa, Wooper, Quagsire, or Zangoose will guarantee a Headbutt encounter.
• Leading with Grimer, Muk, Octillery, Lileep, Cradily, Gulpin, or Swalot will guarantee a Fishing encounter.
• Leading with Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Spearow, Fearow, Farfetch'd, Hitmonchan, Sentret, Furret, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Sneasel, Skarmory, Ekans, Arbok, Growlithe, Arcanine, Tauros, Gyarados, Snubbull, Granbull, Stantler, Hitmontop, Wingull, Pelipper, Mightyena, Masquerain, Mawile, or Salamence will halve the Encounter Rate.
• Leading with Staryu, Starmie, Diglett, Dugtrio, Machop, Machoke, or Machamp will double the Encounter Rate.
• Leading with Butterfree, Venonat, Yanma, Togepi, Togetic, Murkrow, Dustox, Nincada, or Absol will significantly increase the chances of a wild Pokémon holding an item.
• Having Slugma, Magcargo, Ponyta, Rapidash, Magmar, Moltres, Magby, or Camerupt in the Party will (roughly) halve the time it takes for Eggs to hatch.
• Meowth, Aipom, Teddiursa, Phanpy, Zigzagoon, and Linoone have a 10% chance of picking up an item after winning a battle, provided they aren't currently holding an item.

Shiny Rates

There are several ways to increase the chances of finding a shiny Pokémon.

Standard Shiny Rate

The standard Shiny Rate is 1/4096 - this applies globally. No Pokémon are shiny locked.

Shiny Charm

The Shiny Charm is awarded after completing the Pokédex. It can be obtained by talking to the Game Director in Celadon City.

The Shiny Charm adds another 1/2048 chance of encountering a shiny Pokémon. This stacks with the standard Shiny Rate to give a 1/1365 chance of encountering a shiny Pokémon.

Boosted Shiny Locations

Certain areas in the game boost your Shiny Rate. This will give you another 1/1024 chance to encounter a shiny Pokémon. This boosted Shiny Rate will stack with other methods to boost your rate.

Daily Safari

North of Route 40, where the Battle Tower used to be is the DAILY SAFARI. This is an area where you can encounter three random Pokémon per day. These change at midnight every day, and can be any Pokémon excluding Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.

The Daily Safari has a standard Shiny Rate of 1/819. This stacks with the Shiny Charm and the standard Shiny Rate to give effective odds of 1/512. All other boosts still apply to this area.

Golden Rod

The Golden Rod gives a flat 1/256 chance of encountering a shiny Pokémon. All other boosts to the Shiny Rate still apply when using the Golden Rod.

Shiny Sandwiches

Sandwiches can be bought from GRUBWAY in Goldenrod City, Olivine City, Blackthorn City, Saffron City, Fuchsia City, and Viridian City.

These will give you a flat boost to your Shiny Rate for a limited amount of time. The time and level boost are shown on the Start Menu when you have a Sandwich active.

The Sandwich Timer uses the real-time clock, so cannot be paused or reset with save states.

These boosted Shiny Rates stack with other methods.

Shiny Rates

Sandwich Level 1: 1/1024 Sandwich Level 2: 1/768 Sandwich Level 3: 1/512

Species Chaining

You can “chain” any Pokémon which is obtainable in the wild, or as a gift. This includes static encounters and first partner Pokémon.

To chain WILD Pokémon, you need to consecutively knock out the Pokémon you are targeting. The only way to break your chain is to knock out a Pokémon of a different species in a WILD battle.

At certain milestones along the chain, your Shiny Rate will increase, as will your chances of encountering the Pokémon you are targeting. The chain caps out at 250. Using SWEET SCENT while on a chain will force rerolls for your targeted Pokémon to help your chain build quicker.

To chain GIFT and STATIC Pokémon, you need to save the game before you receive or encounter the Pokémon. After you have received or caught the Pokémon, check to see if it is shiny. If it isn’t, reset the game (do not Save State) and check again. As soon as you receive your Pokémon, your chain automatically increases and saves to Save RAM, meaning your chain can build through soft-resets.

You can chain one wild and one gift species at any one time. Wild chains and Gift chains are stored in separate locations, so they will not overwrite each other. Trainer

Battles do not affect your knockout chain. You can move your chain across different areas, however, you will not receive an encounter boost until you have defeated a Pokémon in any specific area.

Chaining will increase your Shiny Rate for that specific species or the gift Pokémon you are receiving. The greater your chain, the greater your chance of encountering a shiny Pokémon. These boosts stack with all other methods.

Shiny Rates

• 10 Chain: 1/1024
• 25 Chain: 1/896
• 75 Chain: 1/640
• 100 Chain: 1/576
• 125 Chain: 1/512
• 150 Chain: 1/448
• 175 Chain: 1/384
• 200 Chain: 1/320
• 250+ Chain: 1/256

Mass Outbreaks

After defeating the Sudowoodo on Route 36, certain Pokémon species will begin to swarm in Mass Outbreaks. You can discover a new Mass Outbreak by talking to the TV in the Player’s House. Each Mass Outbreak will generate up to 120 Pokémon of a species in a specific location, and the counter will decrease with every encounter of that species. You will be notified at key milestones in the outbreak.

Mass Outbreaks automatically clear at midnight every night, but you can generate multiple Mass Outbreaks per day, providing the previous one has been cleared. Once you have defeated the Pokémon League, further Mass Outbreaks can be discovered in the Kanto region.

Pokémon in Mass Outbreaks cannot be chained, but their Shiny Rates will stack with all other boosts.

Shiny Rates:

• 76 or more remaining: 1/512 75 to 51 remaining: 1/384
• 50 or fewer remaining: 1/256

Side Quests

• Miltank Abduction: The Miltank at the Route 39 farm had better watch out. A mischievous Clefairy is on the loose abducting them! Rescue all of them to obtain a special reward.
• Vermilion City Machop House: Gather Brick Pieces to help the man build his house. You may find something special once you have helped him out!
• Mr Fuji’s Diary: Find information about the creation of MEWTWO, then speak to Mr. Fuji. He might know more than he lets on!
• The Islands: You can find items which will help you find the LEGENDARY BIRDS. Speak to the SAILOR at the OLIVINE PORT when you find them and he will be more than willing to assist you.
• Friends Reunited: A pair of old friends have lost each other! Hunt them down in the postgame and receive a special reward for your troubles!
• A Boy and his Rat: A hapless Trainer has gotten himself into trouble. Will you be the hero of the hour, or will you let him learn a lesson on his own?
• Kenya: A guard on the Route 35 Gate is stuck in his post and needs to deliver a message to his friend on Route 33! Talk to him to obtain the verbal message, and then pass the word on to receive the Kenya reward from the guard!

Map Changes

Brand New Areas

• CHERRY GROVE - an alternative path between Route 46 and Route 30. Accessible from the start of the game, and provides an alternative path for the start of the game.
• CHERRYGROVE PASS - a new optional area where you obtain the Old Rod. Also contains a Drinks Shop to buy Lemonade, Fresh Water, Berry Juice, and Soda Pop.
• GOLDENROD CAPE, ABANDONED MINE, and SOLAR FOREST - a set of new

areas west of Goldenrod City which are required for storyline progression. Accessed after defeating Jasmine and Pryce.

• VIOLET FALLS - a new area connecting Route 42 and Violet City which is accessible after defeating Clair. Contains several stronger wild Pokémon.
• BIJOU TOWN - a new optional town connected with two new routes in Kanto covering the south-eastern corner of the map. Golden Fishing Rod is obtained here, along with providing a new land-based connection between Lavender Town and Fuchsia City.
• THE ISLANDS - a set of three islands accessible by boat. Certain Legendary Pokémon can be found here.
• SPRUCE TOWN - A new town connecting Routes 32 and 33.
• MAPLEWOOD TOWN - A new town between Route 40 and the Lake of Rage. Connected via Olivine Way and the Trail of Rage.
• BATTLE FACILITY - A new Battle Facility on Route 26. Battle multiple opponents to earn points and experience points in preparation for the Pokémon League. (experimental)

Updated Areas

• VIRIDIAN FOREST - restored back to its original Generation I state. Static Sudowoodo encounters can be found here.
• CINNABAR ISLAND - restored back to its original Generation I state. Includes Cinnabar Mansion, Cinnabar Gym, and Cinnabar Lab.
• PEWTER MUSEUM - restored back to its original Generation I state. Has an NPC who will sell Fossils to restore at Cinnabar Lab.
• POKÉMON CENTER (2F) - Multiplayer functionality has been stripped and the floor now contains useful NPCs.
• ROUTE 32 - Southern part of route modified to add a Gate for Spruce Town.
• ROUTE 33 - Eastern part of route modified to add a Gate for Spruce Town.
• LAKE OF RAGE - Hedge maze simplified and a Gate has been added to access Trail of Rage.
• CIANWOOD CITY - A Poké Mart and a Gift Shop (with Evo Stones) have been added to the city.
• ROUTE 26 - A Training Facility and Pokémon Center have been constructed. You can continuously battle against teams of Lv60 Pokémon in the Training Facility to earn points.
• VIRIDIAN TRAINER HOUSE - Repurposed into an INVERSE BATTLE FACILITY.

You are no longer restricted to one battle per day.

Removed Areas

• Battle Tower - Removed to make room for upcoming features.