Hidden Items in GSC

By atsync.

Introduction

Collecting items is a fundamental part of playing Pokemon. In most cases, collecting an item is as simple as finding it on the ground and picking it up. It isn't always this easy, however, as there are many items that are hidden from view. These items will often get overlooked unless you either have prior knowledge of the item or just happen to use an item-locating device in the right location. This guide will show you where you can find every hidden item in Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal.

The Itemfinder

The Itemfinder is a key item that allows you to detect nearby hidden items. If you are following this guide, then you probably won't need to use the Itemfinder to find the majority of the items, but it can still be helpful for certain areas, such as the Whirl Islands, where the items tend to lack clear reference points for pinpointing them. The Itemfinder can even be used to confirm that you have already collected an item if you begin using this guide partway through the game.

To get the Itemfinder, head to Ecruteak City and enter the house east of the Gym. Talk to the boy inside and answer "Yes" to his question to get the Itemfinder. The GSC Itemfinder is not able to pinpoint hidden items; however, it will make a sound if there is a hidden item on the screen somewhere. Once the Itemfinder does its work, you'll have to search for the exact location of the item yourself.

Hidden Items

Note that the items are listed in a rough order based on when players can access them. Because the games tend to become less linear as you progress, some items listed further down in this guide might be obtained before items listed above them, depending on what order you prefer to complete each task. Therefore, don't feel obliged to follow the order of this guide exactly if you prefer to do things in a different order to what is presented here.

Route 30

Potion: Just below Mr. Pokémon's house are some flowers. There is a Potion amongst the lower-left group of flowers.

Route 32

Super Potion: There is a patch of grass directly north of the pier. At the upper-right corner of this patch of grass is a hidden Super Potion.

Great Ball: Directly above the Pokémon Center is a narrow passage amongst the trees; check the spot at the end of this passage for a Great Ball. Note that you will be unable to collect this item on Friday because it's on the exact spot where Frieda stands.

Azalea Town

Full Heal: Walk behind the Slowpoke Well and check the center brick of the northern wall of the Well to receive a Full Heal.

Ilex Forest

Full Heal (Crystal only): When you reach the Trainer Tips sign south of the pond, check the spot just to the west of the sign (in a corner surrounded by Headbutt trees) for a Full Heal.

Full Heal (Gold/Silver only): East of the Trainer Tips sign, and south of the pond, there is a short and narrow passage leading into the trees. There is a hidden Full Heal at the end of the passage.

Super Potion (Gold/Silver only): Further along from the last hidden item, and directly east of the pond, there is a narrow passage that branches off from the main path. It is located just before the main path splits near the end of the forest. At the end of this passage is a Super Potion.

Super Potion (Crystal only): When the main path splits, head right as if you were going to get the Headbutt TM. A bit over halfway down this path, there is a Super Potion hidden in a corner surrounded by large trees.

Ether (Gold/Silver only): When the main path splits, head up and look to the right. There is another narrow passage here, and hidden at the end of this passage is an Ether.

Ether (Crystal only): Just to the northeast of the pond, there is an Ether hidden in a corner surrounded by large trees.

Route 34 (Part 1)

Super Potion: There is a Super Potion hidden in the backyard of the Day-Care Center, at the spot on the inside corner of the pond. Note that you can't get this item if you have given the Day-Care Lady a Pokemon to look after because it will stand on this exact spot. If you have given her a Pokemon, simply take it back to resolve the issue. It doesn't matter if the Day-Care Man has a Pokemon because it stands on a different spot.

Goldenrod Underground

Super Potion: Head to the section of the Underground between the 2 southernmost stores. Check the center of the floor in this section for a Super Potion.

Parlyz Heal: Check the gap between the 2 northernmost stores of the Underground for a Parlyz Heal.

Antidote: From the northern end of the Underground, head east towards the locked door leading into the Goldenrod Rocket Hideout. Hidden on the floor just outside this door is an Antidote.

National Park

Full Heal: Head to the northeast section of the park and access the path behind the fence via the hidden gap next to the boy playing his Game Boy. Head left along this path, and then head right when the path splits. When you reach the end, check the final tile for a Full Heal.

Violet City

Hyper Potion: You will need Cut to get this item. Just north of the Pokémon Center is a small passage between the trees blocked off by a Cuttable bush. At the end of this passage is a Hyper Potion.

Dark Cave

Elixir: You will need Rock Smash to get this item. Enter Dark Cave from the Violet City side and follow the normal path, Smashing any rocks in your way. Head up when the path splits, and just above this split you'll come across a small opening between the wall and a boulder. There is an Elixir hidden in this opening.

Route 37

Ether: Check the tile to the upper-left of the Route 37 sign (just below the entrance to Ecruteak City) for an Ether.

Ecruteak City

Hyper Potion: There is a pond to the north of the city. Check the tile at the inner corner of the pond for a Hyper Potion.

Burned Tower

Ultra Ball (Crystal only): Just to the upper-right of the entrance is a small opening between some boulders. There is an Ultra Ball hidden here.

Burn Heal (Gold/Silver only): From the entrance, head right and fall down the first hole you come to. There is a Burn Heal in the opening between the boulders here.

Ultra Ball (Gold/Silver only): From the entrance, head left and fall down the first hole you come to. There is an Ultra Ball in the opening between the boulders here.

Ether: Head left from the entrance and make your way to the center of the floor. Head past the hole in the middle leading down to Raikou, Entei, and Suicune's lair, and just before the path reaches a dead-end, you'll see a small gap in the boulders to your right. There is an Ether hidden here.

Nugget (Gold/Silver only): Drop down into Raikou, Entei, and Suicune's lair. After they flee, check the center of the platform for a Nugget.

Route 34 (Part 2)

Rare Candy: You will need Surf to get this item. Surf down to the platform behind the fence and check the upper-left corner of the trees near the bottom for a Rare Candy.

Route 39

Nugget: Enter the Miltank field. There is a Nugget right in the middle of the 4 Miltank.

Olivine Lighthouse

Hyper Potion: Head up the Lighthouse, avoiding any holes along the way. When you reach the top floor, head south as far as you can go. TM34 is located at this spot, and hidden right next to the TM is a Hyper Potion.

Route 40

Hyper Potion (Gold/Silver only): You will need Rock Smash to get this item. On the beach are a number of rocks. Smash the leftmost rock and check the tile underneath for a Hyper Potion.

Hyper Potion (Crystal only): You will need Rock Smash to get this item. On the beach are a number of rocks. Smash the rock closest to the gate leading to the Battle Tower and check the tile underneath for a Hyper Potion.

Cianwood City

Max Ether: You will need Rock Smash to get this item. Smash the rock west of the Cianwood City Photo Studio and check the tile underneath for a Max Ether.

Revive (Gold/Silver only): You will need Rock Smash to get this item. Smash the rock second from the top of the island and check the tile underneath for a Revive.

Revive (Crystal only): You will need Rock Smash to get this item. Smash the rock directly below the Seer's house at the north of Cianwood City and check the tile underneath for a Revive.

Route 42

Max Potion: You will need Surf to get this item. From the Ecruteak City-Route 42 gate, head east and Surf towards the rock in the center of the first pond. There is a Max Potion on the lower-left portion of the rock.

Mt. Mortar (Part 1)

Hyper Potion: From the right entrance of Mt. Mortar, head up the stairs and towards the door. To the left of the door is a boulder which yields a Hyper Potion when inspected.

Lake of Rage

Full Restore: Head up the western side of the Lake of Rage (accessed via Route 43) and follow the path until you reach a group of ledges. Just above these ledges is a narrow passage heading east; there is a hidden Full Restore at the end of this passage.

Rare Candy: You will need Cut to get this item. From the hidden Full Restore, continue following the path until you reach a fork. Head left at the fork, Cut the bush in the way, and head up to the end of the path. Check the tile at the end for a Rare Candy. Note that you will be unable to collect this item on Wednesday because it's on the exact spot where Wesley stands.

Max Potion: Head up the eastern side of the Lake of Rage until you can't go any further. To the left you should see a small opening between the water and the trees. There is a hidden Max Potion at this spot.

Team Rocket HQ

Revive: On the left side of B1F is a floor section with traps; stepping on some of these tiles triggers a wild Pokemon battle. There is a hidden Revive located in the center of the third row of trap tiles (directly above the stairs).

Full Heal: When you reach B4F, head straight down to find a computer with a line of machines directly above it. There is a Full Heal in the machine second from the right, just to the upper-right of the computer.

Goldenrod Rocket Hideout

Revive: When you reach the maze of doors, press the left button and head down through the opening below you. There is a hidden Revive in this part of the maze, to the left of the opening you just came through.

Max Potion: When you reach the maze of doors, press the left button, then the middle button, and finally the right button. Head down through the opening below the left button and head right. Just to the left of the next opening heading down is a hidden Max Potion.

Tin Tower

Max Potion: When you reach 4F, jump across the small platforms heading left to reach the larger central platform. Check the exact spot that you just landed on for a Max Potion.

Full Restore: When you reach 5F, hop right across the small platforms above you and hop down at the first opportunity. At the next 2 intersections, hop down and right to reach the central platform. Next, hop across the small platforms to the lower-right to reach the southeast platform. There is a hidden Full Restore on this platform, on the tile to the upper-left of the stairs.

Carbos: When you reach 5F, hop across the small platforms above you and hop down at the first opportunity. At the next 3 intersections, hop down, down again, and then left, following the platforms until you reach the southwest platform. There is a hidden Carbos on this platform, on the tile to the lower-right of the stairs.

Route 41

Max Ether: You will need Whirlpool to get this item. Go to the southwest entrance of the Whirl Islands and get past the whirlpool. Just south of the whirlpool is a small square of land isolated from the other land sections. Check the lower-right tile for a Max Ether.

Whirl Islands

Full Restore: Access the Whirl Islands via the northwest entrance and head down the ladder. Ignore the stairs heading off the platform here and head south. Go down the stairs at the end of the platform and check the isolated rock in the corner of the wall to your left for a Full Restore.

Rare Candy: Access the Whirl Islands via the northwest entrance and head down the ladder. Head down the stairs to your right. Make your way east and head up the next set of stairs you come to onto a new platform. Follow the platform to the end and head down the next set of stairs, jumping over the ledges to your right. Ignore the ladder here and head north to find a small opening between the wall and some boulders. Check this spot for a Rare Candy.

Ultra Ball: Access the Whirl Islands via the southwest entrance. Surf east across the water and go down the ladder. Follow the path up (ignore the pushable rock) and you'll come across a narrow opening to the north between the wall and 2 boulders. There is an Ultra Ball hidden at the end of the opening.

Route 44

Elixir: Surf across the pond to the grass patch in the middle. There is an Elixir hidden here, in the middle of the lower row of grass.

Ice Path

Carbos: In the large icy room where the boulders fell after you pushed them down the holes, head to the dry southwest section. There is a small opening here that contains a hidden Carbos.

Ice Heal: Two rooms after the large icy room with the boulders, you'll be in a room with a raised platform and a ledge that you can jump over. From the ladder you came through, head right and down across the ice, but don't jump off the ledge. Head onto the platform, walk across to the stairs, and slide down to the ladder. Instead of going up the ladder, take 1 step left and ride the ice up. You'll hit a boulder that yields an Ice Heal when inspected.

Max Potion (Gold/Silver only): One room after the hidden Ice Heal, follow the path to reach another icy section. From the stairs, slide down, right, up, and left, and then check the boulder you hit for a Max Potion.

Max Potion (Crystal only): One room after the hidden Ice Heal, follow the path to reach another icy section. Slide straight down from the stairs and check the boulder you hit for a Max Potion.

Dragon's Den

Revive (Gold/Silver only): As soon as you enter the main area, head right. There is a Revive hidden at the end of the path.

Max Potion: There is a rock in the water just north of the shrine; check the lower-right section of the rock for a Max Potion.

Revive (Crystal only): Follow the path through Dragon's Den past the front of the shrine until you reach a platform to the southeast. Check the lower-right corner of the platform for a Revive.

Max Elixir: Follow the path through Dragon's Den until you reach the Dragon Fang. Enter the water here and inspect the large rock in the upper-left corner for a Max Elixir.

Mt. Mortar (Part 2)

Full Restore (Gold/Silver only): You will need Waterfall to get this item. Enter the middle entrance and make your way to the next room. In this new room, follow the path until you reach the platform with a Dragon Scale on it. Just to the right of this platform are a set of ledges; you are aiming to place yourself in the space between the 2 ledges. To get there, just continue to follow the path as it goes east and then back west until you end up above the upper ledge, and then jump down. Check the right tile in this space for a Full Restore.

Full Restore (Crystal only): You will need Waterfall to get this item. Enter the middle entrance of the mountain and make your way to the next room. In this new room, follow the path until you reach the platform with a Dragon Scale on it. Just to the east of this platform is a narrow passage between some boulders; check the boulder at the end for a Full Restore.

Max Repel: You will need Waterfall to get this item. Enter the middle entrance of the mountain and make your way through the first 2 rooms. In the third room, head east along the large platform and head down the eastern stairs, but don't jump off the ledges. At the bottom of the stairs is an isolated rock which yields a Max Repel when inspected. Note that the area looks slightly different in Crystal but it's in essentially the same area.

Max Revive: You will need Waterfall to get this item. Enter the middle entrance of the mountain and make your way through all the rooms until you reach the area with the Karate King. Just below the ladder in this section is an isolated rock; check this rock for a Max Revive. Note that the area looks slightly different in Crystal but it's in essentially the same area.

Route 45

PP Up: Start at the top of the mountain and stick to the eastern side as you make your way down. Eventually you'll come across a small pond. Surf onto the pond and check the tile left of the center for a PP Up.

Victory Road

Full Heal: From the entrance, head left straight away and you'll come across an isolated rock. Check the rock for a Full Heal.

Max Potion: Follow the main path as usual, but before you leave through the door leading to Indigo Plateau, head left at the intersection and fall down the hole at the end. You'll land near TM26; directly below TM26 is a rock which yields a Max Potion when inspected.

Vermilion City

Iron: Note that you can only get this on days when the S.S. Aqua is traveling from Olivine City to Vermilion City (any day for the first trip, or every Monday and Friday for subsequent trips). Go to Olivine City and take the S.S. Aqua to Vermilion City. When you arrive, immediately Surf right into the enclosed area beside you. Surf over to the upper-right corner of this area and check the leftmost buoy in the line of 4 buoys here for an Iron.

Full Heal: Check the bush next to the Gym for a Full Heal.

Route 9

Ether (Gold/Silver only): From the western entrance of the route, head east until you reach an intersection where the road splits into a path going up and a path continuing east. Take the path going up until you reach a patch of grass to the northwest of the route. There is a line of trees to the right of the patch of grass and below a Trainer; check the leftmost tree for an Ether.

Ether: (Crystal only): Make your way to the eastern side of Route 9 and check the southeast corner of the route for an Ether.

Cerulean Gym

Machine Part: This is the only hidden item that you have to find to progress through the game. After you defeat the foreign Team Rocket member on Nugget Bridge, return to Cerulean Gym and check the upper-left tile of the middle square of water to get the Machine Part.

Underground Path (Route 5-Route 6)

Full Restore: Check the tile 7 down from the northern stairs for a Full Restore.

X Special: Check the tile 8 up from the bottom wall in the leftmost column for an X Special.

Cerulean City

Berserk Gene: Head up Nugget Bridge and Surf back down into Cerulean City. The Berserk Gene is hidden in a corner left of the boy standing nearby, approximately where Cerulean Cave was in the first generation.

Route 25

Potion: When you reach Route 25, head to the upper-left corner to find an isolated tree surrounded by a ledge. Check this tree for a Potion.

Rock Tunnel

X Accuracy: Head east slightly from the northern entrance of Rock Tunnel to reach a narrow passage between the wall and some boulders. There is an X Accuracy at the end of this path.

Max Potion: From the northern entrance of Rock Tunnel, progress along the path until you climb the third ladder you come across. You should be in a room with a number of paths heading north and south. Head to the left side of this room, and then head down to find a small gap in some boulders at the end of the path. Check the tile in this gap for a Max Potion.

X Defend: In the final room (assuming you started from the northern entrance) is a platform with TM47. Just east of this platform is a small passage between some boulders that has a hidden X Defend at the end.

Celadon City

PP Up: Head to the southern part of the city, and then head east to find some narrow passages in the trees. Head up the passage going north and check the tree at the end for a PP Up.

Leftovers: Enter the restaurant in the southern part of the city. Check the trash can near the counter for a Leftovers.

Route 17 (Cycling Road)

Max Ether (Gold/Silver only): There is a Max Ether hidden in the patch of grass at the top of Cycling Road.

Max Ether (Crystal only): Head down the central path of Cycling Road. Check the water directly below the outside corner at the bottom of the central path for a Max Ether.

Max Elixir: Ride down towards the bottom of Cycling Road and you should reach a small fence in the middle of the path. Check the left side of this fence for a Max Elixir.

Route 13

Calcium: From the eastern entrance to the maze of fences, hug the lower wall until you reach a gap in the fence and a dead end. Walk as far as you can go and look at the fence to the left. There is a Calcium in this fence.

Route 12

Elixir: Just south of Lavender Town, there is a small island that requires Surf to reach. Check the lower-left tile on this island for an Elixir.

Route 11

Revive: There is an isolated tree on the eastern side of the route, just below a Berry tree. This tree contains a Revive.

Diglett's Cave

Max Revive: Just below the northern ladder is an isolated rock; inspect it for a Max Revive.

Route 2

Full Heal: Enter the tree maze from the north and follow the path until you come across a small gap in the upper group of trees. Check this spot for a Full Heal.

Max Ether: If you continue along the path you'll come across another gap in the trees. Step into this gap and check the tree on your right for a Max Ether.

Revive: Make your way to the southeast corner of the tree maze and enter the short passage here. Walk right to the end and check the tree below you for a Revive.

Full Restore: There is a group of 4 trees just above the southern entrance to the tree maze. Check the upper-left tree for a Full Restore.

Mt. Moon Square

Moon Stone: Note that you can only get this item on Monday nights, and that you will need Rock Smash to get it. On Monday night, enter the area with a Pokemon with Rock Smash and approach the grass square on the left side. An event involving two Clefairy dancing around a rock will occur. When the Clefairy spot you and flee, Smash the rock and check the tile underneath for a Moon Stone. Note that if you leave the area before activating the event (or you activate the event but leave before Smashing the rock and collecting the item), the event will not occur again until the following Monday night (hence why it is important that you have Rock Smash ready before actually entering Mt. Moon Square).

Route 4

Ultra Ball: Just to the east of the eastern entrance to Mt. Moon, and just above a Picnicker, is a plateau. There is an Ultra Ball on this plateau.

Cinnabar Island

Rare Candy: Just above the Pokémon Center is a narrow passage that leads up and right. Check the last tile of this passage for a Rare Candy.

Route 28

Rare Candy: You will need Cut to get this item. Head east from the Mt. Silver Pokémon Center along the narrow passage, making your way past the two bushes and the house. When you reach the end of the passage, check the tree above you for a Rare Candy.

Mt. Silver

Full Restore: Surf across the pond south of the Mt. Silver Pokémon Center to find a plateau. There is a Full Restore hidden on this plateau, just to the right of the group of trees.

Dire Hit: From the entrance of the mountain, follow the main path across the first large platform. When you reach the end of this platform, jump off the ledge nearby and check the isolated rock here for a Dire Hit.

Ultra Ball: Just before you reach the exit of the first room, head south into the narrow passage between the boulders. There is an Ultra Ball hidden at the end of this passage.

Max Potion: When you enter the second room, check the rock near the water immediately to your left for a Max Potion.