Modifications - Rangi42/polishedcrystal GitHub Wiki
As shown in the official README and FAQ, Polished Crystal contains a wide variety of modifications on Pokémon stats, moves, species availability, and so on. Some changes are exclusive to the Regular version while the others apply to both Regular and Faithful.
See also: the list of Faithful conditionals in the code (via GitHub's search)
The basic data and mechanics to which this game applies additioanl changes is essentially up to date (Gen. VI–IX). Due to its modernization principles, it assumes you're familiar with canon features in the recent titles. Learning them on other websites (e.g. Serebii, Smogon, Bulbapedia) may be crucial.
Polished Crystal sometimes runs ahead of the canon: e.g. it implemented the Defense buff on Ice-type Pokémon in Hail before Gen. IX did that in Snow.
Contents
General Mechanics
- IVs and EVs / Friendship / Breeding / TMs and HMs
- Revamped Pokédex and PC storage
- Utilities, e.g. Bill's grandpa now living in Goldenrod instead of Route 25 for earlier access to Evolution stones.
- Time of day now has Evening for the third section, between Day and Night: 5 am - 9 am - 5 pm - 9 pm - 5 am. (
misc_constants.asm) - The Shiny icon is now a star as it'd been since FR/LG until LGP/E. The star will be yellow as in FR/LG when its color is available.
- The Masuda method of Shiny breeding is now triggered by a pair of Pokémon of different OTIDs. (Breeding)
- The Oval Charm now doubles the speed of hatching an Egg as do Flame Body and Magma Armor. While the Abilities don't stack with each other, they do with the Oval Charm.
- In the Regular version, the Amulet Coin held by your lead now boosts the chance of encountering a wild Pokémon holding an item* as do Compound Eyes and Super Luck. The item and the Abilities don't stack with each other.
* The boost by the Amulet Coin was implemented ahead of the Abilities; it has remained effective.
Pokémon Stats
Main database: the base_stats directory
The Regular version contains changes in base stats, types, and Abilities; some are inspired by Mega-Evolved forms. The Pokédex now displays stats information on the Stats tab. See also Pokémon Type, Evolution, Ability, and Stat Changes for the changes in the Regular version compared to Faithful, and Pokémon Learnsets for detailed information about every Pokémon available in the game.
Note that canon base-stats changes still apply to Faithful.
Hidden Abilities
Pokémon can have a Hidden Ability. The Ability Patch is available as a battle facility reward, and there are several more ways of Hidden Ability access.
Custom Shiny Coloration
Not to be confused with the IV-based the Color variation option
Some Shiny Pokémon gets new color: blue Pikachu, sky-blue Dragonite, and more.
Red Gyarados in the Lake of Rage is now a special form instead of Shiny Pokémon. Shiny Gyarados is now gold as is its pre-Evolution, while "Shiny Red Gyarados" remains red.
Caught Ball
Balls now have Use option in the item menu to change the ball of a Pokémon in your party. The old ball will be discarded. Enjoy your fashion any time!
Species Availability
Thanks to the Pokédex expansion, Polished Crystal contains 289 species PLUS regional forms and cosmetic variants, all of whom can be caught in the game. Some Pokémon like Houndour, Murkrow, and Misdreavus are no longer exclusive to Kanto and can be found at sensible locations in Johto. More fully-evolved Pokémon can appear in the wild, such as Steelix.
The Pokédex before the expansion has been archived in 8-bit Pokédex.
Wild Encounters
Main database: the wild directory
See wild encounters to learn how to understand the main database. Evening has a 60% chance of giving Day wild encounters and 40% of Night. (wildmons.asm)
Forms
- Regional forms of the species pertaining to Gen. I–II appear in this game: Alolan, Galarian, Hisuian, and Paldean, as well as Kitakami.
- Paradox Pokémon aren't planned.
- There are cosmetic variants like Arbok with different belly patterns, Magikarp with Magikarp Jump-based patterns, and more. Some may have a special role in the story, such as Red Gyarados and Spiky-eared Pichu.
Evolutions
Main database: evos_attacks.asm
Call Elm in-game for Evolution info. Here are some notable points:
- The Linking Cord appears in the game. Standard trade Evolutions now require it, instead of Link Trade.
- Item trade Evolutions don't need the Linking Cord; they evolve by levelling up while holding the required item.
- Location-based Evolutions occur; most (but not all) cases allow stone-based Evolution as a second method.
- All Eeveelutions now accept the corresponding Evolution stone. Espeon and Umbreon also retains the Friendship method, while Sylveon doesn't.
- Region-based Evolutions vary in methods:
- Many retains the original requirement, e.g. Alolan Sandslash.
- A few evolve by levelling up with the related held item, e.g. Galarian Weezing and Kleavor.
- A few use the same method as their Kanto/Johto counterpart, e.g. Alolan Meowth and Galarian Slowpoke.
- The Strange Souvenir (named
Odd Souvenirin-game) is now an Evolution item for Alolan branch Evolutions, e.g. Alolan Raichu. - As a parity measure for the starters, Hisuian Typhlosion can't be obtained by Evolution.
- Bloodmoon Ursaluna is obtainable by Evolution at the Murky Swamp.*
- Due to the move-database restriction, move-based Evolutions may assign another move, or even use another method.
- Dunsparce and Hisuian Qwilfish: level-up
- Stantler: location
- Mime Jr.: level-up for Kanto; location/stone for Galar
- In the Regular version, Flaaffy now evolves into Ampharos at Lv. 36 instead of 30.
* Subject to change
Roamers
Entei and Raikou roam and, as in later Generations, if they faint uncaught they'll reappear when you enter the Hall of Fame. This game also allows you to release the caught ones to make them reappear in that way, which serves as a re-roll.
Moves
Main database: moves.asm
The move database hasn't been expanded yet, limiting its size to 255.* About 30% of the moves in vanilla have been replaced with the ones from later Generations, and a few merged together. Some newer moves have their name shortened due to the character limit, e.g. Dazzling Gleam >> DazzlinGleam. (name.asm)
See also:
- The learnset page
- The move chart by attributes (on Discord)
Some older moves have also received animation updates.
* It's usually 254 in the 8-bit structure as #0 and #255 ($00, $FF) are reserved for special cases, but Polished Crystal uses a trick allocating Struggle to #255, saving one slot. Move database expansion to 10 bits has been suggested; it's a long way to go.
Explicit Mergers and Renames
Main article: FAQ § I don't recognize this move, what is it?
Four moves below have merged others explicitly, and three of them have been renamed for more accurate descriptions. The game's move animation engine (effect_commands.asm) can now play different animations for the same move depending on the conditions to preserve the original moves' appearance. For example, Chansey's Fresh Snack looks like Soft-Boiled, while Miltank's looks like Milk Drink; Defense Curl has the animation of Withdraw for Squirtle and that of Harden for Onix.
| # | Original | Renamed to | Merging | Animation alts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 | Defense Curl | --- | Harden, Withdraw | Harden / Withdraw for the original users |
| 135 | Soft-Boiled | Fresh Snack | Milk Drink | Milk Drink for Miltank |
| 154 | Fury Swipes | Fury Strikes | Fury Attack | Fury Attack for the original users |
| 234 | Morning Sun | Healing Light | Synthesis, Moonlight | Synthesis for Grass type; Moonlight at night; Morning Sun otherwise |
In addition, Healing Light's healing amount is now independent from the time of day.
Common Learnset Consolidations
The structural limit results in many changes on the modern learnsets. There are some implicit mergers on top of the explicit four. Below are common replacements, though they aren't universal due to the balancing:
- Pound → Tackle
- Tail Whip → Leer
- Bind, Constrict → Wrap
- Sand Attack → Mud-Slap
- Detect → Protect
- Spider Web → Mean Look
- Flail → Reversal
- Heal Pulse, Aqua Ring, etc → Recover and similar
- Superpower, Hammer Arm → Close Combat
- Jump Kick → High Jump Kick
Later Generation Moves
Newer moves have replaced older ones. These apply to both Regular and Faithful, barring Brick Break.
| # | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pound | Acrobatics |
| 4 | Comet Punch | Aereal Ace |
| 5 | Mega Punch | Dragon Claw |
| 11 | Vice Grip | X-Scissor |
| 12 | Guillotine | Night Slash |
| 13 | Razor Wind | Air Slash |
| 18 | Whirlwind | Sucker Punch |
| 20 | Bind | Dazzling Gleam |
| 21 | Slam | Volt Switch |
| 25 | Mega Kick | Flare Blitz |
| 26 | Jump Kick | Stone Edge |
| 27 | Rolling Kick | Focus Blast |
| 28 | Sand Attack | Toxic Spikes |
| 31 | (Fury Attack) | Trick |
| 32 | Horn Drill | Hex |
| 39 | Tail Whip | Hail |
| 41 | Twineedle | U-Turn |
| 54 | Mist | Calm Mind |
| 66 | Submission | Close Combat |
| 90 | Fissure | Avalanche |
| 96 | Meditate | Hone Claws |
| 102 | Mimic | Dragon Pulse |
| 106 | (Harden) | Rock Blast |
| 110 | (Withdraw) | Aqua Tail |
| 117 | Bide | Flash Cannon |
| 119 | Mirror Move | Scald |
| 120 | Self-Destruct | Trick Room |
| 121 | Egg Bomb | Skill Swap |
| 123 | Smog | Gunk Shot |
| 124 | Sludge | Venoshock |
| 125 | Bone Club | Earth Power |
| 128 | Clamp | Icicle Crash |
| 130 | Skull Bash | Iron Head |
| 131 | Spike Cannon | Icicle Spear |
| 132 | Constrict | Bulldoze |
| 134 | Kinesis | Roost |
| 139 | Poison Gas | Poison Jab |
| 140 | Barrage | Bullet Punch |
| 142 | Lovely Kiss | Draining Kiss |
| 143 | Sky Attack | Brave Bird |
| 145 | Bubble | Water Pulse |
| 149 | Psywave | Extrasensory |
| 151 | Acid Armor | Dragon Dance |
| 159 | Sharpen | Bulk Up |
| 165 | (Struggle) | Giga Impact |
| 167 | Triple Kick | Drain Punch |
| 169 | Spider Web | Will-O-Wisp |
| 170 | Mind Reader | Zen Headbutt |
| 171 | Nightmare | Façade |
| 172 | Flame Wheel | Flame Charge |
| 173 | Snore | Hyper Voice |
| 175 | Flail | Gyro Ball |
| 176 | Conversion 2 | Energy Ball |
| 178 | Cotton Spore | Seed Bomb |
| 180 | Spite | Astonish |
| 181 | Powder Snow | Ice Shard |
| 197 | Detect | Power Gem |
| 198 | Bone Rush | Wild Charge |
| 199 | Lock-On | Power Whip |
| 208 | (Milk Drink) | Shell Smash |
| 210 | Fury Cutter | Bug Bite |
| 217 | Present | Psystrike |
| 218 | Frustration | Bug Buzz |
| 230 | Sweet Scent | Shadow Claw |
| 233 | Vital Throw | Aura Sphere |
| 235 | (Synthesis) | Hurricane |
| 236 | (Moonlight) | Knock Off |
| 239 | Twister | Aqua Jet |
| 244 | Psych Up | Nasty Plot |
| 249 | Rock Smash | Brick Break* |
| 251 | Beat Up | Dark Pulse |
| 252 | --- | Moonblast |
| 253 | --- | Play Rough |
| 254 | --- | Disarming Voice |
| 255 | --- | (Struggle) |
* Only on Regular
Move Stat Changes
All Versions
Canon updates from newer Generations are omitted here.
| # | Move | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | Conversion | Now selects a move to copy the type from |
| 255 | Struggle | Type: Normal → ??? |
Regular
| # | Move | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Cut | BP: 50 → 60 Type: Normal → Steel Acc.: 95% → 100% |
| 19 | Fly | Acc. : 95% → 100% |
| 36 | Take Down | Acc.: 85% → 100% PP: 20 → 15 |
| 47 | Sing | Acc.: 55% → 75% |
| 48 | Supersonic | Acc.: 55% → 65% |
| 70 | Strength | Type: Normal → Fighting |
| 83 | Fire Spin | BP: 35 → 40 Acc.: 85% → 90% |
| 91 | Dig | BP: 80 → 90 |
| 118 | Metronome | Type: Normal → ??? PP: 10 → 20 |
| 119 | Scald | BP: 80 → 70 |
| 152 | Crabhammer | Acc.: 90% → 95% |
| 154 | Fury Strikes | BP: 18 → 20 Acc.: 80% → 85% |
| 190 | Octazooka | BP: 65 → 75 Acc.: 85% → 95% Effect chance: 50% → 30% |
| 220 | Pain Split | Type: Normal → Ghost |
| 229 | Rapid Spin | PP: 40 → 20 |
| 237 | Hidden Power | Type: Normal → ??? Can become Fairy type BP: 60 → 70 |
| 250 | Whirlpool | BP: 35 → 40 Acc.: 85% → 90% |
Easter Eggs
- Eevee can learn Earth Power from the Tutor, while its Evolutions can't. This is an intentional behavior, inspired by "Prism Tutor move".