modifications - Rangi42/polishedcrystal GitHub Wiki

As shown in the official README and FAQ, Polished Crystal contains a wide variety of modifications to Pokédex, availability, Pokémon stats, moves, 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 core data and mechanics (before the additional modifications) are 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. Bulbapedia, Serebii, Smogon) may be crucial.

* This game 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
• Time
• Pokédex and Pokémon Storage
  • Wild Encounters
  • Forms
  • Evolutions
  • Roamers
• Pokémon Stats
  • IVs and EVs
  • Hidden Abilities
  • Custom Shiny Coloration
    • Special Cases
  • Caught Ball
• Breeding
• Moves
• Items
• In-game Resources
• Archives

Time of day now has Evening for the third section, between Day and Night. (misc_constants.asm)

• Morning: 5 am - 9 am
• Day: 9 am - 5 pm
• Evening: 5 pm - 9 pm
• Night: 9 pm - 5 am

Thanks to the Pokédex expansion, this game contains 289 species PLUS regional forms and cosmetic variants, all of whom can be caught in-game. Some Pokémon like Houndour, Murkrow, and Misdreavus are no longer exclusive to Kanto and can be found at fitting locations in Johto. More fully-evolved Pokémon can appear in the wild, such as Steelix.

The Pokédex itself has been renovated with HG/SS UI. It's now much more informative than the ones in the canon games, such as the Base Stats, Abilities, and EV yield.

The storage page explains the revamped Pokémon Boxes and Item storage.

Main database: the wild directory

The wild encounters page describes how to understand the main database. Evening has a 60% chance of giving Day wild encounters and 40% of Night. (wildmons.asm)

• 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.

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.
  • e.g. Ursaring now evolves to Ursaluna at the Sinjoh Ruins and the Mystri Stage or by a Moon Stone.*
• 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 Souvenir in-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.**
• 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.

* Currently, Ursaring can even evolve to Bloodmoon Ursaluna at the Murky Swamp; it'll be removed, and a special encounter event will be introduced instead. ** Subject to change, based on what will happen in LEGENDS: Z-A.

Entei and Raikou roam around and, as in later Generations, if they faint uncaught they'll reappear when you enter the Hall of Fame. The roamer page introduces mechanics different from the vanilla one.

Main database: the base_stats directory

The Regular version includes changes in base stats, types, and Abilities; some are inspired by Mega-Evolved forms. The Pokédex now displays stats information on the Stats tab.

The stat changes page compares Regular and Faithful. The learnset page provides detailed information about every Pokémon available in the game. The Friendship page explains the ways your Pokémon become happier.

Note that canon base-stats changes still apply to Faithful.

0–15 IVs + 0–252 EVs for each stat. See the IVs and EVs page for details.

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.

Not to be confused with the IV-based Color variation option

Some Shiny Pokémon get new color: blue Pikachu, sky-blue Dragonite, and more.

• Shiny Gyarados is now gold as is Magikarp.
• Red Gyarados in the Lake of Rage is now a special form instead of Shiny Pokémon. It's even Shiny-locked, and it'd remain red if hacked to be Shiny.

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!

The breeding page explains new features in this game for simpler and/or more beneficial procedures, as well as the latest canon mechanics available.

255 moves of the game's choice are available, including Struggle. The moves page explains them in detail, while the TMs and HMs page lists QoL updates.

The item list has been modernized, from Sitrus Berries to Loaded Dices.

The item locations page lists commonly sought-after items. The wild held items page is useful for item hunting. 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.

The Pokégear Map now has HG/SS-look layout, with a function similar to the Fly button in modern titles. The map expansions page lists new areas compared to the vanilla.

The utilities page lists useful things available in the game, most of which are QoL updates in this game.

Here are obsolete data for archival purposes:

• 8-bit Pokédex, back in v3.0.0-beta
• 9bit Trainers, just around v3.0.0