All In-Game NPC Trades in Pokémon Crystal

You can trade Pokémon with seven trainers in Pokémon Crystal. There are four in Johto and three in Kanto.

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All In-Game Pokémon Trades
Location	Your Pokémon	Their Pokémon	Nickname	Held Item
Violet City	Bellsprout	Onix♂	ROCKY	Bitter Berry
Goldenrod Dept. Store	Abra	Machop♀	MUSCLE	Gold Berry
Olivine City	Krabby	Voltorb	VOLTY	PRZCureBerry
Blackthorn City	Dragonair♀	Dodrio♀	DORIS	Smoke Ball
Kanto Power Plant	Dugtrio	Magneton	MAGGIE	Metal Coat
Route 14	Chansey	Aerodactyl♂	AEROY	Gold Bery
Pewter City	Haunter	Xatu♂	PAUL	MysteryBerry

The Pokémon you receive will be the same level as the one you give away.

Trading with in-game NPCs allows you to get certain rare Pokémon in exchange for other Pokémon that are usually easier to acquire.

It’s also the only way to get Aerodactyl in Pokémon Crystal.

Rocky the Onix♂ (Violet City)

You’ll find Rocky’s trainer in a small house southwest of the Pokémon Center in Violet City.

Approaching the house of Rocky the Onix’s trainer in Violet City.

Talk to the kid on the right side of the room.

Inside the home of Rocky the Onix’s trainer.

He’ll ask for a Bellsprout in return for his Onix.

Tip: You can catch a Bellsprout on Route 31, east of the city. You’ll find them in the tall grass any time of the day.

Muscle the Machop♀ (Goldenrod City)

Machop’s trainer is hanging around on the fifth floor (5F) of the Goldenrod Dept. Store.

You’ll find the Dept. Store across the street from the Pokémon Center in Goldenrod City.

Approaching the Goldenrod Dept. Store.

Once inside, head to the elevator.

Approaching the elevator in the Goldenrod Dept. Store.

Choose 5F from the elevator controls in the top right corner.

Choosing 5F in the elevator at Goldenrod Dept. Store.

You’ll spot Machop’s trainer standing close to the left edge of the counter. Look for the man wearing blue.

Fifth floor of the Goldenrod Dept. Store.

He wants an Abra in exchange for his Machop.

Tip: There are wild Abra in the tall grass surrounding Goldenrod City. They’re more common on Route 34 to the south, but you’ll also find them on Route 35 to the north.

Volty the Voltorb (Olivine City)

You’ll discover Volty’s trainer in a small waterfront house northeast of the Pokémon Center in Olivine City.

From the Pokémon Center, head right until you reach the water. Then follow the coast northward.

Heading toward the back of the lighthouse in Olivine City.

It’s the first house next to the white picket fence.

Approaching the house of Volty’s trainer in Olivine City.

The fisherman inside wants a Krabby in exchange for his Voltorb.

Inside the house of Volty the Voltorb’s trainer.

Tip: Fishing with the Good Rod at Olivine City will produce a Krabby more often than not. You can get the Good Rod in Olivine, in the house behind the Pokémon Center.

Doris the Dodrio♀ (Blackthorn City)

You can find Doris the Dodrio’s trainer in her home at Blackthorn City. It’s the small house northeast of the Pokémon Center.

Approaching the home of Doris’s trainer in Blackthorn City.

This green-clad trainer wants a female Dragonair♀ in exchange for her Dodrio.

Inside the home of Doris the Dodrio’s trainer.

Tip: You can pull a Dragonair by fishing with the Super Rod in the Dragon’s Den or Route 45. The Dragon’s Den is across the water behind the Gym, and Route 45 is south of town.

Alternatively you could catch a Dratini by Surfing or fishing with a Good Rod in the Dragon’s Den and then level it up to 30 so it evolves into Dragonair.

Maggie the Magneton (Kanto Power Plant)

Maggie is the first trade we get access to in Kanto. Its trainer is located in the Kanto Power Plant, which you can reach by heading east of Cerulean City.

Start by leaving Cerulean City through the east toward Route 9.

Cerulean City, east exit.

Use Cut to remove the small tree blocking your way and keep going eastward onto the sand.

Entering Route 9 from Cerulean City.

Turn south and jump down a ledge, then continue your way east.

Make sure to stay in the same lane until you’ve passed the second trainer, after whom the road turns north.

Tip: Trainers on Routes 9 and 10 have Pokémon in the Lv.30 to 35 range. Be prepared!

Traversing Route 9 on our way to the Power Plant.

Go north onto a small patch of grass with a Hiker. There, turn right, then go south, down the ledge.

Route 9, last stretch before Route 10.

Turn right immediately and walk past the Picnicker to enter Route 10. We’re almost at the Power Plant!

Entering Route 10 from Route 9.

Now, go north and use Surf to enter the water, then start following the river downstream.

Entering the river on Route 10.

Keep following the water as it turns south.

First bend in the Route 10 river.

Eventually, you’ll find a small patch of tall grass. Either keep following the water or go through the tall grass.

Tip: This tall grass patch is the only place to catch an Electabuzz in the game.

Second bend in the Route 10 river.

The Kanto Power Plant is just a few steps west of here.

Entering the Kanto Power Plant.

Talk to the third engineer you see inside the Kanto Power Plant. They’ll offer to trade their Magneton for your Dugtrio. It’s three for three!

Tip: Dugtrio are abundant in Diglett’s Cave, east of Vermilion City.

Inside the Kanto Power Plant.

Aeroy the Aerodactyl♂ (Route 14)

You can get Aeroy the Aerodactyl from its trainer on Route 14.

Start at Fuchsia City in southern Kanto and exit town through the eastern gate. This leads to Route 15. From here, start following the tan brick road.

Entering Route 15 from Fuchsia City.

Keep following the brick road eastward.

Traversing Route 15.

When you enter Route 14, turn north, changing from one brick road to another.

You’ll know it’s time to go north when you see a small cuttable tree beside some bushes above the road.

Crossing into Route 14 from Route 15.

Follow this road until you find another cuttable tree leading into a large patch of tall grass. Aeroy’s trainer is dressed in green and walking around in the grass close to the ledge.

Approaching Aeroy’s trainer in a grass patch on Route 14.

She wants a Chansey in exchange for her Aerodactyl.

Tip: You can catch Chansey in that same grass patch on Route 14, but it’s a rare Pokémon. Its encounter rate is just 1%!

Paul the Xatu♂ (Pewter City)

You can find Paul’s trainer inside the Pokémon Center in Pewter City.

Approaching the Pewter Pokémon Center.

Talk to the middle-aged man near the PC, and he’ll offer to trade his Xatu for a Haunter.

Tip: You can find Haunter on Route 8 or in the Rock Tunnel, but only at night (6PM to 4AM).

Inside the Pokémon Center in Pewter City.

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Nelson Chitty

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Nelson Chitty is a Venezuelan expat living in Argentina. He’s a writer and translator passionate about history and foreign cultures. His ideal weekend is spent between leisurely playing games of Civilization VI and looking for the next seinen anime to marathon.

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