Guides

How To Get the Soft Sand in Pokémon Crystal

by Nelson Chitty
The Cooltrainers on Route 34
Soft Sand Locations
# Location Repeatable?
1 Route 34. Received from Cooltrainer Kate after defeating her & 2 other trainers in battle. They’re in a small area that’s hidden downriver (only accessible with Surf). No

You can get the Soft Sand from Cooltrainer Kate in a hidden area on Route 34. To find Cooltrainer Kate, use Surf on the river on the left side of the map and follow it southward. You’ll reach land again to the right near the bottom.

There, you’ll be ambushed by three Cooltrainers. The last one, Kate, will reward you with Soft Sand for surviving all three Pokémon battles.

Prerequisites

One of your Pokémon must use Surf outside battle to reach Cooltrainer Kate and obtain Soft Sand.

Here’s what you need to do to make it possible:

  1. Receive HM03 Surf in Ecruteak City.
  2. Defeat Gym Leader Morty in Ecruteak Gym so you can use Surf outside battle.
  3. Teach HM03 Surf to a viable Pokémon.

Getting Soft Sand

Goldenrod City and Route 34 on the Johto map / Pokémon Crystal
Goldenrod City and Route 34 on the Johto map.

Start at Goldenrod City’s Pokémon Center and head south toward Route 34.

Heading toward Route 34 from Goldenrod City’s Pokémon Center / Pokémon Crystal
Heading toward Route 34 from Goldenrod City’s Pokémon Center.

Once on Route 34, look for the river to the left. Get in the water with Surf and follow the river to its southern end.

Route 34, north / Pokémon Crystal
Route 34, north.

You’ll find a small passage to the right at the river’s end. Get out of the water and follow the road further south.

Route 34, south (hidden area) / Pokémon Crystal
Route 34, south (hidden area).

Soon, you’ll be ambushed by three Cooltrainers.

Three Cooltrainers wait for a challenger at Route 34 (hidden area) / Pokémon Crystal
Three Cooltrainers wait for a challenger at Route 34 (hidden area).

You must defeat them all to obtain Soft Sand.

SCROLL
Soft Sand Trainer Challenge
Trainer Pokémon Type Level
Cooltrainer Irene Goldeen Water 22
Seaking Water 24
Cooltrainer Jenn Staryu Water 24
Starmie Water / Psychic 26
Cooltrainer Kate Shellder Water 26
Cloyster Water / Ice 28

Once you defeat Kate, talk to her again to get the Soft Sand.

Receiving Soft Sand from Cooltrainer Kate / Pokémon Crystal
Receiving Soft Sand from Cooltrainer Kate.

How to Use Soft Sand

Soft Sand is a held item that increases the Power of Ground-type moves by 10%.

Combining Soft Sand with a powerful Ground-type move like Earthquake can prove devastating.

This item is perfect for any Rhydon or Donphan you may have on your team. It’ll turn them into the Pokémon equivalent of a bulldozer.

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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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