Guides

Where To Get TM17 Protect in Pokémon Crystal

by Nelson Chitty
Inside the Celadon Dept. Store in Pokémon Crystal
TM17 Protect
# Location Repeatable?
1 Celadon Dept. Store, 3F. Buy it from the clerk at the counter for 3000 PokéDollars. Yes

You can buy TM17 Protect on the third floor (3F) of the Department Store in Celadon City for 3,000 PokéDollars. This is repeatable so you can get multiple copies of the TM, but this is the only way to get TM17 in Pokémon Crystal.

Note that Celadon City is in Kanto, so you’ll need to clear the Johto League and gain access to the neighboring region in the post-game before you can hunt down TM17 Protect.

Getting TM17 Protect (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Find the Department Store on the west side of Celadon City. To locate it, simply walk in a straight line towards the left of the Pokémon Center.

Celadon City main street, connecting Pokémon Center (right) and Dept. Store (left) / Pokémon Crystal
Celadon City main street, connecting Pokémon Center (right) and Dept. Store (left).

Step 2: Use the elevator inside the Dept. Store and ride up to reach the third floor (3F).

You’ll find the elevator up and to the left of the main entrance.

Celadon Dept. Store, 1F, left side / Pokémon Crystal
Celadon Dept. Store, 1F, left side.
Choosing 3F from the Celadon Dept. Store elevator menu / Pokémon Crystal
Choosing 3F from the Celadon Dept. Store elevator menu.

Step 3: Talk to the NPC behind the counter and choose “Buy” from the pop-up menu.

Celadon Dept. Store, 3F / Pokémon Crystal
Celadon Dept. Store, 3F.

Step 4: Choose TM17 Protect from the store’s catalog and buy it for 3000 PokéDollars. You can repeat this as many times as you want.

TM17 in the TM Shop menu / Pokémon Crystal
TM17 in the TM Shop menu.

TM17 Protect Details + Uses

Protect Move Details
Type Normal
Category Status
Effect Protects the user from their opponent’s next move, avoiding damage and status ailments.
Accuracy Starts at 100% and decreases by ½ every time it’s used successfully in subsequent turns.
PP 10 (max. 16)

Protect is a versatile move that any Pokémon can use to shield themselves from their opponent’s next move. This means you won’t lose HP or receive status ailments.

It’s a high-priority move too, so it usually goes first.

Tip: Certain moves can’t be blocked, including Curse, Future Sight, Mean Look, Nightmare, Perish Song, Psych Up, Sketch, and Spider Web.

Scouting your opponent’s best moves and forcing them to waste PP are some of the most straightforward uses for Protect. You can also use it to stall while Poison, Burn, and other such effects slowly drain away your opponent’s HP.

It’s especially useful against foes who use powerful charge-up moves like Solar Beam and Razor Wind. Just use Protect on the next turn, and you’ll avoid the hit.

Tip: Protect’s success rate halves every time it’s used consecutively. Try to alternate between Protect and other moves. The same happens if you use Endure.

Almost any Pokémon can learn Protect and use it to great effect. So your options are almost endless for who to use this TM on.

The only Pokémon who can’t learn TM17 are the following:

  • Caterpie
  • Metapod
  • Weedle
  • Kakuna
  • Magikarp
  • Ditto
  • Unown
  • Wobbuffet
  • Smeargle
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Nelson Chitty

171 articles

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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