Where To Get TM36 Sludge Bomb in Pokémon Crystal

The gate with the NPC that gives you the Sludge Bomb TM (Pokémon Crystal)
TM36 Sludge Bomb
# Location Repeatable?
1 Route 43. Given to you by an NPC inside the small gate after Team Rocket is chased away from Mahogany Town. No

The only way to obtain TM36 Sludge Bomb is to speak with the NPC in the small gate located on Route 43. You’ll access this gate en route to Lake of Rage from Mahogany Town.

This NPC will only appear after Team Rocket has been chased out of Mahogany Town by raiding the Hideout below the Souvenir Shop with Lance.

Prerequisites

Before the Sludge Bomb TM becomes available, you must chase Team Rocket away from Mahogany Town.

Otherwise, the building in Route 43 is occupied by Team Rocket thugs charging 1000 PokéDollars just to cross the gate toward the Lake of Rage.

Team Rocket grunts, extorting money out of trainers. / Pokémon Crystal
Team Rocket grunts, extorting money out of trainers.

So to get started getting this TM, you must first defeat (or catch) the Red Gyarados in the Lake of Rage north of Route 43. Then you’d return to the shore of the lake to talk with Lance.

Lake of Rage with Red Gyarados. / Pokémon Crystal
Lake of Rage with Red Gyarados.

He’ll ask for your help investigating the reason behind odd Pokémon behavior around Mahogany Town.

Lance asks you to help him investigate. / Pokémon Crystal
Lance asks you to help him investigate.

Tell him you can help, then you’ll head back to the Souvenir Store north of Mahogany Town’s Pokémon Center.

Route to Souvenir Shop (TR Hideout) from the Pokémon Center in Mahogany Town. / Pokémon Crystal
Route to Souvenir Shop (TR Hideout) from the Pokémon Center in Mahogany Town.

Inside, Lance will reveal the way down to a Team Rocket Hideout.

Lance reveals the hidden passage into Team Rocket’s hideout. / Pokémon Crystal
Lance reveals the hidden passage into Team Rocket’s hideout.

Clear the Hideout with Lance to liberate Mahogany Town and Route 43 from Team Rocket’s dark influence.

Note: This process is part of the main storyline in Pokémon Crystal, so you’ll accomplish this just by playing through the game.

Getting TM36 Sludge Bomb (Step-by-Step)

After you clear Team Rocket out of Mahogany Town, here’s how to get your Sludge Bomb TM.

Step 1: Enter Route 43 from Mahogany Town by heading up.

Southern end of Route 43. / Pokémon Crystal
Southern end of Route 43.

Step 2: Keep right at the fork to reach the small building that used to be occupied by Team Rocket thugs.

Heading up Route 43 toward the small building (gate) on the right. / Pokémon Crystal
Heading up Route 43 toward the small building (gate) on the right.

Step 3: Enter the building and talk to the NPC behind the counter on the left side.

Inside the gate on Route 43 after vanquishing Team Rocket. / Pokémon Crystal
Inside the gate on Route 43 after vanquishing Team Rocket.

Step 4: He will give you TM36 Sludge Bomb for free.

Receiving TM36 Sludge Bomb from the spooked NPC. / Pokémon Crystal
Receiving TM36 Sludge Bomb from the spooked NPC.

TM36 Sludge Bomb Details + Uses

Sludge Bomb Move Details
Type Poison
Category Special
Power 90
Effect 30% chance of poisoning the target.
Accuracy 100%
PP 10 (max. 16)

Sludge Bomb stands out as the top damage-dealing Poison-type move in Gen 2, far surpassing alternatives like Poison Sting, Sludge, or Acid.

In addition to its impressive power, Sludge Bomb can also poison opponents. This makes up for its modest 10 PP.

The move shines against Grass-type Pokémon and trainers specializing in them, including Bug Catchers and Picnickers. It’s also a godsend when fighting Gym Leader Erika and her Grass-type Pokémon in Celadon City in the post-game.

Who To Teach Sludge Bomb To

If you want to maximize Sludge Bomb’s potential, you want to teach it to a Poison-type Pokémon with high Sp. Attack. The top picks are:

Pokémon Type Location
Gengar Ghost/Poison Evolve Haunter.
Vileplume Grass/Poison Evolve Gloom.
Victreebel Grass/Poison Evolve Weepinbell.

And although these other choices don’t really have a high Sp. Attack, the following Pokémon will still get a lot of use out of Sludge Bomb due to all-around solid stats and same-type attack bonus (STAB).

Pokémon Type Location
Weezing Ghost/Poison Burned Tower. Evolve Koffing.
Nidoking Poison/Ground Evolve Nidorino.
Nidoqueen Poison/Ground Evolve Nidorina.

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.

View Writer's Posts →