Where To Get TM43 Detect in Pokémon Crystal

TM43 Detect
#	Location	Repeatable?
1	Lake of Rage. Found deep in the forest behind the lake, accessible from Route 43’s west side.	No
2	Held item by Nidoran (male and female) when traded into Pokémon Crystal from Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow via Time Machine.	Yes

There are two ways to obtain TM43 Detect in Pokémon Crystal, one of which can be repeated:

Method #1: There is one copy of this TM in the forest behind the Lake of Rage, accessible from Route 43’s west side. A Pokémon that knows Cut is necessary to reach it.

Method #2: Trade a Nidoran (male or female) from Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow into Pokémon Crystal by using the Time Machine.

You’ll gain access to the Time Machine after visiting Ecruteak City’s Pokémon Center for the first time.

Prerequisites

Before you can try out Method #2 listed above, you need to unlock the Time Machine.

You can do this by entering the Pokémon Center in Ecruteak City for the first time. There, Bill will tell you that he just finished setting up a Time Machine to trade with someone in the past.

What he means by “the past” is the original Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow.

The next day after this encounter, the Time Machine should be available at any Pokémon Center in Johto or Kanto.

Method #1: Find the TM in the Forest Behind the Lake of Rage

Step 1: Exit Mahogany Town through the northern gate.

Entering Route 43 from Mahogany Town.

Step 2: Follow the left path through the tall grass until you see a river to the left.

Approaching Route 43’s river.

Step 3: Use Surf to follow the river northward until reaching land again.

Approaching the last stretch of the river on Route 43.

Step 4: Go left behind the NPC in the green shirt and follow the road northward.

Last stretch of the river on Route 43.

You’ll eventually reach a small tree blocking your path.

First tree on the way to TM43.

Step 5: Use Cut to traverse the forest, starting with the small tree in front of you.

Cut it down and turn right immediately, avoiding the trainer to the left.

Going deeper into the forest behind the Lake of Rage.

This leads to another small tree. Cut it and keep going.

Second small tree on the way to the cabin in the woods.

Just one tree left to go.

Ignore the first tree you see, and instead keep going east until you reach another tree. Cut through it and stick to the right as you continue.

Step 6: You’ll find TM43 Detect on the ground at the end of this road.

Obtaining TM43 in the forest behind the Lake of Rage.

Method #2: Trade a Nidoran from Pokémon R/B/Y into Pokémon Crystal

Step 1: Connect your Pokémon Crystal game to a Pokémon R/B/Y game where you have unlocked the Time Capsule and have a Nidoran in your party.

Game Boy Color consoles connected by Game Link Cable.

Here’s how that works, depending on what platform you’re playing on:

Game Boy / GBC: Connect both handhelds with a Nintendo Game Link Cable.
Game Boy Advance: Connect both handhelds with a GBA Link Cable.
3DS: Virtual Console versions of Pokémon R/B/Y and Pokémon G/S/C can link up over the 3DS’s local wireless connection.

Note: Some emulator software allows you to do this as well. Well-known GBC/GBA emulator mGBA offers a built-in multiplayer option that makes it easy.

Step 2: Go into a Pokémon Center and climb the stairs to the second floor to find the Time Capsule.

Going upstairs at a Pokémon Center.

In Crystal it’s on the rightmost end of the room.

Pokémon Center, 2F.

In Pokémon R/B/Y you just speak with the regular trade center NPC on the first floor.

Pokémon Center in Pokémon Yellow.

Step 3: Talk to the trade NPCs simultaneously in both games. Save your game when prompted, then choose “Trading Center” when given the option.

Setting up the trade.

Note: Make sure you don’t have any Gen II Pokémon, Moves, or Items in your Pokémon Crystal party, or you’ll be turned away.

Step 4: Face the table in the middle of the room and press A (in both games) to start the trade.

Trading Center in Pokémon Crystal (left) and Pokémon Yellow (right).

Step 5: Choose the Pokémon you’ll trade in both games and watch the cutscene.

Trading screen (Pokémon Yellow).

Trade screen (Pokémon Crystal).

Step 6: Leave the Time Capsule and check your Pokémon party. The Nidoran should be holding the Detect TM.

Receiving TM43 from Nidoran.

TM43 Detect Details + Uses

Detect Move Details
Type	Fighting
Category	Status
Effect	Heals the user for 50% of the damage dealt.
Accuracy	100%
PP	5

Detect is one of the few defensive moves available in Pokémon Crystal. It’s used to protect your Pokémon from any enemy move damage or effects during that turn.

It’s amazing for stalling your opponent while something else, such as Poison, whittles down their health turn by turn.

You can also use it to dodge predictable moves like Solar Beam, which needs one turn to charge up.

Note: Status ailments and weather effects like those caused by Sandstorm will still damage your Pokémon.

Keep in mind that Detect’s Accuracy drops by about ⅓ each time you use the move in quick succession. Using Endure has the same effect.

A wide variety of Pokémon can learn Detect and use it to great effect, including every Fighting-type critter in the game. Here are some ideas to teach this TM to:

Pokémon	Type	Location
Eevee	Normal	Receive from Bill in Goldenrod City.
Hitmonlee	Fighting	Starter (Chikorita line).
Poliwrath	Water/Fighting	Evolve Poliwhirl.
Magmar	Fire	Mt. Silver (Morning, Day).

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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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