Where To Get Dusk Stones in Pokémon HGSS (All Methods)

Inside Cerulean Cave near the Dusk Stone
All Dusk Stone Locations
Method How Often?
1 Buy for 3,000 points at the Pokéathlon Dome on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after unlocking the National Pokédex Repeatable
2 A possible first place prize for winning the Bug-Catching Contest in Johto’s National Park, after unlocking the National Pokédex Repeatable
3 A phone call gift from Biker Reese on Route 17 Repeatable
4 On the ground deep within Cerulean Cave Once-only

There are four ways to get your hands on Dusk Stones in HG/SS, but only as late-game items. The soonest you can get a Dusk Stone is from the Pokéathlon Dome’s Athlete Shop after you get the National Pokédex.

In the table above we’ve organized all four methods of getting Dusk Stones, listed in order of distance through the game (from earliest to latest).

You’ll need a Dusk Stone to evolve Murkrow into Honchkrow and Misdreavus into Mismagius.

Neither of these evolved forms appear in the wild, so you’ll need at least two Dusk Stones to fill your Pokédex. Finding them can be tricky, so this guide will break down the methods for getting each one.

Method 1: Buying Dusk Stones at the Pokéathlon Dome

Once you’ve defeated the Elite Four for the first time and received the National Pokédex upgrade from Professor Oak in Olivine City’s port, the Pokéathlon Dome will begin to stock new and exciting items.

Amongst these items is the elusive Dusk Stone.

To get to the Pokéathlon Dome, head to the top of Route 35, to the north of Goldenrod City.

The entrance to the Pokéathlon Dome on Route 35 / Pokémon HGSS
The entrance to the Pokéathlon Dome on Route 35

Enter the building shown above and go through the exit to the left. A path will take you to the Pokéathlon Dome.

The player standing outside the majestic Pokéathlon Dome / Pokémon HGSS
The player standing outside the majestic Pokéathlon Dome

You can play minigames with your Pokémon here to earn points. You’ll need 3,000 to buy a Dusk Stone.

There’s no set quickest-earning game. It will depend on your skills, preferences, and which Pokémon you use. Try them all to find your best match.

Once you’ve won 3,000 points, come back on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. The Athlete Shop in the top-right corner of the building sells Dusk Stones on these days.

The Athlete Shop, found in the top-right corner of the Pokéathlon Dome / Pokémon HGSS
The Athlete Shop, found in the top-right corner of the Pokéathlon Dome

There’s no limit to the number of Dusk Stones you can purchase this way.

If you enjoy playing the regular Pokéathlon minigames then this is the most reliable way to farm for Dusk Stones. The rest of the methods are much further into the game and/or require much more luck.

Method 2: Winning The Bug-Catching Contest After Unlocking The National Pokédex

The second-easiest way to farm Dusk Stones also becomes available immediately after beating the Elite Four for the first time and picking up your National Pokédex from Professor Oak in Olivine City.

Once your Pokédex has been upgraded, the Bug-Catching Contest will award a random evolution stone to the highest-scoring contestant. Dusk Stones are among the possible prizes.

To compete, head to the National Park at the top of Route 35 on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. The entrance is the same building as the Pokéathlon Dome, pictured in Method 1.

Once inside, speak to the attendant to the left of the door.

The Bug-Catching Contest attendant / Pokémon HGSS
The Bug-Catching Contest attendant

Accept his invitation to join the contest. You now have 20 minutes to catch the most impressive Bug-type Pokémon and earn the most points to win.

Points are calculated by looking at:

  • The rarity of the Pokémon
  • The Pokémon’s level
  • The percentage of HP the Pokémon has left when caught (the higher, the better)
  • The Pokémon’s hidden IV stats

Scyther and Pinsir are the rarest Pokémon, worth the most points. To stand the best chance of winning, aim to catch one of the two at Level 28 while dealing the lowest possible amount of damage to it first.

Bring a Pokémon that can inflict a non-damaging status condition (Paralysis or Sleep) to make things easier.

A wild Pinsir in the Bug-Catching Contest / Pokémon HGSS
A wild Pinsir in the Bug-Catching Contest

Once you’ve caught an impressive specimen, talk to the attendant again. The judging will now begin.

The Bug-Catching Contest contestants gathered for the judging ceremony / Pokémon HGSS
The Bug-Catching Contest contestants gathered for the judging ceremony

If you succeeded in coming 1st, you’ll receive a random evolution stone as your reward.

The possible rewards include:

  • Dusk Stones
  • Dawn Stones
  • Thunderstones
  • Leaf Stones
  • Water Stones
  • Fire Stones
  • Sun Stones
  • Moon Stones
  • Shiny Stones
  • Oval Stones

So, you may have to win a few contests before getting the prize you seek.

Luckily, you can play three times each week.

Method 3: As a Gift From Biker Reese

Your next chance to get a Dusk Stone may require a lot of waiting/good fortune.

First, you need to battle Biker Reese on Route 17 and register his phone number in your Pokégear.

To find Reese, start at Celadon City’s west gate.

The west gate of Celadon City, leading out onto Route 16 / Pokémon HGSS
The west gate of Celadon City, leading out onto Route 16

Pass through the gate and follow the one-way route through Route 16.

Before long, you’ll come to Route 17. Cycle south until you come to the bridge, then cycle down the left side.

Preparing to cycle down the left side of the cycle bridge on Route 17 / Pokémon HGSS
Preparing to cycle down the left side of the cycle bridge on Route 17

You’ll see Biker Reese on the left side of the bridge.

Battle and defeat him. He shouldn’t even register as a challenge at this point.

Once you’ve beaten him, register his number in your Pokégear.

Biker Reese offering to swap numbers with the player after being defeated in battle / Pokémon HGSS
Biker Reese offering to swap numbers with the player after being defeated in battle

Now it’s just a matter of waiting.

Keep an eye on your Pokégear and accept whenever he calls you. Sometimes he’ll just call to shoot the breeze – but eventually he’ll summon you to pick up a Dusk Stone he’s found.

You can receive multiple Dusk Stones this way, so keep an eye on that Pokégear!

Method 4: The Dusk Stone Within Cerulean Cave

The final Dusk Stone is hidden deep within the toughest location in the game – the foreboding Cerulean Cave.

To gain access, you’ll first need to collect all 16 Gym Badges.

Once you’ve done this, the guard blocking the entrance will move and allow you to pass.

To reach the Dusk Stone, you’ll need to bring Pokémon with Surf and Rock Climb – you’ll also need to bring a Pokémon with Flash if you want to see inside the cave.

It’s probably a good idea to bring a Pokémon with Dig too, or an Escape Rope, as it takes a while to leave the cave once you’re in deep.

And Cerulean Cave is home to the strongest wild Pokémon in the game –including Mewtwo in the furthest depths. Bring your toughest team or a good amount of Repels.

Start your journey by flying to Cerulean City, then making your way to the north exit onto Route 24.

The north exit of Cerulean City onto Route 24 / Pokémon HGSS
The north exit of Cerulean City onto Route 24

Cross the golden bridge onto Route 25.

Once you’re over the bridge, take an immediate left and climb down the stairs.

The stairs you'll need to descend on Route 25 / Pokémon HGSS
The stairs you’ll need to descend on Route 25

Once you’ve descended the stairs, Surf on the water at the point shown in the picture below.

The Surf point on Route 25 / Pokémon HGSS
The Surf point on Route 25

Surf directly down south as far as you can go from this point. Follow the river as it curves round to the left.

Soon you’ll reach the entrance of Cerulean Cave. If you’ve got all 16 Gym Badges, you’ll be able to enter.

The entrance to Cerulean Cave on Route 25 / Pokémon HGSS
The entrance to Cerulean Cave on Route 25

Once you’re inside, use Flash to light up your surroundings.

Then, walk straight forward to the first body of water and use Surf.

The first Surf point inside Cerulean Cave / Pokémon HGSS
The first Surf point inside Cerulean Cave

Follow this waterway up north as far as it’ll take you, then take the left turn at the top.

The first left turn inside Cerulean Cave / Pokémon HGSS
The first left turn inside Cerulean Cave

Now you need to head left as far as you can.

Once you can go no further, Surf to the south until you see some dry land with ladders on it, as pictured below. Disembark here.

The set of stairs you'll need to disembark at in Cerulean Cave / Pokémon HGSS
The set of stairs you’ll need to disembark at in Cerulean Cave

From here, head south and follow the one-way path until you reach a steep staircase with a ladder at the top, pictured below.

The ladder at the top of the steep staircase in Cerulean Cave / Pokémon HGSS
The ladder at the top of the steep staircase in Cerulean Cave

Climb up the ladder into an elaborate crystal maze.

Don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks to navigate. Just head east and take the north path at the first fork.

The north turn in the crystal maze in Cerulean Cave / Pokémon HGSS
The north turn in the crystal maze in Cerulean Cave

You’ll need to take the right turn at the second fork in the maze, pictured below.

The second turn in Cerulean Cave's crystal maze, where you'll need to go right / Pokémon HGSS
The second turn in Cerulean Cave’s crystal maze, where you’ll need to go right

After that, just follow the one-way path.

Sooner or later until you’ll reach a ladder going down. Climb down it.

The ladder heading down a floor at the end of Cerulean Cave's crystal maze / Pokémon HGSS
The ladder heading down a floor at the end of Cerulean Cave’s crystal maze

You’ll descend into a small room with another ladder. Climb down this one too.

On the next floor, you’ll see two Rock Climb spots. Take the second one of these, as pictured below.

The two Rock Climb spots deep in Cerulean Cave / Pokémon HGSS
The two Rock Climb spots deep in Cerulean Cave

Once you’ve slid down the rocks, take an immediate right.

At the end of that thin passageway, you’ll see a Pokéball on the floor. It contains a Dusk Stone.

The location of the Dusk Stone in Cerulean Cave / Pokémon HGSS
The location of the Dusk Stone in Cerulean Cave

Louie Neale

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Full-time freelance copywriter and long-time Pokémon trainer, currently rediscovering my childhood love for the classic games by bringing you all the info you need.

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