| All Water Stone Locations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Method | How Often? | |
| 1 | Buy one for 2,500 points at the Pokéathlon Dome on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays | Repeatable |
| 2 | A phone call gift from Fisherman Tully on Route 42 | Repeatable |
| 3 | A possible prize for winning the Bug-Catching Contest in Johto’s National Park, after unlocking the National Pokédex | Repeatable |
| 4 | A reward for showing Bill’s Grandfather (located to the north of Cerulean City) a Marill (HeartGold) or a Staryu (SoulSilver) | Once-only |
| 5 | On the ground in the Seafoam Islands, to the east of Cinnabar Island | Once-only |
There are 5 ways you can get Water Stones in HeartGold & SoulSilver, with some methods being repeatable and others being one-time only.
If you’re looking for an early-game method, The Pokéathlon Dome is your first opportunity to obtain a Water Stone. If you don’t mind the minigames, it’s also the quickest and most reliable way to farm most evolution stones.
The simplest method for late-game players is to visit the Seafoam Island Caverns, as the Water Stone here is hidden just a short distance from the entrance.
Note: You’ll need a Water Stone to evolve:
- Poliwhirl into Poliwrath
- Shellder into Cloyster
- Staryu into Starmie
- Eevee into Vaporeon
None of these evolved forms appear in the wild, so you’ll need at least four Water Stones to fill your Pokédex. Finding them can be tricky, so this guide will break down each method in detail.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Method 1: Buying Water Stones At The Pokéathlon Dome
Your earliest chance to snag a Water Stone comes after beating Gym Leader Whitney in Goldenrod City.
Once you’ve earned your 3rd badge, you’ll unlock the Pokéathlon Dome at the top of Route 35.
Enter the building shown above and go through the exit to the left. A path will take you to the Pokéathlon Dome.
You can play minigames with your Pokémon here to earn points. You’ll need 2,500 to buy a Water Stone.
And if you’re looking to farm AP (Athlete Points), there’s really no set quickest-earning game. So how you farm AP will totally depend on your skills, preferences, and which Pokémon you use. Try each game to find your best match.
Once you’ve won 2,500 points, come back on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday. The Athlete Shop in the top right corner of the building sells Water Stones on these days.
There’s no limit to the number of Water Stones you can purchase this way.
If you enjoy the Pokéathlon minigames, this is probably the most reliable way to farm them. The rest of the methods are much further into the game or require much more luck.
Method 2: Receiving a Gift From Fisherman Tully
Your next chance to get a Water Stone is also unlocked after earning your 3rd gym badge, but it may require a lot of waiting/good fortune.
First, you need to battle Fisherman Tully and register his phone number in your Pokégear.
Fisherman Tully is located on Route 42, accessed through Mahogany Town’s west gate.
He’s easy to find, just head straight to the left when leaving Mahogany Town until you come to the water’s edge. Defeat him and register his number.
Now it’s just a matter of waiting.
Keep an eye on your Pokégear and accept whenever he calls you. Sometimes he’ll just tell you about his Qwilfish or latest catches – but eventually he’ll summon you to pick up a Water Stone he’s found.
You can receive multiple Water Stones this way, so keep an eye on that Pokégear!
Method 3: Winning The Bug-Catching Contest After Unlocking The National Pokédex
You’ll unlock the second-easiest way to farm Water Stones after beating Lance and Johto’s 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.
Water 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.
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.
Once you’ve caught an impressive specimen, talk to the attendant again. The judging will now begin.
If you succeeded in coming 1st, you’ll receive a random evolution stone as your reward.
The possible rewards include:
- Water Stones
- Fire Stones
- Leaf Stones
- Sun Stones
- Moon Stones
- Shiny Stones
- Dusk Stones
- Dawn Stones
- Oval Stones
- Thunderstones
So you may have to win a few contests before getting the prize you seek.
Luckily, you can play three times each week.
Method 4: Showing Bill’s Grandfather a Marill/Staryu
The next way to get a Water Stone involves showing several different Pokémon to Bill’s Grandfather in his house above Cerulean City.
The process is quite long and complex, but it will net you several different evolution stones along the way.
You’ll need to have unlocked access to Kanto by beating Johto’s Elite Four first.
You’ll also need the following Pokémon:
| Pokémon: | Location(s): |
|---|---|
| Oddish | Routes 5, 6, 24, 25, Ilex Forest, and the Marshland Area of the Safari Zone (night-time only) |
| Growlithe (HeartGold) / Vulpix (SoulSilver) | Routes 7, 8, 36, 37, and 48 |
| Jigglypuff (HeartGold) | Routes 3, 4, and the Meadow and Swamp Areas of the Safari Zone |
| Lickitung (SoulSilver) | Route 44 and the Forest and Mountain Areas of the Safari Zone |
| Pichu | By breeding Pikachu, found in Viridian Forest |
| Marill (HeartGold) | Mt. Mortar entrance (very rarely) and the Meadow Area of the Safari Zone |
| Staryu (SoulSilver) | Surfing on Route 47, or fishing at night with the Good Rod or Super Rod on Routes 19, 34, 40, Cherrygrove City, Cianwood City, Olivine City, and Union Cave |
It’s best to gather these beforehand, to save time.
Once you’ve captured one of each, Fly to Cerulean City.
If you’ve already beaten the trainers to the north of the city or have one very strong Pokémon, fill your party with the five Pokémon listed above.
If not, you may have to make multiple trips, as the trainers on the way to the Sea Cottage are tough to beat with just one well-trained Pokémon.
Take the road north out of Cerulean City, which leads to Route 24.
Follow the golden bridge all the way up to Route 25.
You’ll come to a T-junction. Take the right path.
Keep following this path to the right. There will be lots of trainers to battle and some trees to navigate through, but it’s a one-way route so don’t worry about getting lost.
Eventually you’ll reach a house with a mailbox.
This is the Sea Cottage, home of Bill’s Grandfather.
Go inside and talk to the old man. He’ll describe a Pokémon and ask you to show it to him.
Bill’s Grandfather only gives you vague descriptions of each Pokémon, never naming them explicitly.
If you’re struggling, this is the order to show them in and their rewards:
- Oddish, in exchange for a Leaf Stone
- Growlithe (HeartGold) or Vulpix (SoulSilver), in exchange for a Fire Stone
- Jigglypuff (HeartGold) or Lickitung (SoulSilver), in exchange for an Everstone
- Pichu, in exchange for a Thunder Stone
- Marill (HeartGold) or Staryu (SoulSilver), in exchange for a Water Stone
Method 5: The Water Stone on the Ground in Seafoam Islands
The last way to get a Water Stone is the simplest of all. However, it’s very far into the game.
You’ll need to have reached Cinnabar Island. You’ll also need a Pokémon with Surf and Strength in your party.
Start by flying to Cinnabar Island.
Surf on the water immediately in front of the Pokémon Center.
From here, Surf to the right along Route 20.
Keep going right while hugging the rock wall to the south. You’ll encounter several trainers along the way and pass some small beachy islands.
Eventually, you’ll reach the spot pictured below.
Go south at this rock wall and carry on surfing to the right. Before long, you should reach the entrance to the Seafoam Islands.
Enter the cave and go down the stairs at the back of the room.
Once you’re downstairs, solve the simple Strength puzzle by pushing the boulder upward.
Now, walk straight to the left until you find the ladder in the picture below.
Go down the ladder.
You’ll find a Water Stone in a Pokéball on the ground almost immediately.
Guide Navigation
-
Pokémon HGSS
- How To Get Water Stones in Pokémon HGSS
Related Posts:
Complete Pokéathlon Guide for Pokémon HGSS (Prizes, Stats & Mechanics)
Where To Get Leaf Stones in Pokémon HGSS
Where To Get Dawn Stones in Pokémon HGSS
How To Get Fire Stones in Pokémon HGSS
Where To Get Thunderstones in Pokémon HGSS
Where To Get Everstones in Pokémon HGSS (All Methods)
Where To Get Dusk Stones in Pokémon HGSS (All Methods)
How To Get Sun Stones in Pokémon HGSS (All Methods)