Zoom Lenses can be redeemed as a prize for 1000 Coins in the Goldenrod and Celadon Game Corners.
This is the only way to obtain this item in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and in this gen you also can’t purchase coins with Pokedollars. So you will have to save up your Coins by playing Voltorb Flip if you want to get a Zoom Lens.
Obtaining Zoom Lenses
Zoom Lenses are obtainable exclusively from either of the Game Corners, much like in the other mainline Gen 4 games.
You can redeem 1 Zoom Lens for 1000 Coins each at both the Goldenrod and Celadon City Game Corners.
The Goldenrod Game Corner is the purple building with a jewel signboard directly above the Goldenrod City Pokémon Center.
The Celadon Game Corner is also a purple building that can be found at the center of Celadon City, southwest of the Pokémon Center.
You can redeem your coins for a Zoom Lens from the different prize areas:
In the Goldenrod Game Corner just speak with one of the clerks inside.
Or for the Celadon Game Corner, the redemption booths are in a separate building next to the Game Corner itself.
In the English versions of HG/SS you can only get coins by playing the Voltorb Flip minigame. You cannot purchase coins for money like in the previous Pokémon games.
Due to the difficulty of obtaining Coins, we highly suggest you consider a few other Held Item options before deciding to get the Zoom Lens.
What Does the Zoom Lens Do?
The Zoom Lens is a Held Item that increases the Accuracy of the Pokémon holding it by 20%, but only against Pokémon who have already moved for the turn.
With Zoom Lens’ Accuracy bonus, moves that are at least 85% accurate like Fire Blast or Hi Jump Kick will be increased beyond 100%. This means that they will never miss against targets without any Evasion changes.
This bonus stacks with Abilities and other effects that increase or decrease your Pokémon’s Accuracy.
Note: The Accuracy increase provided by Zoom Lens is multiplicative, meaning that the base Accuracy of the Pokémon’s move is multiplied by 1.2.
Like with the Wide Lens, the Zoom Lens can be used on Pokémon with CompoundEyes to further increase the Accuracy of certain moves, ensuring that they will hit.
But ultimately, the Zoom Lens is a very niche Held Item. Since its effect only activates when you move after your opponent.
It’s most useful on bulky but slow Pokémon like Forretress, so they can use moves like Toxic without fear of missing.
Most of the time, though, you will be better off setting up Trick Room if you’re using a slow team.
And since Trick Room makes your slow Pokémon move earlier in the turn, it will prevent Zoom Lens from applying its bonus. In that scenario you’d want to get a different Held Item for Trick Room teams, like the Life Orb or Focus Sash.
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Pokémon HGSS
- Where To Get Zoom Lenses in Pokémon HGSS