Navigating the intricate world of Johto requires specific tools to overcome environmental obstacles, and one such essential item is the HM04 Rock Smash. Trainers seeking to access hidden paths and rare encounters often search for the precise location where this technique can be learned, and in the classic Game Boy Color title, that place is the bustling Goldenrod City Department Store. Understanding the exact floor and department is the first step toward expanding your traversal capabilities in the region.
Acquiring Rock Smash in Goldenrod
The move Rock Smash is taught by a specific non-player character located within the multi-story Goldenrod Department Store. This building serves as a central hub for commerce and technical instruction, and finding the right clerk on the correct floor is crucial for progressing through the game’s puzzle-like routes. The layout of the store is designed to guide you toward this vital lesson once you reach a certain point in your journey.
Location on the Department Store Floor
To obtain the technique, you must ascend to the fourth floor of the Goldenrod Department Store. Upon entering, head to the section of the floor dedicated to Technical Machines and HMs. There, you will find a green-shirted man standing behind a specific counter who initiates the tutoring session. Interacting with him and selecting the "Teach a Pokémon" option is the only way to officially learn Rock Smash in this generation, as it cannot be passed down via breeding.
Strategic Pokémon Selection
While the location of the move tutor is static, the choice of which Pokémon to teach is dynamic and requires strategic consideration. Rock Smash is a Fighting-type move that deals increased damage to Rock, Bug, and Ice types, making it invaluable against specific gym leaders and wild Pokémon found in certain areas. Selecting a Pokémon with high Attack or a favorable movepool ensures you maximize the utility of the HM slot it occupies. Field Usage Beyond Battle It is important to distinguish between the move learned in Goldenrod and the application of Rock Smash in the field. Once taught, the move appears in your Pokémon’s list and can be used outside of combat to smash specific rocks blocking narrow paths. These environmental puzzles are scattered across routes like 34 and 35, where players must manually select the "Use Rock Smash" action to clear debris and access hidden items or short cuts.
Field Usage Beyond Battle
Route Accessibility and Hidden Rewards
The implementation of Rock Smash fundamentally alters the geography of the Johto region, opening shortcuts that would otherwise be impassable. By breaking boulders, trainers can access hidden patches of grass containing rare Pokémon, as well as valuable items like Rare Candies and Nuggets. These areas often contain trainers eager to battle, providing ample opportunity to gain experience points for your recently taught move.
Comparison to Later Generations
It is worth noting that the method of acquiring Rock Smash has evolved in subsequent remakes and new generations. While the Goldenrod Department Store remains the iconic location for Generation II, later games have distributed the move via various methods, including as a level-up move or through post-game facilities. Recognizing the origin of the technique provides context for the evolution of game mechanics in the franchise.
Optimization for Completionists
For players aiming to achieve 100% completion or to catch every Pokémon available in the original Johto Dex, Rock Smash is a mandatory tool. Areas such as the Ice Path and specific segments of Victory Road require the use of this move to proceed. Ensuring you have a dedicated team member capable of using Rock Smash at any time is essential for tackling the game’s final challenges and exploring every corner of the map.
