Dowsing Machine

The Dowsing Machine (Japanese: ダウジングマシン Dowsing Machine), referred to as the Itemfinder prior to Generation IV and as the Dowsing MCHN in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver and the Generation V games, is a Key Item used to detect hidden items in the vicinity of the user. The way in which it detects items and provides feedback greatly varies between games.

Obtain sprite from the Generation V games
Itemfinder artwork from Pokémon Red and Green

In the games

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: More information on how it is used in Gen I-IV; image of touch screen from HGSS/Gen V

Generation I

A form of the Itemfinder has been present in all main series games since Generation I.

In Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, the Itemfinder is given out by one of Professor Oak's aides in the gate on Route 11 if the player has 30 or more Pokémon caught in their Pokédex. It is a Key Item.

Generation II

In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the Itemfinder is similar to that of Generation I. As with other Key Items in Generation II (and following), the Itemfinder can be set to the Select button and easily accessed. It is given out by a man in Ecruteak City.

Generation III

In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, the Itemfinder is obtained on Route 110 after defeating Professor Birch's child, May or Brendan, in a battle.

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the Itemfinder can be found in the same place as in Generation I; it is given out by one of Professor Oak's aides in the gate on Route 11 if the player has 30 or more Pokémon caught in their Pokédex. Unlike in other games, there are some items which require the Itemfinder to be used to obtain them, rather than simply being easier to find using it. These items cannot be detected by the Itemfinder, except when standing on top of them, at which point the item will be automatically obtained. In total, there are six items that can be found using this method:

Generation IV

The Dowsing Machines in Generation IV are slightly different to those of previous generations; they make use of the Nintendo DS's touch screen.

In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, the Pokétch's Dowsing Machine app replaces the functions of the Itemfinder and is given at Route 207 by Dawn/Lucas upon arrival in the area.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, it is known as the Dowsing MCHN and again uses the touch screen to locate items. As with the Itemfinder in Gold and Silver, the Dowsing MCHN is obtained in Ecruteak City.

Pokéwalker

Main article: Pokéwalker

On the Pokéwalker there is an option to use the Dowsing Machine, which allows the player to obtain items. It costs 3 watts to play. In this mini game, the player gets two guesses. After getting the first guess wrong, the game gives a message regarding whether the item is adjacent to the selected spot or not.

Generation V

In Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, it is once again known as the Dowsing MCHN. While it still appears on the touch screen when in use, it no longer takes any input from stylus touches and uses the screen for display purposes only. Arrows show the direction of the place of the hidden item. In Black and White, it is received from Bianca after defeating the Nacrene Gym; in Black 2 and White 2, it is received from Bianca in the gate connecting Castelia City with Route 4.

Generation VI

In Pokémon X and Y and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the Dowsing Machine works entirely differently from previous titles.

In X and Y, the Dowsing Machine takes the form of two rods that the player character holds in each hand that project the current forward. Once used, the rods project two streams of electric current in the air ahead as the character walks around. This current changes color depending on if the player is facing the direction of a hidden item and how close they are to it. The color cycles through blue, to green, to orange, with a musical chime playing when the color changes to let the player know they are getting close. When the player is directly in front of a hidden item, the electric currents cross each other and turn red, and a different musical chime plays. It is received on Route 8 from a woman after defeating the Team Flare Grunts in Glittering Cave.

In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the Dowsing Machine is worn on the head with two electrodes protruding from the top. The electrodes change color as in X and Y as the player approaches a hidden item, and the electrodes turn red and vibrate when the player is directly in front of a hidden item. While wearing the Dowsing Machine, the player cannot sneak. The Dowsing Machine cannot be used underwater nor in most buildings. The player cannot ride a Bicycle or Surf and use the Dowsing Machine simultaneously. As in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, the Dowsing Machine is obtained on Route 110 after defeating Professor Birch's child, May or Brendan, in a battle.

Flavor text

Games Description
Stad A machine for searching items on the ground.
GSC Checks for unseen items in the area.
RSE A device that signals an invisible item by sound.
FRLG A device used for finding items. If there is a hidden item nearby when it is used, it emits a signal.
HGSS
BWB2W2
It checks for unseen items in the area and makes noise and lights when it finds something.
XY It searches for hidden items in the area and emits different lights and sounds when it detects something.
ORAS This high-tech machine shows the location of invisible items. It's attached to the head when in use.


In the anime

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Japanese name of Treasure Detector
 
Treasure Detector

In A Ghost of a Chance, James buys an item called a "Treasure Detector", which is a pair of dowsing rods that are based on the in-game item Itemfinder. He attempted to find some treasures at the Burned Tower.

In From Ghost to Ghost, the Treasure Detector got Team Rocket trapped by a group of Gastly.

In Try for the Family Stone!, James used his Treasure Detector again to find a Dusk Stone.

In the manga

 
An Itemfinder in Pokémon Adventures

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Red used an Itemfinder to locate the hidden HM containing the move Surf, coming across and being attacked by a wild Dragonite in the process.

Later, Diamond used the Dowsing Machine app on his Pokétch to track down a wild Lickilicky's hiding place.

In the TCG

File:BS74ItemFinder.jpg
The Itemfinder card

The following is a list of cards named either Item Finder or Dowsing Machine.

Related cards
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Item Finder T Base Set   74/102 Expansion Pack    
Base Set 2   103/130      
Dowsing Machine I Plasma Storm   128/135 Plasma Gale   069/070
 


Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
  French Cherch'Objet
  German Itemradar*
Detektor*
  Italian Ricerca Strum.*
Ricerca Str.*
Ricerca Strumenti*
Detector*
  Korean 다우징머신 Dowsing Machine
  Brazilian Portuguese Máquina de Prospecção
  Spanish Zahorí*
Buscaobjetos*
  Vietnamese Máy cảm xạ


  This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items.