Dowsing Machine
The Itemfinder or Dowsing MCHN (Japanese: ダウジングマシン Dowsing Machine) is a class of items used to detect hidden items in the vicinity of the user. There are many different kinds of itemfinders that vary between canons.
In the games
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. The Soothe Bell in the Pokémon Tower, the Leftovers on Routes 12 and 16, and the Macho Brace in Viridian Gym must all be found this way. All of these items previously had a person or Pokémon standing there.
Generation IV
The Itemfinders 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, the Itemfinder is known in-game as 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, the Itemfinder 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. 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.
Flavor text
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In the anime
In A Ghost of a Chance, James buys an item called a "Treasure Detector", obviously 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
Pokémon Adventures
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Red uses an Itemfinder to locate the hidden HM containing the move Surf, coming across and being attacked by a wild Dragonite.
In the TCG
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 Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, some hidden items can only be revealed by touching their exact location on the Dowsing Machine, instead of just nearby it. These include the Odd Keystone hidden in Twinleaf Town, the Suite Key at the Hotel Grand Lake, and hidden Max Revives.
In other languages
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This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items. |