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.
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In Generation VII, the Ride Pokémon Stoutland takes over the role of locating hidden items with Stoutland Search.
In the games
Price
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Effect
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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
Manual activation
A form of the Itemfinder has been present in all core series games since Generation I.
Generation II
Manual activation
In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the Itemfinder is similar to that of Generation I. As with other Key Items starting in Generation II, the Itemfinder can be set to the Select Button and easily accessed.
Generation III
Manual activation
In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, the Itemfinder can be used to find hidden items.
In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, 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:
- The Soothe Bell in the Pokémon Tower after having rescued Mr. Fuji
- The Leftovers on Routes 12 and 16 after having fought against each route's respective Snorlax
- The Macho Brace in Viridian Gym after Giovanni disappears
- The PP Max on Cape Brink, located on a single patch of ground surrounded by the lake
- The Sacred Ash on Navel Rock after having fought against Ho-Oh
Generation IV
Manual activation
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 Dowsing Machine.
In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, it is known as the Dowsing MCHN and again uses the touch screen to locate items.
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
Toggleable passive effect
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.
Generation VI
Toggleable passive effect
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.
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.
Description
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Acquisition
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Appearance
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| Artwork from Generation I |
Bag sprite from Generation III |
Bag sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
Sprite from the Pokéwalker |
Bag sprite from Generation V |
Bag sprite from X and Y |
Bag sprite from Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire |
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| Overworld models from Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | ||||||
In the anime
In A Ghost of a Chance, a Firebreather named Infernando tried to sell Ash and his friends an Itemfinder, referred to in the English dub as a "Treasure Detector". Although the group refused the offer, the machine was soon after bought by James. He used it in an attempt to find treasures around Ecruteak City, although he ended up just finding bottle caps.
In From Ghost to Ghost, the Treasure Detector led Team Rocket to a storage full of valuable antiques. However, while looting the place, the group was ambushed and hypnotized by a group of Gastly, scaring them away.
In Sky High Gym Battle!, Team Rocket used a pair of golden dowsing rods, referred to as Itemfinders, in an attempt to lead them to a tresure supposedly buried underneath the Fortree Gym.
In Try for the Family Stone!, James used a pair of dowsing rods in an attempt to find a Dusk Stone.
In A Team-on-Team Tussle!, James used a modified Dowsing Machine to locate a Z-Crystal for Team Rocket. However, soon after leading the Rocket trio to a Darkinium Z, the machine was destroyed by the Totem Raticate guarding the Z-Crystal.
The Itemfinder from the original series
The dowsing rods from the Advanced Generation series
The dowsing rods from the Diamond & Pearl series
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
In A Hollow Victreebel, an Itemfinder was one of the many items seen in Red's Bag. In What a Dragonite, he used the Itemfinder to locate the hidden HM for Surf on Route 19, coming across and being attacked by a wild Dragonite in the process.
In Luring in a Lickilicky, Diamond used the Dowsing Machine app on his Pokétch to track down an item-stealing wild Lickilicky's hiding place.
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. | |||||||
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| Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
| Item Finder | T | Base Set | 
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74/102 | Expansion Pack |
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| Base Set 2 |
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103/130 | |||||
| Dowsing Machine | I | Plasma Storm | 
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128/135 | Plasma Gale |
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069/070 |
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. |