Exp. Share in Pokémon Gold, Silver & Crystal

You get the Exp. Share in Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal from Mr. Pokémon on Route 30. He trades it for the Red Scale you receive after fighting the red Gyarados at the Lake of Rage.

Already have the Red Scale in your bag? You can head straight back to his house north of Cherrygrove City.

Version note: This guide covers the original Generation II games: Gold, Silver and Crystal. It does not cover HeartGold, SoulSilver or ROM hacks such as Polished Crystal.

Table of contents

How to get the Exp. Share

Go to the Lake of Rage. Head north from Mahogany Town and use Surf to reach the red Gyarados on the lake.
Catch or defeat the red Gyarados. You receive the Red Scale after the encounter. Either choice works for the trade.
Visit Mr. Pokémon on Route 30. Travel north from Cherrygrove City to his house. Speak to him and agree to exchange the Red Scale for the Exp. Share.

Exp. Share checklist for Gold, Silver and Crystal: obtain the Red Scale from red Gyarados, visit Mr. Pokémon on Route 30, leave room in the Items pocket and give the item to a non-fainted party Pokémon. — Schematic checklist for the original games, not a game map. Open the graphic for a larger view.

If Mr. Pokémon cannot give you the item, free a slot in your bag’s Items pocket and speak to him again. The trade only removes the Red Scale after the Exp. Share has been added.

How to use the Exp. Share

Give the Exp. Share to the Pokémon you want to train as a held item. Keep that Pokémon in your party and make sure it has not fainted. It then receives experience when an opposing Pokémon is defeated, even if you never sent it into battle.

This helps when a new catch is too weak for your current opponents: leave it in the party while a stronger Pokémon fights. In Gold, Silver and Crystal, the item benefits its holder; it does not automatically give experience to the whole team.

The held-item and HP checks are visible in the reconstructed Crystal battle code and Gold/Silver battle code.

The exchange in the video

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Exp. Share questions

Do I have to catch the red Gyarados?

No. Defeating it also gives you the Red Scale, which you can trade with Mr. Pokémon for the Exp. Share.

Where is Mr. Pokémon’s house?

On Route 30, north of Cherrygrove City. His house is outside the city, so continue north along the route.

Looking for more useful items? See our Fire Stone guide. For the roaming legendary Pokémon, continue with catching Entei and Raikou in Crystal.

Location and trade sources: the reconstructed Crystal and Gold/Silver house scripts, plus the red Gyarados event.

Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal: How to Get the Exp. Share