Finding a Dawn Stone in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: What Most Players Get Wrong

Finding a Dawn Stone in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: What Most Players Get Wrong

You've finally caught that Male Kirlia or a Snorunt you're dying to evolve, and suddenly, you hit a wall. Evolution stones in Paldea aren't always where you think they'd be. Honestly, the Pokemon Scarlet dawn stone is one of the trickiest items to pin down because, unlike Water or Fire stones, you can't just waltz into a Delibird Presents shop and buy one with your hard-earned LP.

It's frustrating. I've spent hours scouring the map only to find yet another Stardust or a handful of Poké Balls. The Dawn Stone is a "specialty" item. It feels rare because it is. If you're looking to get a Gallade or a Froslass, you need to know exactly where the game hides these shimmering blue rocks. There are fixed spawns, but there’s also a lot of RNG (randomness) involved if you miss the easy ones.

Where to actually find a Dawn Stone in Pokemon Scarlet

Don't bother checking the shops in Mesagoza or Cascarrafa. They won't have it. The most reliable way to get a Pokemon Scarlet dawn stone is to head to the West Province. Specifically, you want to look around Area Three. There is a very specific spot near a pile of ruins where a permanent Poké Ball item sits on the ground.

Go to the ruins northwest of Medali. You'll see some crumbling walls and maybe a few Meditite wandering around. Tucked behind one of these walls is a sparkling item. Pick it up. That's your guaranteed Dawn Stone. It doesn't respawn, so use it wisely. If you've already used that one and accidentally evolved the wrong Pokemon (we've all been there), you're going to have to work a bit harder.

Another "fixed" location is in East Province Area Three. This area is a bit of a nightmare to navigate because of all the pitfalls and mining tunnels, but if you explore the hillsides near the river, you can find another one sitting in the grass. It isn't just about the fixed loot, though.


The Auction House Gamble

Porto Marinada is basically the gambling hub of Paldea. Once you beat the Kofu Gym Challenge, the auction house opens up. This is where the Pokemon Scarlet dawn stone occasionally appears.

The items at the auction rotate every in-game day. You might see a stack of 20 Ultra Balls one day and a rare evolution stone the next. If you see a Dawn Stone, be prepared to pay. NPCs will bid against you, and the price can easily skyrocket over 10,000 Pokedollars.

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Expert Tip: If you're desperate, you can "time skip." Save your game in Porto Marinada, close the software, and move your Nintendo Switch system clock forward by one day. Reopen the game and check the auctions. It’s a bit tedious, but it beats wandering the desert for hours.

Random Sparkles and the "Gold" Glow

You know those little glimmers on the ground? Most of them are just Berries or Poké Balls. However, in the ruins of the Asado Desert or the snowy peaks of Glaseado Mountain, these sparkles have a tiny chance of being an evolution stone.

I’ve found that the "gold" sparkles—the ones that look a bit more intense than the standard white ones—are your best bet. But honestly? The drop rate for a Pokemon Scarlet dawn stone from a random ground spawn is abysmal. It's less than 1%. You’re much better off checking the Pokedex rewards or the auction house.

Why the Dawn Stone is so specific

Pokemon evolution is weird. Most stones don't care about gender, but the Dawn Stone is picky. This is a nuance many players forget until they've wasted twenty minutes trying to evolve a female Kirlia into a Gallade. It won't work.

  • Gallade: Requires a Male Kirlia.
  • Froslass: Requires a Female Snorunt.

If you try to use the stone on a female Kirlia, the game will just tell you it's "Incompatible." This is a callback to Generation IV (Sinnoh), where these evolutions were first introduced to give gender-split lines more variety.

Is Gallade even worth the stone?

In the current Paldean meta, Gallade is actually a monster. Thanks to its "Sharpness" ability, which boosts slicing moves by 50%, it hits like a freight train. Psycho Cut, Leaf Blade, and Sacred Sword all get that massive buff. If you’re playing through the main story or tackling 5-star Tera Raids, a Gallade evolved with a Pokemon Scarlet dawn stone is a top-tier physical attacker.

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Froslass is more of a niche pick. She’s great for the "Spikes" utility in competitive play, but for a standard playthrough of Scarlet, she’s a bit fragile. Still, if you love the design, the stone is a small price to pay.

Hidden Pokedex Rewards

Most people forget that Mr. Jacq rewards you for filling out the Pokedex. If you open your Pokedex and press the 'X' button, you'll see a trophy icon. This opens a reward track.

While the Dawn Stone isn't the first reward, you can get various stones and rare items just by catching Pokemon. It’s an "automated" way to get resources without having to hunt through ruins or win auctions. Specifically, once you hit the 270 mark in the Paldean Pokedex, check your rewards. You’ll find that the game hands out some of the rarer stones there as a "thank you" for your hard work.

Misconceptions about the Delibird Presents shop

I see this all the time on forums. People say, "Just go to the shop after you get enough badges."

No.

The Delibird Presents shops in Mesagoza, Levincia, and Cascarrafa carry Fire, Thunder, Leaf, and Water stones after you beat three Gym Leaders. They eventually add Dusk, Shiny, and Moon stones? No, they don't. They never add the Pokemon Scarlet dawn stone to the permanent stock. You cannot buy your way out of this one with standard currency.

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This scarcity is likely a balancing choice by Game Freak. Gallade and Froslass are powerful, and making the stones "loot-only" prevents players from farming an army of them too early in the game.

The glint in the ruins

If you’re still hunting, go to the West Province (Area Three) ruins again. Look for the highest point of the ruins. Sometimes the item isn't on the ground level but tucked onto a broken pillar or a ledge you need Koraidon’s jump or climb ability to reach.

Exploring Paldea is all about verticality. If a guide says an item is "at the ruins," check the roofs. Check the crevices. The developers loved hiding rare loot just out of sight of the main path.


Actionable Steps for your Evolution

First, confirm your Pokemon's gender. There is nothing worse than winning a 15,000 Pokedollar auction for a Pokemon Scarlet dawn stone only to realize your Kirlia is female.

Second, fly to Medali and head northwest. This is the fastest "guaranteed" grab in the game. If you’ve already picked that one up, your next stop is the Porto Marinada auction house.

If you are low on cash for the auction, sell your "treasures" like Star Pieces or Nuggets at any Poke Mart. You'll need at least 15,000 to be safe in a bidding war. Once you have the stone, simply open your bag, navigate to the "Other Items" tab (the one with the candy icon), select the Dawn Stone, and use it on your Male Kirlia or Female Snorunt.

Don't wait until the post-game to do this. Gallade's access to False Swipe and Sharpness-boosted moves makes him the single best Pokemon for catching other monsters. Get that evolution done early so you can fill the rest of your Pokedex with ease.