You're standing in Mt. Moon, staring at a Clefairy, and you realize you're stuck. It’s a classic Kanto problem. If you want that Nidoking or Nidoqueen to actually hold its own against Brock or Misty, you need a Pokemon Let's Go Moon Stone, and you need it fast. But these things aren't just sitting in the middle of the path with a giant "pick me up" sign.
Most players think they can just buy one at the Celadon Dept. Store. Nope. Not in these games. Unlike FireRed or the original Yellow, the department store clerks in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! won't sell you evolutionary stones for the "Moon" varieties. It’s frustrating. You've got the cash, but the game wants you to work for it.
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Where the Moon Stones Are Actually Hiding
Mt. Moon is your primary hunting ground. Specifically, look for the craters. You'll see these little indentations in the ground on the lower floors of the cave. Your partner Pokemon—whether it’s Pikachu or Eevee—is your best metal detector here. Watch their tail. If it starts wagging like crazy, you’re standing near a hidden item.
There are two consistent spots in Mt. Moon where these stones respawn. One is located in the basement level (B2F) in a large crater near the center of the room. The other is tucked away in a smaller alcove on the same floor. The wild thing is that these aren't "one and done" items. They respawn daily. If you’re building a team that needs multiple evolutions—say you want a Wigglytuff and a Musharna (wait, wrong gen), I mean a Wigglytuff and a Clefable—you’re going to be making a few trips back to this cave.
The Saffron City Secret
A lot of people miss the easiest Pokemon Let's Go Moon Stone in the entire game because they’re too busy trying to kick Team Rocket out of Silph Co. There’s a girl in Saffron City known as the Copycat. She lives in the house in the top-left corner of the city.
If you show her a Clefairy, she gets all excited. But the real prize is checking her room. Examine the cupboards or the drawers in her bedroom on the second floor. You’ll find a Moon Stone just sitting there. It’s a one-time grab, but it’s the most "low-effort" stone in the game if you're already in the neighborhood.
Honestly, I’ve seen players spend hours grinding Mt. Moon when they could have just flown to Saffron and grabbed one in thirty seconds.
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Why the Respawn Mechanic Changes Everything
In the older Game Boy games, evolutionary stones were finite resources. You had to be careful. If you used your only Moon Stone on a Jigglypuff and then realized you actually wanted a Nidoking, you were basically out of luck unless you had a second copy of the game to trade with.
In Let's Go, that's gone.
The daily respawn in Mt. Moon is a game-changer. It means you can technically have an army of Nidorinos and Nidorinas all evolving at once. Every 24 hours (real-world time), those hidden item spots in the craters reset. Just fly to Pewter City, run into the cave, grab your loot, and get out. It takes maybe three minutes.
Which Pokemon Actually Need the Stone?
Don't waste these. Even though they respawn, you don't want to be backtracking every time you catch something new. Here is the short list of who actually uses a Pokemon Let's Go Moon Stone to reach their final form:
- Nidorina to Nidoqueen: Essential for a tanky playthrough.
- Nidorino to Nidoking: The "speedrun" favorite because of its massive move pool.
- Clefairy to Clefable: Great for Magic Guard shenanigans (though abilities work differently here).
- Jigglypuff to Wigglytuff: Mostly for the Pokedex entry, if we're being real.
Nidoking is arguably the best investment. In Let's Go, he can learn moves like Megahorn, Earth Power, and even Thunderbolt or Ice Beam via TM. He’s a Swiss Army knife. Using your first Moon Stone on him basically guarantees you can steamroll the mid-game gyms.
The Hidden Item Logic
Searching for hidden items in this game feels a bit like dowsing for water. Your partner Pokemon's tail is the only UI element you get. If the tail is wagging slowly, you’re in the right zip code. If it’s vibrating like a hummingbird, press 'A'.
Sometimes you’ll find a Stardust or a Pearl instead of the Pokemon Let's Go Moon Stone. Don't panic. That’s just the RNG (Random Number Generator) messing with you. The craters in Mt. Moon have a specific loot table, and the stone is the "rare" drop, but it’s not that rare. Usually, if you check both main craters, you'll walk away with at least one stone.
Glitches and Time Manipulation
Some people try to cheese the daily respawn by changing the clock on their Nintendo Switch.
Don't.
The game is smarter than that. Pokemon Let's Go tracks time-based events differently than the older 3DS titles. If you mess with your system clock, the game might actually lock you out of daily events for 24 to 48 hours as a penalty. It’s better to just play the game naturally. Go fight some trainers, catch some Chanseys for XP, and come back the next morning.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest mistake? Evolving too early.
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This is a rookie move that people have been making since 1996. When you use a Pokemon Let's Go Moon Stone, your Pokemon stops learning moves naturally through leveling up. If you evolve Nidorino into Nidoking at level 21, he won't learn moves like Poison Jab or Earth Power on his own. You’ll have to rely entirely on TMs or the Move Reminder at the Indigo Plateau.
Check your move list. Make sure your Pokemon has the foundational attacks they need before you trigger that evolution. Once you hit that stone, there’s no going back.
Real Talk on Completionism
If you’re going for a Living Dex (where you keep one of every single Pokemon in your box), you’re going to need four Moon Stones minimum.
- Catch two Nidorans (male and female).
- Catch a Clefairy.
- Catch a Jigglypuff.
Since you get one from the Copycat and can reliably find at least one per day in Mt. Moon, you can finish this requirement in about three days of casual play. It’s significantly easier than hunting for the elusive Shiny Pokemon or trying to chain-catch enough Dratini to get a Dragonite.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
To optimize your search and evolution process, follow these steps immediately:
- Fly to Pewter City: Enter Mt. Moon from the West entrance.
- Head to the basement: Don't get distracted by the Zubats on the first floor. Go down the ladders until you find the large open rooms with craters.
- Watch the tail: Stand inside the center of every crater you see and watch Pikachu or Eevee. If the tail wiggles, spam the 'A' button.
- Visit Saffron: If you haven't talked to the Copycat yet, go do it. Her house is a goldmine for a free stone.
- Check your levels: Ensure your Nidorino/Nidorina is at least level 35-40 before evolving to ensure they've picked up their best natural moves.
- Save your game: Always save before using an evolutionary stone just in case you accidentally evolve the wrong one (it happens to the best of us).
Finding a Pokemon Let's Go Moon Stone isn't about luck; it's about knowing the map. Once you have the locations down, you'll never be stuck with a mid-tier team again.