| Shoal Salts | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Location | Repeatable? |
| 1 | Shoal Cave (Low Tide) — B2F, southeast corner | Yes |
| 2 | Shoal Cave (Low Tide) — B1F, by the ledge | Yes |
| 3 | Shoal Cave (Low Tide) — Inner chamber, next to the ladder | Yes |
| 4 | Shoal Cave (Low Tide) — Inner chamber, under the bridge | Yes |
| Shoal Shells | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Location | Repeatable? |
| 1 | Shoal Cave (High Tide) — Inner chamber, on a ledge between the two bridges | Yes |
| 2 | Shoal Cave (High Tide) — Inner chamber, on a northwestern ledge | Yes |
| 3 | Shoal Cave (High Tide) — Inner chamber, on a northeastern ledge | Yes |
| 4 | Shoal Cave (High Tide) — Inner chamber, on a southeastern ledge | Yes |
You can obtain Shoal Salts and Shoal Shells from the various rooms and floors of Shoal Cave, located on Route 125. The availability of these items depends on the tide level in the cave, with Shoal Salts being accessible during low tide and Shoal Shells during high tide.
Additionally, you’ll need a Pokémon with HM03 Surf to reach all areas of the cave and obtain all the Shoal Salts and Shoal Shells.
You can only find a maximum of 4 Shoal Salts and 4 Shoal Shells at a time. However, these items respawn periodically.
Once you’ve gathered 4 Shoal Salts and 4 Shoal Shells, you can trade them with an old man near the entrance of Shoal Cave to receive a Shell Bell and the Slowbronite.
Shoal Cave Mechanics
Shoal Cave, situated on Route 125, can be reached by surfing north from Mossdeep City. This unique cave features a high tide and low tide mechanic, making certain areas accessible only at specific times of day.
- During low tide, the underground sections of the cave become accessible, enabling you to find all 4 Shoal Salts inside the Shoal Cave.
- During high tide, the cave is filled with water, making the underground sections inaccessible while providing access to the second floor where you can find the 4 Shoal Shells.
Here are the times when Shoal Cave is at low or high tide, and what the cave looks like during those times:
| Low Tide | High Tide |
|---|---|
| 3:00 – 8:59 (3:00 AM – 8:59 AM) | 9:00 – 14:59 (9:00 AM – 2:59 PM) |
| 15:00 – 20:59 (3:00 PM – 8:59 PM) | 21:00 – 2:59 (9:00 PM – 2:59 AM) |
As for prerequisites, just make sure you’ve done all these things before you head over to Shoal Cave:
- Have access to Route 125
- Bring a Pokémon that knows HM03 Surf
- Time your visit to either high or low tide depending on which item you currently need (adjust your 3DS or emulator’s time if needed)
With all this information in mind, plan your visit to Shoal Cave at the appropriate time to gather the items you want during their respective tides. In the sections below we’ll show you exactly where to find all the salts and shells.
When you’re prepared, fly to Route 125 to get started.
All Locations
The 4 Shoal Salts (Low Tide)
Step 1: Once you’ve flown back to Route 125, make your way northeast and Surf across the water to reach the entrance of Shoal Cave.
Step 2: If you’ve arrived during low tide, the water inside the cave will have receded.
Go down the nearby stairs and start heading north through the cave.
Step 3: Continue north until you discover a cave entrance along the north wall, then enter it to proceed deeper into Shoal Cave.
Step 4: In the following room, climb up the stairs in the middle of the wall.
Step 5: From the top of the stairs, head north and go down the ladder situated on the room’s right side.
Step 6: After descending the ladder, go east and pick up the first Shoal Salt located on the room’s right side.
Step 7: After obtaining the first Shoal Salt, locate and climb four consecutive staircases in the middle of the room. These staircases will bring you to the northernmost part of this area.
Step 8: In the highest area of this room, locate a ladder on the left and ascend it.
Step 9: After climbing the ladder, head west and cross the wooden bridge on the left-hand side.
Step 10: Upon reaching the other side, continue going straight down.
Step 11: You’ll eventually find another bridge on the right-hand side; cross this next bridge.
Step 12: After crossing the second bridge, find the nearby ladder and make your way down.
Step 13: After climbing down, immediately head east past a Black Belt and pick up the second Shoal Salt.
Step 14: After securing the second Shoal Salt, head west go past the ladder you used to enter this floor.
When you go west past that first ladder, you should find a 2nd ladder that’s a bit further from where you initially climbed down. You’ll want to climb up this 2nd ladder.
Step 15: Once you’ve ascended the ladder, collect the third Shoal Salt located directly to the left on the ground.
Step 16: With the third Shoal Salt in hand, make your way north up the passageway and take a right when you reach the top of the room.
Step 17: At the end of this path, collect the fourth and final Shoal Salt inside the cave.
The 4 Shoal Shells (High Tide)
Step 1: Return to Shoal Cave during high tide to access the Shoal Shells. If timed correctly, the cave should be filled with water when you enter.
If so, just Surf north on the water going past the old man.
Step 2: Disembark near the stairs ahead and enter the cave entrance located on the room’s northwest side.
Step 3: In the next room, find where the stairs meet the water on the left side and use HM03 Surf again.
Step 4: Surf up on the water and after passing under the bridge, you’ll be able to see the first two Shoal Shells on small elevated platforms — one on the left and one on the right.
Pick both of them up.
Step 5: Once you’ve grabbed the first pair of Shoal Shells, return to the water and proceed north, then take a right at the top of the room to follow this path along.
Step 6: As you make your way to the room’s right side, you’ll find the last two Shoal Shells near each other – both of these are also on elevated platforms.
Uses
You can bring 4 Shoal Salts and 4 Shoal Shells back to the old man located near the entrance of Shoal Cave.
Speak to him with all 8 of these items in your bag, and he’ll ask if you’d like him to create a Shell Bell for you. Choose “Yes” and he will give you a Shell Bell along with Slowbro’s Mega Stone, the Slowbronite.
Shoal Salts and Shoal Shells also respawn periodically.
So if you collect 4 more Shoal Salts and 4 more Shoal Shells, you can talk to the old man again to get another Shell Bell. However, the Slowbronite is a one-time reward and cannot be obtained again. But this process of obtaining Shell Bells is repeatable any number of times.
