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Glowing Blocks (Buried Treasure)
March 7, 2026 at 09:42 PM
Created comprehensive guide to Glowing Blocks (Buried Treasure) covering how to find and break them, hidden block detection with the Dowsing Machine, all Search-specialty Pokemon, item categories, detonation mechanic, respawn system, and tips
Glowing Blocks are special breakable terrain scattered throughout every region of Pokemon Pokopia. They emit a golden light that is visible from a distance, marking them as treasure locations. Breaking a Glowing Block with Rock Smash yields one of five item categories: Lost Relics, Fossils, CDs, Mysterious Slates, or Dolls. Some Glowing Blocks sit on the surface where they can be spotted easily, while others are buried underground and require the Dowsing Machine paired with a Search-specialty Pokemon to locate.
Glowing Blocks are one of the primary collectible mechanics in Pokopia, tying into multiple systems including the Ancient Artifacts collection, the Museum fossil displays, and the Mysterious Mural puzzle in Withered Wasteland. A limited number of blocks spawn in each region per day, with additional ones occasionally appearing during special events.
Breaking a Glowing Block requires the Rock Smash ability, which is learned from Hitmonchan after completing its requests and befriending it in the Withered Wasteland. Once Ditto learns Rock Smash, approach any Glowing Block and press the action button to smash it open.
Most Glowing Blocks are at ground level and can be broken by standing directly in front of them. However, some blocks are positioned below your feet rather than in front of you. For these, you need to angle the camera downward so that Ditto is looking at the ground, then perform Rock Smash to break the block beneath you. If your Rock Smash keeps hitting the wrong block, adjust your camera angle until Ditto targets the glowing one.
Surface-level Glowing Blocks are easy to spot because of the golden light they emit. Buried blocks, however, are completely invisible without the right tools. To find them, you need two things:
Dowsing Machine: Obtained by completing Hitmonchan's "Check What's Up There" request in the Withered Wasteland. A yellow Poke Ball at the top of the climbing area contains the Dowsing Machine.
Search-specialty Pokemon: A Pokemon with the Search specialty must be following you as your companion. Equip the Dowsing Machine from your inventory, then walk around the area. The companion Pokemon will react and provide directional cues like "below here" or "nearby" when you are close to a hidden block.
The Dowsing Machine emits a beeping audio signal that gets faster and louder the closer you are to a buried treasure. Follow the sound and your companion's guidance until you are standing directly on or next to the hidden block, then use Rock Smash to unearth it.
The following Pokemon have the Search specialty and can be paired with the Dowsing Machine to locate buried Glowing Blocks:
Pokemon | Second Specialty | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|
Pidgey | Fly | Pretty Flower Bed habitat (Common, available early) |
Pidgeotto | Fly | Pretty Flower Bed habitat (Rare) |
Venonat | Gather | Tall Grass habitat |
Venomoth | Gather | Tall Grass habitat (Rare) |
Parasect | Grow | Mushroom habitat |
Vespiquen | Gather | Flower habitat |
Drilbur | Bulldoze | 8 Vegetable Fields habitat, east of Withered Wasteland |
Excadrill | Bulldoze | Vegetable Fields habitat (Rare) |
Zubat | Litter | Cave habitat |
Golbat | Litter | Cave habitat (Rare) |
Crobat | Litter | Cave habitat (Very Rare) |
Growlithe | Burn | Habitat in Rocky Ridges |
Arcanine | Burn | Habitat in Rocky Ridges (Rare) |
Psyduck | Water | Water habitat |
Golduck | Water | Water habitat (Rare) |
Noivern | Fly | Cave habitat (Rare) |
Umbreon | None | Nighttime-only habitat with Eevee present |
Pidgey and Drilbur are the two earliest Search Pokemon most players obtain. Pidgey can be attracted with a Pretty Flower Bed habitat (one of the first you build), and Drilbur can be found east of the Withered Wasteland by placing 8 Vegetable Fields.
Each Glowing Block drops one random item from the following categories:
Category | What It Contains | What to Do With It |
|---|---|---|
Lost Relics (Large) | Unidentified large decorative items like the Pikachu Sofa, Munna Bank, Rowlet Clock, Model Space Shuttle, and more | Bring to Professor Tangrowth for appraisal; used as habitat and house decorations |
Lost Relics (Small) | Holdable items and type-enhancing items like Gold Bottle Cap, Lucky Egg, Life Orb, Leftovers, Metal Coat, and others | Bring to Professor Tangrowth for appraisal; equip on Pokemon or use as decorations |
Fossils | Prehistoric Pokemon fossil pieces (Skull Fossil, Wing Fossil parts, Shield Fossil parts, etc.) | Display at the Museum in Rocky Ridges on Pedestals to recruit fossil Pokemon |
CDs | Music discs that change the background music in your town | Give to DJ Rotom to add new tracks to the town soundtrack rotation |
Mysterious Slates | Stone tablets engraved with Unknown Alphabet symbols, 27 in total | Attach to the Mysterious Mural in Withered Wasteland; completing all 27 unlocks a special reward |
Dolls | Collectible dolls representing various Pokemon | Present to Drifloon to be transported to a Dream Island with unique gathering materials |
Some Lost Relics have a chance of detonating upon being unearthed. When this happens, you will see a fuse or countdown indicator on the relic. You must quickly use Water Gun to defuse the relic before it explodes. If it detonates, the relic is lost and you miss out on that item. Having a Water-type Pokemon nearby or having learned the Water Gun traversal ability helps ensure you can defuse relics in time. This only applies to Lost Relics; Fossils, CDs, Slates, and Dolls never detonate.
Glowing Blocks are not infinite. A limited number of blocks spawn in each region per day, and once broken they do not reappear until the next daily reset. This means treasure hunting is a daily activity rather than something you can grind endlessly in a single session. The exact number of blocks per region varies, but checking every area each day is the best way to build your collection steadily.
Buried blocks (those requiring the Dowsing Machine to find) follow the same daily respawn cycle. Both surface-visible and buried blocks reset at the same time each day.
Prioritize befriending Hitmonchan early in the Withered Wasteland. Rock Smash is required for Glowing Blocks, and the Dowsing Machine is obtained through Hitmonchan's follow-up request.
Keep a Search-specialty Pokemon in each region so you can quickly equip the Dowsing Machine and start hunting without swapping companions.
Pidgey doubles as both a Search and Fly Pokemon, making it one of the best early companions for treasure hunting since you can also fast travel to specific locations.
When a Lost Relic starts sparking after being unearthed, use Water Gun immediately. Do not hesitate or the relic will detonate and be lost.
Check underground cave areas thoroughly. Many Glowing Blocks spawn inside caves and cliff walls where the golden glow can be easy to miss against torch-lit backgrounds.
Duplicate fossils can be traded for currency, so continue hunting even after completing fossil sets.
The Mysterious Mural requires all 27 Mysterious Slates. Focus your daily treasure hunts across all regions to gradually collect them all.
Surface-level blocks are visible without any special tools. Even before obtaining the Dowsing Machine, you can break any Glowing Block you spot using Rock Smash.
