Building a home for Onix in Pokémon Pokopia sounds straightforward until you realize the game gives you almost no direction on where to find the Smooth Rock or how to actually produce Dry Tall Grass. Both steps are easy once you know what to do, but the lack of in-game hints trips up a lot of players early in the Withered Wasteland section. This guide breaks down every step so you can finish Onix's request without any guesswork.
Where to Find the Smooth Rock in Pokopia
The Smooth Rock cannot be crafted at a workbench or purchased from any shop. It is a physical pickup sitting inside the cave system in the northwest area of the Withered Wasteland, right near where you first encountered Onix during the early storyline.
Smooth Rock cave pickup spot
When you re-enter the cave, do not head straight toward Onix's former location. Instead, look to the left side of the path before the right turn. You will spot a glowing Poké Ball sitting on a raised grey block, almost like a shelf on the cave wall. Interact with it to collect the Smooth Rock.
If you reach the spot and the Poké Ball is not visible, check your Storage Boxes. There is a chance you already picked it up during your first visit and stored it automatically.
So far, only one Smooth Rock has been confirmed across full exploration of the game's zones, so treat this item carefully and place it only when you are ready to build the habitat.
How to Make Dry Tall Grass in Pokopia
This is the step that confuses most players. Dry Tall Grass is not available in any shop, and you cannot craft it from a table. The method is much simpler than expected.
Find a patch of dirt that has not been watered and use the move Leafage on it. That single action produces Dry Tall Grass on the spot. The grass will have a dry, brown appearance rather than the lush green look of watered grass.
Rain in the Withered Wasteland can moisten exposed ground quickly, turning your Dry Tall Grass into watered grass. To prevent this, consider placing your habitat inside a cave where weather cannot reach it.
If you cannot find a suitable dry dirt patch, use Rock Smash to break apart Barren Soil, then pick it up and place it somewhere sheltered before applying Leafage.
How to Build the Smooth Tall Grass Habitat for Onix
With both ingredients ready, the assembly process is simple but requires precise placement.
Step-by-Step Habitat Assembly
- Use Leafage on dry, unwatered dirt four times to produce four pieces of Dry Tall Grass.
- Arrange those four pieces in a 2x2 square on the ground.
- Place the Smooth Rock in any tile directly adjacent to that 2x2 square.
- If the arrangement is correct, the game will display a confirmation message that the Smooth Tall Grass Habitat has been restored.
What Happens After the Habitat Is Built?
Once the game confirms the habitat is complete, head back to Onix and speak with it to finish the request. You can invite Onix to follow you to its new home by pressing the up button on the directional pad. Make sure the path through the cave is wide enough for Onix to move freely without getting stuck on walls or debris.
Why Is the Tall Grass Drying Out? Troubleshooting Tips
If your Dry Tall Grass keeps turning into watered grass before you finish placing the habitat, the most reliable fix is to relocate the build site. A sheltered cave interior blocks rainfall entirely, keeping the grass dry no matter how long the weather cycle runs. Use Rock Smash to create Barren Soil inside the cave, place it down, then apply Leafage to generate the grass in a permanently dry environment.
Once everything is in place and Onix has moved in, you will have one of the more demanding early habitats fully completed, and the Withered Wasteland storyline can continue moving forward.
For more Pokémon Pokopia, check GAMESGG guides below:
How to Get Eevee & All Eeveelotions
How to Rebuild the Pokemon Center