>>50365354Pure soul for sure. The only problem is that Apricorns are too slow to collect. It doesn't need to be changed much: Being able to collect three from a single tree fixes it (I'm pretty sure that's what Polished Crystal does). One per day is kinda shitty, though.
But this method is way cooler than just buying the situational Pokeballs at random Marts. It adds a lot of personality to the region, and having them be hand-crafted by an artisan fits in so well with Johto's more traditional vibe. I love that you've got to wait for him to craft them, too. They really feel special.