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Ruins of Alph

Revision as of 14:40, 9 February 2017 by Shavery (talk | contribs) (→‎Southwestern chamber)
Ruins of Alph アルフのいせき
Ruins of Alph
"Wild Missingno. appeared!"
HGSS Ruins of Alph-Day.png
Map description: A place where you can find a former adventure.
Location: Southwest of Violet City
Region: Johto
Generations: II, IV
Johto Ruins of Alph Map.png
Location of Ruins of Alph in Johto.
Pokémon world locations

The Ruins of Alph (Japanese: アルフのいせき Ruins of Alph) are located in Johto near Violet City, with entrances to the south of Route 36 and west of Route 32. The ruins are filled with Unown once any of the four slide puzzles inside the chambers have been activated. The name may come from the first four letters of "alphabet," which the Unown inside represent.

If the player listens to the Pokégear radio while near or inside the ruins, they will hear strange noises known as Mysterious Transmission on channel 13.5. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the player must be inside one of the chambers, and tuning the radio near the center will broadcast these noises. Some of those noises are actually Ho-Oh's distorted cries, and the melody of the Azure Flute. It also increases the chance of encountering an Unown shape the player has not yet encountered.

Geography

 
Activating the Sinjoh Ruins outside the ruins in HeartGold and SoulSilver

Outside the ruins

There are several scientists in the area listening and studying the ruins to discover more about them. They say it is more than it seems and that the puzzles in the caves must have something to do with the mystery of the past of the Ruins of Alph.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, if the player has Arceus in their party, the Sinjoh Ruins will be accessible.

Puzzle chambers

Four small chambers in the ruins hold slide puzzles that, when solved, cause the floor below the player to break, dropping the player into the main chamber of the ruins. The puzzles also cause Unown to appear in the main chamber. Each puzzle corresponds to a specific subset of the 26 alphabetic forms of Unown. To unlock all 26 alphabetic forms, all four slide puzzles must be activated. The puzzles can be completed in any order. Pokémon Crystal explains that these puzzles are signals that summon the Unown.

In Generation II, catching three Unown and speaking to a researcher outside the ruins will cause him to unlock Unown Mode in the player's Pokédex. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the first completed slide puzzle will cause a man to give the player the Unown Report. Once the first seven pages of the report are complete and the 26 alphabetic Unown forms have been caught, the ! and ? forms can be encountered in the entrance room.

In Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, each puzzle chamber has a word on the far wall that is a hint to unlocking a secret room. When the player completes a certain criterion, the secret room opens, revealing several items. Additionally, in these games, completing the slide puzzles reveals part of the history of Unown written on the floor of the main chamber. In the Japanese version of Crystal, a scientist theorizes that the sudden appearance of these patterns is related to the newly-built Pokémon Communication Center and the radio waves emanating from it.

The puzzles cause the following Unown to appear in the main chamber:

Chamber In Generation II In Generation IV
Northeastern chamber              
        		             
     
Southeastern chamber                    
Northwestern chamber              
Southwestern chamber                            

Northeastern chamber

 
Artwork of Ethan at the entrance of the Ruins of Alph

The northeastern chamber, near the Route 36 entrance, requires no HMs to access. In Pokémon Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, the far wall reads escape upon inspection. Using an Escape Rope there opens a hidden room. In Crystal, the item is consumed and the player must re-enter the chamber in order to reach the hidden room. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the item is not consumed and the room opens immediately.

The chamber's puzzle forms an image of Kabuto. Completing this puzzle and falling through to the floor below reveals the following message spelled out on the ground in Unown:

Our words shall remain here for the agesC
Our clan engraved words in this placeHGSS

Southeastern chamber

The southeastern chamber requires HM03 Surf to cross the pond on the south side of the ruins. In Pokémon Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, the far wall reads light. Using HM05 Flash will open the hidden room.

The chamber's puzzle forms an image of Aerodactyl. Completing this puzzle and falling through to the floor below reveals the following message spelled out on the ground in Unown:

Thus we shall erect a Pokémon statue outsideC
Our clan created Pokémon statue outsideHGSS

Northwestern chamber

The northwestern chamber is accessible only from the basement of Union Cave, which requires HM03 Surf to navigate. In Pokémon Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, the far wall reads Ho Oh. The hidden room will open Ho-Oh is the first Pokémon in the player's party in Crystal, or anywhere in the player's party in Generation IV.

The chamber's puzzle forms an image of Ho-Oh. Completing this puzzle and falling through to the floor below reveals the following message spelled out on the ground in Unown:

We humans must learn to walk in harmony with them. We depart for their sakesC
We humans need to walk with them. We leave here for the sake of themHGSS

Southwestern chamber

The southwestern chamber is accessible only by moving a boulder in the basement of Union Cave, which requires HM03 Surf to navigate as well as HM04 Strength. In Pokémon Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, the far wall reads water. The hidden room will open if the player has a Water Stone in their inventory in Crystal, and when the player selects "Use" on a Water Stone from the Bag while facing the wall.

The chamber's puzzle forms an image of Omanyte. Completing this puzzle and falling through to the floor below reveals the following message spelled out on the ground in Unown:

They possess great insight and refuse the outside worldC
They possess power to sense with mind and reject outsideHGSS

Puzzles

  • Puzzle in the northeastern chamber, featuring Kabuto
    (Generation II)

  • Puzzle in the southeastern chamber, featuring Aerodactyl
    (Generation II)

  • Puzzle in the northwestern chamber, featuring Ho-Oh
    (Generation II)

  • Puzzle in the southwestern chamber, featuring Omanyte
    (Generation II)

  • Puzzle in the northeastern chamber, featuring Kabuto
    (Generation IV)

  • Puzzle in the southeastern chamber, featuring Aerodactyl
    (Generation IV)

  • Puzzle in the northwestern chamber, featuring Ho-Oh
    (Generation IV)

  • Puzzle in the southwestern chamber, featuring Omanyte
    (Generation IV)

Items

  This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Needs confirmation of the contents of the hidden chambers in Crystal
Item Location Games
 
 Unown Mode Given by a researcher outside the ruins as an upgrade to the Pokédex after catching at least three different Unown variants  G  S  C 
  Unown Report Given by a researcher right after solving the first chamber puzzle  HG  SS 
  Potion In the left wall of the building, southmost of the three in the northeast (hidden)  HG  SS 
  Great Ball In the central solid rock among a group near the southern entrance (hidden)  HG  SS 
  TinyMushroom In the small mound of dirt east of the western pond (hidden)  HG  SS 
  Rare Candy In a solid rock west of a smashable rock to the west of the northern entrance (requires Rock Smash) (hidden)  HG  SS 
  Hyper Potion North of the western pond (requires Rock Smash or Surf)  HG  SS 
  Nugget On a boulder outside the third chamber (accessed via Union Cave) (hidden)  HG  SS 
  Big Mushroom On a boulder outside the third chamber (accessed via Union Cave) (hidden)  HG  SS 

Rock Smash

Item Location Games
  Red Shard Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
  Green Shard Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
  Blue Shard Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
  Yellow Shard Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
  Max Revive Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
  Max Ether Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
  Old Amber Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
  Helix Fossil Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG 
  Dome Fossil Randomly found by smashing rocks  SS 

Northeastern hidden room

Item Location Games
 
 Berry Hidden room  C 
 
 PSNCureBerry Hidden room  C 
  Heal Powder Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
  EnergyPowder Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
  Oran Berry Hidden room  HG  SS 
  Pecha Berry Hidden room  HG  SS 

Southeastern hidden room

Item Location Games
  Heal Powder Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
  Energy Root Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
 
 Gold Berry Hidden room  C 
  Moon Stone Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
  Sitrus Berry Hidden room  HG  SS 

Northwestern hidden room

Item Location Games
  Revival Herb Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
  Charcoal Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
 
 Gold Berry Hidden room  C 
 
 MysteryBerry Hidden room  C 
  Life Orb Hidden room  HG  SS 
  Leppa Berry Hidden room  HG  SS 

Southwestern hidden room

Item Location Games
  Stardust Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
  Star Piece Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
 
 MysteryBerry Hidden room  C 
  Mystic Water Hidden room  C  HG  SS 
  Leppa Berry Hidden room  HG  SS 

Pokémon

Generation II

Inside

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
After at least one puzzle has been solved
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 100%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.


  • The puzzle in the northeastern chamber causes Unown A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K to appear.
  • The puzzle in the southeastern chamber causes Unown S, T, U, V, and W to appear.
  • The puzzle in the northwestern chamber causes Unown X, Y, and Z to appear.
  • The puzzle in the southwestern chamber causes Unown L, M, N, O, P, Q, and R to appear.

Outside

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
     
  Natu
G S C
  Grass
18-24 90%
  Wooper
G S C
  Grass
22 0% 0% 5%
  Quagsire
G S C
  Grass
22 0% 0% 5%
  Smeargle
G S C
  Grass
20-22 10%
  Smeargle
G S C
  Grass
20-22 10% 10% 0%
Surfing
  Wooper
G S C
  Surfing
15-19 60%
  Quagsire
G S C
  Surfing
15-24 40%
Fishing
  Poliwag
G S C
  Fishing
Old Rod
10 15%
  Magikarp
G S C
  Fishing
Old Rod
10 85%
  Poliwag
G S C
  Fishing
Good Rod
20 65%
  Magikarp
G S C
  Fishing
Good Rod
20 35%
  Poliwag
G S C
  Fishing
Super Rod
40 70%
  Poliwhirl
G S C
  Fishing
Super Rod
40 10%
  Magikarp
G S C
  Fishing
Super Rod
40 20%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.


Generation IV

Inside

Underground hall
Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
After at least one puzzle has been solved
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 100%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.


  • The puzzle in the northeastern chamber causes Unown A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J to appear.
  • The puzzle in the southeastern chamber causes Unown R, S, T, U, and V to appear.
  • The puzzle in the northwestern chamber causes Unown W, X, Y, and Z to appear.
  • The puzzle in the southwestern chamber causes Unown K, L, M, N, O, P, and Q to appear.
Entrance
Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
After obtaining all 26 alphabetic Unown forms
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 50%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 50%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.


Outside

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
  Natu
HG SS
  Grass
18-24 90%
  Smeargle
HG SS
  Grass
20-22 10%
Surfing
  Wooper
HG SS
  Surfing
10-20 60%
  Quagsire
HG SS
  Surfing
10-25 40%
Fishing
  Poliwag
HG SS
  Fishing
Old Rod
10 5%
  Magikarp
HG SS
  Fishing
Old Rod
10 95%
  Poliwag
HG SS
  Fishing
Good Rod
20 40%
  Magikarp
HG SS
  Fishing
Good Rod
20 60%
  Poliwag
HG SS
  Fishing
Super Rod
40 93%
  Magikarp
HG SS
  Fishing
Super Rod
40 7%
Rock Smash
  Geodude
HG SS
  Rock Smash
3-14 100%
Special Pokémon
  Linoone
HG SS
  Hoenn Sound
18 20%
  Whismur
HG SS
  Hoenn Sound
20-22 20%
  Bidoof
HG SS
  Sinnoh Sound
18 20%
  Buizel
HG SS
  Sinnoh Sound
20-22 20%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.


Trainers

Generation II

Trainer Pokémon
 
Psychic Nathan
ジョウ Jō
Reward: $832
  Girafarig♂ Lv.26
No item
Trainers with a telephone symbol by their names will give their Pokégear number to the player, and may call or be called for a rematch with higher-level Pokémon.


Generation IV

Trainer Pokémon
 
Psychic Nathan
ジョウ Jō
Reward: $832
  Girafarig♂ Lv.26
No item
Trainers with a telephone symbol by their names will give their Pokégear number to the player, and may call or be called for a rematch with higher-level Pokémon.


Layout

Version Outside Main entrance Main chamber Puzzle chamber Item chamber
Gold      
Silver
Crystal    
HeartGold          
SoulSilver
 


Version First chamber Second chamber Third chamber Fourth chamber
Crystal        
HeartGold        
SoulSilver
 

Preview

  • Morning (Unown S)

  • Day/Evening (Unown G)

  • Night (Unown T)

Walking Pokémon effects

When interacting with walking Pokémon in HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Pokémon may occasionally show an altered mood specific to this location.

  • Unown makes a strange sound, growls in a way that sounds almost like speech, and seems to be singing something. It also spins around in circles and sometimes stops moving.
  • All walking Pokémon, including Unown, gaze around restlessly and scratch at the ground as if searching for something. They stare intently at nothing and suddenly turn around then may start barking. Happy emotions are seen as they look very interested and wander around listening to the different sounds.

In the anime

 
Ruins of Alph in the anime

The Ruins of Alph appeared in Fossil Fools, where Ash and his friends visited them, meeting Professor Oak upin their arrival. Unlike the games, no Unown were featured there. Instead, it was a site where multiple Fossils had been dug out. One of the scientists working at the site was Foster, one of Professor Oak's former top students at the Celadon University. Soon Ash, his friends, and Professor Oak found out that Foster had discovered living Omanyte and Omastar at the ruins, which he was trying to protect by keeping them a secret. After rescuing the Fossil Pokémon from being stolen by Team Rocket, the group agreed that the ancient Pokémon should be left alone, and promised Foster not to tell anyone about them.

In the manga

 
Ruins of Alph in Pokémon Adventures
 
Ruins of Alph in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

The Ruins of Alph first appeared in Into the Unown as the location where Gold met Bugsy for the first time. He helped Bugsy rescue his research team who were trapped in the ruins, and also foiled a Team Rocket plan to capture the Unown.

In Hurray for Heracross, while doing research at the ruins, Bugsy was challenged by Suicune, who was seeking a worthy Trainer to stand on its side during the upcoming confrontation with the Masked Man. Bugsy did his best, but in the end, he was unable to defeat and capture the Legendary Pokémon.

In the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc, Gold, having rescued Bugsy after Ecruteak City's Gym was destroyed by Arceus, chased Arceus towards the Ruins of Alph, where he also found an injured Lance. After leaving Lance in Bugsy's care, Gold confronted Arceus by himself. When Silver and Crystal soon arrived at the site, with Silver having managed to collect the 16 Plates from across Johto, Arceus transported the Pokédex holders to the Sinjoh Ruins, unintentionally bringing the four Team Rocket Executives along as well. Later, Arceus returned the Pokédex holders, Executives, Lance, Giovanni, and Pryce to the Ruins of Alph.

In the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc, it was revealed that Archie and Maxie had appeared at the Ruins of Alph after their spirits had been pulled out of the Distortion World during the events of the HeartGold & SoulSilver chapter.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

The Ruins of Alph appeared in Rampage at the Ruins of Alph!.


In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring the Ruins of Alph in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Related cards
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion 		Rarity # Japanese
Expansion 		Rarity #
Ruin Wall T Neo Discovery   74/75 Crossing the Ruins...    
Natu   Unleashed   55/95 SoulSilver Collection   042/070
Ruins of Alph T [St] Undaunted   76/90 Reviving Legends   077/080
 


In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 阿露福遺跡 Ālùfú Yíjī
  Finnish Alphin rauniot
  European French Ruines d'Alpha
  German Alph-Ruinen
  Italian Rovine d'Alfa
  Korean 알프의 유적 Ruins of Alpha
  Brazilian Portuguese Ruínas de Alfa
  European Spanish Ruinas Alfa
Ruinas Alfabeto*
  Swedish Alph-ruinerna
  Vietnamese Di tích Arufu



Johto
               
Settlements
New Bark Town • Cherrygrove City • Violet City • Azalea Town • Goldenrod City • Ecruteak City
Olivine City • Cianwood City • Mahogany Town • Blackthorn City • Safari Zone Gate • Frontier Access
Routes
29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48
Landmarks
Dark Cave • Sprout Tower • Ruins of Alph • Union Cave • Slowpoke Well • Ilex Forest • Radio Tower • Global Terminal
Goldenrod Tunnel • National Park • Pokéathlon Dome • Bell Tower • Bellchime Trail • Burned Tower • Moomoo Farm • Olivine Lighthouse
Battle Tower (Crystal • HGSS)/Frontier • Cliff Edge Gate • Cliff Cave • Embedded Tower • Safari Zone • Whirl Islands
Mt. Mortar • Lake of Rage • Team Rocket HQ • Ice Path • Dragon's Den • S.S. Aqua • Mt. Silver (Cave)
Access to
Sinjoh Ruins • Kanto


  This article is part of Project Locations, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every location in the Pokémon world.
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