Ruins of Alph

Ruins of Alph アルフのいせき
Ruins of Alph
"Wild Missingno. appeared!"
HGSS Ruins of Alph-Morning.png
Map description: {{{mapdesc}}}
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, with entrances to the south and west of Violet City. The ruins are filled with Unown once any one of 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.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, each slide puzzle that is completed unlocks a specific subset of the 26 alphabetic forms of Unown. To unlock all 26 alphabetic forms, all four slide puzzles must be activated. The slide puzzles can be completed in any order; 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 entrance room of the ruins will have a gold plate that reads "Our friends look up and heartily congratulate us". Reading the plate causes one of the researchers to speak to the player, after which the ! and ? forms can be encountered in the entrance room.

If the player listens to the Pokégear radio while near or inside the ruins, they will hear strange noises generated by it on channel 13.5. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the player must be inside one of the chambers and any channel on the radio will broadcast the noises. Some of those noises are actually Ho-Oh's distorted cries, and the melody of the Azure Flute.

Geography

Pokégear's map information

A place where you can find a former adventure.

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 the area there are several small caves with puzzles; solving the puzzles cause Unown to appear in the main ruins. Pokémon Crystal later explains that these puzzles are signals that summon the Unown.

There is a secret entrance to a small part of the Ruins of Alph in Union Cave which leads to a patch of grass full of Natu and Smeargle. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, if the player has Arceus in their party, the Sinjoh Ruins will be available and the player can choose a level 1 Dialga, Palkia, or Giratina with their respective orbs.

Hidden rooms

In Pokémon Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, patterns appear on the walls of the puzzle chambers. When the patterns' directions are followed, doorways to hidden rooms appear, where the player can get many items and learn some of the history of the Unown. In the Japanese version of Pokémon 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.

Items

Item Location Games
Unown Dex Given to the player by a researcher as an upgrade to the Pokédex outside the ruins after catching at least three different Unown variants.  G  S  C 
  Unown Report Given to the player by a researcher right after solving the first chamber puzzle.  HG  SS 
  Hyper Potion North of the western pond (requires Rock Smash)  HG  SS 
  Great Ball On the middle solid rock at the southern entrance (hidden)  HG  SS 
  TinyMushroom On the small mound of dirt east of the western pond (hidden)  HG  SS 
  Rare Candy On a solid rock behind a smashable one at the northern entrance (requires Rock Smash) (hidden)  HG  SS 
  Nugget On a boulder outside the third chamber (accessed via Union Cave) (hidden)  HG  SS 
  Potion Enter via north entrance, second building down on the right. Hidden in wall on left.  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 

First Chamber

In the northernmost chamber, the far wall reads escape upon inspection. Using an Escape Rope there opens a hidden room upon re-entering.
In HeartGold and SoulSilver, it does not consume the rope and instead the player gets an ! over their head, and the room opens. It holds:

Item Location Games
Berry First Chamber  C 
PSNCureBerry First Chamber  C 
  Heal Powder First Chamber  C  HG  SS 
  EnergyPowder First Chamber  C  HG  SS 
  Oran Berry First Chamber  HG  SS 
  Pecha Berry First Chamber  HG  SS 

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

In HeartGold/SoulSilver, this chamber contains a touchscreen puzzle that forms Kabuto. Once completed, the A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J forms of Unown are unlocked in the main chamber.

Second Chamber

In the south-easternmost chamber, the far wall reads light.
Getting a Pokémon to use the field move Flash will open the hidden room which contains the following:

Item Location Games
  Heal Powder Second Chamber  C  HG  SS 
  Energy Root Second Chamber  C  HG  SS 
Gold Berry Second Chamber  C 
  Moon Stone Second Chamber  C  HG  SS 
  Sitrus Berry Second Chamber  HG  SS 

The floor below reveals the message:
Thus we shall erect a Pokémon statue outsideC
Our clan created Pokémon statue outsideHGSS
In HeartGold/SoulSilver, this chamber contains a touchscreen puzzle that forms Aerodactyl. Once completed, the R, S, T, U, and V forms of Unown are unlocked in the main chamber.

Third Chamber

 
Artwork of Ethan at the entrance of the Ruins of Alph

The third chamber is accessed through Union Cave but requires a boulder to be moved. The far wall reads water.
The hidden room will open if the player has a Water Stone in their inventory, though, in HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, the player is required to select "Use" from the items menu while facing the wall for the room to open. Inside, they can find:

Item Location Games
  Stardust Third Chamber  C  HG  SS 
  Star Piece Third Chamber  C  HG  SS 
MysteryBerry Third Chamber  C 
  Mystic Water Third Chamber  C  HG  SS 
  Leppa Berry Third Chamber  HG  SS 

The floor below reads
They possess great insight and refuse the outside worldC
They possess power to sense with mind and reject outsideHGSS
In HeartGold/SoulSilver, this chamber contains a touchscreen puzzle that forms Omanyte. Once completed, the K, L, M, N, O, P, and Q forms of Unown are unlocked in the main chamber.

Fourth Chamber

The final chamber is also accessed through Union Cave. The far wall reads Ho Oh.
If Ho-Oh is the first Pokémon in the player's party in Generation II, or anywhere in the player's party in Generation IV games, the hidden room opens, where there are:

Item Location Games
  Revival Herb Fourth Chamber  C  HG  SS 
  Charcoal Fourth Chamber  C  HG  SS 
Gold Berry Fourth Chamber  C 
MysteryBerry Fourth Chamber  C 
  Life Orb Fourth Chamber  HG  SS 
  Leppa Berry Fourth Chamber  HG  SS 

The floor below reads
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
In HeartGold/SoulSilver, this chamber contains a touchscreen puzzle that forms Ho-Oh. Once completed, the W, X, Y, and Z forms of Unown are unlocked in the main chamber.

Pokémon

Generation II

Inside

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
     
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 3.9%
  Unown
G S C
  Cave
5 2.3%
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
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 solving the first puzzle
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 10%
After solving the second puzzle
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 6.7%
After solving the third puzzle
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 5.3%
After solving the fourth puzzle
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
  Unown
HG SS
  Cave
5 3.8%
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.


Entrance
Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
After obtaining all 26 letter Unown
  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
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
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

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Needs all HGSS maps


Version Outside Main Chamber Puzzle Chamber Item Chamber
Gold     File:Ruins of Alph Puzzle GSC.png
Silver
Crystal     File:Ruins of Alph Puzzle GSC.png  
 
Version First Chamber Second Chamber Third Chamber Fourth Chamber
Crystal        
 

Eyecatch

In the anime

 
Ruins of Alph in the anime

The Ruins of Alph appeared in Fossil Fools, in which Team Rocket tried to steal a group of Omanyte and Omastar living among the ruins. Unlike the games, no Unown were featured.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

The Ruins of Alph appear in Into the Unown. Gold and Bugsy visit the ruins, encountering Unown and Team Rocket. Gold manages to capture an Unown for Bugsy.

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
  European Spanish Ruinas Alfa



Johto
               
Settlements
New Bark TownCherrygrove CityViolet CityAzalea TownGoldenrod CityEcruteak City
Olivine CityCianwood CityMahogany TownBlackthorn CitySafari Zone GateFrontier Access
Routes
2930313233343536373839404142434445464748
Landmarks
Dark CaveSprout TowerRuins of AlphUnion CaveSlowpoke WellIlex ForestRadio TowerGlobal Terminal
Goldenrod TunnelNational ParkPokéathlon DomeBell TowerBellchime TrailBurned TowerMoomoo FarmOlivine Lighthouse
Battle Tower (CrystalHGSS)/FrontierCliff Edge GateCliff CaveEmbedded TowerSafari ZoneWhirl Islands
Mt. MortarLake of RageTeam Rocket HQIce PathDragon's DenS.S. AquaMt. Silver (Cave)
Access to
Sinjoh RuinsKanto


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