Ruins of Alph

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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, 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 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

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
Bag none Sprite.png
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 Unown Report Given by a researcher right after solving the first chamber puzzle  HG  SS 
Potion Potion In the left wall of the building, southmost of the three in the northeast (hidden)  HG  SS 
Great Ball Great Ball In the central solid rock among a group near the southern entrance (hidden)  HG  SS 
TinyMushroom TinyMushroom In the small mound of dirt east of the western pond (hidden)  HG  SS 
Rare Candy 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 Hyper Potion North of the western pond (requires Rock Smash or Surf)  HG  SS 
Nugget Nugget On a boulder outside the third chamber (accessed via Union Cave) (hidden)  HG  SS 
Big Mushroom Big Mushroom On a boulder outside the third chamber (accessed via Union Cave) (hidden)  HG  SS 

Rock Smash

Item Location Games
Red Shard Red Shard Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
Green Shard Green Shard Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
Blue Shard Blue Shard Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
Yellow Shard Yellow Shard Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
Max Revive Max Revive Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
Max Ether Max Ether Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
Old Amber Old Amber Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG  SS 
Helix Fossil Helix Fossil Randomly found by smashing rocks  HG 
Dome Fossil 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
Bag none Sprite.png
Berry First chamber  C 
Bag none Sprite.png
PSNCureBerry First chamber  C 
Heal Powder Heal Powder First chamber  C  HG  SS 
EnergyPowder EnergyPowder First chamber  C  HG  SS 
Oran Berry Oran Berry First chamber  HG  SS 
Pecha Berry 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 southeastern-most 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 Heal Powder Second chamber  C  HG  SS 
Energy Root Energy Root Second chamber  C  HG  SS 
Bag none Sprite.png
Gold Berry Second chamber  C 
Moon Stone Moon Stone Second chamber  C  HG  SS 
Sitrus Berry 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 Stardust Third chamber  C  HG  SS 
Star Piece Star Piece Third chamber  C  HG  SS 
Bag none Sprite.png
MysteryBerry Third chamber  C 
Mystic Water Mystic Water Third chamber  C  HG  SS 
Leppa Berry 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 fourth 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 Revival Herb Fourth chamber  C  HG  SS 
Charcoal Charcoal Fourth chamber  C  HG  SS 
Bag none Sprite.png
Gold Berry Fourth chamber  C 
Bag none Sprite.png
MysteryBerry Fourth chamber  C 
Life Orb Life Orb Fourth chamber  HG  SS 
Leppa Berry 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 Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
G S C
Cave 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
Morning Day Night
Natu Natu
G S C
Grass Grass
18-24 90%
Wooper Wooper
G S C
Grass Grass
22 0% 0% 5%
Quagsire Quagsire
G S C
Grass Grass
22 0% 0% 5%
Smeargle Smeargle
G S C
Grass Grass
20-22 10%
Smeargle Smeargle
G S C
Grass Grass
20-22 10% 10% 0%
Surfing
Wooper Wooper
G S C
Surfing Surfing
15-19 60%
Quagsire Quagsire
G S C
Surfing Surfing
15-24 40%
Fishing
Poliwag Poliwag
G S C
Old Rod Fishing
Old Rod
10 15%
Magikarp Magikarp
G S C
Old Rod Fishing
Old Rod
10 85%
Poliwag Poliwag
G S C
Good Rod Fishing
Good Rod
20 65%
Magikarp Magikarp
G S C
Good Rod Fishing
Good Rod
20 35%
Poliwag Poliwag
G S C
Super Rod Fishing
Super Rod
40 70%
Poliwhirl Poliwhirl
G S C
Super Rod Fishing
Super Rod
40 10%
Magikarp Magikarp
G S C
Super Rod 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 Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 10%
After solving the second puzzle
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 6.7%
After solving the third puzzle
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 5.3%
After solving the fourth puzzle
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 3.8%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave 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 Unown
HG SS
Cave Cave
5 50%
Unown Unown
HG SS
Cave 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 Natu
HG SS
Grass Grass
18-24 90%
Smeargle Smeargle
HG SS
Grass Grass
20-22 10%
Surfing
Wooper Wooper
HG SS
Surfing Surfing
10-20 60%
Quagsire Quagsire
HG SS
Surfing Surfing
10-25 40%
Fishing
Poliwag Poliwag
HG SS
Old Rod Fishing
Old Rod
10 5%
Magikarp Magikarp
HG SS
Old Rod Fishing
Old Rod
10 95%
Poliwag Poliwag
HG SS
Good Rod Fishing
Good Rod
20 40%
Magikarp Magikarp
HG SS
Good Rod Fishing
Good Rod
20 60%
Poliwag Poliwag
HG SS
Super Rod Fishing
Super Rod
40 93%
Magikarp Magikarp
HG SS
Super Rod Fishing
Super Rod
40 7%
Rock Smash
Geodude Geodude
HG SS
Rock Smash Rock Smash
3-14 100%
Special Pokémon
Linoone Linoone
HG SS
Hoenn Sound Hoenn Sound
18 20%
Whismur Whismur
HG SS
Hoenn Sound Hoenn Sound
20-22 20%
Bidoof Bidoof
HG SS
Sinnoh Sound Sinnoh Sound
18 20%
Buizel Buizel
HG SS
Sinnoh Sound 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
Psychic Nathan
ジョウ
Reward: $832
Girafarig 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
Psychic Nathan
ジョウ
Reward: $832
Girafarig 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 Ruins of Alph GSC.png Ruins of Alph interior GSC.png Ruins of Alph Puzzle GS.png
Silver
Crystal Ruins of Alph Puzzle C.png Ruins of Alph Item C.png
HeartGold Ruins of Alph Outside HGSS.png Ruins of Alph Entrance HGSS.png Ruins of Alph Interior HGSS.png Ruins of Alph Puzzle HGSS.png Ruins of Alph Item HGSS.png
SoulSilver
 


Version First chamber Second chamber Third chamber Fourth chamber
Crystal Ruins of Alph first chamber C.png Ruins of Alph second chamber C.png Ruins of Alph third chamber C.png Ruins of Alph fourth chamber C.png
HeartGold Ruins of Alph first chamber HGSS.png Ruins of Alph second chamber HGSS.png Ruins of Alph third chamber HGSS.png Ruins of Alph fourth chamber HGSS.png
SoulSilver
 

Preview

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 Uncommon 74/75 Crossing the Ruins... Uncommon  
Natu Psychic Unleashed Common 55/95 SoulSilver Collection Common 042/070
Ruins of Alph T [St] Undaunted Uncommon 76/90 Reviving Legends Uncommon 077/080
 


In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 阿露福遺跡 Ālùfú Yíjī
Finland Flag.png Finnish Alphin rauniot
France Flag.png European French Ruines d'Alpha
Germany Flag.png German Alph-Ruinen
Italy Flag.png Italian Rovine d'Alfa
South Korea Flag.png Korean 알프의 유적 Ruins of Alpha
Spain Flag.png European Spanish Ruinas Alfa
Ruinas Alfabeto*
Sweden Flag.png Swedish Alph-ruinerna



Johto
Zephyr Badge.png Hive Badge.png Plain Badge.png Fog Badge.png Storm Badge.png Mineral Badge.png Glacier Badge.png Rising Badge.png
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


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