Dark Cave Crystal · Johto landmark

Map of Dark Cave in Pokémon Crystal — Violet City side (in-game map)

Dark Cave is a pitch-black cave in two parts: the Violet City side links Route 31 with Route 46, and a passage leads on to the Blackthorn City side, which opens onto Route 45. Flash and Surf open it up, and it is home to Crystal’s rare Dunsparce, Teddiursa and Wobbuffet.

Wild Pokémon: 13
Items: 8
Trainers: 0
Needs: Flash, Surf

Connects to: Route 31 · Route 45 · Route 46

Where Dark Cave is on the Johto map Dark Cave on the Johto map

Wild Pokémon

Violet City side

Walking in the cave encounter rate 4%
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Morning	Day	Night
Geodude	RockGround	2–4	60%	60%	60%
Zubat	PoisonFlying	2–4	34%	39%	39%
Teddiursa	Normal	2	5%	–	–
Dunsparce	Normal	4	1%	1%	1%

Surfing encounter rate 2%
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Chance
Magikarp	Water	5–15	100%

Fishing
Rod	Pokémon	Lv.	Morning & day	Night
Old Rod	Magikarp	10	85%	85%
Old Rod	Goldeen	10	15%	15%
Good Rod	Goldeen	20	65%	65%
Good Rod	Magikarp	20	35%	35%
Super Rod	Goldeen	40	70%	70%
	Magikarp	40	20%	20%
	Seaking	40	10%	10%

Blackthorn City side

Walking in the cave encounter rate 4%
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Morning	Day	Night
Zubat	PoisonFlying	23	30%	30%	30%
Geodude	RockGround	23	30%	30%	30%
Graveler	RockGround	25	20%	20%	20%
Wobbuffet	Psychic	20–25	–	–	15%
Ursaring	Normal	25–30	10%	15%	–
Golbat	PoisonFlying	23	5%	5%	5%
Teddiursa	Normal	20	5%	–	–

Surfing encounter rate 2%
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Chance
Magikarp	Water	5–15	100%

Fishing
Rod	Pokémon	Lv.	Morning & day	Night
Old Rod	Magikarp	10	85%	85%
Old Rod	Goldeen	10	15%	15%
Good Rod	Goldeen	20	65%	65%
Good Rod	Magikarp	20	35%	35%
Super Rod	Goldeen	40	70%	70%
	Magikarp	40	20%	20%
	Seaking	40	10%	10%

Rock Smash

Smashed rocks
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Chance
Krabby	Water	15	90%
Shuckle	BugRock	15	10%

Each smashed rock has a 40% chance of a battle.

Swarms

Swarm: Dunsparce when Hiker Anthony calls to tell you about it
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Morning	Day	Night
Geodude	RockGround	2–3	40%	40%	40%
Dunsparce	Normal	2–4	40%	40%	40%
Zubat	PoisonFlying	2	20%	20%	20%

A swarm lasts for the day of the phone call. Register the trainer’s number after battling them.

Chances are the game’s encounter slots for each time of day: morning 4:00–9:59, day 10:00–17:59, night 18:00–3:59 (grass and caves 30/30/20/10/5/4/1, surfing 60/30/10). Where to find every Pokémon · Crystal vs Gold & Silver.

Items

Item	How	Where
Potion	Item ball	Violet City side
Full Heal	Item ball	Violet City side
Hyper Potion	Item ball	Violet City side
Dire Hit	Item ball	Violet City side
Elixer	Hidden	Violet City side
Revive	Item ball	Blackthorn City side
TM13 Snore	Item ball	Blackthorn City side
BlackGlasses	Gift A man near the Blackthorn entrance of Dark Cave gives it to you.	Blackthorn City side

Hidden items can be found with the Itemfinder from Ecruteak City.

Tips

Dunsparce is only 1% on the Violet City side, but Hiker Anthony on Route 33 may phone to report a Dunsparce swarm here.
Teddiursa appears only in the morning (5%); on the Blackthorn side Ursaring is 10% in the morning and 15% during the day.
Wobbuffet appears only at night on the Blackthorn side (15%, Lv20–25).
Rock Smash rocks block parts of the Violet City side and can hide Krabby (90%) or Shuckle (10%).
A man on the Blackthorn side gives you BlackGlasses, and TM13 Snore is nearby.

Walkthrough: Part 2: Violet City and Falkner · Part 12: Route 45, Route 27 and Tohjo Falls

More maps

Dark Cave: Blackthorn City side — Blackthorn City side

FAQ

Where do you catch Dunsparce in Pokémon Crystal?

In Dark Cave on the Violet City side (1%), or far more easily during a swarm reported by Hiker Anthony.

Where do you catch Wobbuffet in Pokémon Crystal?

In the Blackthorn City side of Dark Cave at night, 15% of encounters.

Where do you get BlackGlasses in Pokémon Crystal?

From the man in the Blackthorn City side of Dark Cave.

What Pokémon can you catch in Dark Cave in Pokémon Crystal?

13 species: Geodude, Zubat, Teddiursa, Dunsparce, Magikarp, Goldeen, Seaking, Graveler, Wobbuffet, Ursaring, Golbat, Krabby, Shuckle.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against the game’s own scripts and Bulbapedia. Wild Pokémon and encounter chances for all three times of day, fishing, Headbutt and Rock Smash tables, items, trainers, gifts, trades and shops come from the pret/pokecrystal decompilation (pret/pokecrystal 3bc8daa417). Maps, sprites and the Johto and Kanto Pokégear maps are drawn by retrogameindex from the game’s own graphics in that decompilation (listed on the image gallery). Pokémon © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK.