Ruins of Alph Crystal · Johto landmark
The Ruins of Alph lie between Route 32 and Route 36, with links into Union Cave. Four chambers hold sliding-panel puzzles that release the Unown, and a research centre studies them. In Crystal each chamber also has a hidden wall that opens onto an item room and an Unown word room.
- Wild Pokémon
- 7
- Items
- 16
- Trainers
- 1
- Needs
- Surf, Flash
Connects to: Route 32 · Route 36 · Union Cave
Ruins of Alph on the Johto map
Wild Pokémon
Outside
| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Morning | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Natu | Psychic | 18–24 | 90% | 90% | 90% |
 Smeargle | Normal | 20–22 | 10% | 10% | – |
 Wooper | WaterGround | 22 | – | – | 5% |
 Quagsire | WaterGround | 22 | – | – | 5% |
| Rod | Pokémon | Lv. | Morning & day | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Rod |  Magikarp | 10 | 85% | 85% |
 Poliwag | 10 | 15% | 15% | |
| Good Rod | Poliwag | 20 | 65% | 65% |
| Magikarp | 20 | 35% | 35% | |
| Super Rod | Poliwag | 40 | 80% | 80% |
| Magikarp | 40 | 20% | 20% |
Inner chamber
| Pokémon | Type | Lv. | Morning | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Unown | Psychic | 5 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Unown
Unown appear in the inner chamber. Each solved sliding-panel puzzle adds more letters:
- Kabuto chamber: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K
- Omanyte chamber: L, M, N, O, P, Q, R
- Aerodactyl chamber: S, T, U, V, W
- Ho-Oh chamber: X, Y, Z
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.
Trainers
| Trainer | Pokémon | Prize |
|---|---|---|
 PsychicNathan |  Girafarig 26 | ₽208 |
Prize money is the trainer class’s base payout times the level of the trainer’s last Pokémon. Trainers with phone rematches call you when they want another battle; their teams grow as you progress.
Items
| Item | How | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Berry | Item ball | Ho-Oh item room |
| MysteryBerry | Item ball | Ho-Oh item room |
| Revival Herb | Item ball | Ho-Oh item room |
| Charcoal | Item ball | Ho-Oh item room |
| Berry | Item ball | Kabuto item room |
| PSNCureBerry | Item ball | Kabuto item room |
| Heal Powder | Item ball | Kabuto item room |
| Energypowder | Item ball | Kabuto item room |
| MysteryBerry | Item ball | Omanyte item room |
| Mystic Water | Item ball | Omanyte item room |
| Stardust | Item ball | Omanyte item room |
| Star Piece | Item ball | Omanyte item room |
| Gold Berry | Item ball | Aerodactyl item room |
| Moon Stone | Item ball | Aerodactyl item room |
| Heal Powder | Item ball | Aerodactyl item room |
| Energy Root | Item ball | Aerodactyl item room |
Hidden items can be found with the Itemfinder from Ecruteak City.
Tips
- Solving a chamber’s panel puzzle makes Unown appear in the inner chamber: Kabuto unlocks A–K, Omanyte L–R, Aerodactyl S–W and Ho-Oh X–Z.
- Hidden walls open in Crystal if you use an Escape Rope in the Kabuto chamber, use Flash in the Aerodactyl chamber, carry a Water Stone into the Omanyte chamber, or enter the Ho-Oh chamber with Ho-Oh leading your party.
- The item rooms behind the walls hold Charcoal and a Revival Herb (Ho-Oh), Mystic Water and a Star Piece (Omanyte), a Moon Stone (Aerodactyl) and assorted Berries and herbal medicines.
- Once you have caught three different Unown forms, a scientist outside takes you to the research centre to add Unown mode to your Pokédex; catching all 26 unlocks the Unown printer.
- Smeargle is 10% of grass encounters outside in the morning and day; Natu makes up 90% at any time.
Walkthrough: Part 3: Route 32 to Azalea Town and Bugsy
More maps
FAQ
How do you open the Ho-Oh chamber wall in Pokémon Crystal?
Walk into the Ho-Oh chamber with Ho-Oh as the first Pokémon in your party; the wall opens to an item room and a word room.
How do you get the Unown Dex in Pokémon Crystal?
Solve at least one puzzle, catch three different Unown forms, then return to the ruins; a scientist leads you to the research centre and upgrades your Pokédex.
Where do you catch Smeargle in Pokémon Crystal?
In the grass outside the Ruins of Alph in the morning or day, 10% of encounters at Lv20–22.
What Pokémon can you catch in Ruins of Alph in Pokémon Crystal?
7 species: Natu, Smeargle, Wooper, Quagsire, Magikarp, Poliwag, Unown.
Sources & picture credits
- Ruins of Alph (Bulbapedia)
- pret/pokecrystal (decompiled game data and graphics)
- Map drawn from maps/RuinsOfAlphOutside.blk
- Map drawn from maps/RuinsOfAlphInnerChamber.blk
- Map drawn from maps/RuinsOfAlphPuzzleChamber.blk
- Map drawn from maps/RuinsOfAlphHoOhWordRoom.blk
- Map drawn from maps/RuinsOfAlphResearchCenter.blk
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.