Ruins of Alph Gold & Silver · Johto landmark
The Ruins of Alph are an ancient site between Route 32 and Route 36, made up of four stone puzzle chambers, a hidden inner chamber and a research centre. Each chamber holds a sliding-panel puzzle; solving one drops you into the inner chamber, where the mysterious Unown begin to appear. A research centre nearby studies the ruins and upgrades your Pokédex with an Unown mode once you have caught enough of them.
- Wild Pokémon
- 7
- Items
- 0
- Trainers
- 1
- Needs
- Surf, Strength
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% | 10% |
| 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, Old Rod 70/15/15, Good Rod 35/35/20/10, Super Rod 40/30/20/10). Where Gold and Silver differ, a cell shows both (G and S); a version tag means the Pokémon only appears in that version here. Version exclusives · Where to find every Pokémon.
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
No items to pick up here.
Tips
- The Kabuto chamber is open from the start; solving it unlocks Unown A to K in the inner chamber.
- The Aerodactyl chamber (S to W) needs Surf, the Ho-Oh chamber (X to Z) is reached through Union Cave's basement with Surf, and the Omanyte chamber (L to R) also needs Strength in Union Cave.
- Catch three different Unown forms and a scientist appears outside to add the Unown Dex to your Pokédex.
- Catch all 26 forms and the research centre lets you use its printer to print Unown.
- Smeargle lives in the outside grass (up to 10% at any time of day), alongside the far more common Natu.
- Surf in the pond for Wooper and Quagsire.
Walkthrough: Part 3: Route 32 to Azalea Town and Bugsy
More maps
FAQ
How do you get Unown in Pokémon Gold and Silver?
Solve one of the four sliding-panel puzzles in the Ruins of Alph's chambers. You fall into the inner chamber, where wild Unown then appear. Each puzzle unlocks a different set of letters.
Where do you catch Smeargle in Gold and Silver?
In the tall grass outside the Ruins of Alph, at Lv 20 to 22, at any time of day.
How do you get into the other Ruins of Alph chambers?
The Aerodactyl chamber needs Surf. The Ho-Oh and Omanyte chambers are reached from Union Cave's lower floor, using Surf and, for Omanyte, Strength.
How do you get the Unown Dex?
Catch at least three different Unown forms. A scientist then meets you outside the Ruins of Alph and upgrades your Pokédex.
What Pokémon can you catch in Ruins of Alph in Gold and Silver?
7 species: Natu, Smeargle, Wooper, Quagsire, Magikarp, Poliwag, Unown. Silver only: Magikarp, Poliwag.
Sources & picture credits
- Ruins of Alph (Bulbapedia)
- pret/pokegold (decompiled game data)
- Map: Ruins_of_Alph_GSC.png
- Map: Ruins_of_Alph_interior_GSC.png
- Map: Ruins_of_Alph_Puzzle_GS.png
- Map: Ruins_of_Alph_Research_Center_GSC.png
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Bulbapedia and the game data. Wild Pokémon and encounter chances for both versions and all three times of day, fishing, Headbutt and Rock Smash tables, items, trainers, gifts, trades and shops come from the pret/pokegold decompilation (pret/pokegold ef0201d8da). Maps and sprites © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, archived from the Bulbagarden Archives; the Johto and Kanto maps are drawn from the game’s own Pokégear graphics (listed on the image gallery).