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Challenger’s Cave

Background

A dark, damp cave where skilled trainers seek challenges without care of the risks. According to rumours, a Legendary Pokemon once taught its student here, but you’ll find no Legendary inside; just items and tough battles.

Pokemon Encounters

Name Type Location Encounter Rate
"Graveler" IconGraveler Rock/Ground Everywhere 20%
"Lickitung" IconLickitung Normal Everywhere 20%, 15% (B1F-B2F)
"Sableye" IconSableye Dark/Ghost Everywhere 10%
"Mawile" IconMawile Steel Everywhere 10%
"Boldore" IconBoldore Rock Everywhere 20%
"Woobat" IconWoobat Psychic/Flying Everywhere 20%
"Riolu" IconRiolu Fighting Everywhere from B1F 5%
"Excadrill" IconExcadrill Ground/Steel Dust Cloud 100%
Red "Basculin" IconBasculin (B) Water Surf/Super Rod 100% (Surf), 30% (Fishing)
Blue "Basculin" IconBasculin (W) Water Surf/Super Rod 100% (Surf), 30% (Fishing)
"Poliwag" IconPoliwag Water Super Rod 60%
"Poliwhirl" IconPoliwhirl Water Super Rod 10%, 65% (Rippling water)
"Poliwrath" IconPoliwrath Water/Fighting Super Rod 5% (Rippling water)

Items

Floor B1F
Ether, Max Potion, PP Up, Nugget
Floor B2F
Full Restore, Max Ether, Timer Ball, Star Piece, Rare Candy, Protein, TM71 Stone Edge, Heart Scale, Oval Stone, Black Belt

Guide

This treacherous cave is located on Route 9 , west of Opelucid City. To get here, follow the grassy route south from the eastern gatehouse until you find a Black Belt standing next to a cave.

You must have Flash by now… right? It’s found in Castelia City’s Narrow Street.

Once inside, you should see a familiar sight… or lack of sight. Have your Pokemon use Flash straight away to light up your surroundings, then watch out for a Backpacker immediately ahead.

Trainer Battle: Backpacker

Pokemon Level Type
"Golbat" IconGolbat 65 Poison/Flying

Just a few paces away from the Backpacker, there’s a flight of stairs to the right. Well, that was quick… Head on down when you’re ready.

Floor B1F

From the stairs, there’s only one way to go: right. Good luck trying to avoid the Ace Trainer just ahead.

Trainer Battle: Ace Trainer

Pokemon Level Type
"Dratini" IconDratini 63 Dragon
"Sudowoodo" IconSudowoodo 63 Rock
"Scyther" IconScyther 63 Bug/Flying
"Manectric" IconManectric 63 Electric

Once you’re free from that menace, continue right until you reach a corner, then head north, while keeping close to the left-hand wall. Keep your eyes peeled for a small gap between two small rocks. Heading left through the gap will lead you towards the stairs to the next floor.

But if you want to make the most of your time, continue north to find another Ace Trainer and a bunch of nice items.

Trainer Battle: Ace Trainer

Pokemon Level Type
"Furret" IconFurret 64 Normal
"Gabite" IconGabite 64 Dragon/Ground
"Grumpig" IconGrumpig 64 Psychic

Floor B2F

It never hurts to inspect suspicious-looking areas. Or have your Dowsing Machine on.

This is the final floor and the most complex one by far. From the initial stairs, go up and Surf into the water, then follow it right. At the end point, you can land south for a dead end and a hidden Full Restore or land north to continue your adventure.

Cautiously climb the steps ahead and follow the planked bridge down, then the next one left. Next, descend the large stairway to your south and run right, across the small pit, and into close proximity of a hardened Veteran.

Trainer Battle: Veteran

Pokemon Level Type
"Gyarados" IconGyarados 62 Water/Flying
"Excadrill" IconExcadrill 62 Ground/Steel
"Crobat" IconCrobat 62 Poison/Flying
"Druddigon" IconDruddigon 62 Dragon
"Gigalith" IconGigalith 62 Rock
"Snorlax" IconSnorlax 63 Normal

After breaking free from the Veteran, head a few paces right, then south and left, up the large stairway. The route from here is linear, but kind of messy: continue left, down the planked bridge, right all the way, down another planked bridge, left, up and left, to the top of another large stairway.

From here, run aaaaall the way left along the long bridge, then down the steps, left, right, up… then stop! To your left should be some steps going down. For now, head right where another Veteran awaits.

Trainer Battle: Veteran

Pokemon Level Type
"Wormadam" IconWormadam 64 Bug/Steel
"Cloyster" IconCloyster 64 Water/Ice
"Ninetales" IconNinetales 64 Fire
"Leavanny" IconLeavanny 64 Bug/Grass

From the Veteran, you can Surf into the water to her right. Swim all the way right, then disembark on the land to your north-east, where you can nab a Black Belt . Careful you don’t drop down the ledge to the south. Jump back into the water and head north, keeping close to the left-hand wall.

Stone Edge is a devastating move, but that Accuracy is a bit risky.

Before you reach the end, there’s an Oval Stone you can grab on a piece of land between two walls. Surf into the water to the left of here, then head down, disembarking on the land to your left, just above the female Veteran. Hop over the ledge to the left and pocket the TM71 Stone Edge .

…And that’s about it for this cave. Sorry, no uber Legendary to be found here. If you want, head south-west from here and pluck the hidden Rare Candy in the rock in the middle of the nearby pit. Then use an Escape Rope or otherwise to exit the cave.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Pokemon Company International
  • Platforms,
    DS
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    30 May 2011
  • Last Updated
    21 February 2021
  • Guide Author
    Daniel Chaviers

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How to become the greatest trainer Unova has ever known with our highly-detailed walkthrough of the main story and beyond. Pokemon trainers and collectors alike will appreciate our extensive lists of Pokemon and item location, ensuring nothing important goes under the Poke Radar!

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