Pokémon Gold and Silver/Union Cave

New Pokémon

Silver	Gold	Crystal
Onix Goldeen Return with Surf: Lapras	Sandshrew Onix Goldeen Return with Surf: Lapras

When you first visit Union Cave, you probably won't be able to use Surf and Strength, which you need to use to get around the entire cave. You will be able to explore the first floor and the middle portion of the first basement. Talk to everyone you see. Some people have very interesting information.

Level 1

File:Pokemon-GSC-Johto-UnionCave1.png

Union Cave level 1

Trainers found

Trainers
	Hiker Daniel: 352 Onix (lvl. 11, 252 EXP)		Pokémaniac Larry: 600 Slowpoke (lvl. 10, 211 EXP)
	Hiker Russell: 256 Geodude (lvl. 4, 73 EXP) Geodude (lvl. 6, 109 EXP) Geodude (lvl. 8, 147 EXP)		Firebreather Ray: 432 Vulpix (lvl. 9, 121 EXP)
	Firebreather Bill: 288 Koffing (lvl. 6, 145 EXP) Koffing (lvl. 6, 145 EXP)	Items
		X Attack Great Ball Potion Awakening

Catch a Sandshrew

If you have not had a chance to catch a Phanpy (in crystal only), catch a Sandshrew, which is also a great ground type Pokémon. Unfortunately, he does not learn any ground-type attacks by leveling - it will need TMs. Mud-Slap, Dig (which can be picked up later) and Earthquake are good choices.

Take a short detour for TM 39

This cave is pretty simple: just head south, fighting the trainers when you must and picking up items where you can. But if you have the fortitude to handle a short detour, take the stairs on the high ledge to the left. You won't get far in the basement, but you can easily get to TM 39. It contains Swift, a strong Normal attack that always hits and can be learned by most Pokémon.

Level 2

File:Pokemon-GSC-Johto-UnionCave2.png

Union Cave level 2

Take the back doors to the ruins

If you're planning to continue your exploration of the Template:~, make sure to go through the two exits near the top of Level 2 (you'll need to have Surf to reach them). Each one leads to a different part of the Ruins of Alph that is otherwise inaccessible.

Trainers
	Hiker Leonard: 800 Geodude (lvl. 23, 422 EXP) Machop (lvl. 25, 470 EXP)		Cooltrainer Nick: 1248 Charmander (lvl. 26, 354 EXP) Squirtle (lvl. 26, 366 EXP) Bulbasaur (lvl. 26, 354 EXP)
	Hiker Phillip: 736 Geodude (lvl. 23, 422 EXP) Geodude (lvl. 23, 422 EXP) Graveler (lvl. 23, 660 EXP)		Cooltrainer Gwen: 1056 Eevee (lvl. 26, 510 EXP) Flareon (lvl. 22, 932 EXP) Vaporeon (lvl. 22, 924 EXP) Jolteon (lvl. 22 924)
	Pokémaniac Andrew: 1440 Marowak (lvl. 24, 636 EXP) Marowak (lvl. 24, 636 EXP)		Cooltrainer Emma: 1344 Poliwhirl (lvl. 28, 780 EXP)
	Pokémaniac Calvin: 1560 Kangaskhan (lvl. 26, 968 EXP)	Items
		X Defend TM39 (Swift) Elixer Hyper Potion

Level 3

Union Cave level 3

You'll need Surf to reach Level 2 and 3.

It is a good idea to come back here as soon as you have been given Surf in Ecruteak City. You will want to catch Lapras as soon as possible to start leveling it up. Or you can wait until after you obtain Fly.

Lapras Fridays

No one knows why Lapras only comes out on Friday, but it never misses one. It's resilient as well as punctual; if you accidentaly K.O. one, another will still return next week. Still, you probably don't want to wait (after all, Lapras is one of the best Pokémon in the game), so fight carefully and use Heavy Balls if you have them. Make sure you only have 5 Pokémon in your party when going to catch Lapras!

To catch one, head southwest of Level 1 to the bottom of the cave and use Surf to cross the small patch of water then go down the ladder. Head to the east and surf the patch of water and down the ladder. On this floor Surf south, then west. Walk south until the final large patch of water. Surf to the east and find Lapras chilling out, it will be around level 20. Save before the battle to ensure its capture.

You can use Gastly/Haunter/Gengar with Hypnosis and TM50(Nightmare) or instead of that combo you can use Night Shade if your Pokémon has low level. Your Bellsprout/Weepinbell you caught early game may be a good option, with Sleep Powder and grass attacks. Butterfree with Sleep Powder and confusion may also work.

Pokémon Found

Union Cave encounters

	Gold			Silver			Crystal
	Morn	Day	Night	Morn	Day	Night	Morn	Day	Night
Sandshrew	20%	20%	20%	N/A	N/A	N/A	10%	20%	N/A
Rattata	25%	25%	25%	30%	30%	30%	20%	20%	50%
Geodude	20%	20%	20%	35%	35%	35%	30%	30%	15%
Onix	10%	10%	10%	10%	10%	10%	10%	10%	10%
Zubat	25%	25%	25%	25%	25%	25%	30%	20%	15%
Wooper	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	10%

Union Cave Fishing

	Old Rod	Good Rod	Super Rod
Magikarp	80%	20%	20%
Goldeen	20%	80%	75%
Seaking	N/A	N/A	5%
Staryu	N/A	N/A	N/A
Krabby	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kingler	N/A	N/A	N/A
Corsola	N/A	N/A	N/A

Union Cave Surfing

	GOLD	SILV	CRYS
Tentacool	40%	40%	N/A
Tentacruel	20%	20%	N/A
Wooper	N/A	N/A	20%
Quagsire	40%	40%	80%

#27 Sandshrew	#118 Goldeen
Only Gold and Crystal players can catch a Sandshrew here, but Silver players needn't despair: They can buy one at the Goldenrod Game Corner. Sandshrew is a bit better in Gold/Silver/Crystal than it was in Red/Blue/Yellow, since it learns most of its attacks earlier and has a few new ones. But it still doesn't learn any Ground attacks, which is annoying since it's a purely Ground-type Pokémon, and suffers many weaknesses to popular types because of it. But if you haven't had a chance to catch a Phanpy, this is a decent second choice.	Goldeen's a bit more interesting than it was in Red/Blue/Yellow. It now learns Horn Drill, an attack that K.O.'s any Pokémon instantly 30% of the time, at level 15 (it used to be level 45). This move, combined with a couple of X Accuracy items, could wipe out a legion of opponents if you get lucky. Teach it Surf and Waterfall early (with HM's), and Goldeen's not half bad.
#131 Lapras
It's a lot of trouble getting to this guy, but it's worth it. Lapras has a ton of HP, a meaty Special Attack score, and generally good scores in all the other departments. It's half Ice (and half Water) which makes it great against Grass, Ground, Flying, and Dragon-types. Since the latter two types are popular with the Elite Four, Lapras is great later in the game. It's just too bad that it now can't learn Hydro Pump until Level 57.