How do I catch Volcarona in Relic Castle in Black and White?

Volcarona sits alone at level 70 in the deepest chamber of Relic Castle, far below the desert entrance. There's only one, so save before the battle. Its Bug and Fire typing folds to Rock moves, which also help you weaken it safely for a catch.

When can I reach the bottom of Relic Castle in Black and White?

The upper ruins are open during the story, but the long descent to Volcarona's chamber only becomes reachable in the post-game. Bring a few Max Repels for the trip down through the sand pits.

Black & White Relic Castle

Plasma grunts tear through these ruins hunting a stone that was never here, and Ghetsis waits at the bottom to say so himself. A backpacker up top offers the Cover or Plume Fossil.

Relic Castle is in Unova. In the story you arrive from Desert Resort through its entrance and it comes before Nimbasa City.

HIGHLIGHTS

Type Coverage

Ground-Heavy AreaBring Water or Grass type

GROUND4GHOST2BUG1ROCK1

Only Found Here· 7

Nuzlocke Picks· 8

Pokemon Encounters

Yamask fills half the spawns on the entry floors and grows into the castle's own Cofagrigus. Deeper levels graduate to Krokorok and a floor where everything is Claydol. Volcarona, level 70, holds the deepest shrine.

Type

✦Special encounters1

#637Volcarona

Static Lv 70

▾1F2

Walking2

#551Sandile

50% - Lv 19–22

#562Yamask

50% - Lv 19–22

▾B1F2

Walking2

#551Sandile

50% - Lv 19–22

#562Yamask

50% - Lv 19–22

▾B2F2

Walking2

#563Cofagrigus

50% - Lv 34–37

#552Krokorok

50% - Lv 34–37

▾B3F2

Walking2

#563Cofagrigus

50% - Lv 34–37

#552Krokorok

50% - Lv 34–37

▾B4F2

Walking2

#563Cofagrigus

50% - Lv 34–37

#552Krokorok

50% - Lv 34–37

▾B5F2

Walking2

#563Cofagrigus

50% - Lv 34–37

#552Krokorok

50% - Lv 34–37

▾B6F4

Walking4

#552Krokorok

35% - Lv 47–50

#028Sandslash

30% - Lv 47–49

#563Cofagrigus

20% - Lv 48–50

#095Onix

15% - Lv 48–49

▾B7F5

Walking5

#344Claydol

100% - Lv 47–50

#552Krokorok

35% - Lv 47–50

#028Sandslash

30% - Lv 47–49

#563Cofagrigus

20% - Lv 48–50

#095Onix

15% - Lv 48–49

Static

#637

Volcarona

BugFire

Level

EV yield

3 Sp. Atk

Acquisition

Static

Found at the very bottom floor of Relic Castle — accessible after defeating the Elite Four

at B7F

Volcarona page →

#344

Claydol

GroundPsychic

Encounter rate

100% Common

Level

47–50

EV yield

2 Sp. Def

1 in 1wild encounters

will be Claydol — about 36s of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~54s-2m

to catch one

Poke Ball21%

Great Ball29%

Ultra Ball36%

Nuzlocke

100%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Sp. Def

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected40h 58m

Charm1/2,731

Claydol only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Claydol page →

#551

Sandile

GroundDark

Evolves into Krokorok at Lv 29

Encounter rate

50% Common

Level

19–22

EV yield

1 Attack

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Sandile — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~1m-2m

to catch one

Poke Ball36%

Great Ball49%

Ultra Ball60%

Nuzlocke

50%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Attack

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected81h 55m

Charm1/2,731

Also found in 2 other locations

Desert ResortLv 19–22

40%Route 4Lv 15–18

40%

Sandile page →

#562

Yamask

Ghost

Evolves into Cofagrigus at Lv 34

Encounter rate

50% Common

Level

19–22

EV yield

1 Defense

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Yamask — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~1m-2m

to catch one

Poke Ball37%

Great Ball51%

Ultra Ball62%

Nuzlocke

50%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Defense

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected81h 55m

Charm1/2,731

Yamask only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Yamask page →

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Sandile — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Sandile page →

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Yamask — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Yamask only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Yamask page →

#563

Cofagrigus

Ghost

Encounter rate

50% Common

Level

34–37

EV yield

2 Defense

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Cofagrigus — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m-3m

to catch one

Poke Ball21%

Great Ball29%

Ultra Ball36%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score80

PickReliable

SourceCommunity

EV - Defense

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected81h 55m

Charm1/2,731

Cofagrigus only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Cofagrigus page →

#552

Krokorok

GroundDark

Evolves into Krookodile at Lv 40

Encounter rate

50% Common

Level

34–37

EV yield

2 Attack

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Krokorok — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~2m-3m

to catch one

Poke Ball21%

Great Ball29%

Ultra Ball36%

Nuzlocke

50%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Attack

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected81h 55m

Charm1/2,731

Krokorok only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Krokorok page →

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Cofagrigus — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Cofagrigus only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Cofagrigus page →

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Krokorok — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Krokorok only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Krokorok page →

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Cofagrigus — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Cofagrigus only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Cofagrigus page →

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Krokorok — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Krokorok only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Krokorok page →

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Cofagrigus — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Cofagrigus only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Cofagrigus page →

1 in 2wild encounters

will be Krokorok — about 54s of walking through grass to catch one.

Krokorok only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Krokorok page →

#552

Krokorok

GroundDark

Evolves into Krookodile at Lv 40

Encounter rate

35% Common

Level

47–50

EV yield

2 Attack

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Krokorok — about 1m of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~3m-5m

to catch one

Poke Ball21%

Great Ball29%

Ultra Ball36%

Nuzlocke

35%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Attack

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected117h 2m

Charm1/2,731

Krokorok only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Krokorok page →

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Krokorok — about 1m of walking through grass to catch one.

Krokorok only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Krokorok page →

#028

Sandslash

Ground

Encounter rate

30% Common

Level

47–49

EV yield

2 Defense

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Sandslash — about 1m of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~4m-6m

to catch one

Poke Ball21%

Great Ball29%

Ultra Ball36%

Nuzlocke

30%

first wild (est.)

TierHigh

PickReliable

EV - Defense

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected136h 32m

Charm1/2,731

Sandslash only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Sandslash page →

1 in 3wild encounters

will be Sandslash — about 1m of walking through grass to catch one.

Sandslash only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Sandslash page →

#563

Cofagrigus

Ghost

Encounter rate

20% Uncommon

Level

48–50

EV yield

2 Defense

1 in 5wild encounters

will be Cofagrigus — about 2m of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~4m-7m

to catch one

Poke Ball21%

Great Ball29%

Ultra Ball36%

Nuzlocke

community tier

Score80

PickReliable

SourceCommunity

EV - Defense

fights to cap

Raw128 fights

+ Power26 fights

+ Pokerus64 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected204h 48m

Charm1/2,731

Cofagrigus only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Cofagrigus page →

1 in 5wild encounters

will be Cofagrigus — about 2m of walking through grass to catch one.

Cofagrigus only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Cofagrigus page →

#095

Onix

RockGround

Evolves into Steelix via trade

Encounter rate

15% Uncommon

Level

48–49

EV yield

1 Defense

1 in 7wild encounters

will be Onix — about 3m of walking through grass to catch one.

Catch odds

~10m-18m

to catch one

Poke Ball12%

Great Ball17%

Ultra Ball21%

Nuzlocke

15%

first wild (est.)

TierMid

PickRisky

EV - Defense

fights to cap

Raw255 fights

+ Power29 fights

+ Pokerus128 fights

Shiny hunt

1/8,192

full odds

Base1/8,192

Expected273h 4m

Charm1/2,731

Onix only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Onix page →

1 in 7wild encounters

will be Onix — about 3m of walking through grass to catch one.

Onix only spawns wild here in this region. Catch one while you can.

Onix page →

ITEMS

Two fossils, Cover and Plume, revive Tirtouga and Archen down the line, the signature find in these ruins. TM26 Earthquake ranks among the game's strongest attacks, and a PP Max lifts a key move's total uses.

TM3

TM04 Calm Mind

TM26 Earthquake

TM30 Shadow Ball

Vitamin2

PP Max

PP Up

Item ball6

Cover Fossil

Max Potion

Max Revive

Plume Fossil

Revive

Sun Stone

Hidden2

Elixir

Super Potion

TM04 Calm Mind

Lowest floor, from Ryoku in the room south of Volcarona's room (post-game)

Move

Calm MindPsychicStatus

Power

—

Accuracy

—

Calm Mind raises the user's Special Attack and Special Defense by one stage each.

TM26 Earthquake

1F, in the northwest tower, accessible from the lowest floor (post-game)

Move

EarthquakeGroundPhysical

Power

100

Accuracy

100%

Earthquake deals damage, and will hit with double power if the opponent is underground due to the move Dig.

TM30 Shadow Ball

B2F, southeast of female Team Plasma Grunt

Move

Shadow BallGhostSpecial

Power

Accuracy

100%

Shadow Ball deals damage and has a 20% chance of lowering the target's Special Defense by one stage.

VITAMIN

PP Max

B3F, in the northwest tower, south of the stairs, accessible from the lowest floor (hidden) (post-game)

Effect

Raises a move’s max PP by 60%.

VITAMIN

PP Up

B3F, southwest corner

Effect

Raises a move’s max PP by 20%.

ITEM BALL

Cover Fossil

1F, from the Backpacker if the first option is chosen

Effect

Can be revived into a tirtouga.

ITEM BALL

Max Potion

B2F, southeast corner

Effect

Restores HP to full.

ITEM BALL

Max Revive

B3F, in the alcove south of the central quicksand patch

Effect

Revives with full HP.

ITEM BALL

Plume Fossil

1F, from the Backpacker if the second option is chosen

Effect

Can be revived into an archen.

ITEM BALL

Revive

B1F

Effect

Revives with half HP.

ITEM BALL

Sun Stone

B4F, east of northern sand pile

GloomGrassPoison

BellossomGrass

SunkernGrass

SunfloraGrass

CottoneeGrass

WhimsicottGrass

PetililGrass

LilligantGrass

Evolves a Gloom into Bellossom, a Sunkern into Sunflora, a Cottonee into Whimsicott, or a Petilil into Lilligant.

HIDDEN

Elixir

B1F, in the left sand pile (hidden)

Effect

Restores 10 PP for each move.

HIDDEN

Super Potion

B4F, in the southeast sand pile (hidden)

Effect

Restores 50 HP.

TM3

TM04 Calm Mind

Lowest floor, from Ryoku in the room south of Volcarona's room (post-game)

Move

Calm MindPsychicStatus

Power

—

Accuracy

—

Calm Mind raises the user's Special Attack and Special Defense by one stage each.

TM26 Earthquake

1F, in the northwest tower, accessible from the lowest floor (post-game)

Move

EarthquakeGroundPhysical

Power

100

Accuracy

100%

Earthquake deals damage, and will hit with double power if the opponent is underground due to the move Dig.

TM30 Shadow Ball

B2F, southeast of female Team Plasma Grunt

Move

Shadow BallGhostSpecial

Power

Accuracy

100%

Shadow Ball deals damage and has a 20% chance of lowering the target's Special Defense by one stage.

Vitamin2

PP Max

VITAMIN

PP Max

B3F, in the northwest tower, south of the stairs, accessible from the lowest floor (hidden) (post-game)

Effect

Raises a move’s max PP by 60%.

PP Up

VITAMIN

PP Up

B3F, southwest corner

Effect

Raises a move’s max PP by 20%.

Item ball6

Cover Fossil

ITEM BALL

Cover Fossil

1F, from the Backpacker if the first option is chosen

Effect

Can be revived into a tirtouga.

Max Potion

ITEM BALL

Max Potion

B2F, southeast corner

Effect

Restores HP to full.

Max Revive

ITEM BALL

Max Revive

B3F, in the alcove south of the central quicksand patch

Effect

Revives with full HP.

Plume Fossil

ITEM BALL

Plume Fossil

1F, from the Backpacker if the second option is chosen

Effect

Can be revived into an archen.

Revive

ITEM BALL

Revive

B1F

Effect

Revives with half HP.

Sun Stone

ITEM BALL

Sun Stone

B4F, east of northern sand pile

GloomGrassPoison

BellossomGrass

SunkernGrass

SunfloraGrass

CottoneeGrass

WhimsicottGrass

PetililGrass

LilligantGrass

Evolves a Gloom into Bellossom, a Sunkern into Sunflora, a Cottonee into Whimsicott, or a Petilil into Lilligant.

Hidden2

Elixir

HIDDEN

Elixir

B1F, in the left sand pile (hidden)

Effect

Restores 10 PP for each move.

Super Potion

HIDDEN

Super Potion

B4F, in the southeast sand pile (hidden)

Effect

Restores 50 HP.

TRAINERS

This desert ruin opens up across several trips. Your first faces Psychics Perry and Dua near level 24; a later return meets Team Plasma Grunts at level 34 to 36, plus a lone postgame grunt at level 64.

Psychic2

PerryLv 24₱768

DuaLv 23₱736

Trainer1

Team Plasma GruntLv 34₱1,400

PSYCHIC

Perry

Party

Highest Lv

Reward

₱768

Party

AbilityWonder SkinNatureFixedItem-

Light Screen

Air Cutter

Psybeam

Whirlwind

Type

ELECTRIC

ICE

ROCK

Win: ₱768

PSYCHIC

Dua

Party

Highest Lv

Reward

₱736

Party

Ability-NatureFixedItem-

Air Cutter

Imprison

Heart Stamp

Assurance

AbilityForewarnNatureFixedItem-

Zen Headbutt

Hypnosis

Moonlight

Imprison

Type

GHOST

DARK

Win: ₱736

TRAINER

Team Plasma Grunt

Party

Highest Lv

Reward

₱1,400

Party

AbilityIlluminateNatureFixedItem-

Hyper Fang

Psych Up

After You

Super Fang

AbilityIntimidateNatureFixedItem-

Dig

Crunch

Swagger

Embargo

AbilityIntimidateNatureFixedItem-

Dig

Crunch

Swagger

Embargo

Type

FIGHTING

WATER

GRASS

ICE

BUG

Win: ₱1,400

Relic Castle Guide

Volcarona sits alone at level 70 in the deepest chamber of Relic Castle, far below the desert entrance. There's only one, so save before the battle. Its Bug and Fire typing folds to Rock moves, which also help you weaken it safely for a catch.
The upper ruins are open during the story, but the long descent to Volcarona's chamber only becomes reachable in the post-game. Bring a few Max Repels for the trip down through the sand pits.