Quick Guide:
  • Enter Thundercap Mountain
  • Confront the Shadow
  • Free the Captured Pokémon
  • Rescue Zapdos from Shadow Admin Marlon
  • Find a Missing Electivire
  • Return to Epidimy Town

Thundercap Mountain – 1F

(Click for full-size)
Thundercap Mountain first floor map
Points of Interest
Shadow Grunt A
Exits and Passages
Epidimy Town
Ladder Up to 2F
Items

Items
Elixir
Max Repel
Wild Pokémon

Wild Pokémon
Cave
Nosepass
Rock
Magnemite
Electric/Steel
Magneton
Electric/Steel
Cubone
Ground
Klink
Steel
Elekid
Electric
Electabuzz
Electric
Tynamo
Electric
Surfing
Stunfisk
Ground/Electric
Chinchou
Water/Electric
Lanturn
Water/Electric
Tynamo
Electric
Eelektross
Electric
Fishing
Magikarp
Water
(Old Rod)
Chinchou
Water/Electric
(Good Rod)
Lanturn
Water/Electric
(Super Rod)
Rock Smash
Alolan Geodude
Rock/Ground
Alolan Graveler
Rock/Ground
Nosepass
Rock
Shuckle
Bug/Rock
Trainers

Trainers
Shadow Grunt
Inkay
Dark/Psychic
(Lv.32)
Trevenant
Ghost/Grass
(Lv.33)
Skorupi
Poison/Bug
(Lv.32)
The Grunt is knocked out cold / Pokémon Unbound
The Grunt is knocked out cold

You’re in Thundercap Mountain to rescue Zapdos from the Shadow Grunts.

And now that you can use Strength you can explore the caverns freely.

Thundercap Mountain is an area with an electromagnetic presence, so Pokémon like Magneton, Charjabug and Nosepass will be able to evolve into their final forms here if they gain a level.

Mel knocked a Shadow Grunt out with his Miltank before you got inside, and when you first enter he’s still unconscious.

This Grunt has a vendetta against you / Pokémon Unbound
This Grunt has a vendetta against you

However, when you head northeast to continue he suddenly wakes up and reveals he’s the Grunt you battled all the way back at the beginning of the game.

Luckily, he’s just as easy to beat now as he was then.

Push the Strength rock east and you’ll be able to proceed.

The first ladder / Pokémon Unbound
The first ladder

You’ll immediately see a ladder in the northeast corner – climb up it and you’ll be on 2F.

Thundercap Mountain – 2F

(Click for full-size)
Thundercap Mountain second floor map
Points of Interest
Bug Catcher Cary
Scientist Davita
Shadow Grunt B
Shocker Kirk
Battle Girl Alize
Shadow Grunt C
Exits and Passages
Ladder Down to 1F

Ladder Up to 3F (Main Chamber)

Ladder Up to 3F (Tablet Chamber)
Requires HM Surf
Requires HM Rock Climb
Requires HM Rock Climb
Items

Items
Dusk Ball
Yellow Shard
Dusk Stone
Star Piece
Zygarde Cell
Revive
Wild Pokémon

Wild Pokémon
Cave
Nosepass
Rock
Magnemite
Electric/Steel
Magneton
Electric/Steel
Timburr
Fighting
Klink
Steel
Elekid
Electric
Electabuzz
Electric
Tynamo
Electric
Surfing
Stunfisk
Ground/Electric
Chinchou
Water/Electric
Lanturn
Water/Electric
Tynamo
Electric
Eelektross
Electric
Fishing
Magikarp
Water
(Old Rod)
Chinchou
Water/Electric
(Good Rod)
Lanturn
Water/Electric
(Super Rod)
Rock Smash
Alolan Geodude
Rock/Ground
Alolan Graveler
Rock/Ground
Nosepass
Rock
Shuckle
Bug/Rock
Trainers

Trainers
Bug Catcher Cary
Yanmega
Bug/Flying
(Lv.33)
Shuckle
Bug/Rock
(Lv.32)
Joltik
Bug/Electric
(Lv.33)
Scientist Davita
Probopass
Rock/Steel
(Lv.33)
Magnezone
Electric/Steel
(Lv.33)
Shadow Grunt B
Shuppet
Ghost
(Lv.31)
Skorupi
Poison/Bug
(Lv.31)
Gourgeist
Ghost/Grass
(Lv.33)
Golbat
Poison/Flying
(Lv.32)
Shocker Kirk
Joltik
Bug/Electric
(Lv.31)
Flaaffy
Electric
(Lv.33)
Pachirisu
Electric
(Lv.32)
Tynamo
Electric
(Lv.31)
Battle Girl Alize
Timburr
Fighting
(Lv.31)
Gurdurr
Fighting
(Lv.33)
Hitmontop
Fighting
(Lv.33)
Shadow Grunt C
Mightyena
Dark
(Lv.33)
Sandygast
Ghost/Ground
(Lv.31)
Crawdaunt
Water/Dark
(Lv.33)

The second floor of Thundercap Mountain is large and can be quite confusing, so make sure to consult the map above if you get lost.

2F is a maze / Pokémon Unbound
2F is a maze

After climbing the ladder, walk down the steps, cross the bottom of the cavern, and head east up another set of steps.

Heading deeper inside the cavern / Pokémon Unbound
Heading deeper inside the cavern

Once on the elevated platforms, go north across the short bridge and you’ll eventually run into a Shadow Grunt.

The Shadow Grunt blocks your path / Pokémon Unbound
The Shadow Grunt blocks your path

Take care of the Shadow Grunt, then walk north and east across the cave floor.

Move a couple of boulders to get past / Pokémon Unbound
Move a couple of boulders to get past

You’ll see a whole field full of Strength boulders.

It’s relatively easy to get past, there are only two that really block your way. Once you’re out of them keep going east.

Further progress is northeast along the cave floor / Pokémon Unbound
Further progress is northeast along the cave floor

After you’re out of the boulder field, you’ll see a staircase leading up east to another series of elevated platforms.

Ignore it, but remember where it is because you’ll need to come back here later.

For now, go northeast and hug the northern edge of the elevated platforms.

Go past the blonde trainer / Pokémon Unbound
Go past the blonde trainer

Continue through the narrow gap between platforms until you see a set of stairs leading north.

The ladder to 3F, past a Shadow Grunt / Pokémon Unbound
The ladder to 3F, past a Shadow Grunt

You’ll see a Shadow Grunt guarding a bridge – this leads to 3F, so head past him and climb the ladder.

Thundercap Mountain – 3F

(Click for full-size)
Thundercap Mountain third floor map
Points of Interest
Main Chamber
Healing Nurse
Shadow Grunt D
Juggler Randall
Tablet Chamber
Hiker Earl
Ruin Maniac Stanley
Stone Tablet
Shocker Picard
Exits and Passages
Main Chamber

Ladder Down to 2F
Requires HM Surf

Ladder Up to 4F (Main Chamber)
Tablet Chamber

Ladder Down to 2F

Ladder Up to 4F (Electivire Chamber)

Ladder Up to 4F (Far Chamber)
Items (Main Chamber)

Items
(Main Chamber)
Revive
(hidden)
Iron
Max Repel
Wild Pokémon

Wild Pokémon
Cave
Nosepass
Rock
Magnemite
Electric/Steel
Magneton
Electric/Steel
Cubone
Ground
Klink
Steel
Elekid
Electric
Electabuzz
Electric
Tynamo
Electric
Surfing
Stunfisk
Ground/Electric
Chinchou
Water/Electric
Lanturn
Water/Electric
Tynamo
Electric
Eelektross
Electric
Fishing
Magikarp
Water
(Old Rod)
Chinchou
Water/Electric
(Good Rod)
Lanturn
Water/Electric
(Super Rod)
Rock Smash
Alolan Geodude
Rock/Ground
Alolan Graveler
Rock/Ground
Nosepass
Rock
Shuckle
Bug/Rock
Trainers (Main Chamber)

Trainers
(Main Chamber)
Shadow Grunt
Cacnea
Grass
(Lv.31)
Honchkrow
Dark/Flying
(Lv.33)
Alolan Raticate
Dark/Normal
(Lv.33)
Juggler Randall
Voltorb
Electric
(Lv.32)
Hypno
Psychic
(Lv.31)

3F (Main Chamber)

The third floor entrance / Pokémon Unbound
The third floor entrance

This floor is full of boulders that need to be pushed onto buttons to form stone bridges.

Push one across to the east and head across the gap.

The nurse will heal you for free / Pokémon Unbound
The nurse will heal you for free

You’ll see a nurse on this island area. And unlike the others, she’ll heal you without needing to beat her first, which is very convenient.

After you’re all healed up, walk north and push the boulder there to the west button.

A Shadow Grunt waits on the western side / Pokémon Unbound
A Shadow Grunt waits on the western side

When you cross the stone here, a Shadow Grunt will challenge you on the other side.

Once taken care of, push another stone to the north button.

Head to the passage in the north wall / Pokémon Unbound
Head to the passage in the north wall

You’ll see a cavern opening here – go inside it.

A short passage through the wall / Pokémon Unbound
A short passage through the wall

There’s just a small path through here, with an optional trainer and item to the north.

Just head to the other exit and you’ll be on the other side of the main area.

More boulders to push / Pokémon Unbound
More boulders to push

Once you’re on the other side, just head south – you’ll see a boulder that can be pushed onto either a west or east button.

Make sure it gets pushed to the east.

More island-hopping / Pokémon Unbound
More island-hopping

Continue along the route – it’s straightforward enough at this point that you just need to push one boulder forward at a time, with very few branching paths.

The ladder to 4F / Pokémon Unbound
The ladder to 4F

The ladder to the fourth floor is in the southeast corner of the chamber.

Once you push enough boulders to get there, head on up the ladder.

Thundercap Mountain – 4F

(Click for full-size)
Thundercap Mountain fourth floor map
Points of Interest
Main Chamber
Shadow Grunt E
Shadow Grunt F
Healing Chansey
Electivire Chamber
Super Nerd Miguel
Cyclist Issac
Switch Boulder
Electivire Nerd
Electivire Battle
Exits and Passages
Main Chamber

Ladder Down to 3F (Main Chamber)
Ladder Up to 5F
Electivire Chamber

Ladder Down to 3F (Tablet Chamber)
Wild Pokémon

Wild Pokémon
Cave
Nosepass
Rock
Magnemite
Electric/Steel
Magneton
Electric/Steel
Timburr
Fighting
Klink
Steel
Elekid
Electric
Electabuzz
Electric
Tynamo
Electric
Surfing
Stunfisk
Ground/Electric
Chinchou
Water/Electric
Lanturn
Water/Electric
Tynamo
Electric
Eelektross
Electric
Fishing
Magikarp
Water
(Old Rod)
Chinchou
Water/Electric
(Good Rod)
Lanturn
Water/Electric
(Super Rod)
Rock Smash
Alolan Geodude
Rock/Ground
Alolan Graveler
Rock/Ground
Nosepass
Rock
Shuckle
Bug/Rock
Trainers (Main Chamber)

Trainers
(Main Chamber)
Shadow Grunt E
Woobat
Psychic/Flying
(Lv.32)
Gastly
Ghost/Poison
(Lv.32)
Ariados
Bug/Poison
(Lv.33)
Shadow Grunt F
Nuzleaf
Grass/Dark
(Lv.32)
Golbat
Poison/Flying
(Lv.33)

4F (Main Chamber)

The fourth floor is just a spiral-shaped path / Pokémon Unbound
The fourth floor is just a spiral-shaped path

You’re almost at the top, with just one more floor to go before the summit.

Luckily, this floor is just one long linear path.

Proceed behind the waterfall / Pokémon Unbound
Proceed behind the waterfall

Go north and the path will turn west under a waterfall, and beyond it is another Shadow Grunt to fight.

Another Shadow Grunt / Pokémon Unbound
Another Shadow Grunt

After defeating her, continue along to the south and you’ll soon run into another one.

The last trainer blocking the summit / Pokémon Unbound
The last trainer blocking the summit

As soon as you beat that one, you’ll see a Chansey which will probably be welcome healing at this point.

The ladder to the summit / Pokémon Unbound
The ladder to the summit

Climb the ladder and you’ll find yourself at the very top of Thundercap Mountain.

Thundercap Mountain – 5F

(Click for full-size)
Thundercap Mountain summit map
Points of Interest
Main Chamber
Shadow Grunt G
Shadow Grunt H
Shadow Grunt I
Shadow Grunt J
Shadow Grunt K
Summit Battle
Main Chamber
Ladder Down to 4F (Main Chamber)
Requires HM Rock Climb
Requires HM Rock Climb
Items

Items
Thunder Stone
Escape Rope
Trainers

Trainers
Shadow Grunt G
Poochyena
Dark
(Lv.32)
Shiftry
Grass/Dark
(Lv.33)
Shadow Grunt H
Swoobat
Psychic/Flying
(Lv.33)
Murkrow
Dark/Flying
(Lv.32)
Golbat
Poison/Flying
(Lv.33)
Shadow Grunt I
Phantump
Ghost/Grass
(Lv.32)
Alolan Rattata
Dark/Normal
(Lv.31)
Sneasel
Dark/Ice
(Lv.33)
Sharpedo
Water/Dark
(Lv.33)
Shadow Grunt J
Misdreavus
Ghost
(Lv.33)
Houndour
Dark/Fire
(Lv.32)
Shadow Grunt K
Gengar
Ghost/Poison
(Lv.34)
Weavile
Dark/Ice
(Lv.33)

You’re suddenly in the open, and true to its name, Thundercap Mountain is capped by lightning and thunder.

There are no wild Pokémon here, however.

Out in the rain and thunder / Pokémon Unbound
Out in the rain and thunder

Walk north and you’ll be challenged by a Shadow Grunt. After him, there are three paths you can take:

  • Left
  • Up the stairs
  • Right

Head right for now.

The right path winds around a bit / Pokémon Unbound
The right path winds around a bit

Keep going along this path – you’ll go down some stairs, then up some longer stairs, and finally get to where another Shadow Grunt waits for you.

Another Shadow Grunt to fight / Pokémon Unbound
Another Shadow Grunt to fight

After you beat this Grunt, head up the stairs behind her.

Freeing the Captured Pokémon

The captured Pokémon / Pokémon Unbound
The captured Pokémon

You’ll see an electric fence with captured Pokémon behind it – you’ll need a special key to disable it.

Beat the Grunt here, but don’t continue onward – the path ahead is blocked until you can free those Pokémon.

Go back to the beginning and head upstairs / Pokémon Unbound
Go back to the beginning and head upstairs

Walk all the way back to the entrance ladder and the first intersection. This time, head up the stairs and keep following the path.

The penultimate Shadow Grunt / Pokémon Unbound
The penultimate Shadow Grunt

You’ll see yet another Shadow Grunt, but luckily for you after him there’s only one more left.

More captured Pokemon / Pokémon Unbound
More captured Pokemon

The final Shadow Grunt at the end of the path has the Barrier Key, which you can use to disable the electric fences.

Unlock the barrier to release the Pokemon / Pokémon Unbound
Unlock the barrier to release the Pokemon

Free this group of Pokémon here, and you’ll also free the Pokémon on the other side when you do so.

Walk all the way back to the other electric fence, and you’ll find that they’ve already started repairing the way forward.

Getting a helping hand / Pokémon Unbound
Getting a helping hand

The Pokémon fix the way up to the summit, and you’re now free to climb it and face Marlon.

Zapdos is captured / Pokémon Unbound
Zapdos is captured

Zapdos is a little harder to wrangle than Articuno and Moltres, but Marlon eventually manages it. After he does, he sees us and isn’t happy we followed him.

Battle for Zapdos

Marlon fights you for control of Zapdos / Pokémon Unbound
Marlon fights you for control of Zapdos

Marlon challenges you to a fight, this time on his own – but he’s got Zapdos.

Shadow Battle
Shadow Admin Marlon
Zapdos
Electric/Flying
(Lv.35)
Cacturne
Grass/Dark
(Lv.36)
Krookodile
Ground/Dark
(Lv.37)

He’s got a formidable team, but if you’ve been training on the trainers in Thundercap so far you will have an easier time.

Marlon releases Zapdos when he is defeated, which is certainly unexpected.

Marlon is unusually gracious in defeat / Pokémon Unbound
Marlon is unusually gracious in defeat

With that, you’re instructed to go back to Epidimy Town – but there are a couple of important things to take care of in Thundercap before you leave.

Go back to 2F, and head to the elevated platforms with bridges in the middle of the chamber.

There’s another ladder there, and it used to be blocked by a sleeping Shadow Grunt.

The ladder you need - but there will be no Grunt there this time / Pokémon Unbound
The ladder you need – but there will be no Grunt there this time

The Grunt will be gone, and you are free to climb it to the Tablet Chamber on 3F.

3F (Tablet Chamber)

This chamber holds one of the ancient tablets / Pokémon Unbound
This chamber holds one of the ancient tablets
Items

Items
Parlyz Heal
(Rock Smash)
Trainers

Trainers
Hiker Earl
Cubone
Ground
(Lv.32)
Alolan Geodude
Rock/Electric
(Lv.33)
Ruin Maniac Stanley
Golem
Rock/Ground
(Lv.34)
Lileep
Rock/Grass
(Lv.32)
Anorith
Rock/Bug
(Lv.32)
Shocker Picard
Stunfisk
Ground/Electric
(Lv.33)
Charjabug
Bug/Electric
(Lv.33)

You’ll arrive on a raised platform in between an electric fence and an ancient tablet.

Walk south across the bridge and then east across another one.

Hiker Earl roams around here, and Ruin Maniac Stanley is below / Pokémon Unbound
Hiker Earl roams around here, and Ruin Maniac Stanley is below

Hiker Earl will be waiting for you.

Once he’s been defeated, cross the north bridge and you’ll see a ladder up to 4F.

You won’t be able to make much progress up there yet however, as you need Surf.

So instead, walk down the stairs, go under the bridge to the west and you’ll fight Ruin Maniac Stanley.

The ancient tablet gives you a clue / Pokémon Unbound
The ancient tablet gives you a clue

The ancient tablet is north of Stanley, and it gives you the clue “PRESSURE ELSEWHERE IS THE KEY”.

You’ll be able to solve half of this puzzle at the moment, when you get to the Electivire Chamber in 4F.

Go back up to the elevated platforms and retrace your steps past Hiker Earl until you get to a bridge leading south. Cross that and head east.

Shocker Picard / Pokémon Unbound
Shocker Picard

You will run into Shocker Picard, and after he challenges you, you’re free to walk on the final bridge to head north.

The ladder to the Electivire Chamber / Pokémon Unbound
The ladder to the Electivire Chamber

There is a ladder here that leads to an area of 4F called the Electivire Chamber, and you’ll find out why it’s called that very shortly.

4F (Electivire Chamber)

The Electivire Chamber on 4F / Pokémon Unbound
The Electivire Chamber on 4F
Items

Items
PP Up
Trainers

Trainers
Super Nerd Miguel
Klink
Steel
(Lv.32)
Magneton
Electric/Steel
(Lv.34)
Alolan Geodude
Rock/Electric
(Lv.32)
Cyclist Issac
Hoothoot
Normal/Flying
(Lv.33)
Elekid
Electric
(Lv.32)
Shinx
Electric
(Lv.32)

After you climb the ladder, walk south until you see a tiny step up to a raised platform.

Head west along it until you see a bridge.

The bridge and Cyclist Issac / Pokémon Unbound
The bridge and Cyclist Issac

As you cross the bridge you’ll be confronted by Cyclist Issac, but he’s not too much trouble.

Go past him and you’ll see another bridge to the north.

The strength puzzle - ball in hole / Pokémon Unbound
The strength puzzle – ball in hole

Once you cross that one you’ll see a small area with a Strength boulder and a hole that it needs to be pushed into.

To do that, you’ll need to Rock Smash until the path is clear.

Time to push / Pokémon Unbound
Time to push

Pushing the Strength boulder in this hole solves one half of a puzzle we need for the tablet later – you’ll be coming back to this mountain again later to solve the other half.

Head back to the east side of the chamber / Pokémon Unbound
Head back to the east side of the chamber

After you’ve put the boulder in the hole, walk back to the ladder and then take the east passage.

You’ll see two tunnels on that side of the chamber blocked by breakable rocks. Head to the north one first.

This Nerd’s in trouble / Pokémon Unbound
This Nerd’s in trouble

You’ll see that a trainer’s Electivire is out of control and needs to be wrangled.

When you approach, the Electivire runs away, and you’ll have to chase it.

Break this rock and the encounter will start / Pokémon Unbound
Break this rock and the encounter will start

Go back and break the rock to the south, then head down that passage.

Eventually, you’ll come face to face with the unruly Electivire.

Pokémon Encounter
Electivire
Electric
(Lv.44)
non-catchable
The Nerd is grateful - though someone else is watching / Pokémon Unbound
The Nerd is grateful – though someone else is watching

After you defeat it, it goes back in its Poke Ball. Wanting to thank you, the trainer says he will meet you at the Epidimy Pokémon Center to give you a reward.

Leaving

You’ve done all you can in Thundercap Mountain for now.

To get outside quickly, use an Escape Rope. If you don’t have one, you’ve got a long walk ahead of you.

But either way, the next step is to exit the mountain and head towards Epidimy Town.

Return to Epidimy Town

Jax shows up to tell us where to go next / Pokémon Unbound
Jax shows up to tell us where to go next

Now that you’re outside, Jax appears and you tell him all about Zapdos.

He says he’s headed to Dehara City next, but that you should go to Tarmigan Mansion first to get the ability to Mega Evolve Pokémon.

But before that, head to the Epidimy Town Pokémon Center to check in on the trainer of the Electivire.

The Electivire was stolen / Pokémon Unbound
The Electivire was stolen

Unfortunately, by the time you get there, the Electivire has been stolen and the trainer can’t give you a reward just yet. You’ll have to find the thief in Seaport City whenever you end up there.

So for now, head west on to Route 11 for the next part of your journey.

Onward Through Cliff Cave

The entrance to Cliff Cave / Pokémon Unbound
The entrance to Cliff Cave

In order to get to Tarmigan Mansion, you’ll have to go through Cliff Cave (pictured above).

This can be accessed through Route 11.

Now that you can use Strength, your way through the cave will be free and clear.

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