How to Complete the Tanoby Key Puzzle in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen

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After defeating all gym leaders, reaching the Elite Four, and becoming the champion of the Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen League, the game world opens up for more exploration. With the National Dex unlocked, you can revisit the Sevii Islands to discover new areas, Pokémon, and challenges waiting for you.

While some players focus on hunting Legendary Pokémon like Lugia and Ho-Oh, there’s a hidden puzzle on Six Island that leads to a special Pokémon inside the Tanoby Ruins: Unown. Here’s how to solve the Tanoby Key puzzle and catch all the Unown in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen.

### Where to Find the Tanoby Key Puzzle

To find the Tanoby Key Puzzle, you first need to finish the main story and do the postgame quests on the Sevii Islands. When you arrive at Six Island, look for a strange cave in Sevault Canyon, south of the main area.

Once you’re in Sevault Canyon, progress south until just before the rest house near the water. On the left side, you’ll see a hidden cave entrance in a small section with tall grass outside. Enter the cave, which will present you with a series of seven boulders blocking your path.

If your Pokémon already knows Strength, you can start solving the puzzle right away.

### How to Solve the Tanoby Key Puzzle

To solve the puzzle, first label the boulders from 1 to 7 for easier instructions. The boulders are positioned and labeled as follows:

1. Boulder One – Top middle
2. Boulder Two – Top left
3. Boulder Three – Top right
4. Boulder Four – Bottom left
5. Boulder Five – Bottom right
6. Boulder Six – Middle left
7. Boulder Seven – Middle right

Begin by pushing Boulder One straight up into the top central space. Then move through the center and position yourself to the left of Boulder Two. Push Boulder Two into the middle, then up twice. Next, move to the right of Boulder Three, push it once into the middle, then up twice, and finally, shift Boulder Three into the right uppermost spot.

For the bottom section, push Boulder Four left, then Boulder Five right. Hop over the ledge and push Boulder Four straight up into the bottom left space. Repeat the same for Boulder Five, pushing it up into the bottom right space.

Now, move Boulder Six below the top left, push it straight up into the rock, then left into the open space. Do the same with Boulder Seven, pushing it up into the rock, then right into the last open space. The final step is to move Boulder Six and Boulder Seven into the middle two open spots.

Once all boulders are properly arranged, you’ll see a message: “A mysterious rumble echoed somewhere far away,” signaling that the puzzle has been successfully completed.

### Accessing the Unown Ruins

With the puzzle solved, you can now explore the series of water caves south of Six Island. These caves contain all 28 Unown forms: letters A through Z, along with the exclamation mark and question mark forms. Remember, you’ll need to explore different caves within the Tanoby Ruins area to collect every letter and symbol. Don’t forget to search all the caves thoroughly to find them all.