While Pokemon Legends: Arceus may not be the textbook standard of an “open-world” game, the Hisui region is a new world that leaves much for gamers to explore. Split into five different sections, trainers will be led from one region to another as they make progress through Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ story.

Most players will be uncovering every inch of Hisui’s map on their own, but some hidden areas are less obvious. There may be some Pokemon that can’t be found anywhere else but around these obscure areas. Players would do best to remember that if they intend on meeting Arceus, they’ll need to catch every Pokemon in Hisui.

Catching additional Pokemon and/or Pokemon with visible gender differences will also add more Research Task points. It’s recommended to be at a high rank in the Galaxy Team’s Survey Corps in order to obtain Alpha Pokemon. Some locations added to this list are in plain sight, but players may need the help of certain Ride Pokemon to get there.

12 The Galaxy Hall’s Roof

Those looking for all the Unown in Legends: Arceus can find the W Unown on the rooftop of the Galaxy Hall. To get to the rooftop, simply go up to Commander Kamado’s office and look to the right. There’s a set of double doors that lead out to the balcony.

From up here, players can see all of Jubilife Village, but the most important thing is to go around back. There are Magikarp statues and one will have a W Unown on its eye, so toss a Poke Ball at it. Other than the Unown, there’s not much else to do up here.

11 The Shortcut To Islespy Shore

Beneath Veilsone Cape in the Cobalt Coastlands is a tunnel that players can swim through with the Ride Basculegion. There’s nothing inside the tunnel itself, but it’s a quick way for players to get to Islespy Shore without having to climb or go around. To be more specific, the tunnel is to the right of Castaway Shore.

10 Secret Hollow In Alabaster Icelands

Next to the big waterfall in the upper north of Alabaster Icelands is a cave with a large boulder blocking the way. Use a Pokemon to break the boulder to get inside. This is the Secret Hollow, and it has two deposits of Sky Tumblestones and one Iron Chunk deposit.

While the Secret Hollow doesn’t play into the main Story Missions, players will need to visit this area if they’re working on the massive mass outbreak quests in the postgame. The quickest way to reach the Secret Hollow is to set up the Icepeak Camp in Alabaster Icelands.

9 Zorua’s Habitat In The Icy Caverns

The backstory of Hisuian Zorua and Zoroark didn’t go unnoticed by Pokemon fans. Unlike regular Zorua, Hisuian Zorua is a Ghost/Normal-type Pokemon. Its unique typing makes it ideal for the party - especially in the later sections of Legends: Arceus.

Although it’s a rare Pokemon, players can find Zorua in the icy caverns in the Bonechill Wastes. There’s a massive sinkhole in the ice that leads into the caverns. Enter the sinkhole indicated on the map and take the first right to find a Zorua. There’s another cavern that houses Zorua, but this may be the first one that players will stumble into.

8 Solaceon Ruins

Upon the first visit to the Crimson Mirelands, players will need to visit the Solaceon Ruins as part of Mission 8. There aren’t any Pokemon to be caught here…until all 28 Unown around Hisui have been caught. After this, Unown will start spawning in the Solaceon Ruins.

Since this requires players to catch all the Unown, this “hidden location” may not be as exciting as the others. Furthermore, Unown can’t learn anything else aside from Hidden Power, so it may not be worth using in battle.

7 Turtwig’s Lake In Crimson Mirelands

Across the river from Ursa’s Ring in the Crimson Mirelands is a lake to the far south. Aside from mass outbreaks, this is the only place where players can catch the Grass-type Sinnoh starter, Turtwig. Turtwig’s second-evolved form, Grotle, has a lower chance of appearing at the lake, but it has been known to show up.

Unfortunately, Turtwig is extremely skittish, so it will flee if it notices nearby trainers. On the other hand, Grotle won’t run away, but it will attack if it sees trainers trying to catch Turtwig.

6 The Fabled Spring

To the far south of Moonview Arena and the Sacred Plaza in Coronet Highlands is the Fabled Spring. Players can simply follow the river down south to reach the Fabled Spring, or they can use Braviary to fly.

At the Fabled Spring, players can catch the Cleffa-line, but only at night. Aside from the Fairy Pokemon, players can also catch Budew, Roselia, and Basculin. Players will need to visit the Fabled Spring if they want to complete the Request: Clefairy’s Moonlit Dance.

5 The Man At The Clamberclaw Cliffs

Players can get a new Crafting Recipe if they go to the foot of the Clamberclaw Cliffs in Coronet Highlands. Players will need to use either Basculegion or Sneasler if they want to get the recipe. Alternatively, players can use Braviary to glide down.

At the foot of the far right of the Clamberclaw Cliffs is a strip of land with a few mineral deposits. Look closely and there will be a Galaxy Team member by one of the trees. Speak to him and he’ll give the Choice Dumpling recipe.

4 Alpha Lucario At Icebound Falls

Between the Avalanche Slopes and the Whiteout Valley in the Alabaster Icelands are the Icebound Falls. This is the only place (outside of outbreaks and massive mass outbreaks) where the Fighting-type Riolu can be caught. Most trainers know that Riolu will evolve into Lucario when it has high friendship with its owner. The easiest way to get Lucario is by catching one of these Riolu and evolving it. However, those that don’t mind a bit of climbing can find an Alpha Lucario instead.

Alpha Lucario is a level 70 Pokemon, meaning players will need to be at Rank 6 if they want to catch it. By climbing up the mountains at Icebound Falls, Lucario can be found running along a slope. It’s easier for players to wait and get the Ride Braviary so that they can just glide to Alpha Lucario’s habitat. For the impatient, Alpha Lucario can be reached by climbing with Sneasler. Catching Alpha Lucario is easier if it’s distracted by bait. Once its back is turned, throw an Ultra Ball (or Leaden/Heavy Ball if closer). Players can also fight and catch it the old-fashioned way, but they’ll be wise to bring a Pokemon that’s a few levels higher than Lucario.

3 The Male & Female Basculin At Cobalt Coastlands

Once players unlock the ridable Basculegion, they can explore all deep bodies of water around Hisui. Immediately after getting Basculegion, players can swim out to the Tranquility Cove and find Basculegion’s pre-evolved form: the white-striped Basculin. However, the Basculin at Tranquility Cove are only female. Those that are looking for a male Basculin should take the shortcut through the Veilstone Cape and make way for the small islands directly north of Islespy Shore. Male Basculin also spawn near a small island behind Firespit Island.

While Basculin doesn’t have any visible gender differences, Basculegion does. A male Basculegion will look exactly like the ridable Basculegion with fuchsia-colored markings. A female Basculegion will have pale blue markings. This means Basculegion has exclusive Shiny forms for both males and females. That’s not all: Male Basculegions have higher Attack while the females have higher Special Attack. Most of Basculegion’s learnset upon leveling up are Physical moves, but the moves it can learn from Zisu at the Training Grounds are mostly Special.

2 The Flying Togetic

The Togepi evolution-line has always been rare within the Pokemon world. Until the fourth generation, players could not catch Togepi in the wild, and even then, catching a wild Togepi in Diamond/Pearl/Platinum required the use of the Poke Radar. In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, players can catch Togepi as soon as they unlock the Crimson Mirelands. Togepi will evolve into Togetic when it reaches high friendship. Once players obtain a Shiny Stone, they can use it on Togetic to get Togekiss. Unfortunately, leveling up Friendship can be time-consuming if players aren’t sure what to do and if Togepi’s constantly fainting in battle. There’s a way to bypass evolving Togepi by simply catching the flying Togetic.

Be warned that Basculin are very skittish Pokemon and can be quite hard to catch. Save the game before trying to catch one, and reload if they escape. It’s recommended to use Feather Balls since these can be thrown from a farther distance than regular Poke Balls.

If players look to the sky when they’re at the Cottonsedge Prairie (Crimson Mirelands), they can see a Togetic flying around. It’s impossible to catch this Pokemon let alone battle it using ordinary Poke Balls. Players will want to craft or buy Feather Balls or Wing Balls if they want to catch Togetic and any other flying Pokemon, for that matter. It’s difficult to get in a backstrike-catch on a flying Pokemon, but it is possible. To get Togetic, stand on one of the rocks to the right of Cottonsedge Prairie, and throw a ball when it flies by. There’s another flying Togetic near the waterfall of Bolderoll Slope. This one may be easier to catch since there are more elevated landscapes that trainers can stand on.

Once players get the ridable Snealsler, they can climb the mountains surrounding Lake Verity. Flying above the pathway from Sandgem Flats to Lake Verity is a Togekiss. Players can hold off catching Togetic and try their luck at the flying Togekiss if they don’t mind waiting to catch this Fairy/Flying-type Pokemon.

1 Alpha Scyther At Grandtree Arena

After facing off against the Noble Kleavor, some trainers may want to catch one of their own whether to have it on the team or to let it gather dust at the Pastures. Kleavor’s a regional evolution for Scyther, who could only evolve into Scizor since Generation 2. Getting Kleavor in Legends: Arceus requires using a Black Augurite on Scyther instead of a Metal Coat. Luckily, three Scyther can be found at the very southeast of the Obsidian Fieldlands (refer to the rightmost icon on the above image). If players choose to explore, they may come into contact with an Alpha Scyther instead.

To the southwest of Grandtree Arena is an Alpha Scyther. It’s very unlikely players will be able to catch Alpha Scyther upon their first few visits to the Fieldlands. Alpha Scyther is a level 42 Pokemon, meaning players have to be at Rank 4 (or higher) if they want to catch it. Of course, like any other Alpha Pokemon, evolving an Alpha Scyther means players will get an Alpha Kleavor or an Alpha Scizor depending on their preferences.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now on Nintendo Switch.