Turnback Cave

Turnback Cave 戻りの洞窟 Returning Cave "Wild Missingno. appeared!"
Map description:	{{{mapdesc}}}
Location:	Sendoff Spring
Region:	Sinnoh
Generations:	IV, VIII
Location of Turnback Cave in Sinnoh.
Pokémon world locations

Turnback Cave (Japanese: 戻りの洞窟 Returning Cave) is a maze-like cave filled with dense fog which is home to the Legendary Pokémon Giratina. Turnback Cave is located at the north-central region of Sendoff Spring, which itself may only be accessed through the Spring Path.

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, there is an inscription in the pillar in the room Giratina resides in that implies the cave is a location where the separation between the real world and the Distortion World is weaker. In Pokémon Platinum, a portal to the Distortion World appears in front of the pillar. The inscription reads:

This is... That where life sparkles... That where life has faded... A place where two worlds overlap...

Geography

Rooms and pillars

A pillar

When a player exits a room, the next will be randomly chosen from a selection of possible rooms. If the player walks out the door through which they entered a room, they will return to the entrance room; from the entrance room, the player can exit to Sendoff Spring. If the player navigates 30 rooms without finding the third pillar, the next door returns them to the entrance room. Escape Ropes and Dig cannot be used to escape. The inscription in the pillar at the entrance room reads:

...Past three pillars...to the sleeping... ...before 30 is surpassed...

After the player has found three pillar rooms, the next room will be Giratina's room. In Pokémon Platinum, Giratina will only be in this room if the player did not catch it in the Distortion World. If Giratina is not present, there will be an item each time it is reached, with the item depending on the number of rooms the player navigated to reach it: a Reaper Cloth if they reach it in 3 rooms, a Rare Bone if they reach it in 4 to 15, and a Stardust if they reach it in 16 to 30. In Pokémon Platinum, after catching Giratina, there will also be a portal to the Distortion World, where the player can obtain the Griseous Orb.

When the player reaches a pillar and examines it two numbers will appear: the top number indicates which pillar the player is looking at, and the bottom indicates how many rooms the player passed through on the way to it.

Items

Before being able to obtain the item at the end of the cave, the player must first catch or defeat Giratina. In Pokémon Platinum, if the player defeated Giratina in the Distortion World, they must defeat or catch it here and traverse through the cave again in order to be able to obtain items here.

Item		Location	Games
	Reaper Cloth	Giratina's room, if the player reached it by passing through only 3 rooms and Giratina is not present (reappears each time)	D  P  Pt  BD  SP
	Rare Bone	Giratina's room, if the player reached it by passing through 4-15 rooms and Giratina is not present (reappears each time)	D  P  Pt  BD  SP
	Stardust	Giratina's room, if the player reached it by passing through 16-30 rooms and Giratina is not present (reappears each time)	D  P  Pt  BD  SP

Pokémon

Generation IV

Altered Forme Giratina at Turnback Cave in Platinum

Before encountering a pillar

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Golbat	D		P		Pt		Cave	45-46	30%
Golbat	D		P		Pt		Cave	17-18	25%
Gastly	D		P		Pt		Cave	15, 17	30%
Gastly	D		P		Pt		Cave	16	10%	10%	0%
Haunter	D		P		Pt		Cave	44-46	30%
Duskull	D		P		Pt		Cave	18	5%
Dusclops	D		P		Pt		Cave	16	0%	0%	10%
Chingling	D		P		Pt		Cave	16, 18	10%
Bronzor	D		P		Pt		Cave	44	5%
Bronzor	D		P		Pt		Cave	15	20%
Bronzong	D		P		Pt		Cave	45-46	35%
Special Pokémon
Lunatone	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Sapphire	44, 46	8%
Lunatone	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Sapphire	18	8%
Solrock	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Ruby	44, 46	8%
Solrock	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Ruby	18	8%
Dusclops	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot FRLGE	18	4%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Between first and second pillars

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Golbat	D		P		Pt		Cave	55-56	30%
Golbat	D		P		Pt		Cave	25, 27	25%
Haunter	D		P		Pt		Cave	54-56	30%
Haunter	D		P		Pt		Cave	25, 27	30%
Haunter	D		P		Pt		Cave	26	10%	10%	0%
Chimecho	D		P		Pt		Cave	28	1%
Duskull	D		P		Pt		Cave	28	4%
Dusclops	D		P		Pt		Cave	26	0%	0%	10%
Dusclops	D		P		Pt		Cave	28	1%
Chingling	D		P		Pt		Cave	26, 28	9%
Bronzor	D		P		Pt		Cave	54	5%
Bronzor	D		P		Pt		Cave	25	20%
Bronzong	D		P		Pt		Cave	55-56	35%
Special Pokémon
Lunatone	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Sapphire	54, 56	8%
Lunatone	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Sapphire	28	8%
Solrock	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Ruby	54, 56	8%
Solrock	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Ruby	28	8%
Dusclops	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot FRLGE	28	4%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Between second and third pillars

Only five of the six possible rooms have wild encounters; the second of the possible rooms between these pillars never has wild encounters.

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Golbat	D		P		Pt		Cave	65-66	30%
Golbat	D		P		Pt		Cave	37-38	25%
Haunter	D		P		Pt		Cave	64-66	30%
Haunter	D		P		Pt		Cave	35, 37	30%
Haunter	D		P		Pt		Cave	36	10%	10%	0%
Dusclops	D		P		Pt		Cave	36	0%	0%	10%
Dusclops	D		P		Pt		Cave	38	5%
Chimecho	D		P		Pt		Cave	36, 38	10%
Bronzor	D		P		Pt		Cave	64	5%
Bronzong	D		P		Pt		Cave	65-66	35%
Bronzong	D		P		Pt		Cave	35	20%
Special Pokémon
Lunatone	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Sapphire	64, 66	8%
Lunatone	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Sapphire	38	8%
Solrock	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Ruby	64, 66	8%
Solrock	D		P		Pt		Dual-slot Ruby	38	8%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Giratina's room

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Special Pokémon
Giratina	D		P		Pt		Only one	70	One
Giratina Altered Forme	D		P		Pt		Only one	47	One
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Generation VIII

Before encountering a pillar

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Golbat	BD			SP			Cave	45-46	30%
Haunter	BD			SP			Cave	44-46	30%
Bronzor	BD			SP			Cave	44	5%
Bronzong	BD			SP			Cave	45-46	35%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Between first and second pillars

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Golbat	BD			SP			Cave	55-56	30%
Haunter	BD			SP			Cave	54-56	30%
Bronzor	BD			SP			Cave	54	5%
Bronzong	BD			SP			Cave	55-56	35%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Between second and third pillars

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Golbat	BD			SP			Cave	65-66	30%
Haunter	BD			SP			Cave	64-66	30%
Bronzor	BD			SP			Cave	64	5%
Bronzong	BD			SP			Cave	65-66	35%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Giratina's room

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Special Pokémon
Giratina Altered Forme	BD			SP			Only one	70	One
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Layout

Entrance, pillar room, and Giratina's room

Version	Entrance	Pillar room	Giratina's room
Diamond
Pearl
Platinum

Random rooms

Version	Between entrance and first pillar	Between first and second pillars	Between second and third pillars
Diamond
Pearl
Platinum

In the manga

Turnback Cave in Pokémon Adventures

The Distortion World portal in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Platinum arc

In The Final Dimensional Duel V, Flint and Volkner entered the Distortion World through Turnback Cave. They were soon after followed by Platinum, Palmer, Cheryl, Riley, Mira, Marley, and the Advanced level Grunt. After leading the group to the portal, the Grunt was about to head out, but he was stopped by Platinum, who voiced her distrust towards him. She, however, promised to protect him from Team Galactic, which the Grunt agreed to, and led them through the portal.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

Turnback Cave appeared in Enter the Distortion World!. After managing to make Kaisei spill out how to get to the Distortion World, Charon traveled to the cave and entered Giratina's realm through it with Kaisei, followed by Hareta, Koya, and Jun.

Trivia

• Turnback Cave is similar to certain locations in Kanto and Hoenn:
  • In Kanto, Cerulean Cave can only be visited after entering the Hall of Fame and is home to high-level wild Pokémon and a level 70 Legendary Pokémon.
  • In Hoenn, the Sky Pillar is home to high level Pokémon and a level 70 Legendary Pokémon, and in the third version it can be visited before entering the Hall of Fame.
• Turnback Cave's system of seemingly random room layout may be an advanced version of the system used in Lost Cave in the Sevii Islands in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
• Turnback Cave and the Distortion World may draw some inspiration from the Japanese underworld, Yomi. Giratina itself can be seen as a parallel to the kami Izanami.
• Turnback Cave shares its music with that of the Old Chateau. However, in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, the version of the track used in Turnback Cave and the surrounding areas is noticeably lacking certain soundfonts. Interestingly, this variation is not recognized as a separate track in the game's audio files and the normal variation of the track is used in Pokémon Platinum, suggesting the difference between the versions was unintentional.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 歸途洞窟 Gwāitòuh Duhngfāt Mandarin 歸途洞窟 / 归途洞窟 Guītú Dòngkū European French Grotte du RetourBDSP Grotte RetourDPPt German Höhle der Umkehr Italian Grotta Ritorno Korean 귀혼동굴 Gwihon Donggul European Spanish Cueva Retorno Vietnamese Hang Quay Đầu

See also

• Sendoff Spring
• Spring Path
• Distortion World

Sinnoh
Settlements Twinleaf Town • Sandgem Town • Jubilife City • Oreburgh City • Floaroma Town • Eterna City • Hearthome City Solaceon Town • Veilstone City • Pastoria City • Celestic Town • Canalave City • Snowpoint City • Sunyshore City Pokémon League • Fight Area • Survival Area • Resort Area Routes 201 • 202 • 203 • 204 • 205 • 206 • 207 • 208 • 209 • 210 • 211 • 212 • 213 • 214 • 215 216 • 217 • 218 • 219 • 220 • 221 • 222 • 223 • 224 • 225 • 226 • 227 • 228 • 229 • 230 Landmarks Lake Verity (Lakefront) • Oreburgh Gate • Oreburgh Mine • Oreburgh Mining Museum • Global Terminal/Global Wonder Station Ravaged Path • Floaroma Meadow • Valley Windworks • Eterna Forest • Old Chateau • Underground/Grand Underground Wayward Cave • Mount Coronet • Amity Square • Lost Tower • Hallowed Tower • Solaceon Ruins • Maniac Tunnel • Lake Valor (Lakefront) Great Marsh • Pokémon Mansion • Trophy Garden • Fuego Ironworks • Iron Island • Lake Acuity (Lakefront) • Spear Pillar • Victory Road Pal Park/Ramanas Park • Contest Hall • Battle Zone • Battle Park • Battle Tower/Battle Frontier • Stark Mountain • Snowpoint Temple Spring Path • Sendoff Spring • Turnback Cave • Fullmoon Island • Newmoon Island • Seabreak Path • Flower Paradise • Hall of Origin Access to Distortion World See also Hisui

Game locations of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon

Kanto Seafoam Islands • Power Plant • Victory Road • Cerulean Cave Route 10 • Route 25 • Pewter City • Roaming Pokémon Sevii Islands Mt. Ember • Navel Rock • Birth Island Johto Ilex Forest • Bell Tower • Whirl Islands • Mt. Silver Cave Burned Tower • Embedded Tower • Roaming Pokémon Hoenn Desert Ruins • Island Cave • Ancient Tomb • Cave of Origin • Marine Cave Terra Cave • Sky Pillar • Southern Island • Sea Mauville • Scorched Slab Pathless Plain • Nameless Cavern • Fabled Cave • Gnarled Den Trackless Forest • Crescent Isle • Sky • Roaming Pokémon Sinnoh Acuity Cavern • Valor Cavern • Spear Pillar • Turnback Cave Rock Peak Ruins • Iceberg Ruins • Iron Ruins • Snowpoint Temple Stark Mountain • Newmoon Island • Flower Paradise • Hall of Origin Ramanas Park • Floaroma Town • Roaming Pokémon Unova Guidance Chamber • Trial Chamber • Rumination Field • N's Castle • Abundant Shrine Giant Chasm • Dragonspiral Tower • Liberty Garden • Route 11 • Route 13 • Route 22 Route 23 • Celestial Tower • Nacrene City • Underground Ruins • Twist Mountain Dreamyard • Marvelous Bridge • Reversal Mountain • Coastal Biome • Roaming Pokémon Kalos Sea Spirit's Den • Team Flare Secret HQ • Terminus Cave Unknown Dungeon • Roaming Pokémon Alola Route 16 • Altar of the Sunne • Altar of the Moone • Mount Lanakila • Mahalo Trail Ruins of Conflict • Ruins of Life • Ruins of Abundance • Ruins of Hope Aether Paradise • Ancient Poni Path • Lake of the Sunne • Lake of the Moone Ten Carat Hill • Resolution Cave Galar Tower summit • Battle Tower • Master Dojo • Crown Shrine • Max Lair Rock Peak Ruins • Iceberg Ruins • Iron Ruins • Split-Decision Ruins • Giant's Bed Frigid Sea • Lakeside Cave • Ballimere Lake • Freezington • Roaming Pokémon Hisui Seaside Hollow • Temple of Sinnoh • Acuity Cavern • Valor Cavern • Verity Cavern Lava Dome Sanctum • Moonview Arena • Snowpoint Temple • Turnback Cave • Bonechill Wastes Cobalt Coastlands • Ramanas Island • Scarlet Bog • Coronet Highlands • Floaro Gardens Paldea Grasswither Shrine • Icerend Shrine • Groundblight Shrine • Firescourge Shrine Poco Path • Area Zero • Area Zero Underdepths • Glaseado Mountain South Province (Area One) • Asado Desert • West Province (Area One) • East Province (Area Three) Casseroya Lake • North Paldean Sea • South Province (Area Four) • North Province (Area Two) Alfornada Cavern • Great Crater of Paldea • Tagtree Thicket • East Province (Area One) South Province (Area Five) • Dalizapa Passage • Pokémon League • Socarrat Trail Kitakami Paradise Barrens • Wistful Fields • Oni Mountain • Dreaded Den • Loyalty Plaza Other Faraway Island • Distortion World • Sinjoh Ruins • Ultra Space Wilds

This article is part of Project Locations, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every location in the Pokémon world.