The Cipher Lab & Gateon Port — Pokémon Colosseum Walkthrough

The Cipher Lab & Gateon Port

Following your intense confrontation with Miror B. and your successful rescue of the kidnapped scientists, your journey in Pokémon Colosseum takes a pivotal turn. You'll now pursue Team Cipher directly into their secretive stronghold: the Cipher Lab. This section will guide you through the labyrinthine corridors of the lab, detailing every puzzle, battle, and Shadow Pokémon opportunity, before leading you to the vibrant, yet strategically important, Gateon Port.

Navigating the Cipher Lab

The Cipher Lab is a critical location where Team Cipher conducts their nefarious experiments on Shadow Pokémon. Expect a series of challenging battles and intricate security measures as you delve deeper into their operations. This area is designed to test your team's strength and your strategic thinking.

Cipher Lab Layout and Security Measures Walkthrough:

Upon entering the Cipher Lab, you'll find yourself in a reception area. The path forward is not immediately obvious, as Cipher has implemented several security protocols.

1. Initial Entry & Locked Door: From the entrance, head straight. You'll encounter a locked door. To open it, you need to find a keycard.
2. Finding the Keycard:
   • Head right from the locked door. You'll enter a room with a computer terminal.
   • Battle Cipher Peon Vana here. She uses:
     • Shadow Remoraid (Lv. 20): This Water-type can be tricky. Use Electric or Grass-type moves to weaken it. Be cautious of its Special Attack.
     • Snag Strategy: Remoraid has low HP. Use a Pokémon with a non-damaging status move like Hypnosis or Thunder Wave. Weaken it with a single strong attack, then throw Great Balls.
   • After defeating Vana, interact with the computer terminal. This will unlock the previously locked door.
3. Navigating the Laser Grid:
   • Proceed through the newly unlocked door. You'll enter a corridor with a visible laser grid.
   • The laser grid is a simple pattern: it cycles on and off. Observe the timing.
   • Guidance: Wait for the lasers to turn off, then quickly run through to the other side. If you touch a laser, you'll be forced back to the start of the grid, but there's no penalty beyond lost time.
4. First Floor Exploration & More Peons:
   • Beyond the laser grid, you'll find more rooms and corridors.
   • Cipher Peon Kolax is often found patrolling this area. He uses:
     • Shadow Togepi (Lv. 20): A Normal/Fairy-type (in later generations, but treated as Normal in Colosseum). It has low defenses. Fighting-type moves are super effective.
     • Snag Strategy: Togepi is fragile. Use a Pokémon with False Swipe if you have one, or a very weak attack. Status conditions are highly effective. Great Balls are recommended due to its low catch rate.
   • Continue exploring, looking for stairs or elevators to the next floor. You'll likely encounter Cipher Peon Tanie. She uses:
     • Shadow Mareep (Lv. 20): An Electric-type. Ground-type moves are super effective. Mareep has decent Special Attack.
     • Snag Strategy: Mareep can paralyze you. Consider using a Ground-type Pokémon to resist its attacks. Weaken it to red HP, then use status and Great Balls.
5. Second Floor & Further Security:
   • On the second floor, you'll encounter more complex layouts and potentially another locked door or a different type of security system.
   • Look for another computer terminal or a switch. These are usually guarded by Peons.
   • Cipher Peon Skrub is typically found on this floor. He uses:
     • Shadow Seedot (Lv. 20): A Grass-type. Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison, and Bug-type moves are super effective. Seedot has low stats overall.
     • Snag Strategy: Seedot is very easy to snag due to its low defenses and HP. Any weak attack followed by a Great Ball should suffice.
   • Cipher Peon Nore often patrols near the exit or a key objective. She uses:
     • Shadow Lotad (Lv. 20): A Water/Grass-type. Flying, Bug, and Poison-type moves are super effective. Lotad can be annoying with Absorb.
     • Snag Strategy: Lotad has decent bulk. Weaken it carefully, avoiding super-effective moves that might knock it out too quickly. Status conditions are your friend.
   • Cipher Peon Greck is one of the final Peons you'll face before the Admin. He uses:
     • Shadow Houndour (Lv. 20): A Dark/Fire-type. Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water-type moves are super effective. Houndour is fast and hits hard.
     • Snag Strategy: Houndour is a high-priority snag due to its power. Use a Pokémon that resists Fire/Dark attacks. Weaken it to low HP, inflict a status, and use Great Balls. Be prepared for a few attempts.
6. The Admin's Chamber:
   • After bypassing all security and defeating the Peons, you'll reach the chamber of a Cipher Admin.
   • Cipher Admin Ein is your target here. He uses:
     • Shadow Croconaw (Lv. 25): A Water-type. Grass and Electric-type moves are super effective. Croconaw has good Attack and Defense.
     • Snag Strategy: This is a crucial snag. Croconaw is tougher than the previous Shadow Pokémon. Bring a strong Electric or Grass-type Pokémon. Weaken it with a moderate attack, then use status (Sleep is ideal) and throw Ultra Balls if you have them, otherwise Great Balls. Be patient, it might take several turns.
   • Ein also uses a variety of regular Pokémon, typically including a powerful Ground-type like Sandshrew or Sandslash, and other strong types to cover Croconaw's weaknesses. Be prepared for a full battle.

Cipher Lab Item Locations:

Keep an eye out for these valuable items scattered throughout the lab:

• Potion x2: Found in various rooms, often near defeated Peons.
• Antidote x1: Useful for Poison status.
• Paralyze Heal x1: For Electric-type attacks.
• Great Ball x3: Always useful for snagging.
• TM32 (Double Team): A useful TM for increasing evasion.
• Full Heal x1: Found after defeating a specific Peon or in a hidden corner.

General Snagging Strategies for the Cipher Lab:

• Lead with a Status Inducer: A Pokémon with moves like Sleep Powder, Hypnosis, Thunder Wave, or Stun Spore is invaluable. Sleep and Paralysis significantly increase snag rates.
• False Swipe User: If you have a Pokémon that knows False Swipe (a move that leaves the target with at least 1 HP), it makes weakening Shadow Pokémon much safer.
• Damage Control: Use weaker attacks or resist their types to gradually lower their HP without knocking them out. Remember, Shadow Pokémon cannot be healed by items in battle, so once their HP is low, it stays low.
• Ball Management: You should have a good supply of Great Balls by now. Use them liberally on Shadow Pokémon. Save any Ultra Balls you might have for higher-level or more difficult snags like Croconaw.
• Save Frequently: Before each major battle, especially those with Shadow Pokémon, save your game. If you accidentally knock out a Shadow Pokémon, you can reset and try again.

Gateon Port: A Hub of Activity

After your intense foray into the Cipher Lab and the defeat of Admin Ein, you'll find yourself at Gateon Port. This bustling port town serves as a vital transportation hub in the Orre region and offers a temporary respite from Cipher's direct influence, though their presence is always felt.

Gateon Port Exploration and Key Events:

1. Heal and Resupply: Your first priority should be to visit the Pokémon Center to heal your team and the Item Shop to restock on essential supplies. The Cipher Lab was taxing, so ensure you have plenty of Potions, status healers, and Poké Balls.
2. Meet Duking: Upon entering Gateon Port, you'll quickly encounter Duking, a prominent figure in Orre. He's a large, friendly man with a passion for rare Pokémon.
   • Duking's Offer: Duking will offer to trade you a Shadow Gligar (Lv. 20) for your Shadow Croconaw. This is a critical decision. While Gligar is a good Pokémon, Croconaw is a starter evolution and very strong. It is generally recommended to decline this trade for now, as you can get Gligar later. Croconaw is a unique snag from Ein.
   • Duking's Information: Regardless of the trade, Duking will provide valuable information about Cipher's activities and the general state of Orre.
3. The S.S. Libra: Head towards the docks. You'll see the S.S. Libra, a large ship. However, it's currently undergoing repairs and cannot depart. This will be your next major objective.
4. The Lighthouse: A prominent landmark in Gateon Port, the Lighthouse is currently experiencing issues. You'll need to investigate it to progress the story.
5. Investigating the Lighthouse:
   • Enter the Lighthouse. You'll find it dark and seemingly abandoned.
   • Ascend the stairs. You'll encounter Cipher Peon Nexor on one of the upper floors. He uses:
     • Shadow Flaaffy (Lv. 22): An Electric-type. Ground-type moves are super effective. Flaaffy has decent Special Attack.
     • Snag Strategy: Flaaffy is a solid Electric-type. Weaken it with a Ground-type move or a neutral attack, then apply status and throw Great Balls.
   • Continue to the very top. You'll find the Lighthouse Keeper, who explains the power is out due to Cipher's meddling.
   • You'll need to find a way to restore power. This often involves a short detour or finding a specific item.
6. Restoring Lighthouse Power:
   • After talking to the Lighthouse Keeper, head back down and out of the Lighthouse.
   • You'll be directed to find a specific part or person to fix the Lighthouse. This usually involves talking to NPCs around the port.
   • Eventually, you'll find the necessary component or person, and the Lighthouse will be restored. This triggers a cutscene and opens up new areas or objectives.
7. Shadow Pokémon in Gateon Port (and surrounding areas):
   • While the port itself is generally safe, the events surrounding the Lighthouse and the S.S. Libra will lead to more Shadow Pokémon encounters.
   • Cipher Peon Miror (often found near the docks after Lighthouse events) uses:
     • Shadow Skiploom (Lv. 22): A Grass/Flying-type. Fire, Ice, Flying, Rock, and Poison-type moves are super effective. Skiploom is fast but frail.
     • Snag Strategy: Skiploom is easy to knock out due to its many weaknesses. Use a weak attack or a Pokémon that resists its attacks, then apply status and use Great Balls.

Gateon Port Item Locations:

• Full Restore x1: Often found in a hidden corner or after a specific event.
• Revive x1: Essential for tough battles.
• Hyper Potion x1: A stronger healing item.
• TM10 (Hidden Power): A versatile TM.
• Great Ball x2: Always useful.

After thoroughly exploring the Cipher Lab, snagging its valuable Shadow Pokémon, and navigating the initial challenges of Gateon Port, you will be well-equipped to continue your mission against Team Cipher and uncover their ultimate goals. The S.S. Libra will soon be ready, opening up new horizons in the Orre region.