Reaching the Alabaster Icelands in the Hisui region marks a definitive shift in the narrative of the ancient Pokémon world. As the cold winds of the north challenge even the most prepared trainers, the spiritual trials of the Lake Guardians begin. Among these, the Trial of Lake Acuity stands out not for its physical demand, but for a specific cognitive hurdle that has left many scratching their heads. The riddle involving Combee, Zubat, Unown, Magneton, and Dusclops is a test of observation and biological knowledge, administered by Uxie, the Being of Knowledge.

Completing the Red Chain requires passing the tests of all three Lake Guardians. While the trials at Lake Verity and Lake Valor involve direct confrontation and perseverance, Uxie demands accuracy. This specific puzzle requires an understanding of Pokémon anatomy that goes beyond simple battle stats.

The Path to the Lake Acuity Cavern

Before facing the riddle, the environment of the Alabaster Icelands presents its own set of obstacles. The journey to the lake is often fraught with aggressive local fauna, including Alpha Glalie and persistent Machoke. Once inside the cave at Lake Acuity, the atmosphere shifts from the freezing outdoors to a quiet, mystical interior.

Before Uxie will even speak to a trainer, a guardian must be overcome. This guardian is an Alpha Hisuian Zoroark. Unlike its Unovan counterpart, the Hisuian variant is a Normal/Ghost-type, which provides it with a unique set of immunities. It is completely immune to Normal, Fighting, and Ghost-type moves, making it a tricky opponent for those relying on traditional heavy hitters. The most effective strategy involves using Dark-type moves, which deal super-effective damage. Once the Alpha Zoroark is subdued or captured, Uxie appears to pose its infamous question: "How many eyes do Combee, Zubat, Unown, Magneton, and Dusclops have?"

Breaking Down the Biology of the Five

To solve the riddle, one must look closely at each Pokémon listed. Uxie expects the numbers to be entered individually and in the specific sequence of the names mentioned.

Combee: The Triple-Faced Hive

Combee is the first Pokémon in the sequence, and it is arguably the one that leads to the most frequent errors. Often found hovering near the Honeycomb Isles or buzzing around the trees in the Obsidian Fieldlands, Combee's design is based on three hexagonal segments fused together. Each of these segments features a face. While players might focus on the central face that displays emotions, a closer inspection reveals that all three segments possess a pair of eyes.

This brings the total count for Combee to six eyes. The unique biological structure of Combee allows it to monitor its surroundings from multiple angles, a necessary trait for a creature that spends its life gathering nectar in a world filled with predators. When answering Uxie, '6' is the first digit to keep in mind.

Zubat: The Sightless Navigator

Zubat is a staple of Hisuian caves and night skies. Its inclusion in this riddle is a clever trick by the Being of Knowledge. In the world of Pokémon, Zubat is well-known for being blind. It lacks any visible eyes on its head, instead relying on sophisticated echolocation to navigate the tight corridors of Oreburrow Tunnel or the vast reaches of the Alabaster Icelands at night.

Because Zubat has no eyes, the value assigned to it in the riddle is zero. This contrast—following a creature with six eyes with one that has none—is a classic example of Uxie testing a trainer's ability to avoid assumptions based on typical anatomy. The second digit is '0'.

Unown: The Singular Eye of Mystery

Unown remains one of the most enigmatic species in the Hisui region. These symbols manifest in twenty-eight distinct forms, representing the Latin alphabet plus two punctuation marks. Despite their varied shapes—ranging from the letter 'A' to the exclamation point—every single Unown form shares one consistent feature: a large, solitary eye.

Whether you encounter an Unown in the ruins of the Solaceon area or tucked away behind a hidden crevice in the Alabaster Icelands, it will always look back at you with one eye. Therefore, the third digit in Uxie’s sequence is '1'.

Magneton: The Triple Fusion

Magneton represents an evolution of Magnemite, where three individual units are linked together by a strong electromagnetic force. While it functions as a single entity in battle, its anatomical structure clearly shows its tripartite origin. Each of the three Magnemite units making up the Magneton possesses one large, central eye.

Calculating the count for Magneton is a matter of simple addition: three units times one eye per unit equals three eyes. Some players overthink this, looking for hidden eyes on the magnets or screws, but the design is straightforward. Each "sub-unit" has one eye, totaling three. The fourth digit is '3'.

Dusclops: The Cyclopean Ghost

Finally, the riddle concludes with Dusclops. This Ghost-type Pokémon is described in Hisuian lore as having a hollow body that acts as a black hole, sucking in anything that enters. Its face is dominated by a single, glowing red eye that moves within the dark socket of its mask-like head.

Dusclops is a classic cyclopean figure. Even as it evolves from Duskull (which also has a single eye behind its mask) and eventually into Dusknoir (which gains an additional "eye" on its torso in some interpretations, though its main head retains one), the specific form of Dusclops is defined by its one singular eye. The final digit is '1'.

The Final Solution: 60131

When Uxie asks for the numbers, it does not want the sum of the eyes. Instead, it requires the digits to be entered as a continuous string reflecting the counts for each Pokémon in order.

Based on the breakdown above:

  • Combee: 6
  • Zubat: 0
  • Unown: 1
  • Magneton: 3
  • Dusclops: 1

The correct response to Uxie’s trial is 60131.

Entering this code into the prompt provided by the game will satisfy the Being of Knowledge. Upon successful completion, Uxie will grant you Uxie’s Claw, a vital component for the Red Chain. This item is essential for reaching the climax at the Temple of Sinnoh and facing the legendary forces threatening the region's stability.

Common Pitfalls and Why They Occur

The reason this riddle is considered one of the most difficult in the series is that it punishes casual observation.

  1. The Combee Confusion: Many trainers only count the eyes on the bottom segment of Combee because that is the segment that usually has a mouth. However, the top two segments also have eyes, which are often obscured by the sprite's movement or the angle of the camera.
  2. The Magneton Math: Some trainers confuse Magneton with Magnemite. While Magnemite is common, Magneton is less frequently seen in the wild in Hisui, often requiring evolution via a Thunder Stone or exposure to the magnetic field in the Coronet Highlands. If a trainer hasn't looked closely at a Magneton in their Pokédex, they might assume it has more or fewer eyes based on its complex shape.
  3. The Summation Error: Uxie asks "how many eyes... altogether," but the subsequent instruction to answer them "one at a time" is what indicates a sequence rather than an addition. Players who enter "11" (the sum of 6+0+1+3+1) will find themselves rejected by the Guardian.

Life After the Riddle: Catching Uxie

Passing the trial at Lake Acuity is not the end of your relationship with Uxie. After the main story has been resolved and the threat to Hisui is neutralized, players can return to Lake Acuity during the post-game missions.

Uxie is a Psychic-type Pokémon with exceptionally high defensive stats. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Uxie is Level 70 when encountered for capture. It utilizes moves like Psychic and Mystical Power, the latter of which can lower your Pokémon's offensive stats. It is recommended to bring a Pokémon with high HP and access to status-inflicting moves like Thunder Wave or Hypnosis to make the catching process smoother. Ultra Balls or Lead Balls (if you can get close enough without being detected) are the most effective tools for adding the Being of Knowledge to your Pokédex.

Historical Context of the Riddle

This specific puzzle is a homage to the long-standing lore of the Sinnoh (Hisui) region. Uxie has always been the embodiment of wisdom and memory. In older accounts of the Sinnoh region, Uxie was said to have the power to wipe the memories of those who gazed into its eyes. By posing a riddle based on memory and observation, the game developers created a bridge between the mythological past and the mechanical gameplay.

Understanding the eyes of these Pokémon is more than just a gate to the next quest; it is a lesson in the core philosophy of the Hisuian Pokédex—that careful study and observation of Pokémon in their natural habitat are the only ways to truly understand the world around us.

As trainers prepare for the final confrontation at the mountaintop, the lessons learned at Lake Acuity serve as a reminder that knowledge is just as powerful as strength in the journey to complete the first-ever Pokédex. Whether you are aiming for the credits or seeking to complete every research task, the 60131 sequence remains one of the most memorable milestones in the Hisuian adventure.