Unown (Japanese: アンノーン Unknown) is a Psychic-type Pokémon introduced in Generation II.
While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, Unown has 28 different forms. All of them are known as One form, as seen in the Pokédex.
In Generation II, there were 26 Unown forms based on Latin alphabet characters. In Generation III, two new forms were introduced as well: ? (question mark) and ! (exclamation mark). The Unown forms are chronicled in the Unown Mode and the Unown Report.
In Generation II, its shape is determined by its individual values; in Generation III, it is determined by its personality value; from Generation IV onwards, it is determined by a separate form identifier.
Biology
The Unown wallpaper in Pokémon HOME
Unown is a flat, thin Pokémon shaped like an eye with appendages that make it resemble a letter or a punctuation mark. It is entirely black, except for its white sclerae. All 26 alphabetic forms of Unown have fully open eyes, while the two punctuation forms have half-closed eyes. Though each of its forms has a counterpart in the Latin alphabet, Unown is said to resemble ancient writing and hieroglyphs called Unown symbols. It is a mystery whether Unown predates or postdates written language, and therefore which one is based on the other. Unown can move its appendages independently like tentacles or fingers.
The Pokédex and Professor Oak's research disagree on whether Unown communicates using electromagnetic waves or telepathy. Either way, it can be detected by the Pokégear radio, which interprets it as the melody of the Azure Flute. Unown has an unknown connection to Arceus. It is said that an "odd power" emerges when more than one Unown come together. In Generation VIII, Hidden Power is Unown's signature move. Certain Unown loose in the Hisui region were capable of repelling Poké Balls that contained Pokémon, preventing them from being battled. Professor Laventon's research observed that Unown resemble human writing from other lands, though no one took him seriously. In the anime, it is shown to be capable of reading the thoughts of other life forms. Great numbers of Unown are capable of distorting reality to suit the dreams and wishes of whoever is in control of the Unown. However, they can only do this when more Unown are present, so it could be a shared effort rather than an ability unique to each Unown.
Unown is an extremely rare Pokémon that lives in its own dimension and rarely ventures outside. When it moves to the Pokémon world, Unown tends to stick to walls like engravings of ancient texts, or orbit other Unown, usually in ruins.
Forms
Unown has 28 separate forms, all referred to as "One form". Pokédex 3D Pro, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and other supplemental materials such as official guidebooks refer to each form by the letter or symbol they represent.
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B
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C
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D
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E
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F
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G
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| H
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I
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J
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K
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L
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M
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N
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| O
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P
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Q
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R
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S
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T
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U
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| V
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W
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X
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Y
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Z
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!
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?
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| Unown
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Game data
Pokédex entries
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
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| Generation II
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Johto
#061
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| Gold
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Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related.
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| Silver
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Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning.
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| Crystal
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Because different types of Unown exist, it is said that they must have a variety of abilities.
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| Stadium 2
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Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related. (Pokémon Red, Silver, or Crystal inserted)
Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning. (Pokémon Blue, Gold, or Yellow inserted)
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| Generation III
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Hoenn
#—
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Kanto
#—
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| Ruby
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This Pokémon is shaped like ancient writing. It is a mystery as to which came first, the ancient writings or the various Unown. Research into this topic is ongoing but nothing is known.
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| Sapphire
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| Emerald
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This Pokémon is shaped like ancient text characters. Although research is ongoing, it is a mystery as to which came first, the ancient writings or the various Unown.
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| FireRed
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Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning.
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| LeafGreen
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Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related.
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| Generation IV
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Sinnoh
#114
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Johto
#061
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| Diamond
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Shaped like ancient writing, it is a huge mystery whether language or Unown came first.
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| Pearl
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They seem to communicate among each other telepathically. They are always found stuck on walls.
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| Platinum
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When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge.
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| HeartGold
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Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related.
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| SoulSilver
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Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning.
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| Generation V
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Unova
#—
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| Black
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When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge.
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| White
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| Black 2
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When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge.
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| White 2
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| Generation VI
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Kalos
#—
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Hoenn
#—
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| X
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Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning.
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| Y
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Shaped like ancient writing, it is a huge mystery whether language or Unown came first.
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| Omega Ruby
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This Pokémon is shaped like ancient writing. It is a mystery as to which came first, the ancient writings or the various Unown. Research into this topic is ongoing but nothing is known.
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| Alpha Sapphire
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| Generation VIII
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Galar
#—
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Sinnoh
#114
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Hisui
#142
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| This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Sword and Shield.
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| Brilliant Diamond
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Because the Pokémon is shaped like ancient writing, it is a huge mystery whether written language or Unown came first.
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| Shining Pearl
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They seem to communicate among each other telepathically. They are always found stuck on walls.
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| Legends: Arceus
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It is hard to believe these strangely shaped Pokémon are truly living creatures. I've pointed out that the species' many forms resemble writing from other lands; no one will take me seriously.
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Game locations
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
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In side games
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
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| Generation II
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| This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation II side games.
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| Generation VI
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| Battle Trozei
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Safari Jungle Stage 1 (AMo, ETu, IWe, JWe, MTh, QFr, RFr, USa, YSu Forms)
Safari Jungle Stage 2 (BMo, FTu, GTu, KWe, NTh, OTh, SFr, VSa, ZSu Forms)
Safari Jungle Stage 3 (CMo, DMo, HTu, LWe, PTh, TFr, WSa, XSa, !Su, ?Su Forms)
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| Rumble World
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| Picross
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| Generation VII
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| Rumble Rush
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(See main pages for details)
Entei Sea, Lugia Sea, Butterfree Sea, Charizard Sea2020, Charizard SeaFinal, Jirachi SeaFinal, Celebi SeaFinal, Garchomp SeaFinal, Entei SeaFinal, Mimikyu SeaFinal, Mewtwo SeaFinal, Rowlet SeaFinal, Buzzwole SeaFinal, Zygarde SeaFinal
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| Generation VIII
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| MD DX
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Unown Relic (1F-10F) (All 28 Forms; see main page for details)
Fainted Pokémon: Unown Relic (E, H, L, P, !, ? Forms; see main page for details)
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Stats
Base stats
| Stat
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Range
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| At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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48
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108 - 155
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206 - 300
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72
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69 - 136
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134 - 267
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48
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47 - 110
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90 - 214
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72
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69 - 136
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134 - 267
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48
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47 - 110
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90 - 214
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48
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47 - 110
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90 - 214
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Total: 336
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
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Pokéathlon stats
A-Z
! and ?
Type effectiveness
| Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
Unown is available in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
BDSP
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Unown
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Unown
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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LA
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Unown
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Unown
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Unown
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Unown
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Unown in Generation VIII
- Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
- Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Unown in that game.
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Unown
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Unown
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Unown
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Unown
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations
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Side game data
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Pokémon Rumble Rush
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Walking Speed: 2.08 seconds
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Base HP: 47
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| Base Attack: 71
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Base Defense: 47
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Base Speed: 60
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Pokémon GO
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Base HP: 134
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Base Attack: 136
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Base Defense: 91
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| Egg Distance: N/A
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Buddy Distance: 5 km
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Evolution Requirement: N/A
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| Fast Attacks: Hidden Power
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| Charged Attacks: Struggle
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In Pokémon GO, Unown can be obtained by completing 1/4 of the Special Research, Level 50 Challenge.
Form data
Unown has 28 non-interchangeable forms, each corresponding to a typographic character. All Unown forms are known as "One form", as seen in the Pokédex.
Unown was the first Pokémon to have multiple forms in the games. In its debut in Generation II, there were 26 forms of Unown, corresponding to each of the 26 letters of the Latin alphabet. In the Generation III games, Unown gained two additional forms, corresponding to the question mark and exclamation mark.
In the Generation II games, Unown's form is determined by its IVs, which results in some strange phenomena; for example, in Generation II, only Unown I and V can be Shiny due to Shininess also being determined by IVs in these games. In the Generation III games, Unown's form is determined by its personality value. From the Generation IV games onward, Unown's letter is determined by a separate form identifier, unrelated to the personality value.
While Unown's form has no bearing on base stats, punctuation Unown have different performance stats than alphabetical Unown.
Various games have special catalogs for documenting Unown's forms: in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the Unown Mode is an upgrade to the Pokédex obtained at the Ruins of Alph; in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Unown Report is obtainable instead. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the Unown Research Notes serves this purpose.
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B
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C
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D
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E
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F
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G
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I
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J
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K
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L
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M
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W
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X
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Y
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Z
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!
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?
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Unown
Psychic
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Evolution data
Sprites
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
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| This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation IX.
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In the anime
Major appearances
Unown played a large role in Spell of the Unown: Entei, creating the illusions that drive the plot.
Notes about Unown can be seen on Professor Oak's computer at the beginning of the movie. The information (as presented in the Japanese version) has been cleaned up and transcribed here:
- Because of their very timid and careful character, Unown do not want to go out to the external world.
- Unown have the power to perceive the feelings of other creatures (including human beings).
- Unown communicate with each other over electromagnetic waves but cannot use telepathy.
- Given all this, Unown are still classified as a species of Pokémon, as opposed to any other sort of creature.
Other
In Address Unown!, an Unown G fell out of the Unown Dimension. After it was healed by the group, it helped defend them against Team Rocket, and its mind merged with that of Ash's Larvitar so that the group could help it address its inner pain.
Markings of Unown were observed on a tablet in Top-Down Training!.
In Journey to the Unown!, Saturn had his Bronzor use Confuse Ray on multiple Unown, causing trouble for Ash and his friends. The tablet from Top-Down Training also appeared in this episode. The Unown reappeared in a flashback in Enter Galactic!.
In PK21, an Unown F fell out of the Unown Dimension following an unspecified incident, and Pikachu and his friends had to help it return to the Unown Dimension so it could reunite with the other Unown.
In Star Night, Star Flight!, five Unown covered a town in Johto with an endless night in order to help Tiara accept parting ways with her Cleffa. Once she finally realized it was time to say goodbye, the Unown returned day to the town and departed.
Minor appearances
In The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, a Mirage Unown G was created by the Mirage Master.
In The Rise of Darkrai, multiple Unown fled from Dialga and Palkia in the Unown Dimension. Others appeared during the opening sequence.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness featured a stone tablet written in Unown.
Pokédex entries
| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| EP263
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Unown
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Ash's Pokédex
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Unown, the Symbol Pokémon. Unown are said to have existed since ancient times. They are many in form and shape, but little is known about this mysterious Pokémon.
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| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| DP060
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Unown
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Unown, the Symbol Pokémon. Unown use telepathy to communicate with each other. Many different shapes of Unown have been discovered.
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| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| JN083
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Unown
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Goh's Rotom Phone
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Unown, the Symbol Pokémon. A Psychic type. Unown can't do much on its own. When two or more gather, they can produce a mysterious kind of power.
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In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Unown first appeared in Into the Unown at the Ruins of Alph. During a battle with the Team Rocket Elite Trio, Gold had his Sunbo use Flash, accidentally awakening the Unown from their slumber. Angered, the Unown retaliated on Team Rocket, defeating them.
Bugsy later returned to study the ruins further in Hurray for Heracross, where he caught an Unown G and gave it to one of his colleagues. Later, as he searched for Suicune, he found two chambers with Unown symbols.
Three Unown appeared in a flashback in Raising Raichu, being the N, G, and U forms.
In Some Things Are Better Left Unown, Sird gained control of a small army of Unown after awakening them in the Tanoby Ruins. She initially used them as a distraction against Lorelei, allowing her to defeat the Elite Four member. Sird later used them to impede the progress of Red, Blue, and Green as they headed to the Trainer Tower, but they were defeated by Mewtwo. Also, two Unown of the ! and ? forms followed Giovanni to Birth Island to relay his successful capture of Deoxys back to the Team Rocket Warehouse.
In Knowledge of the Unown I, a D and P Unown befriended Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum in Solaceon Town. The two enlisted the help of the Pokédex holders to free their friends from a chamber in the Solaceon Ruins. Later, they helped to defeat the Team Galactic Grunt blocking Pearl's path to Veilstone City.
Multiple Unown appeared in Halting Honchkrow and Chancing Upon Chingling.
In All About Arceus IV, a massive group of Unown were spawned at the Sinjoh Ruins when Arceus created Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.
Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!
Multiple Unown appeared in GDZ58.
An Unown appeared in GDZ59.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Multiple Unown appeared in all of the species' forms in Rampage at the Ruins of Alph!!.
In the TCG
- Main article: Unown (TCG)
The English Pokédex data for Unown cards in the Neo Destiny expansion say that it is believed that the variety of types of Unown is a result of evolutionary adaptation, but this is not present in the original Japanese text.
Other appearances
When one Unown is released from a Poké Ball, it will fly off the screen. It then returns with a large swarm, similar to what Beedrill did in the original Super Smash Bros. The only difference is that Beedrill only attacks from left or right while Unown can come from any direction. Any opponent caught in this barrage is damaged and juggled.
There are also a number of Unown Poké Floats featured in the Poké Floats stage. In the second half of the stage's cycle, numerous Unown fly across the screen. Towards the end of the cycle, staying on the stage relies on hopping between the Unown.
Trophy information
These Psychic-type symbol Pokémon resemble ancient hieroglyphics found on rocks, a resemblance that's said to be more than superficial. Quite a few different shapes of Unown have been confirmed, and it's believed that each type has unique abilities. These enigmatic Pokémon can be found in the Ruins of Alph.
Unown does not return as a Poké Ball Pokémon, though it is a Spirit, appearing in its F form.
Music
This is a list of music associated with Unown in the Pokémon games.
Trivia
- Unown was designed by Ken Sugimori, who had wanted to make a Pokémon with a more surreal design.[1]
- In Spell of the Unown: Entei, Professor Oak had some pictures of Unown on his computer which have never appeared in any other media. Some resemble Greek alphabet letters, particularly σ (lowercase sigma), Σ (capital sigma), Π (capital pi), and Ω (capital omega). The top left large image also resembles the Greek ligature, Ȣ (ou). Others resemble the Cyrillic letters ю (yu) and б (lowercase be). The Unown in the top-middle large image resembles the Cyrillic я (ya).
- If a player does not have Unown's Pokédex data on a Generation II game when in Oak's lab in Pokémon Stadium 2, Unown's Pokédex number is listed as 252 instead of 201. This happens regardless of which Pokédex display mode is selected.[citation needed]
- Unown is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of 336.
- After Pikachu, Unown is currently represented in the Trading Card Game by the second-highest number of cards of all Pokémon, with 92 unique cards.
- Unown was previously represented by the highest number of cards, as multiple TCG sets included individual cards for each of Unown's forms.
- Unown is the only Generation II Pokémon that has not been featured in a Ranger series game.
- It is also the only Generation II Pokémon obtainable in Generation VII that cannot have the black clover as its origin mark.
- Due to Unown's letter and Shininess both being determined by IVs in Generation II, Shiny Unown will always be either an I or V in these games. This in turn matches the acronym for IVs; however, this is only a coincidence, as "Individual Values" (IVs) is a fan-originated term.
- Unown's ? and ! forms were introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, but they were not originally available anywhere at the time of release of these games and Colosseum. Those forms were first catchable in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
- Unown is the only Pokémon in the Sinnoh Pokédex (that is not a Legendary or Mythical Pokémon) not used by any Trainer in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
- The two main official artworks for Unown represent a G-shaped Unown (for Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions) and an F-shaped one (for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions onward), which may allude to the acronym for Game Freak.
- The original design of the W-shaped Unown used in Pokémon Gold and Silver was altered considerably before Pokémon Crystal, to a design that is in use for all subsequent games.
- Despite Unown being able to use TM10 in Generation VI and Generation VII, it still cannot do so legitimately because it will always already know Hidden Power.
- Unown is the only Pokémon that cannot learn any status moves.
- Starting in Generation IV, where moves were split into categories based on themselves and not their types, Unown can only use its Attack (not Special Attack) stat for confusion damage and Struggle.
- Excluding first partner, Legendary, and Mythical Pokémon, the Unown evolutionary line is the only:
- While most Pokémon have a right-facing menu sprite that is a mirror image of their left-facing sprite, most forms of Unown are bilaterally asymmetrical and have a unique sprite for both. The ones that do not are Unown A, H, I, M, O, T, U, W, X, Y, and !.
- In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Unown are the only Pokémon that can be found in the wild with no preferred foods.
Origin
Unown's appearances are eyes and corruptions of the 26 letters of the modern Latin alphabet, as well as the exclamation and question marks. Unown's G form specifically may be based on a double-story lowercase G. The shapes of the Unown are used like graphic symbols in the Pokémon world, although in Hoenn and the Sevii Islands, their place is taken by Braille. Unown being weak alone and strong together may be inspired by the idea that a single letter cannot convey much information, but many letters forming a sentence can communicate a hypothetically infinite number of interpretations and ideas.
Unown may also be inspired by the Brahmi or Siddham scripts, used in Japan to mark the graves of important Buddhist figures since at least the 8th century. Because not many people could read Siddham at the time, the script came to be regarded as a mysterious language associated with gods and the Buddha, and several characters (especially in Brahmi) either appear or can be modified to appear as very similar to various Unown.
Name origin
Unown may be derived from unknown.
Unknown is literally unknown.
In other languages
| Language
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Title
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Meaning
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 Japanese
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アンノーン Unknown
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From unknown
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 French
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Zarbi
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Verlan for bizarre
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 Spanish
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Unown
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Same as English name
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 German
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Icognito
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From icon and inkognito
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 Italian
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Unown
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Same as English name
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 Korean
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안농 Annown
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Transcription of Japanese name
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 Mandarin Chinese
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未知圖騰 / 未知图腾 Wèizhītúténg
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From 未知 wèizhī and 圖騰 / 图腾 túténg
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 Cantonese Chinese
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未知圖騰 Meihjītòuhtàhng
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From 未知 meihjī and 圖騰 tòuhtàhng
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| More languages
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 Danish
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Ukendt / Ukendte*
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Literally "unknown"
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 Finnish
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Tuntemattomat*
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Literally "the unknown"
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 Hebrew
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אנון Anon
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Transcription of English name
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 Hindi
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नामालूम Naamaaloom
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Literally ना मालूम Naa Maaloom
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 Hungarian
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Öntudatlan*
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Literally "senseless"
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 Norwegian
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De ukjente*
Ukjent*
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Literally "The unknown"
Literally "unknown"
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 Russian
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Аноун Anoun
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Transcription of English name
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 Swedish
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Okänd*
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Literally "unknown"
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 Thai
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อันโนน Annon
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Transcription of Japanese name
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One form
| Language
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Title
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| Japanese
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あるすがた Aru Sugata
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| Chinese
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Cantonese
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某種樣子 Máuhjúng Yeuhngjí
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| Mandarin
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某種樣子 / 某种样子 Mǒuzhǒng Yàngzi
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| French
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Forme Unique (VI+)
Forme unique (IV-V)
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| German
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Eine Form (VII+)
Einform (IV-VI)
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| Italian
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Forma Vaga
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| Korean
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형태별 모습 Hyeongtaebyeol Moseup
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| Spanish
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Forma de Unown (VIII+)
Una forma (IV-VII)
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See also
References
External links
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
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For other sprites and images, please see Unown images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
