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Unown (JP) is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a Psychic-type Pokémon that made its first appearance in the second generation games Gold and Silver.

Physiology and Behaviour[]

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. 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. 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.

Appearances[]

Main Pokémon games[]

The Unown first appeared in the second generation of Pokémon games which include Pokémon Gold and Silver and later Pokémon Crystal. In these early titles, there were 26 Unown shapes that together made up the alphabet. The Unown are found exclusively in the Ruins of Alph, which was filled with secrets connected to their presence.

In the Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, exclamation mark (!) and question mark (?) variants were created and could be encountered in the Tanoby Chambers along the rest in various chambers.

In the fourth generation they received yet another set of ruins were they could be found. Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum introduced the Solaceon Ruins in Sinnoh. ! and ? are unobtainable unless all other forms are collected. They could be found in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver in the Ruins of Alph again with a similar requirement for ! and ?..

Other Pokémon games[]

Super Smash Bros. series[]

Unown made a prominent appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Nintendo GameCube. They were a Poké Ball Pokémon that, when summoned would attack as a group (the only Poké Ball Pokémon to do so). Because of the date that Super Smash Bros. Melee came out, the ! and ? forms were not present, but the entire alphabet was. A float of an Unown can be found in the Poké Floats stage. The following is the trophy description for Unown:

The trophy for Unown, which includes all 26 then-known forms of the species, can be obtained by reaching 16,503 combined feet in the Home Run Contest.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Unown does not return as a Poké Ball Pokémon, though it is a Spirit, appearing in its F form.

Trophy descriptions[]

"These 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."

In the anime[]

Unown played a major role in Pokémon 3: The Movie: 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.

Origin and inspiration[]

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.

In-game information[]

Pokédex entries[]

Title Entry
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related.
Pokémon Silver Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning.
Pokémon Crystal Because different types of Unown exist, it is said that they must have a variety of abilities.
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ruby 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.
Pokémon Sapphire 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.
Pokémon Emerald 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.
Pokémon FireRed Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning.
Pokémon LeafGreen Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related.
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond Shaped like ancient writing, it is a huge mystery whether language or Unown came first.
Pokémon Pearl They seem to communicate among each other telepathically. They are always found stuck on walls.
Pokémon Platinum When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge.
Pokémon HeartGold Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related.
Pokémon SoulSilver Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning.
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge.
Pokémon White When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge.
Pokémon Black 2 When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge.
Pokémon White 2 When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge.
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning.
Pokémon Y Shaped like ancient writing, it is a huge mystery whether language or Unown came first.
Pokémon Omega Ruby 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.
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire 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.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond Because the Pokémon is shaped like ancient writing, it is a huge mystery whether written language or Unown came first.
Pokémon Shining Pearl They seem to communicate among each other telepathically. They are always found stuck on walls.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus 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.


Game locations[]

Title Location(s)
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold
Ruins of Alph (inside)
Pokémon Silver
Ruins of Alph (inside)
Pokémon Crystal
Ruins of Alph (inside)
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ruby
Trade
Pokémon FireRed
Tanoby Chambers (forms determined by chambers)
Pokémon LeafGreen
Tanoby Chambers (forms determined by chambers)
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond
Solaceon Ruins (forms determined by room)
Pokémon Pearl
Solaceon Ruins (forms determined by room)
Pokémon Platinum
Solaceon Ruins (forms determined by room)
Pokémon HeartGold
Ruins of Alph (inside)
Pokémon SoulSilver
Ruins of Alph (inside)
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Omega Ruby
Mirage Cave (South of Route 107)
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
Mirage Cave (South of Route 107)
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond
Solaceon Ruins (different forms appear in different rooms)
Pokémon Shining Pearl
Solaceon Ruins (different forms appear in different rooms)
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Crimson Mirelands: Solaceon Ruins, massive mass outbreaks (all 28 forms appear after completing the Unown Research Notes)
All over Hisui: one of each form


Different forms[]

PKMNBDSP201 PKMN201-B PKMN201-C PKMN201-D PKMN201-E
PKMN201-F PKMN201-G PKMN201-H PKMN201-I PKMN201-J
PKMN201-K PKMN201-L PKMN201-M PKMN201-N PKMN201-O
PKMN201-P PKMN201-Q PKMN201-R PKMN201-S PKMN201-T
PKMN201-U PKMN201-V PKMN201-W PKMN201-X PKMN201-Y
PKMN201-Z PKMN201-EX PKMN201-QU

Base Stats[]

Base Stats
HP 48
Attack 72
Defense 48
Sp. Attack 72
Sp. Defense 48
Speed 48
Total 336

Moveset[]

Main article: Unown/moveset

Gallery[]

  Main article: Unown/gallery

Sprites[]

Sprites
Gold
PKMNG201


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File:PKMNG201-S.png

Silver
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File:PKMNS201.png


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File:PKMNS201-S.png

Crystal
PKMNC201


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File:PKMNC201-S.gif

Ruby Sapphire
PKMNRS201


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File:PKMNRS201-S.png

Emerald
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File:PKMNE201.gif


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File:PKMNE201-S.gif

Fire Leaf
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File:PKMNFRLG201.png


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File:PKMNFRLG201-S.png

Diamond Pearl
PKMNDP201


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File:PKMNDP201-S.png

Platinum
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File:PKMNP201.png


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File:PKMNP201-S.png

Heart Soul
PKMNHGSS201


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File:PKMNHGSS201-S.png

Black White
PKMNBW201


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File:PKMNBW201-S.png

Black 2 White 2
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File:PKMNBW2201.png


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File:PKMNBW2201-S.png

X Y
PKMNXY201


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File:PKMNXY201-S.png

Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl
PKMNBDSP201


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File:PKMNBDSP201-S.png

Legends Arceus
PKMNPLA201


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File:PKMNPLA201-S.png


Reception[]

Unown has received generally negative reception since its appearance in Pokémon Gold and Silver, with IGN writer Kat Bailey identifying it as the worst Pokémon as of October 2013. In another article, Bailey criticized its gimmick as well as its uselessness in combat. Both IGN and Variety felt that it lacked the appeal of other Pokémon, with IGN calling Unown one of the "most useless Pokémon in existence" due to its weakness and lack of an evolution. In an analysis of the article on 1UP FM, Philip Kollar felt it had appeal with children, and added "another layer" for those trying to complete the Pokédex. In 2006, research was done on using Unown to teach the biological concepts of classification and phylogeny to students, with the researchers finding the results to be "very encouraging". While The Gamer writer Stacey Henley did not have a particular affinity for Unown in the video games, comparing it negatively to the Pokémon Castform due to its usefulness, she felt it was narratively interesting. She expressed disappointment that the writers did not explore the species more, speculating that its uselessness in the video games resulted in them being under-utilized.

External links[]

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