Unown

Species

Quote
“When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge.” — Pokémon B&W Pokédex entry

B

Unown [Edit] [Talk]

Unown ^{(JPJapanese: アンノーン

Romaji: Unknown)} is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a Psychic Pokémon that made its first appearance in the second generation games Gold and Silver.

Physiology and Behaviour

Unown are a big mystery in the world of Pokémon. Their hieroglyph-like shape has led to deep research on which of them that came first. Most people do believe that they have a strong connection to the first text characters, but the exact connection remains an enigma.

Not much is known about the ways of the Unown. They are always found stuck to walls, and it's believed that they communicate with each other telepathically. They are weak in battle, as they only are capable of using the move Hidden Power. There are however rumors that say that they emerge odd powers when brought together. The anime has delved deeper in their ways, as the plot of third movie Spell of the Unown largely revolves around them. Notes made by Professor Oak suggest that they are very timid Pokémon that can feel human emotions. It's also implied that they don't communicate through telepathy, but rather by using electromagnetic waves.

The anime also makes it clear that the Unown reside in an alternative universe, from which they rarely venture. This isn't mentioned in the games, and they are instead found in various ancient ruins. These could possibly serve as a portal between the worlds, which is supported by events in the movie.

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.

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

Origin and inspiration

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.

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 X	Mirage Cave (South of Route 107)
Pokémon Y	Mirage Cave (South of Route 107)