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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, as of Generation III, Unown has 28 derivative shapes, chronicled in the Unown Mode in Generation II and the Unown Report in HeartGold and SoulSilver. There are 26 Latin alphabet characters, plus ? (question mark) and ! (exclamation mark) introduced in Generation III. In Generation II, its shape is determined by its individual values; in Generation III, it is determined by its personality value; from Generation IV onward, it is determined by a separate form identifier.

Biology

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 twenty-six alphabetic forms of Unown have fully open eyes while the two punctuation Unown 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.

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. It is said that an "odd power" emerges when more than one Unown come together. In the anime, it is capable of reading the thoughts of other life forms. Great numbers of Unown are capable of distorting the 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.

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.

The tablet

Markings of Unown were observed on a tablet in Top-Down Training. The tablet reads:

Unown Romaji FRIEND SUBETE NO INOCHI HA BETSU NO INOCHI TO DEAI NANIKA WO UMIDASU

In the English dub, Dawn reads it as "When every life meets another life, something will be born".

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.

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 Pokémon Source Entry EP263 Unown Ash's Pokédex 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.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry DP060 Unown Dawn's Pokédex Unown, the Symbol Pokémon. Unown use telepathy to communicate with each other. Many different shapes of Unown have been discovered.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Unown first appeared in Into the Unown at the Ruins of Alph. During a battle with Team Rocket, Gold has his Sunbo use Flash, accidentally awakening the Unown from their slumber. Angered, the Unown retaliated on the Team Rocket Elite Trio, defeating them. Bugsy later returns to study the Ruins further in Hurray for Heracross, where he captures an Unown G and gave to one of his colleagues. Later as he searches for Suicune he finds two chambers with Unown markings. Using his device to translate them, they read the following.

Unown Romaji ANANUKE HOUOU

Three Unown appeared in a flashback in Raising Raichu, being the N, G, and U forms.

In Some Things Are Better Left Unown, Sird gains the control of a small army of Unown after awakening them in the Tanoby Ruins. She initially uses them as a distraction against Lorelei, allowing her to defeat the Elite Four member. Sird later uses them to impede the progress of Red, Blue and Green as they head to the Trainer Tower. 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 battle Team Galactic at 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.

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

Multiple Unown appeared in GDZ58.

An Unown appeared in GDZ59.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Multiple Unown appeared in all of the species' forms in Rampage at the Ruins of Alph!!.

In the 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.

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. Generation II Johto

#061 Gold Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related. Silver Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning. Crystal Because different types of Unown exist, it is said that they must have a variety of abilities. Stadium 2 Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related. Generation III Hoenn

#— Kanto

#— 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. Sapphire 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. FireRed Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning. LeafGreen Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related. Generation IV Sinnoh

#114 Johto

#061 Diamond Shaped like ancient writing, it is a huge mystery whether language or Unown came first. Pearl They seem to communicate among each other telepathically. They are always found stuck on walls. Platinum When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge. HeartGold Their shapes look like hieroglyphs on ancient tablets. It is said that the two are somehow related. SoulSilver Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning. Generation V Unova

#— Black When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge. White Black 2 When alone, nothing happens. However, if there are two or more, an odd power is said to emerge. White 2 Generation VI Kalos

#— Hoenn

#— X Its flat, thin body is always stuck on walls. Its shape appears to have some meaning. Y Shaped like ancient writing, it is a huge mystery whether language or Unown came first. 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. Alpha Sapphire Generation VII Alola

#— Kanto

#— This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Generation VII. Generation VIII Galar

#— This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Generation VIII.

Game locations

In side games

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

A-Z

! and ?

Type effectiveness

Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII This Pokémon is unavailable within Generation VIII.

Click on the generation numbers above to see Unown's learnsets from other generations.





Move Type Episode Psychic Psychic PK21

Side game data

Evolution

Forms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ! ? Does not evolve Unown

Psychic

Sprites

Trivia

Origin

Unown's appearances are corruptions of the modern Latin alphabet, as well as the exclamation mark (!) and the question mark (?), while the G form of Unown is 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 can not convey much information, but many letters forming a sentence can communicate a hypothetically infinite number of interpretations and ideas.

Name origin

Unown is a corruption of unknown.

Unknown is literally unknown.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning Japanese アンノーン Unknown From unknown French Zarbi From the word bizarre in Verlan, a youth language consisting of reversed words Spanish Unown Same as English name German Icognito From icon and inkognito Italian Unown Same as English name Korean 안농 Annown Transliteration of its Japanese name Cantonese Chinese 未知圖騰 Meihjītòuhtàhng From 未知 meihjī and 圖騰 tòuhtàhng Mandarin Chinese 未知圖騰 / 未知图腾 Wèizhītúténg From 未知 meihjī and 圖騰 / 图腾 túténg More languages Danish Ukendt / Ukendte * Literally "unknown" Finnish Tuntemattomat * Literally "the unknown" Hebrew אנון Anon Transcription of English name Hindi अननोन Unown Transcription of English name Hungarian Öntudatlan * Literally "senseless" Norwegian De ukjente *

Ukjent * Literally "The unknown"

Literally "unknown". Russian Аноун Anoun Transcription of English name Swedish Okänd * Literally "unknown" Thai อันโนน Unknown Transcription of trademarked Japanese name





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