Unown (Japanese: アンノーン Annon) is a Psychic-type Pokémon. As of Generation IV, Unown has 28 derivative shapes. There are 26 English alphabet characters, plus two punctuation marks: ? (question mark) and ! (exclamation mark). That shape is determined by its personality value.
The Unown play a large role in the third movie, creating the illusions which 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.
Oddly enough, also on Professor Oak's computer appear several Unown of shapes not yet encountered.
An Unown fell out of the Unown dimension in Address Unown. After it was healed by the group, it helped defend against Team Rocket and its mind merged with that of Ash's Larvitar so that the group could help it to address its inner pain.
Unown also appeared on a tablet that Cynthia was reading in DP040, and will make another appearance in DP060.
In the manga
In the Pokémon Special manga
Unown first appeared in Template:PSV when Gold and Bugsy were in the Ruins of Alph. Gold had his Sunkern use Flash to blind Team Rocket, but accidentally disturbed the Unown from their slumber with the light from Flash. Bugsy later returns to study the Ruins further in Template:PSV, where he captures an Unown (G).
Unown later appear in Template:PSV, having been awakened by Sird from the Tanoby Ruins to use as a distraction while she fought Lorelei. The Unown later appear again throughout the volume, being employed by Team Rocket as living security cameras while impeding the progress of Red, Blue and Green.
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 attack from left or right while Unown can come from up, down, left, right, or diagonally. Any opponent caught in this is is damaged and juggled.
There are also a number of Unown Pokéfloats. In the second half of the cycle, a number fly across the screen. Towards the end of the cycle, staying on the stage relies on hopping between the Unown.
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
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.
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.
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.
In Spell of the Unown, Professor Oak had some pictures of unreleased Unown on his computer. They resemble a few Greek alphabet letters, especially σ (lowercase sigma), Σ (capital sigma), π (pi) and Ω (omega). The top-middle Unown may be also a variation of an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, the Eye of Horus. This may lead to the conclusion that there are more forms of Unown, being the prototypes of other known (or unknown) alphabets.
In Generation II, the Unown appear to be able to generate a radio signal.
In Diamond and Pearl, the Ruin Maniac in the Maniac Tunnel proposes you a little contest: he will dig straight through the mountain as the player captures the 26 letter-shaped Unown. If all 26 Unown are caught in Solaceon Ruins, the Maniac Tunnel leads to a chamber with Unown ! and ? to be found. Additionally, the chances of finding a Hippopotas in the tunnel are increased.
Origin
Their appearances are corruptions of the modern Latin alphabet. Some claim they more closely resemble Celtic runes. Runes are ancient carved inscriptions, and there are many runic alphabets. The shapes of the Unown are used like runes in the Pokémon world, although in Generation III their place has been taken by Braille.
Name origin
Unown's name is a misspelling of the word unknown.
In other languages
German: Incognito - Incognito, one who has their identity concealed.
French: Zarbi - The word bizarre in verlan, a youth language.
For other sprites and images, please see Unown images on Bulbagarden Archives.
