Unown in Pokémon GO: Letter Forms and How to Find Them

Few Pokémon are as easy to recognise and as hard to collect as Unown. It is a Psychic-type from the Johto region that comes in 28 shapes, one for each letter of the alphabet plus an exclamation mark and a question mark. It is a poor battler and it doesn't evolve, yet it is one of Pokémon GO's most satisfying collecting projects precisely because it is so hard to pin down. You can't hunt a missing letter on demand, so collecting Unown is mostly about being ready when the one you need finally appears.

What makes Unown different

• 28 forms, one species. Every letter shares the same Pokédex number (#201) and the same candy. Transferring an Unown A earns exactly the same Unown Candy as transferring an Unown Z.
• No evolution. Unown has no pre-evolution and nothing to evolve into, so its candy is mainly used for powering up.
• A tiny moveset. At the time of writing, its only fast move is Hidden Power, whose type varies from one Unown to the next, and its only charged move is Struggle.
• Low stats. Its stats are low for a Pokémon that doesn't evolve, and with its moveset it has no real role in battle. It is a collector's Pokémon, not a raid or GO Battle League pick.
• Psychic typing. Like other Psychic-types, it is weather boosted in windy conditions.

Where Unown turns up

In most places, most of the time, Unown is not part of the regular wild spawn pool. Over the years it has appeared through a few recurring channels:

• Events. In-person and themed events have featured specific letters, sometimes chosen to spell out a word connected to the event or its location. Our GO Fest and premier events guide explains how these events work.
• Raids. Some events have included Unown as a raid boss.
• Research. Some event research tasks have rewarded Unown encounters.

The pattern is consistent: Unown availability is tied to specific events, and different events feature different letters. The in-game news and official event announcements are the place to check which letters are featured and where; nothing on this page can tell you what is live today.

Planning a letter collection

1. Take stock. Search your storage for unown to see every copy you own, and check the Unown entry in your Pokédex, which in current versions lets you view the letter forms you've registered. Our search strings guide shows how to narrow results further.
2. Pick a goal. A full set of 28 is a long-term project. Spelling your name, your initials or your local group's name is a more achievable first target.
3. Watch announcements. When an event lists featured Unown, note which of them you're missing before you go.
4. Label your letters. Nicknaming each Unown with its letter, or tagging them, makes duplicates easy to spot at a glance.
5. Keep spares for trading. A duplicate letter is worth far more to a friend who is missing it than as a single piece of candy.
6. Never transfer your last copy of a letter. Stats hardly matter for Unown, so keep the one you like best and mark it as a favorite: the game won't transfer a favorite until you remove the mark.

Trading for missing letters

Trading is where most letter collections come together. Friends who attend different events often end up with letters you have never seen, and a spare of yours may be exactly what they need. The trade screen shows the Stardust cost before you confirm, and that cost depends on your friendship level and on whether the game treats it as a special trade. Our guide to trading, friendship levels and Lucky Pokémon explains how those costs work, so you can plan trades with the friends where they are cheapest.

Shiny Unown

Shiny Unown exist, but they have historically been limited to particular letters at particular events rather than being generally available. If a shiny letter is part of an event, the announcement usually says so. Treat any shiny Unown as a rare prize rather than something you can plan a full set around.

Is Unown worth powering up?

For battle, no. Its stats are low and a moveset of Hidden Power plus Struggle offers nothing to build around, so Stardust spent on Unown is Stardust not spent on your raid attackers. The one good reason to power up an Unown is simply that you like it: a favorite letter at a respectable CP makes a fun buddy.

Unown FAQ

Is Unown a Legendary Pokémon?

No. It is a regular species that happens to be rare in GO. It doesn't count as Legendary or Mythical for trading or any other purpose.

Do the letters count separately in the Pokédex?

They are forms of a single entry. Catching any letter registers Unown; in current versions the individual letters appear as forms within that entry.

Can I choose which letter I encounter?

No. Which letters appear depends on the event featuring them, and within that you get whichever featured letter you happen to encounter.

Why does my Unown's Hidden Power have a different type from my friend's?

Hidden Power's type varies between individual Pokémon, so two Unown of the same letter can carry different Hidden Power types. It makes no real difference for a Pokémon this weak. If you're new to moves and types, the Trainer Hub homepage links the basics.