Unown

Unown
Unown F's official artwork from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
Universe	Pokémon
Debut	Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions (1999)
Games	Melee Ultimate
Move	Take Down
Rarity	30/583
Most recent non-Smash appearance	Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022)
Console/platform of origin	Game Boy Color
Article on Bulbapedia	Unown (Pokémon)

Unown (アンノーン, Unknown) is a creature in the Pokémon media franchise.

Origin

Unown G's official artwork from Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Unown is a Psychic-type Pokémon introduced in Generation II, where it only appeared in the underground area of the Ruins of Alph after solving some stone puzzles, and is categorized within the Pokédex at #201 as the "Symbol Pokémon". It can appear in 28 functionally identical forms, 26 based on the letters of the English alphabet and the last, rarer two introduced in Generation III based on the question and exclamation marks. It is very weak and can learn only the move Hidden Power. Contrary to its depiction in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Unown cannot learn Take Down in any game.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Two Unown (one in S form, the other in B form) briefly appear during the opening sequence.

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

An Unown F in Melee.

The Unown make their first appearance in Melee and appear out of Poké Balls. Unown's attack is Take Down, and functions similarly to Beedrill's attack in Super Smash Bros. When Unown is summoned, a random letter of Unown flies off the screen. This particular Unown will hit opponents for 18% damage with moderate knockback. A group of Unown will then begin flying from off camera to the opposite side. Any opponent that makes contact with the swarm of Unowns will take 5% damage and vertical knockback, potentially carrying them past the top of the screen.

The single Unown spawns with a vertical speed of 1 unit per frame (u/f), accelerates either left or right at 0.05 u/f per frame, and accelerates downwards at 0.03 u/f per frame up to 3 u/f. Once off screen, a swarm of 30 Unown will start to spawn from a random point off screen with 4-6 frames between each. Each one lasts 90 frames and has an initial speed of 4.5 u/f. Their vertical speed will change by 0.6 u/f per frame (whether upward or downward is determined for the whole group) and their total speed multiplied by 1.02 every frame, resulting in a curved trajectory. Each one will rotate between 20-40° per frame along each axis.

Unown has a spawn chance of 30/583.

As a stage element

Unown S's appearance on Poke Floats.

In the stage Poké Floats, various Unown fly past at moderately high speed. They act as platforms and the players can fall through them. They travel in different directions.

Trophy

All 26 varieties of Unown which existed at the time feature together as a collectible trophy, unlocked by amassing a combined total of over 5,000m (16,503ft) with all the characters in the Home-Run Contest.

Unown's trophy in Melee

Unown

(1.0/1.01 NTSC) 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.

(1.02 NTSC/PAL) 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.

Pokémon Gold & Silver (10/00)

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Spirit

Unown does not return as a Poké Ball Pokémon, though it is a Novice-class support spirit, appearing in its F form.

Unown's Spirit Battle uses eight Tiny Mr. Game & Watch puppet fighters and is fought in Temple's Battlefield form.

No.	Image	Name	Type	Class	Cost	Ability	Series
473		Unown		★	1	PSI Resist ↑	Pokémon Series

Names in other languages

Language	Name
Japanese	アンノーン, Unknown
English	Unown
French	Zarbi
German	Icognito
Spanish	Unown
Italian	Unown
Chinese (Simplified)	未知图腾
Chinese (Traditional)	未知圖騰
Korean	안농, Annown
Dutch	Unown
Russian	Аноун