The Unknown Unown
Introduction
The Pokemon Unown
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum – Collecting the Unown
BF1
BF2
BF3
BF4
BF5
BF6
BF7
Maniac's Tunnel
HeartGold and SoulSilver – Collecting the Unown
Second Puzzle
Third Puzzle
Fourth Puzzle
The Pokemon Unown is the Symbol Pokemon. Its shape has been showing up since ancient times as a form of writing. It is said that this Pokemon's shape gave birth to writing. Truth be told, in any number of ways Unown is not quite that useful of a Pokemon. Still, it is a fun one to collect as there are now 28 different shapes for Unown. More often then not there is a little bonus to collecting all the different shapes of this Pokemon. It was also the Pokemon that introduced all Pokemon players to the move “Hidden Power”. This move uses a specific formula based on a Pokemon's base stats (Individual Values) and gives the Pokemon a Special based move which can be almost any type of attack, excluding only Normal Type, with a power between 30 and 70. This move can give you a huge advantage with the right build or situations.
The Pokemon Unown
While it has an odd spelling, it is pronounced the same as to the word “Unknown”. This Pokemon only comes with the move “Hidden Power”. It really is not that useful in competitive battling or in any real situation in the game. Aside from that, they come in a variety of shapes, from A-Z, “?” and “!”. The puncuation Unown were added in the fourth generation. Catching all the Unown can be tedious, but making a little chart helps immensely.
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum – Collecting the Unown
Unown can be found in the Solaceon Ruins in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. As you navigate the depths of the Ruins, you will find most of the Unown using the dead-end side rooms. However, some can only be found in the central chambers that lead you down to the bottom of the ruins and the 2 Punctuation can only be found after you have collected the 26 Letter Unown.
BF1
On this floor, you will find an Unown inscription giving you directions through the Solaceon Ruins. It reads “Top Right, Bottom Left, Top Right, Top Left, Top Left, Bottom Left”. On this floor, there are no special Unown, you can encounter any with a few exceptions. To progress on, take the top right set of stairs
BF2
In the central chamber of this floor you will encounter the “F” Unown. To progress, take the bottom left set of stairs.
BF3
In the central chamber of this floor you will encounter the “R” Unown. To progress, take the top right stairs.
BF4
In the central chamber of this floor you will encounter the “I” Unown. To progress take the top left set of stairs.
BF5
In the central chamber of this floor you will encounter the “E” Unown. To progress take the top left set of stairs.
BF6
In the central chamber of this floor you will encounter the “N” Unown. To progress take the bottom left set of stairs.
BF7
In the central chamber of this floor you will encounter the “D” Unown. In Diamond and Pearl, you will find 4 item balls with a Nugget, Rare Candy, Mind Plate and Odd Incense inside them. Platinum exchanges one of those for HM 05, Defog.
Maniac's Tunnel
Once you have caught all 26 letter Unown, you can run through the Maniac's Tunnel and reach a “hidden” chamber of the Solaceon Ruins. Here, you will find the “?” and “!” Unown.
HeartGold and SoulSilver – Collecting The Unown
This part will take much more effort, as there are puzzles to be solved in order to unlock the Unown. The first few are detailed in this section of our HeartGold and SoulSilver Walkthrough:
Pokemon HeartGold SoulSilver Walkthrough Part 13 - The Ruins of Alph (First Visit)
After part is done, you can move onto this section. You will need Surf and Strength to get to everything to gain access to all 26 shapes of Unown.
Second Puzzle
From the Research station in the lower right area of the Ruins of Alph, head down and surf onto the Pond., heading over to the left. You will see an open building there, head on into it. Walk to the enclave that is in the center of the room. You will find another puzzle to solve. The hint is “The Pokemon knew no fear and flew as it pleased through the skies long ago”. Starting with the pieces on the right hand side, rotate the one in the center once, then put it in the open space in the bottom right corner. For the lower right one, rotate it twice, then put it in line with the wing joint you can see (just about center left).
For the bottom pieces, the right most one needs to be rotated 3 times, then it goes in the first open space about center left, just next to the last piece you placed. The piece next to it needs to be rotated twice then it goes in the upper left of the puzzle.
For the piece on the left hand side, rotate it once and put it in the one open spot in the top part of the portrait.
For the two pieces along the top, take the one on the left then put it in the bottom open space, this should complete the tail. Rotate the top left one once then put it just above the one you just placed.
Completing this puzzle unlocks a number of other Unown.
Weave your way out of the area you drop into, catching what Unown you can. It helps to write out the alphabet and mark them off as you catch them to ensure minimal repeats. Once you make it back to the surface, time to head for the Union Cave. Head out of the Ruins of Alph through the lower right entrance, heading for Route 32. Head south on Route 32, to just past the Pokemon Center, where you will find the entrance to the Union Cave. Head on in.
Inside the Union Cave head to the left, then up, taking the first set of stairs in that area. Shortly you will see a pond inside the cave. Walk up to it and Surf upwards. You will have the option of taking on Hiker Leonard, who is just to the left of the path you want to take. He has two Pokemon, a Geodude lvl. 23 and Machop lvl. 25. Keep heading upwards and then to the left. Here, you will see Hiker Phillip, who you can challenge. He has a Geodude lvl. 23 and Graveller lvl. 25. After him, you can either take the upper or lower path to the left. You will be coming back this way to complete the second part of the puzzles.
Upper Left
Follow the path up the stairs. On this floor, surf upwards across the pond and take the next set of stairs up. These will lead to the exit for the Ruins of Alph. From there head down then to the right, navigating your way through the few buildings. Before you can get into the building wit the next puzzle, you will face Psychic Nathan and his Girafarig lvl. 25. After that, time for the next puzzle.
Third Puzzle
This puzzle's hint is "This Pokemon, with feathers of seven colors, flies through the sky, according to legend". Gives us a good hint this time, Ho-oh. Starting with the top piece on the right, rotate it once, then put it the center left spot, just below the crest that you can see in the pre-placed puzzle pieces. For the lower piece on the right hand side, rotate it once as well and set it to the immediate right of the piece you just placed. Moving onto the bottom pieces, rotate the one on the left once then place it one spot up and to the left of the first piece, so it will be in line with the crest. For the remaining bottom piece, rotate it three times then put it in the once open space on the right hand side of the puzzle. Moving onto the pieces on the left-hand side, starting from the top, rotate the piece twice, then put it in the bottom right open spot. For the next piece down, place in the bottom left spot and rotate it so the edges match. For the final piece on the left hand side, rotate it once then place it in the top row, in the left center spot. For the top row, starting with the one piece on the right, rotate it once, then place it in the top left spot. For the next piece to the left, rotate it once, then place it below the face tile. For the last piece in the top row, just place it in the last open spot. That should complete the puzzle, dropping you back into the Ruins of Alph. Head to the right and up the ladder, time to return to the Union Cave and take the other route to finish up the puzzles.
Bottom Left:
Here, you need that Pokemon with Strength to get past the boulder. Push the boulder to the left, then follow the path you find all the way to the exit. Now, head carefully down (if you have run toggled on, turn it off for this section) head to the right along the grass plot that is right there. From there, head on up into the building with the final puzzle.
Fourth Puzzle
The hint for this puzzle is "A ten-legged Pokemon that swims on the bottom of the sea and eats plankton", Omanyte. Time to get all these pieces in place. For the right side, using the top piece, rotate it twice then place it in the right side open spot in the bottom row. With the piece below it, rotate it once then place it next to the piece you just placed. Next, for the left side, take the top piece and place it just above the last piece you placed. For the next one down on the left-hand side, take it and place it in the top right open space. The last piece on this side needs to be rotated once, then put in the only open spot in the upper left part of the puzzle. Next, working from the bottom row of pieces, take the outer piece in that row, rotate it three times and place it in the last open space on the right side edge of the puzzle. For the remaining piece in that row, rotate it twice then place it in the upper right open spot. Finally, for the top row, take the left piece, rotate it three times and up it in the open space on the right. The last piece just goes right into the open space left.
Having completed all the puzzles, you can find all the Letter Unown. Once you catch all 26 letter pokemon, you can find the last two
Punctuation Unown.
