While Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes place before Pokémon entered the game world’s global zeitgeist, players still have to catch ‘em all. You’re not allowed to tackle (and capture) the game’s final challenge, Arceus, until you have a complete Pokedex. Unfortunately, this means you have to catch all 28 Unown.
Few Pokémon are as mysterious as Unown (it’s kinda in their name, after all). These Psychic-type creatures were introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver and are one of the franchise’s biggest chicken-vs-egg mysteries. Each Unown is shaped like a “hieroglyph” (actually letters in the English alphabet, plus an exclamation point and question mark), but which came first: the Unown or the hieroglyph? Most players are less concerned with that question and would rather know where to find them.
In previous games, Unown only appeared in the Ruins of Alph (Gold, Silver, and their remakes), Tanoby Chambers (FireRed and LeafGreen), and Solaceon Ruins (Diamond, Pearl, their remakes, and Platinum). But in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Unown are primarily scattered throughout Hisui in the oddest of locations. The game offers some hints, but they are all written in Unown, so not only do you have to translate the clues, you also have to figure out what they mean. If you’re stuck, here’s a guide to make the journey easier:
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown A
The first Unown clue is fairly easy: WITHIN THE SETTLEMENT WHERE TIME RULES. That obviously refers to the Diamond Clan settlement in the Crimson Mirelands since the Diamond Clan revere the “almighty Sinnoh” as the creator of time. Unown A is chilling at the top of one of the clan’s tents (it should be one of the more northeastern ones), so just circle around and look for a giant, round eye that doesn’t belong. Once you see it, you have found your first Unown.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown B
The clue for Unown B is: TURN YOUR EYES UP AT THE VOLCANIC ISLAND. This quite clearly points to Firespit Island in the Cobalt Coastlands. Once on the island, circumnavigate around the volcano and look up. You should see an obvious Unown eye partway up the crag’s western face. Finding this Unown is easier than catching it since you can’t reach it with normal Poke balls; you need Feather Balls or their upgraded versions. Plus, an Alpha Ninetales prowls around the Unown. The good news is if you find that Pokémon, Unown B is a literal stone’s throw away. The bad news is you might have to fight the Ninetales before you can catch the Unown.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown C
To find Unown C, the hint states: LOOK TO THE RUINED PILLARS OF CELESTICA. This clue is meant to guide players towards the Celestica Ruins in the Coronet Highlands. However, Unown C doesn’t cling to the pillars but instead rests on top of one that is roughly in the middle of the map — make a straight horizontal line from the Sacred Plaza marker and a vertical line from the “P” in Primeval Grotto, find where they intersect, and the Unown is around there. You can climb up the pillar with a Sneasler or glide down on a Braviary.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown D
Unown D is arguably the easiest to spot once you know where you’re looking. Its clue states: AMONG STUMPS AND CAMPFIRE ASHES IN FIELDS OF GOLD. But where is that? If you travel north from the main campsite in the Crimson Mirelands, you will find an abandoned fire with several nearby tree stumps. Unown D just sits on one of the stumps without a care in the world and should be immediately obvious.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown E
The hint for Unown E reads: A LONE TREE IN A POND IN THE GROVE. This clue is slightly easier than the previous one because Pokémon Legends: Arceus has only so many groves with lake-bound islands. In this case, the clue points towards the lake in Grueling Grove, which resides in the northeastern part of the Obsidian Fieldlands. Simply hop on over to the island and look up at its lone tree; Unown E will stick out of it like a fork.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown F
Unown F’s hint is semi-cryptic: A STONY OUTCROP OVER POOLS OF MUD ON A MIGHTY MOUNTAIN. Given the clues, you might assume this Unown resides at the top of the Ancient Quarry in the Coronet Highlands, and you would be correct. However, instead of searching the mountain face that overlooks the nearby pools, you need to scour the southern face. Once you see Unown F’s obvious eye, catch it with a Feather Ball (or its upgraded versions) or climb up to it with a Sneasler and then lob a ball point blank.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown G
Finding Unown G hinges on how literally you take its hint, which reads: ATOP A WATERFALL OF OBSIDIAN. Pokémon Legend: Arceus doesn’t have a waterfall made of obsidian, but it does have a waterfall dubbed the Obsidian Falls in eastern fringes of the Obsidian Fieldlands. If you search the top of the falls, you will find Unown G clinging to a rock just above the rushing water.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown H
To catch Unown H, you don’t have to search any further than home. The Pokémonhint is self-explanatory: A VILLAGE GATEWAY. Ironically, though, Unown H is quite deceptive and hides in plain sight on Jubilife Village’s welcome sign. If you look up at the sign, you will notice an out-of-place eye on the right. That is the Unown you’re looking for.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown I
You probably won’t know where to find Unown I unless you have made significant progress into Pokémon Legends: Arceus — or utilize some metagaming knowledge. The hint is the most cryptic so far: THE LAKE WHERE EMOTION RESIDES. How can emotion live in a lake, and which lake could it be? Well, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl veterans should know that Mesprit is the Emotion Pokémon, and in those games and their remakes, that Pokémon lives in a cave on Lake Verity’s island. That lake also rests in the Obsidian Fieldlands of Legends: Arceus. While you can reach the island with a Basculegion or Braviary, if you circle around the isle before entering the cave, you will find Unown I levitating about on the north end. And while you’re there, you can always try to catch Mesprit, but it’s level 70, so be prepared.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown J
At first glance, the Unown J hint is completely worthless: A NOOK WITHIN A QUARRY. The clue refers to the Ancient Quarry in the Coronet Highlands, but do you know how many nooks there are in the quarry? Unown J is actually much easier to find than you think. If you travel from the Sonorous Path to the quarry, the road will take you underneath the hill. Just look up at the wall made of odd, rectangular blocks, and you should find the Unown you’re looking for. Climb up with a Sneasler or chuck a Feather Ball (or equivalent) at it, and the Pokémon is all yours.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown K
Unown K is yet another Pokémon that is easy to spot if you know where you’re looking. The hint simply reads: WHERE STONES PILE HIGH AMID FOGBOUND RUINS. This clue refers to the Shrouded Ruins in the Crimson Mirelands, specifically the large stone cairns to the ruins’ south. Unown K rests near the top of the southmost rock pile overlooking a cliff. Just search for an out-of-place eye staring at the sky, and you’ve found it.
Read more
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown L
Unown L is arguably one of the hardest to find because it doesn’t have any nearby landmarks. The hint states: AN IMPASSE IN A CAVE ADORNED BY TWIN FALLS. The Wayward Cave in the Coronet Highlands fits the bill, but what is the impasse? If you spelunk the cave, you will find a cracked rock. Luckily you don’t need Rock Smash to break it; any Pokémon will do. Just toss one out, and they will destroy the boulder and open a new path. Follow the passage, and Unown L will rest on the wall at the end, plain as day.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown M
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is full of trees, but the game has so few felled trees that finding Unown M is a relative cakewalk. The Pokémon’s hint is quite short: A TREE FELLED ON SLUDGE. You might assume it refers to a tree resting on some muck (no, not a Muk), but in actuality, it spells out the location for you. A felled tree rests near a river to the south of Sludge Mound, which is in the Crimson Mirelands. If you look in the husk of the tree, you will see Unown M, sitting as happy as a Clamperl.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown N
Anyone who has visited the Cobalt Coastlands should locate Unown N almost immediately. The hint says everything you need to know: TWO HORNS RISING FROM THE SEA. That clearly refers to the spires sprouting from the ocean just past Sand’s Reach. If you circle around the eastmost pillar on your Basclegion, you should find Unown N clinging to the eastern side of the rock.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown O
Unown O is one of the most challenging yet thanks to its clue: THREE PILLARS IN A WORLD OF ICE. The Alabaster Icelands seems to fit the bill, but it doesn’t really have any obvious “three pillars.” That’s because the hint refers to the Ice Column Chamber in the southwest corner of the map — look for a hole in the ground to the west of Avalanche Slopes. The Unown you’re looking for is tucked between one of the camber’s titular columns and the ceiling. While Unown O’s jet-black body sticks out from the cavern’s ice, catching the Pokémon isn’t easy since you will also have to contend with an Alpha Froslass.
PPokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown P
In order to catch Unown P, you need to channel both your geographic knowledge and understanding of Pokémon. The hint states: AMONG FLOWERS AT THE SPRING WHERE FAIRIES DWELL. The spring in question refers to the Fabled Spring in Coronet Highlands, but what about the flower patch? If you travel south from the spring, you will find a garden of blue flowers swarming with Clefairy and Roselia. Look closely, and you should see Unown P’s obvious eye poking out of the natural bouquet.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown Q
Unown Q is somewhat easy to find, but its clue is a bit misleading: TWIN TREES AT THE SPRING BY THE SEA. Spring Path in the Cobalt Coastlands meets the requirements, but the area is full of trees. Instead of scouring each one, instead head towards Turnback Cave. You should find Unown Q resting on a tree branch to the cave’s immediate southwest. Just be careful where you aim your Poke Ball: the Unown is nestled securely in the tree, so the ball might accidentally bounce off the branches instead of the Pokémon.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown R
Unown R is found with the following hint that leaves little to interpretation: BY THE GRAVE UPON THE CAPE. Pokémon Legends: Arceus doesn’t have many graves, so you are looking for one situated part way between Veilstone Cape and Lunker’s Lair in the Cobalt Coastlands. Now, you might assume Unown R sits in the grave marker, but remember, the hint says “by,” not “on.” If you venture out on the rocks past the grave and look back at it, you should see an obvious Unown R on the wall underneath.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown S
The clue to find Unown S is relatively straightforward: WHERE STICK AND LOG DAM THE RIVER. You’re not looking for a manmade dam but instead one constructed by the beaver analogues Bidoof and Bibarel. Thankfully, the game map labels the dam as Tidewater Dam, which is found in Obsidian Fieldlands. If you start fording the river at the southern part of that area (don’t worry; you won’t drown), you should find Unown S relaxing on the stacked wood of the dam.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown T
Some hints are both cryptic and obvious at the same time. For instance, Unown T’s clue says the following: GAZE DOWN FROM ATOP THE GREAT GLACIAL LEGACY. What could that mean? Well, in the Alabaster Icelands, players can find a location called Avalugg’s Legacy. Since Avalugg is the Iceberg Pokémon, that’s your starting point. From there, head northeast until you hit some freestanding ice formations. Unown T chills out on top of one of them, so either fly down on a Braviary or climb up with a Sneasler to catch it. Also, feel free to insert your own Ice-T joke while doing so.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown U
Depending on how much you explore Hisui, you might never find Unown U on your own since the hint is somewhat unhelpful: THE UNUSUAL STONE STARING OUT ACROSS THE SNOWFIELDS. Clearly you need to search the Alabaster Icelands, but where to start? Well, if you venture into Heart’s Crag, you might notice a big rock at the top of a huge cliff to the east. That’s where you need to go. Climb up with a Sneasler, and once you reach the rock, head over to the other side to make sure you are also “staring out across the snowfields.” You should see Unown U rocking back and forth near the boulder’s top.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown V
Some Unown hints in Pokémon Legends: Arceus require players to memorize the land, while others merely test your knowledge of synonyms. Unown V’s sits in the latter, as it reads: A WITHERED TREE IN THE SPRAWLING RED SWAMP. The Scarlet Bog in the Crimson Mirelands fits perfectly since “scarlet” is a shade of red and bogs are a kind of swamp. A few v-shaped trees stick out of the murky water in the western part of the bog. Unown V swings from one of the tree’s branches.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown W
In Jubilife Village, players can visit Commander Kamado any time they want, but unless they know about his private balcony, they will never find Unown W. The hint is both cryptic and self-explanatory at the same time: THE LEFT EYE ATOP THE VILLAGE. This means players once again have to scour Jubilife Village, but what is this “left eye?” Well, the roof of Galaxy Team’s headquarters is adorned with Magikarp statues, so that’s a good place to start. And indeed, if you jog around Commander Kamado’s balcony, you will find one statue whose left eye has been defaced with mascara. Except not really; that’s actually a stealthy Unown. Just toss a ball to restore the statue to its former glory and snag Unown W.
PokPokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown X
After you fight Kleavor, you might assume you will never return to the Grandtree Arena in the Obsidian Fieldlands. However, an Unown lurks in that area. Its hint is pretty on the nose: SCALE THE GRAND TREE. So, climb up the arena’s titular grand tree with a Sneasler, and you should find an Unown relaxing on a broken branch. Just be careful when stepping onto that wooden outcropping because it’s a long way down.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown Y
Much like Unown X, Unown Y requires knowledge of landmark names. This Unown’s hint is as on the nose as Unown X’s: SCALE THE FROZEN FALLS. This time, the clue refers to the Icebound Falls in the Alabaster Icelands. Halfway up the “frozen falls,” you should find Unown Y chilling out in front of a large ice wall. Unlike Unown X, however, you can reach the Pokémon as easily with a Braviary as you can with a Sneasler.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown Z
While Unown who hide on manmade structures try to blend in, Unown Z doesn’t. To find this PokemPokémon, you need to decipher an easy clue: A TIMEWORN SHIP ON A SANDY SHORE. Obviously this means the Pokémon is in the Cobalt Coastlands, and since it’s on a shore, you don’t have to travel inland. However, the coastlands still have plenty of sand to comb through, so let’s narrow things down. In the northern part of Deadwood Haunt, you should find some shipwrecks. Unown Z stands out near the top of one of the wrecks’ masts.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown !
The letter Unown locations might have run the gamut from glaringly obvious to devilishly cryptic, but the punctuation Unown, starting with Unown !, are among the game’s easiest. Unown ! uses the following clue: A DEAD TREE BY THE HOT SPRING. Since the Snowfall Hot Spring in the Alabaster Icelands contains the only hot spring in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, that’s where you need to go. And as the clue states, you need to find a dead tree. You can find this tree just southwest of the actual hot spring. Look up, and you will see Unown ! swinging from a branch like a weird holiday ornament.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Where to Find Unown ?
The final Unown, Unown ?, will not challenge your brain at all. In fact, you can find it just outside the protagonist’s abode. The clue states: WHERE THINGS HANG TO DRY AT LIVING QUARTERS. So, just head to the main character’s residence in Jubilife Village, swing by the back window, and you will find Unown ? gently swaying next to some towels.
Once you have tracked down all 28 Unown in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, that’s the end of the scavenger hunt. However, the game won’t limit you to just one of every Unown variety. After you’ve collected all of them, Unown will start to spawn in the Solaceon Ruins. Some will even be shiny and Alpha-sized.