Btw this is my first analysis from playing Unown so plast notify any errors!
Overview:
A long time ago in 2000, Pokémon Gold and Silver were released. The meta game drastically changed, adding new foes like Curselax, entry hazards, Blissey, Skarmory and more. Truly, it was a time to be alive.
However, one Pokémon has been shunned since he first appeared in the Ruins of Alph: Unown. Mocked for his horrible stats, mediocre typing, and worst of all, only one 70 Base Power move: Hidden Power. Even Delibird could at least use Spikes, Ditto could potentially Transform into something good or Farfecth’d, the worst Pokémon in Gen I, could Baton Pass. No one used it, and it was quickly forgotten.
Many years later, things have changed. Skarmory is less of a wall, Blissey is outclassed by Chansey and Snorlax is RU. Newcomers to OU, like the Tapu’s, have traits to help them survive in this fast-paced meta game. Even Pelliper is OU, for Pete’s Sake!
But where do we find Unown? Doing the same thing it did 18 years ago: absolutely nothing. It still dies in 1 hit, it still has only 1 move (and doesn’t even have a Fairy version of it), and still has AWFUL STATS. Even the Normalium Z couldn’t save it. In short: Fu€k
Unown.
MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE
Unown @ Choice Specs/ Normalium Z
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hidden Power Psychic
This is Unown’s best set at doing anything
in any tier, even in BH. Unown has garbage stats, but his worst flaw is he only has one move: the 60 Base Power Hidden Power. With only 1 move, Unown can use Choice Specs with no consequences. Why you would choose him over anything else like Reinculus, Alakazam, or Starmie is one thing. Another thing is that he can’t take a hit of the life of him. Oh well, with STAB you can at least OHKO Toxicroack. Unless of course he has Sucker Punch, in that case you’re fucked.
The EV spread is crucial to at least score one clean hit. 252 SpA EV’s ensure maximum pain, while 252 Spe EV’s allows him to speed suck threats as Shuckle, a paralyzed Luvdisc and more! The remaining EV go into SpD, as it doesn’t need it, but it has it. Go figure.
Since your using this excuse of a Psychic-type, the teammates should fit his theme. A speedy sweeper is required to clean up the Ghost and Dark-type moves that plague the tiers. Luvdisc can go fast and sweep as good as Unown. A scouter like Beautifly can scout for Darkies and U-turn them for scratch damage, allowing Unown to possibly secure a 10HKO. A Baton Passer is nice for more viability, so Spinda could work I guess. And of course Unown needs dual screens, Stealth Rock, healers, Baton Passers, Spikes, Memento and Explosion users, paralyzed opponents and of course, a way to escape death from a sudden Wobbuffet encounter.
Oh yeah and Normalium Z is there because he doesn’t have a Normal-type move, so yeah.
Speedy Unown
Unown @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
-Hidden Power Psychic
If you think Unown is slow, you’re right. 48 speed is garbage, but with Choice Scarf, it’s 72!!! Now you can laugh as you fail to OHKO Rhydon and die to a Stone Edge.
Why do I even bother to put any advice here, Don’t Use Him: plain and simple.
Other Options
Unown can use any Hidden Power type, but Psychic is the best because of STAB. Choice Band is useless because Hidden Power is special, Leftovers because he is OHKO’d by anything, Lum Berry because it’s slower and a waste of PP to stall it out with Toxic and.....
I have nothing else, don’t use it.
Checks and Counters
Anything with a Ghost/Dark move
Unown’s defenses mean even a Shadow Ball from Rattata will 3HKO it.
Everything and Anything
Faster Pokémon, priority, coverage, and prediction will all defeat it in the long run. Even Wobbuffet will beat it 1 on 1, as will Pachrisu
Disable
Since he has only 1 move, Disable essentially forces it to use struggle as you freely set up.
Prediction
A little scouting to know which power he has can effectively neuter his strategy
I give up that’s it
Overview:
A long time ago in 2000, Pokémon Gold and Silver were released. The meta game drastically changed, adding new foes like Curselax, entry hazards, Blissey, Skarmory and more. Truly, it was a time to be alive.
However, one Pokémon has been shunned since he first appeared in the Ruins of Alph: Unown. Mocked for his horrible stats, mediocre typing, and worst of all, only one 70 Base Power move: Hidden Power. Even Delibird could at least use Spikes, Ditto could potentially Transform into something good or Farfecth’d, the worst Pokémon in Gen I, could Baton Pass. No one used it, and it was quickly forgotten.
Many years later, things have changed. Skarmory is less of a wall, Blissey is outclassed by Chansey and Snorlax is RU. Newcomers to OU, like the Tapu’s, have traits to help them survive in this fast-paced meta game. Even Pelliper is OU, for Pete’s Sake!
But where do we find Unown? Doing the same thing it did 18 years ago: absolutely nothing. It still dies in 1 hit, it still has only 1 move (and doesn’t even have a Fairy version of it), and still has AWFUL STATS. Even the Normalium Z couldn’t save it. In short: Fu€k
Unown.
MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE
Unown @ Choice Specs/ Normalium Z
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hidden Power Psychic
This is Unown’s best set at doing anything
in any tier, even in BH. Unown has garbage stats, but his worst flaw is he only has one move: the 60 Base Power Hidden Power. With only 1 move, Unown can use Choice Specs with no consequences. Why you would choose him over anything else like Reinculus, Alakazam, or Starmie is one thing. Another thing is that he can’t take a hit of the life of him. Oh well, with STAB you can at least OHKO Toxicroack. Unless of course he has Sucker Punch, in that case you’re fucked.
The EV spread is crucial to at least score one clean hit. 252 SpA EV’s ensure maximum pain, while 252 Spe EV’s allows him to speed suck threats as Shuckle, a paralyzed Luvdisc and more! The remaining EV go into SpD, as it doesn’t need it, but it has it. Go figure.
Since your using this excuse of a Psychic-type, the teammates should fit his theme. A speedy sweeper is required to clean up the Ghost and Dark-type moves that plague the tiers. Luvdisc can go fast and sweep as good as Unown. A scouter like Beautifly can scout for Darkies and U-turn them for scratch damage, allowing Unown to possibly secure a 10HKO. A Baton Passer is nice for more viability, so Spinda could work I guess. And of course Unown needs dual screens, Stealth Rock, healers, Baton Passers, Spikes, Memento and Explosion users, paralyzed opponents and of course, a way to escape death from a sudden Wobbuffet encounter.
Oh yeah and Normalium Z is there because he doesn’t have a Normal-type move, so yeah.
Speedy Unown
Unown @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
-Hidden Power Psychic
If you think Unown is slow, you’re right. 48 speed is garbage, but with Choice Scarf, it’s 72!!! Now you can laugh as you fail to OHKO Rhydon and die to a Stone Edge.
Why do I even bother to put any advice here, Don’t Use Him: plain and simple.
Other Options
Unown can use any Hidden Power type, but Psychic is the best because of STAB. Choice Band is useless because Hidden Power is special, Leftovers because he is OHKO’d by anything, Lum Berry because it’s slower and a waste of PP to stall it out with Toxic and.....
I have nothing else, don’t use it.
Checks and Counters
Anything with a Ghost/Dark move
Unown’s defenses mean even a Shadow Ball from Rattata will 3HKO it.
Everything and Anything
Faster Pokémon, priority, coverage, and prediction will all defeat it in the long run. Even Wobbuffet will beat it 1 on 1, as will Pachrisu
Disable
Since he has only 1 move, Disable essentially forces it to use struggle as you freely set up.
Prediction
A little scouting to know which power he has can effectively neuter his strategy
I give up that’s it
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