How to Get an Unova Stone in Pokémon GO: A Detailed Guide – In Pokémon GO, the Unova Stone is a crucial evolution item that allows trainers to transform select Pokémon from the Unova region into their powerful evolved forms. Since its release, the Unova Stone has remained one of the more elusive items, leaving many players eager to learn the best ways to obtain it. This guide will take you through the most effective ways to get an Unova Stone in Pokémon GO, covering various methods and tips to maximize your chances.
What is the Unova Stone Pokémon GO?
The Unova Stone is a rare evolution item used to evolve certain Pokémon from the Unova region, featured initially in Pokémon Black and White. Like the Sinnoh Stone, which is used to evolve select Pokémon from the Sinnoh region, the Unova Stone is essential for players who want to complete their Pokédex by evolving specific Pokémon. Pokémon like Lampent, Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour all require an Unova Stone for their final evolutions.
Key Uses of the Unova Stone
The Unova Stone is needed for evolving:
- Litwick into Chandelure
- Pansage into Simisage
- Pansear into Simisear
- Panpour into Simipour
- Minccino into Cinccino
- Eelektrik into Eelektross
These evolutions offer unique battle capabilities, especially in Pokémon like Chandelure, known for its powerful Fire- and Ghost-type moves, making it a popular choice for PvP battles and gym raids.
How to Get an Unova Stone in Pokémon GO
There are several ways to obtain an Unova Stone in Pokémon GO. While some methods are more reliable than others, here’s a look at each approach, so you can decide which works best for you.
1. Weekly Field Research Breakthroughs
One of the most consistent ways to earn an Unova Stone is through Field Research Breakthroughs. When you complete a daily Field Research task seven times (essentially, once a day for a week), you’ll receive a reward box at the end of the week. These boxes often include rare items, one of which can be the Unova Stone.
How to Maximize Your Chances:
- Complete Field Research Tasks Daily: Focus on tasks that are simple to complete, such as catching a specific number of Pokémon or spinning Pokéstops.
- Plan for the Week: Completing at least one task per day will guarantee a Breakthrough box each week, and while the Unova Stone isn’t always guaranteed, it does have a decent drop rate from these boxes.
2. Special Research Tasks
From time to time, Niantic releases Special Research Tasks tied to events or themed Pokémon quests. These tasks often feature rare items as rewards, including the Unova Stone.
How to Take Advantage of Special Research Tasks:
- Stay Updated on Events: Check Pokémon GO’s official social media channels or in-game notifications to stay informed about upcoming events.
- Complete Tasks Quickly: Since some special tasks are limited to event windows, completing them promptly ensures you don’t miss any potential Unova Stone rewards.
- Explore New Task Chains: Some special research tasks are multi-step, with each stage offering better rewards. Don’t skip any steps!
3. Participating in Pokémon GO’s Community Days
Community Days are monthly events featuring increased spawn rates for specific Pokémon, often paired with exclusive moves. During these events, Niantic sometimes offers Unova Stones as rewards through timed research or event-specific tasks.
Steps to Use Community Day to Your Advantage:
- Engage in Timed Research: Many Community Days offer a timed research task with rewards like Unova Stones.
- Purchase Event Tickets: For some Community Days, buying a small ticket allows access to exclusive research with higher rewards, sometimes including an Unova Stone.
- Maximize Your Playing Time: Since Community Days only last a few hours, try to clear as many tasks as possible within the time limit to increase your chances.
3. Team GO Rocket Battles
Team GO Rocket leaders, including Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra, often drop rare items upon defeat, including Unova Stones. Taking on these battles can provide an excellent opportunity to snag this elusive evolution item.
Tips for Fighting Team GO Rocket Leaders:
- Stock Up on Potions and Revives: Leaders can be challenging, especially for players without a high-powered team.
- Use Type Advantages: Study each leader’s potential lineup and choose Pokémon that can counter them effectively.
- Look for Rocket Radars: You’ll need a Rocket Radar to locate these leaders, which can be assembled from defeating six Team GO Rocket Grunts.
4. Participating in Pokémon GO Battle League (GBL)
In Pokémon GO Battle League, the rewards vary based on your performance, but some players report receiving Unova Stones as part of their end-of-season rewards or in higher ranks.
Tips for GBL Success:
- Build a Diverse Team: Having a balanced team with counters for common threats in each league will improve your chances.
- Learn Battle Mechanics: Knowing when to shield and swap Pokémon can be the difference between victory and defeat.
- Compete in All Ranks: Reaching higher ranks can improve your rewards, potentially including rare evolution items like the Unova Stone.
5. Completing Timed Research Events
During major events, Niantic sometimes offers Timed Research events where you can earn an Unova Stone upon completion. These tasks are temporary and are generally available to all players who log in during the event period.
Benefits of Timed Research Events:
- Event-Exclusive Rewards: Unlike regular research, Timed Research often includes better or rarer rewards, including Unova Stones.
- Clear Objectives: Timed Research typically has clear goals, making it easy to track your progress.
- Higher Odds During Special Events: Events like GO Fest, Halloween, or other region-themed events may increase your odds of earning items like the Unova Stone.
Additional Tips for Getting Unova Stones Faster
While the above methods are reliable, here are a few additional tips to help you maximize your chances of obtaining Unova Stones in Pokémon GO:
- Play Daily: By logging in daily and completing regular research tasks, you increase your odds of a weekly breakthrough reward containing an Unova Stone.
- Coordinate with Friends: Certain events offer in-game rewards through friend interactions, so playing with friends could increase your event rewards.
- Stay Informed: Keeping track of special events and promotions ensures you never miss out on time-limited opportunities for rare items.
Key Takeaways
Getting an Unova Stone in Pokémon GO requires persistence and strategy, but with consistent gameplay, you can build up a collection over time. Here’s a quick summary to help you get started:
- Weekly Field Research Breakthroughs: Complete daily tasks for weekly rewards with a chance for Unova Stones.
- Special Research Tasks: Participate in themed tasks for rare items.
- Community Day Events: Play during Community Days to complete special research tasks for Unova Stones.
- Team GO Rocket Battles: Battle Team GO Rocket leaders for rare item drops.
- Pokémon GO Battle League: Compete in the GO Battle League to earn high-rank rewards that may include Unova Stones.
- Timed Research Events: Log in during special events to access time-limited tasks with higher Unova Stone rewards.
With these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to evolving your Unova Pokémon and enhancing your team. Good luck, Trainer, and enjoy your journey through Pokémon GO!