Pokémon Go Unova Stone is an evolution item that’s required to evolve some Generation 5 Pokémon. Just like the Sinnoh Stone, it replaces multiple specialized stones from the main Pokémon games with one item to make a lot of evolutions easy to process. But the Unova Stone is rare and can be complex to obtain, but you must get the stones to complete your Pokédex or power up your team with final-stage Gen 5 Pokémon evolutions. This guide will tell you what the Unova Stones do, how to get them, which Pokémon need them, and how to use them without wasting a rare resource.
How to Get Unova Stones in Pokémon Go
Unlike some evolution items that might occasionally drop from PokéStops, Unova Stones play hard to get. They only appear through a handful of in-game activities:
- Weekly Research Breakthroughs: Complete a Field Research task every day for seven days to unlock a Research Breakthrough box. There’s no guarantee of a Unova Stone inside, but it’s one of your best consistent chances.
- Team GO Rocket Leader Battles: Arlo, Cliff, Sierra, and even Giovanni sometimes drop an Unova Stone after defeat. If you’re already hunting Shadow Legendaries or farming Rocket Radar parts, you’re killing two Pidoves with one stone here.
- Special Research Rewards: Occasionally, a special event or storyline quest appears with a guaranteed Unova Stone in the reward pool. These are rare, so when you see one, grab it.
A Unova Stone isn’t something you want to throw at the first eligible Pokémon you see. Some evolutions are just for Pokédex completion, while others turn your Pokémon into PvP or raid beasts.
Here’s a quick trainer’s take:
- High Priority: Lampent → Chandelure (incredible Ghost/Fire attacker)
- Mid Priority: Eelektrik → Eelektross, Musharna, Cinccino
- Low Priority: Pansage/Pansear/Panpour lines unless you go for regional collection flex
What Pokémon Use Unova Stones to Evolve?
Right now, these Pokémon are the only ones that evolve with Unova Stone:
- Lampent → Chandelure – A strong Ghost/Fire attacker that can smash raid bosses and spook PvP opponents in equal measure.
- Eelektrik → Eelektross – An Electric-type with no weaknesses (thanks to Levitate in the main games and no Ground weakness in Go).
- Pansage → Simisage – Regional exclusive Grass monkey.
- Pansear → Simisear – Regional exclusive Fire monkey.
- Panpour → Simipour – Regional exclusive Water monkey.
- Minccino → Cinccino – A Normal-type with a fluffy aesthetic but modest battle potential.
- Munna → Musharna – Psychic-type that’s more about the Pokédex than the meta.
Many new trainers get an Unova Stone but don’t have the Candy to go with it. Chandelure and Eelektross take 100 Candy and the stone, while all others require 50 Candy. To get more Candy fast, keep feeding buddy Pokémon, evolve in Community Days when they arrive, and raid when possible.
While you can’t trade the stone, some Unova Pokémon that use it for evolution also have trade-based alternate evolutions (like Karrablast and Shelmet). If you’re lucky enough to have a local friend or an online trading buddy, you can save a mountain of candy.
How to Best Use Unona Stones in Pokémon Go
Chandelure is the top pick because this critter is very powerful with high DPS, a double-use typing, and is valuable in both raids and some PvP formats. If you get a good IV Litwick or Lampent, invest your Unova Stone.
Before evolving, check the Pokémon’s final CP, moveset, and role using the Pokémon Go evolution calculator. So you don’t waste a rare item on something you’ll never use.
