Generation 5#494–#649 · 156 Pokémon

Unova Pokédex

156 new Pokémon, zero returning — the biggest roster in franchise history.

Black, White, Black 2, White 2 · Released 2010

About Generation 5

Unova is the only Pokémon region to ship with an entirely new roster of Pokémon — Gen 5's Black & White deliberately excluded every single Gen 1-4 Pokémon from the main storyline, forcing players to build a team entirely from 156 new creatures. This was a deliberate design choice by director Junichi Masuda, intended to evoke the 'everything is new' feeling of the original Red & Blue. It is also the largest single-generation roster in franchise history.

Unova lore & design

Unova is the first Pokémon region based on a location outside Japan — it's modelled on New York City, with Castelia City as Manhattan, Driftveil as Chicago and Nimbasa as Coney Island. The bridges that dominate the map's skyline reference the real-world East River crossings.

Did you know?

Black 2 & White 2 are the only direct sequels in mainline Pokémon history — every other 'third version' (Crystal, Emerald, Platinum) was a remix of an existing story, but Black 2 / White 2 take place two years after the original B/W events with a new protagonist.

A clean slate, and what it cost

Black and White made a decision no other generation has repeated: until the post-game, only the 156 new Unova Pokémon were obtainable. No Pikachu, no Zubat, nothing familiar. It is the closest the series has come to a genuine reboot, and opinion on it remains split two ways.

Mechanically, Generation 5 added Hidden Abilities, triple and rotation battles, and seasonal cycles. Hidden Abilities proved the most durable of these — a great many competitively viable Pokémon rely on one, and they remain a core part of team building.

Triple and rotation battles were dropped after Generation 6 and are now a curiosity rather than a format.

Unova's reputation problem

Unova's Pokémon were poorly received on release, partly because a generation of players met them without any familiar species alongside for comparison. That verdict has softened considerably. Volcarona, Hydreigon, Excadrill, Ferrothorn and Chandelure have all been mainstays of competitive play, and Ferrothorn in particular is one of the best defensive Pokémon ever designed.

Excadrill is worth noting as a case study in how a single ability changes everything: Sand Rush doubles its Speed in a sandstorm, which turned a middling Ground type into a threat strong enough to be banned from its tier.

All Unova Pokémon (156)

#0550basculin red striped

#0555darmanitan standard

#0641tornadus incarnate

flying

#0642thundurus incarnate

#0645landorus incarnate

Commonly Asked Questions About Unova

Why can't you catch older Pokémon in Black and White?

It was a deliberate design decision. Until the post-game, only the 156 new Unova Pokémon are obtainable, so the region would feel like a genuine fresh start. No other generation has repeated it.

What are Hidden Abilities?

Alternative abilities introduced in Generation 5, originally obtainable only through the Dream World. Many are substantially stronger than a Pokémon's standard abilities — Excadrill's Sand Rush and Chandelure's Shadow Tag are the best-known examples — and several are competitively essential.

How many Pokémon are in the Unova Pokédex?

156, numbered #494 Victini through #649 Genesect. That is the largest single-generation addition in the series, and a direct consequence of the decision to fill the entire regional dex with new species.