11 September 2026 · 3 min read
Short answer: you can't get Unova Stones from PokéStops or from battling other players. They come from beating Team GO Rocket Leaders (Cliff, Arlo and Sierra) and from Research Breakthroughs. Leaders are the only source with no known daily limit, so that's where to focus.
Each stone evolves one of seven Unova Pokémon, such as Lampent into Chandelure.
Where to get Unova Stones
| Source | What you need | Stone odds |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket Leaders (Cliff, Arlo, Sierra) | A Rocket Radar | ~6% per item reward 1 or 2 a win |
| Research Breakthrough | 7 Field Research stamps | ~13% |
| Event research | A task that lists one | Guaranteed |
Drop rates have never been published officially. These figures come from community studies (a 2021 study of 1,166 Leader battles and a 2023 study of 180 Breakthroughs), so treat them as a rough guide. A Leader gives two item rewards if you have no room for its Strange Egg, otherwise one. Evolution items generally don't drop until you're level 10.
Not a source: PokéStop and Gym spins, the 7-day spin streak, Gifts, Grunts, GO Battle League, Trainer and Team Leader battles, raids, trading and regular shop items. Many guides still list Giovanni too, but his Unova Stone reward was removed in 2020.
The fastest way to get Unova Stones
- Beat Team GO Rocket Grunts. Each win gives a Mysterious Component, and six build a Rocket Radar. The live Team GO Rocket map shows invaded PokéStops as they happen.
- Equip the Radar and beat a Leader. It shows nearby Leader hideouts, and your next Team GO Rocket balloon will carry a Leader too. Losing doesn't use up the Radar, so heal up and try again.
- Use each Radar before farming more. Grunts don't give components while you're holding one. After your first Radar, you can also buy them in the shop.
- Finish one Field Research task a day. Seven stamps open a Research Breakthrough, and the days don't need to be in a row. Any task counts, so the live Field Research search is handy for finding a quick one.
Keep some space in your item bag, because a full bag blocks battle rewards.
Every Pokémon that evolves with a Unova Stone
There are seven, and each needs one stone plus Candy:
| Pokémon | Evolves into | Candy |
|---|---|---|
| Pansage | Simisage | 50 |
| Pansear | Simisear | 50 |
| Panpour | Simipour | 50 |
| Munna | Musharna | 50 |
| Minccino | Cinccino | 50 |
| Eelektrik | Eelektross | 100 (Tynamo Candy) |
| Lampent | Chandelure | 100 (Litwick Candy) |
Pansage, Pansear and Panpour are regional exclusives, so you may need a trade to get all three.
To see every one you own, paste this into your Pokémon storage search (more tricks in the search strings guide):
pansage,pansear,panpour,munna,minccino,eelektrik,lampent
Best Pokémon to use a Unova Stone on
Lampent into Chandelure comes first. It's a useful Ghost and Fire raid attacker and one of the best of both types as a Shadow, so evolve a Shadow Lampent before a regular one. The other six are mainly for your Pokédex, so evolve them when you have stones to spare. Full rankings are on best attackers.
Unova Stone vs Sinnoh Stone
They're different items with different sources. Sinnoh Stones evolve 18 older Pokémon and come from Trainer Battles, Team Leaders and GO Battle League, none of which give Unova Stones. The one regular source they share is the Research Breakthrough. See how to get Sinnoh Stones.
FAQ
- Can you get Unova Stones from PokéStops?
- No. Spinning PokéStops or Gyms doesn't give Unova Stones, and they aren't in Gifts or the 7-day spin streak reward either, which gives a Johto evolution item such as a Sun Stone or King's Rock. Unova Stones come from Team GO Rocket Leaders, Research Breakthroughs and occasional event research.
- What is the fastest way to get Unova Stones?
- Farm Team GO Rocket Leaders. Beat six Grunts to build a Rocket Radar, then beat Cliff, Arlo or Sierra. Each win gives one or two random item rewards, either of which can be a Unova Stone, and losing doesn't use up the Radar. On top of that, claim a Research Breakthrough every seven Field Research stamps.
- Does Giovanni drop Unova Stones?
- Not any more. Giovanni gave a Unova Stone until July 2020. His rewards now include Stardust, Max Potions, Max Revives and a Shadow Legendary encounter, but no stone. Plenty of guides still list him as a source.
- Can you get Unova Stones from GO Battle League?
- No. GO Battle League, Trainer Battles and Team Leader battles can give Sinnoh Stones, but none of them give Unova Stones.
- How rare are Unova Stones?
- The odds have never been published officially. A 2021 community study of 1,166 Rocket Leader battles found a stone in about 6% of item rewards (roughly 1 in 17), and a 2023 study of 180 Research Breakthroughs found one in about 13%.
- Which Pokémon evolve with a Unova Stone?
- Seven: Pansage, Pansear, Panpour, Munna and Minccino for 50 Candy each, and Eelektrik and Lampent for 100 Candy each. Chandelure, from Lampent, is the only one that stands out for raids.
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