Pokemon Unite Update Improves the Sense of Paying to Win in the Game

Pokemon Unite Update Improves the Sense of Paying to Win in the Game.

Even if you haven't invested any money into the popular Pokemon-themed MOBA, the latest update seeks to level the playing field.

POKÉMON UNITE GAME UPDATE 9/22

However there is no denying that Pokemon Unite is a lot of fun, there has always been a gap between paying and free-to-play gamers. The new patch aims to address this by making a variety of improvements that will benefit everyone who completes the game in its entirety.

Although Pokemon Unite's primary gameplay loop made it simpler to pick up and play, there remained a recurring difficulty in balancing players who were ready to reach for their money and those who didn't want to or couldn't afford to. The latest patch primarily aims to remedy this by being far more fair to the latter set of Pokemon Unite players.

The major source of contention among Pokemon Unite fans was how the game's monetization tactics influenced the in-game goods that players could attach to their individual Pokemon. These goods had a variety of benefits, from boosting critical hit rates on strikes to healing a player simply over time. The benefits conferred by these items get greater as they level up, giving lasting effects. While players may level up these goods just by playing the game, this can be a time-consuming process, thus Pokemon Unite adds microtransactions to help speed things along.

Although completely improved items are unlikely to outperform a more experienced squad, they do provide an innate advantage over equally organized groups. This would naturally create an unequal playing field for those who are unwilling to pay for this shortcut. However, as Pokemon Unite grows in popularity, it demonstrates that it is capable of addressing these and other issues.

Players of Pokemon Unite may receive unique new goods called Super Item Enhancers as part of the current patch's promotion. Players can upgrade their equipment to their maximum rank instantaneously with these goods (which are obtained at certain leveling stages). Additionally, utilizing these enhancers on things that have already progressed to their maximum level will compensate for the difference with weaker versions of the enhancers, essentially "making change" for them.

The addition of these Super Item Enhancers will undoubtedly level the playing field for all players, regardless of their spending habits in the game, but the patch's changes don't stop there. There are various configurable settings, as well as challenges, an event pass, and new events, in addition to the enhancers. The events in question lavishly reward players with both simply aesthetic rewards and awards that have a direct impact on gameplay. With all of these incentives and changes to assist new or casual players get on a level playing field, it's probable that some Unite players' frustrations will be alleviated.

The entire set of patch notes for Pokemon Unite version 1.2.1.3 can be found below:

New Battle Pass: Galactic Ghost 094

This new battle pass features space-themed items straight out of a galaxy full of twinkling stars.

New Feature: Unite Squads

OTHER UPDATES

• Special mission added to receive the Unite license for Zeraora.
• New event added for held items.
• New Battle Guide feature added to the game.
• New Spectate feature added to the game.
• “Good job!” accolades can now be given during battle.
• New Offline Mode feature added to the Nintendo Switch version.
• Shop updated.
• Bugs fixed.
• Text issues fixed.
• UI adjusted.
• Changes made to some Trainer fashion item designs.
• Changes have been made to some Pokémon stats and moves to adjust the balance of Unite Battles.

Details

Absol: Night Slash

• Cooldown reduced.
• Area of effect adjusted.

Absol: Sucker Punch

• Cooldown reduced.
• Duration of unstoppable condition while move is in use increased

Zeraora: Slash

• Number of attacks decreased.
• Damage of each attack increased.

Zeraora: Spark

• Lengthened the time allowed between uses to make the move easier to use.
• The number of attacks in the Wild Charge combo will now increase even if the player performs a basic attack while using Spark.

Zeraora: Wild Charge

• Cooldown reduced.
• Damage taken by the user while this move is in use reduced.

Charizard: Fire Punch

• Target(s) affected by the burn adjusted.

Charizard: Flamethrower

• Movement speed increase strengthened.

Charizard: Fire Blast

• Cooldown reduced.

Charizard: Unite Move (Seismic Slam)

• This move has been changed to the following:
• Has the user grab a Pokémon from the opposing team and slam it onto the ground from the air. For a short time afterward, the user can move freely over obstacles. While this Unite Move is being used, the user’s basic attacks deal increased damage and leave opposing Pokémon burned. In addition, when the user deals damage to an opposing Pokémon, the user recovers HP.
• Unite Move charge rate decreased.
• Fixed a bug affecting the possible timing for ending this move.

Venusaur: Giga Drain

• Damage reduction increased.

Venusaur: Petal Dance

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon increased.
• Cooldown reduced.
• Movement speed increase strengthened.

Cinderace: Pyro Ball

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon increased.
• Cooldown reduced.

Cinderace: Flame Charge

• Cooldown reduced.

Cinderace: Unite Move (Blazing Bicycle Kick)

• Fixed a bug that occurred when the move fails to activate.

Cinderace: Blaze

• Ability effect timing adjusted.

Talonflame

• Attack increased.

Talonflame: Fly

• Cooldown reduced.
• Aerial movement speed increase strengthened.

Talonflame: Unite Move (Flame Sweep)

• Unite Move charge rate increased.

Garchomp

• Defense and Sp. Def increased.

Garchomp: Rough Skin

• Adjusted the time between instances of this Ability’s effect triggering.

Greninja

• Attack and max HP decreased.

Greninja: Smokescreen

• Fixed a bug causing the Smokescreen+ effect to trigger even before the move is upgraded.

Greninja: Double Team

• Improved the movement of the illusory copies.

Greninja: Water Shuriken

• Fixed a bug affecting the decrease to opposing Pokémon’s movement speed.

Greninja: Unite Move (Waterburst Shuriken)

• Adjusted the move to allow it to trigger more quickly.

Greninja: Torrent

• Attack increase weakened.

Wigglytuff:

• Max-level Sp. Atk decreased.

Wigglytuff: Pound

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon decreased.

Wigglytuff: Dazzling Gleam

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon decreased.

Wigglytuff: Sing

• Fixed a bug affecting opposing Pokémon put to sleep by this move.

Wigglytuff: Cute Charm

• Adjusted the time between instances of this Ability’s effect triggering.

Cramorant: Boosted Attack

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon increased.

Cramorant: Surf

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon decreased.

Cramorant: Dive

• Cooldown reduced.

Cramorant: Unite Move (Gatling Gulp Missile)

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon decreased.

Lucario: Power-Up Punch

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon decreased.

Lucario: Close Combat

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon increased.
• Number of attacks increased.

Lucario: Close Combat+

• Fixed a bug affecting this move’s damage.

Alolan Ninetales: Blizzard

• Changed how the move deals damage after the blizzard hits an obstacle.

Alolan Ninetales: Unite Move (Snow Globe)

• Fixed bugs.

Alolan Ninetales: Snow Warning

• Fixed bugs.

Eldegoss: Cotton Guard

• Fixed a bug affecting the HP recovery when the move ends.

Eldegoss: Leaf Tornado

• Improved the move’s effects and adjusted the move to match the feel of the controls.

Gardevoir: Boosted Attack

• Fixed a bug affecting this move’s damage.

Gardevoir: Psyshock+

• Fixed bugs.

Snorlax: Yawn

• Fixed a bug affecting opposing Pokémon put to sleep by this move.

Gengar: Lick

• Fixed a bug that occurred when opposing Pokémon are pulled toward the user.
• Fixed a bug affecting this move’s timing.

Mr. Mime: Barrier

• Adjusted the move so that it when it is upgraded, it refills its reserve uses to the maximum.

Mr. Mime: Guard Swap

• Fixed a bug affecting the swapping of Defense.

Crustle

• Adjusted the Pokémon’s contact area.

Slowbro: Basic Attack

• Fixed a bug causing both basic attacks and boosted attacks to decrease the Sp. Def of opposing Pokémon.

Slowbro: Surf

• Adjusted the area of effect.

Machamp: Unite Move (Barrage Blow)

• Fixed a bug with the shove effect.
• Fixed a bug with the move being used on superjump springboards.

Blastoise: Rapid Spin

• Fixed a bug causing attacks performed while spinning to decrease the movement speed of opposing Pokémon.
• Fixed a bug allowing the user to use either Hydro Pump or Water Spout at the same time as basic attacks while spinning.

Wild Pokémon: Regigigas

• As a balance adjustment, added the following effect when this Pokémon is defeated:
• For a short time, your team’s goal-scoring speed increases and your team’s goals become unblockable.

After maintenance begins, some types of rewards will no longer be available for claiming.

Please be aware of the points listed below.

BATTLE PASS

Any battle pass points from completing Season 1 First Half missions that have not yet been claimed will become unavailable for claiming.

However, reward items for reaching new battle pass levels, as well as battle pass prize boxes, will be sent to you via the game's mail system at a later date.

EVENTS

If a reward's claim period ends during maintenance, that reward will become unavailable for claiming once maintenance begins.

In addition, the stock of items in the following locations will change during maintenance:

• Items available as energy rewards
• Items available for exchange with Holowear tickets in Zirco Trading

Pokemon Unite is now available for the Nintendo Switch as well as mobile platforms.

H/S: Pokemon Unite