Blastoise is the newest character added to the Pokemon Unite roster, and has caused quite a controversy thanks to a recently discovered glitch. It essentially makes Blastoise invincible, which is destroying fair gameplay during Ranked matches.
The Gen-I Defender is already a force to be reckoned with if the best Blastoise Builds are used, so using this unintended gameplay exploit is considered cheating by many players. Especially if implemented during Ranked matches, which determine the rewards players receive at the end of a season.
As pointed out by Reddit user AgentUndertaker, and other members of the Pokemon Unite community, the Blastoise glitch occurs when its Unite Move is used. The bug causes the powerful attack to cancel and leave the move’s bar at 90%. The special attack does not cause any damage, but it does activate shields attached to Blastoise’s Unite ability. Players are still able to attack normally while shielded, building up to 100% very quickly and able to pop another Unite in under ten seconds. This can be repeated multiple times in a row, making Blastoise almost unkillable with the right Held Items equipped.
A similar glitch was occurring with Wigglytuff and Crustle, but the popularity of Blastoise has resulted in the exploit being shared more liberally between fans. Players taking advantage of the Blastoise bug are progressing through the Pokemon Unite Ranks, creating unbalanced match-ups, repetitive gameplay, and lost ranks for those on the receiving end of the glitch. The exploit is made even more frustrating when a Buddy Barrier is used with the Unite Move, as it creates additional shields for the user, and the nearest ally Pokemon.
There has been no indication from TiMi Studios that it is aware of the controversy, but popular content creators are sharing their thoughts. Youtuber aDrive has apologized for using the exploit during a stream, while fellow content creator spragels addressed the bug in a short video, calling it a cheat and asking players not to use it. However, as the comments on AgentUndertaker’s Reddit post show, Pokemon fans are divided on the matter. Some are calling it an obvious cheat that needs a hotfix, especially because of how it is affecting Ranked gameplay.
Other players are calling it a fair way to combat the Pokemon Unite pay-to-win model that can propel some to the higher ranks in exchange for real money. As Held Items can be upgraded by using Aeos Gems, it is easy for those with the available funds to buy their way to higher stat levels. A certain level of skill is required as well, but having three level thirty Held Items can give users huge advantages over players using lower leveled items.
Pokemon Unite is available now on Nintendo Switch, and releases on September 22 for mobile devices.