Pokemon Unite Update Makes Game Feel Less Pay to Win

While there is undoubtedly lots of fun to be had in Pokemon Unite, there was always a divide between paying players and those who were free-to-play. The latest patch intends to fix that by greatly through introducing a number of changes that ultimately benefit anyone who completes a full game.

While the core gameplay loop of Pokemon Unite makes it easier to pick up and play, there was a persistent issue in balancing between players willing to reach for their wallets and those that either don't want to or can't afford to. Primarily, the newest patch intends to address this in being much more generous to the latter group of Pokemon Unite players.

The issue between this divide in players mainly came down to how the game's monetization practices affected the in-game items Pokemon Unite players could equip to their respective Pokemon. These items had a wide set of effects, ranging from increasing critical hit rates on attacks to flatly healing a player over time. As these items level up, the bonuses they confer naturally become stronger, granting permanent effects. While players can gain levels in these items by simply playing the game, this process can become a real slog, and so Pokemon Unite includes microtransactions to expedite the process.

While the edge that fully upgraded items give will likely not overcome a more skilled team, they most certainly give an inherent advantage over similarly coordinated teams. This would naturally create an uneven playing field against players who aren't willing to break out the cash for this shortcut. But as Pokemon Unite continues to gain immense popularity, it shows that it is able to address these and other concerns.

With the new patch comes an event where players of Pokemon Unite can earn special new items called Super Item Enhancers. With these items (which are earned at various leveling milestones), players can upgrade their items to their max rank immediately. Additionally, using these enhancers on items that already have progress towards their max level will make up the difference with less powerful versions of the enhancers, effectively "making change" for them.

The introduction of these Super Item Enhancers will assuredly make the game more even for players no matter their spending habits with the game, but the patch's additions don't end there. Aside from the enhancers, there are numerous customizable options as well as challenges, an event pass, and new events. The events in question reward players rather lavishly with both purely cosmetic rewards as well as prizes that can have a real effect on gameplay. With all of these incentives and tweaks to help new or casual players get to a level playing field, this will likely curb frustrations some Unite players have found unfair.

Below is the full list of patch notes for Pokemon Unite version 1.2.1.3:

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.

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.

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: