Pokemon Unite Patch Notes Analysis

Every couple of weeks, Pokemon Unite developers update the game. And the most recent update provided the most balances in a long time. Thereby, changing and evolving the meta. To help players understand the evolving meta of Pokemon Unite, here is a Pokemon Unite Patch Note Analysis. The Pokemon Unite Patch Note analysis will be provided after each segment, copy pasting from the base patch notes until then.

[Related: Pokemon Unite Season 4 End Date]

Pokemon Unite Patch Notes: POST-UPDATE VERSION

Ver.1.5.1.2

UPDATE DETAILS

• Bug Fixes
• Text Fixes
• Shop Updates
• Event Updates
• Battle Pass Updates

If the app has not been updated on your device, please restart the app to apply this update.

Changes have been made to some Pokémon stats and moves to adjust the balance of Unite Battles.

DETAILS

Greedent

Covet

• Changed to “Has the user run with all its might, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits and throwing them. The user then becomes resistant to hindrances for a short time. While running, the user drops Berries from its body. If the user eats a dropped Berry, its movement speed is increased for a short time. The more Berries the user eats, the more its movement speed is increased. In addition, Tackle, Belch, or Bullet Seed can also be used while the user is running. Using this move will reset the cooldown of Tackle or Belch.”

Analysis: Greedent’s been in a really weird position for quite as while. The pokemon’s counter jungling mechanic, alongside it’s uninterruptable charge makes the pokemon a hassle to deal with. Changing Covet definitely helps adjust the pokemon, but hands on experience will be necessary to properly access the playable pokemon.

Blissey

Soft-Boiled

• Changed to “Throws an egg to an ally Pokémon, restoring its HP as well as the user’s.
• A maximum of two uses can be kept in reserve for this move. If the user also learns Egg Bomb, the maximum number of uses that can be kept in reserve increases to four. In that case, this move and Egg Bomb share the same pool of uses kept in reserve.”

Egg Bomb

• Changed to “Hurls an egg at the designated location. The egg then explodes, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon in the area of effect and throwing them.
• A maximum of two uses can be kept in reserve for this move. If the user also learns Soft-Boiled, the maximum number of uses that can be kept in reserve increases to five. In that case, this move and Soft-Boiled share the same pool of uses kept in reserve.

Soft-Boiled+

• Level at which move is learned changed to 10.

Safeguard+

• Level at which move is learned changed to 10.

Helping Hand+

• Level at which move is learned changed to 12.

Egg Bomb+

• Level at which move is learned changed to 12.

Analysis: Blissey worked very interestingly previously. When played in solo queue, playing the support was really a hit or miss. The pokemon played very reliantly on the cooperation of its allies, with little to no methods to realistically carry the game on its own. But these changes essentially give Blissey more stand alone power, especially the healing it grants itself. In addition, the Egg Bomb stack charge increase should allow Blissey to deal more consistent damage over time, synergizing well with its other buff as well. 

Duraludon

Dragon Pulse

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon decreased.

Stealth Rock

• Effects adjusted.

Analysis: Despite receiving nerfs consistently, Duraludon has been a little too powerful. This addresses that issue, but shouldn’t completely butcher the pick. Expect a more balanced attacker out of Duraludon from now on. 

Alolan Ninetales

Blizzard

• Duration of effects on opposing Pokémon increased.
• Area of effect increased.

Aurora Veil

• Move Downgrade

Analysis: It’s honestly fascinating how often they nerf Aurora Veil, especially after the length of time that the pokemon was basically just trash in the meta. Aurora Veil is definitely a good move, but not powerful enough to warrant so many nerfs in a row. The Blizzard buff is appreciated though.

Talonflame

Brave Bird

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon decreased.
• Area of effect decreased.

Unite Move: Flame Sweep

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon decreased.
• Unite Move charge rate decreased.

Analysis: Now this one makes sense. Talonflame was a solo carry for quite a while, with amazing damage and escape potential. Decreasing its overall DPS should hinder the pick substantially, but not enough where the pokemon will fall out of the meta game completely. 

Lucario

Extreme Speed

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon decreased.

Analysis: Good, Lucario needed a bit of tweaking. This pokemon is seriously a problem, despite how many times the developers attempted to balance it. 

Hoopa

Trick

• Area of effect decreased.
• Cooldown lengthened.
• Range decreased.

Trick+

• HP restoration decreased.

Shadow Ball

• Duration of effects on opposing Pokémon decreased.

Phantom Force

• Cooldown reduced.
• Effects on opposing Pokémon strengthened.

Analysis: Hoopa’s been incredibly strong, and the nerfs are very much well warranted. Trick was hidden over powered, granting a lot of utility alongside damage. 

Zeraora

Discharge

• Shield effect strengthened.

Analysis: Not enough to make Zeraora meta again, but helps the weak pick out. 

Aegislash

Boosted attack

• Move Upgrade

Sacred Sword

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon increased.
• Duration of effects on opposing Pokémon increased.

Analysis: Aegislash now feels pretty good. The pick definitely required some skill and nuance before, but these changes allow the pick to shine more consistently. Increasing the damage of boosted attack is massive for helping the pokemon.

Trevenant

Branch Poke

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon increased.
• Effects on opposing Pokémon strengthened.
• Changed to “Has the user jab in the designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon and decreasing their movement speed for a short time when it hits. At the same time, the user’s HP begins to gradually recover for a short time.”

Curse

• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon increased.
• Effects on the user weakened.

Pain Split

• HP restoration increased.

Unite Move: Phantom Forest

• Unite Move charge rate increased.

Analysis: Ever since release, Trevenant has definitely been a bit underwhelming. By many of his moves, the pokemon should feel better to play. Especially curse, which wasn’t necessarily a bad move. Increasing damage dealt while decreasing the self inflicted bleed damage drastically increases the moves’ viability. And an increase in Unite Move Charge rate is always super nice, no matter which pokemon it is on.

Cramorant

Air Slash

• Move Upgrade

Unite Move: Gatling Gulp Missile

• Unite Move charge rate increased.
• Damage dealt to opposing Pokémon increased.

Analysis: Finally the DPS bird received some love. The biggest thing to note from this is the buff to Cramorant’s Unite Move, which received both charge rate increase alongside damage. Since Duralodon released, Cramorant’s definitely been feeling displaced. After all, that pokemon pretty much had Cramorant’s Unite Move in an ordinary basic move. 

Greninja

Unite Move: Waterburst Shuriken

• Unite Move charge rate increased.

Analysis: It seems the developers are generally going for a faster pace gameplay, which makes sense. This is like, the third or fourth Unite Move charge rate increase in this patch. Meaning, they want players to spam those Unite Moves  more often, resulting in faster, more impactful team fights.

Azumarill

Bubble

• Bugs fixed for the following effects on opposing Pokémon:
• decreased movement speed

Whirlpool

• Fixed bug(s) that affected the following:
• Damage

Aqua Tail

• Changed to “Increases the speed and area of effect of the user’s next three basic attacks. If these basic attacks hit from a distance, they also deal increased damage and restore the user’s HP.”

Analysis: Pretty much just bug fixes, towards tweaking the feeling of the pokemon rather than increasing or decreasing its actual strength.

Pokemon Unite Patch Update: Held Item Changes

Buddy Barrier

• Effect weakened.

Score Shield

• Cooldown lengthened.
• Adjustments

Analysis: These two held items have been overwhelmingly powerful since literally the game’s launch. And the developers finally felt comfortable nerfing both. Since the items were the biggest “pay to win” factors in Pokemon Unite, the developers were likely hesitant in tweaking them too much. This makes sense, because if they nerfed a held item that players paid tons of money to upgrade, that would make them feel incredibly bad. But now that the game has been out for a while, and held item upgrades are far easier to come by, the developers must have finally felt okay nerfing these. 

In Conclusion

The recent Pokemon Unite Patch Notes provided a lot of great balance updates, alongside some questionable ones as well. And with the sure amount of Pokemon Unite changes, the meta of Pokemon Unite is sure to change rather drastically. For more Pokemon Unite coverage, make sure to stay tuned to The Game Haus for news, meta analysis, guides, and even tier lists.

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