Pokémon UNITE is a spin-off Pokémon game in the form of a free-to-start multiplayer online battle arena. It is available on the Nintendo Switch[1] with a planned release for Android & iOS in September 2021.
Gameplay
During gameplay, the player will partake in team-based battles called Unite Battles in which two teams of five Pokémon battle against each other and other wild Pokémon. Once a Pokémon is defeated, opponent or wild, the player collects Aeos Energy in Unite Balls which can then be carried to the opposing team's goal zones, dispensing the energy and collecting points for the team. The player is able to heal by standing in their own team's goal zone. The winner is decided by the higher final score of both teams once the battle timer is over.
While battling, the player is also able to level up once they defeat enough Pokémon and can even make their playable Pokémon evolve depending on the species. Leveling up can also help to charge the Pokémon's Unite Move gauge. Once a Pokémon's Unite Move gauge is fully filled, they will be able to use a powerful Unite Move.
The game will have cross-platform player connection, allowing for players of different platforms to play alongside each other.
Playable Pokémon
At the beginning of a match, players will be able to select which Pokémon they want to play as from a roster. This will be followed by any other teammates choosing their own Pokémon and a match beginning.
Each Pokémon has different roles. The five different roles that can be played in Pokemon Unite are Speedster, Attacker, Defender, Supporter, and All-rounder. These roles all have different base stats and are better in some aspects of the games than others. For example, Defenders have high defense which allows them to play as a meat-shield to the attackers which has fairly low hp, but high attack.
At the start of matches, players start off as the base form of their selected Pokémon and start at Level 1. In order to evolve, they must fight wild or opposing Pokémon during the match, gaining Aeos Energy and leveling up once they defeat them. Some Pokémon will evolve upon leveling up, making their attacks stronger.
Game Modes
There are four different types of game modes: Practice, Standard, Ranked, and Quick. In practice battles, you verse against an NPC that uses the Pokémon that you choose. You can also choose any Pokémon, even if you don't have the unite license for it yet. You may quit anytime. In standard battles, you can play with 3 different types of settings, CPU match where you play with four of your friends, and against 5 CPUs. In random matches, you play with any random players that are online, and finally friend matches where you play with nine of your friends. Standard matches are played as a 10-minute game. In ranked matches, you need to be at least player level 6 to play and is played in a 5v5 format. In ranked matches, you gain performances points depending on your success. With performance points, you gain a rank that determines which players you play with because matchmaking is done by pairing up people with similar performance points. Ranked matches also played as 10-minute games. In Quick Battles, you need to be at least player level 8 to be able to play. It is played in a 3v3 or 4v4 format depending on the map. It is technically a mini version of the normal standard and ranked matches. As its name suggests, these games can be played faster than the standard and ranked matches and only measure 5 minutes each game.
Trivia
- Raichu, Slowking, Gallade and all Baby Pokémon are not playable Pokémon, despite their pre-evolutions/evolutions being playable.
- However, Slowking and Gallade may have been excluded likely due to Slowpoke and Kirlia's branched evolution into Slowbro and Gardevoir, respectively.
- All temporary transformations, including Mega Evolutions, Dynamaxes, Gigantamaxes and an Ash-Greninja Bond Phenomenon, and all other alternate forms of the playable Pokémon may have also been excluded likely due their capability of the Holowear.
