The announcement of a Pokémon MOBA caught everyone a bit by surprise. That’s why we decided to create a Pokémon Unite guide, drawing together everything we know about the arena battler. We’ve got details on how the game plays, the Pokémon Unite release date, and all the Pokémon that are set to arrive on release.
The announcement of a Pokémon MOBA received a mixed reaction from fans, but having seen the game, we’re actually pretty excited. With its unique scoring system and Pokémon catching, Unite feels like a loose take on the MOBA, and could quite easily expand into other fun Brawl Stars-esque party modes that take more influence from games like Pokémon Stadium.
We’re not sure how it’ll pan out exactly, but this Pokémon Unite guide will be kept updated with any and all new details we discover!
When is the Pokémon Unite release date?
Pokémon Unite is out now on Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
What does the Pokémon Unite map look like?
In the initial gameplay reveal, we got a look at Pokémon Unite’s map. Here’s how it works:
- The map looks heavily-inspired by popular MOBAs like League of Legends and features four control points on each side, and one at each base
- The key difference to most MOBAs is that Unite doesn’t have a central lane, and instead features an open, wilder arena, where players will catch Pokémon
- Another difference is that these control points aren’t turrets, but are more like goals where players deposit the points they’ve accrued from catching Pokémon
- The map is split into two sides, and each team has five goals on their side
- The goals also heal players who stand in them
- Players destroy the opposing team’s goals by scoring in them enough, which prevents them being used to score further, or as healing points
What about the Pokémon Unite gameplay?
Here’s what we know about the Pokémon Unite gameplay:
- Pokémon Unite is a five vs. five MOBA, where two teams compete to catch the most Pokémon, gaining points as they deposit them in the goals
- Each player chooses a Pokémon to play as, and each fulfils different roles
- As you gain xp from battling other players and catching Pokémon, you evolve, and are able to choose new moves that focus you towards close, or long range attacks
- When you reach a high enough level, you are able to use a powerful and unique unite move
- Unlike regular Pokémon, Unite has no type advantages, so everything has the same effectiveness
- Players are interrupted if they are attacked while trying to score
- Every point scored in the final two minutes is doubled
- The team that gains the highest score before the timer runs down, wins
Will Pokémon Unite have crossplay?
The Pokémon Unite presentation revealed that the game will feature crossplay between Android, iOS, and Switch, meaning you can play with your friends on other platforms.
What Pokémon can you play as in Pokémon Unite?
It’s likely that as the game goes on, more Pokémon will be added to Unite, but for now, here are the ones we know about:
- Absol
- Alolan Ninetails (including Alolan Vulpix)
- Blastoise (including Squirtle and Wartortle)
- Charizard (including Charmander and Charmeleon)
- Cinderace (including Scorbunny and Raboot)
- Clefable (including Clefairy)
- Cramorant
- Crustle (including Dwebble)
- Eldegoss (including Gossifleur)
- Garchomp (including Gible and Gabite)
- Gardevoir (including Ralts and Kirlia)
- Gengar (including Gastly and Haunter)
- Greninja (including Froakie and Frogadier)
- Lucario
- Machamp (including Machop and Machoke)
- Mr Mime
- Pikachu
- Slowbro (including Slowpoke)
- Snorlax
- Talonflame (including Fletchling and Fletchinder)
- Venusaur (including Bulbasaur and Ivysaur)
You can play as some of these Pokémon, while you’ll have to catch the others on the game map.
How will Pokémon Unite evolutions work?
There’s currently a little confusion surrounding evolutions, since to evolve and choose abilities as the game goes on, you should have to choose a Pokémon in its most basic form. From what we’ve seen, you choose the most evolved form in the selection menu, and then start the game in its most basic form. For example, if you choose a Charizard, you start as a Charmander, or if you choose Blastoise, you start as Squirtle.
The only exception to this seems to be Pikachu, who you choose as Pikachu, but doesn’t appear in the game as Pichu, or evolve into Raichu.
Pokémon Unite review: what’s our verdict so far?
We’re excited for Pokémon Unite. Changing up the turrets and making the game centre around catching Pokémon and scoring, makes it feel like a much looser take on the MOBA genre. Like Brawl Stars, we might even see some more inventive party-esque modes that take influence from classic games like Pokémon Stadium. That’s our hope anyway!
For more games like Pokémon Unite, be sure to see our list of the best mobile MOBAs. We also have lots of Pokémon Go content for anyone who enjoys the AR game.