Pokemon Unite launched with some incredible success. While it is a little expected since the series has a fanbase spanning over two decades, it is always refreshing to see beloved franchises excel in a new area. Pokemon Unite’s unique approach to MOBA gameplay provides a fun and rewarding experience while also curtailing some of the problems that other titles have had.
Despite these efforts, there are still changes that Pokemon Unite needs to address. Aspects of the game could be filled out more as a way to reward players and help with some of the game’s current balancing issues. On top of this, Pokemon Unite still has some categories it could fill based on its current roles for Pokemon. Right now, melee attacker, ranged speedster, and ranged all-arounder Pokemon are absent from the game. These gaps could easily be filled with new additions in the future.
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Melee Attackers
Melee attackers seem like they would be the easiest to incorporate. While there are Pokemon that excel at damage, they’re either restricted to ranged roles or are focused into the speedster category. While both have their strengths, the versatility of some potential melee attackers could give Pokemon Unite’s gameplay some more depth. Pokemon like Haxorus, Aegislash, and Urshifu could all do this by stepping into the role.
Both Urshifu and Aegislash could be built with the idea of stance or form changes incorporated into their playstyle. Aegislash’s ability to deal rapid attacks would allow the Pokemon to get in the middle of fights and be a devastating opponent. Being able to flex as Aegislash with heavy damage could make it a great choice for players that want to rival even the best Gengar builds, and the Pokemon boasts some of the strongest offensive stats in the franchise.
Urshifu’s Unseen Fist and different strike styles from Pokemon Sword and Shield could be worked into a very rewarding kit. With options between Wicked Blow, Surging Strikes, and Drain Punch, Urshifu could be leveraged into a formidable foe. With how effective walls and shields currently are in Pokemon Unite, incorporating Wicked Blow as Urshifu’s Unite move could also help to keep the Pokemon balanced while keeping aspects of its character intact.
Haxorus could also provide its own unique gameplay, even if it doesn’t seem as flashy as the other two options. With moves like Guillotine, Breaking Swipe, Payback, and Dragon Dance at the Pokemon’s disposal, it could thrive in team fights. Right now, large engagements are often dominated by Pokemon like Zeraora and Snorlax because of their speed and endurance. With a Pokemon like Haxorus taking advantage of the middle ground, it might not be as difficult to eliminate as the tanky defenders, but it can still keep up with some of the intense damage that ranged attackers and speedsters can deliver.
Ranged Speedsters
Having strong melee attackers will require a counter, though, and this is where the addition of some ranged speedsters could really help the game. Right now, melee speedsters, while vital to a lot of gameplay, can be at a significant disadvantage. If something goes wrong or the speedster finds themselves isolated, it can be an easy way to lose any of the orbs that have been collected.
With ranged speedsters, that little bit of extra room would allow them to participate in fights from a safe distance while also acting as heavy, and obnoxious, counters to those that excel at close quarters interactions. Alakazam, the Mythical Pokemon Darkrai, Accelgor, and Inteleon could all bring their strengths to the party. With varying levels of speed and attack, there could be plenty of ways to play, and each one could be specialized to feel like a new experience.
Some players might see these additions as imbalanced, but their poor survivability makes them a prime target for the other ranged Pokemon. Pikachu, Slowbro, and Gardevoir are all likely to shut down any ranged speedsters with general ease. Still, their incorporation would add another layer of depth and make them great counters to some of those Pokemon that already perform remarkably well.
Darkrai in particular could be designed as a blitz option that has a specific focus on being able to escape. By leveraging its signature move Dark Void, Darkrai could choose to attack or flee based on how a player thinks an interaction will go. Wigglytuff's builds already provide some great survivability, but it is primarily a supporter. With Darkrai’s offensive capabilities, a ranged speedster role could see the shadowy Pokemon in and out of fights with ease.
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Ranged All-Arounders
The ranged all-arounders might feel like a hard spot to fill, but there are two great options for this role. Dragapult and Togekiss could fill the position and dominate matches similarly to Lucario and Garchomp. Both Pokemon could thrive at a distance and would be able to deliver sustained damage.
Dragapult’s Dragon Darts in particular would be interesting to see in-game. As a viable option for distance, it could easily challenge Pokemon like Alolan Ninetails and keep plenty of space between it. Dragapult could also bounce between close and ranged attacks with a move like Phantom Force, using the corporeal nature of the attack to move in close or escape as necessary. This is a little different than the current all-arounders, but would still help to show how diverse this classification could be.
Togekiss's bulkiness, on the other hand, could make it a menace as a ranged all-arounder, with the Pokemon not even needing to consider closing the gap. Its Super Luck could also be used with the held items in Pokemon Unite to make its critical hit damage consistent and lethal in-game. With strong attacks and ample health, Togekiss could likely dominate the early and mid-game stages and still be a strong contribution to the final minutes of the match.
Regardless of if Dragapult or Togekiss fill this role, balancing it will likely be a difficult task in the future. Many players already feel that there are balance issues with Zapdos buffs and the double-scoring mechanics in the last two minutes. As such, adding two Pokemon that have the potential to snowball so well could be detrimental.
Still, they could also really help to diversify the current all-arounder role. It's one that is pretty straightforward, and like the other missing roles, could use some extra attention in the future. With many feeling that Pokemon Unite already needs to add one character, fans are clearly anxious to see the roster continue to fill out.
Pokemon Unite is available now on Switch and will be coming to mobile in the future.
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