Message from the Producer - Dec 1, 2023
We have a message to share from the Producer of Pokémon UNITE, Yuki Gabe:
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Greetings Trainers,
With 2023 coming to a close and 2024 just a few short weeks away, we have some upcoming updates to Pokémon UNITE that we’re excited to share with you. Over the next few months, we’ll be making several changes centered around the overall game balance and play experience.
In order to maintain balance in Unite Battles, we will continue to adjust the balance of Pokémon, as well as introduce various measures to the ranked match system. These measures will include some temporary experimental changes, and we will be observing player reactions as well as their overall impact on the game in an ongoing effort to improve game balance.
EX License
EX licenses are a new classification for some existing and upcoming Pokémon’s Unite licenses. While this won’t change the power level of these specific Pokémon, it will allow us to enact special regulations in ranked matches where one or more Master-rank players are participating. Beginning on December 5, 2023, we will be adding the EX license classification. Additionally, we will be reclassifying the following Pokémon to use EX licenses:
- Zacian
- Mewtwo (X)
- Mewtwo (Y)
In Ranked Season 17 starting on January 16, 2024, the use of EX licenses (including the 3 Pokémon listed above) in each team will be prohibited. Regulations will change for each series and will be announced before the start of the series. You will be able to play as usual in Unite Battles other than ranked matches.
Draft Pick in Ranked Matches
In Ranked Season 18 starting on February 27, 2024, draft pick battles will be introduced. Draft pick battles will allow both teams to vote on a Pokémon to ban from play. After both teams select a Pokémon to ban, players then take turns choosing their Pokémon without choosing any Pokémon more than once, regardless of which team has chosen it.
These draft pick battles will be the same that are used in tournaments leading up to the Pokémon World Championships, but we are considering ways to change the format to better suit ranked matches—without necessarily adhering to the same rules. Also, while we are targeting Master-rank players, we are still considering the affected ranks and format of this temporary addition.
Additional Held Items & Battle Items
In the November update, adjustments were made to many held items and battle items. Moving forward, we will be adding and adjusting more of these items to help balance both Pokémon and the items themselves.
On December 5, 2023, two new held items will be available in the in-game shop:
- Charging Charm
- Resonant Guard
Please look forward to all this and more coming to Pokémon UNITE in 2024.
- Yuki Gabe
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