Pokemon Unite update today (November 1, 2024): Freezing Rush Part 2 patch notes revealed (Ver.1.16.2.8)

Pokemon Unite has rolled out a new update. Ver. 1.16.2.8, introduces Part 2 of the Freezing Rush patch, bringing numerous adjustments to balance gameplay, with buffs and nerfs applied to key Pokemon. In particular, this patch focuses on boosting underperforming creatures like Lapras, Blissey, and Greedent while reining in consistently powerful ones like Zacian, Ho-Oh, and Pikachu.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the changes introduced in this update.

Pokemon Unite Freezing Rush Part 2 update (Ver.1.16.2.8): Battle updates and balance changes

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The Pokemon Unite Freezing Rush Part 2 update offers adjustments to Pocket Monsters' stats, moves, and mechanics to address balance issues in Unite Battles.

1) Lapras

Stats

Defense: 90-550 → 90-625 (Lv.1-15)
Special Defense: 75-450 → 75-512 (Lv.1-15)

Basic Attack

Healing Effect: 2% of max HP → 3%

Bubble Beam

Shield Amount: 15% increase

Perish Song

Damage: 15% increase

Lapras’s win rate has remained low since a significant nerf in the previous update. Its durability, healing, and shield abilities have been adjusted to help the creature stay on the frontlines longer.

Perish Song damage has also been increased to allow Lapras to have a meaningful impact even without all three hits connecting.

2) Blissey

Safeguard

Shield Amount: 15% increase

Helping Hand

Cooldown: 9s → 8s
Effect Duration: 3s → 4s

Safeguard and Helping Hand have been buffed due to low usage rates, enabling Blissey to better protect allies by providing immunity to hindrances and serving as a more effective support option.

3) Greedent

Belch

Movement Speed Decrease: 15% for 1s → 40% for 2s (decreases by 10% every 0.5s)
Damage: 12% increase

Bullet Seed

Cooldown: 5s → 4.5s

Covet

Cooldown: 11s → 10s

Unite Move: Berry Belly Dive

Energy needed: 10% decrease

Due to consistently low pick rates, certain moves' cooldowns and crowd control effects have been improved to enhance Greedent’s battle capabilities. This adjustment allows Greedent to not only roam the map independently, defeat wild Pokemon and score points, but also to dive into team fights, deal damage and apply crowd control effectively.

4) Azumarill

Stats

Special Defense: 64-320 → 80-399 (Lv.1-15)

Whirlpool

Cooldown: 10s → 9s

Unite Move: Belly Bash

Shield Amount: 5% of max HP → 6.5%

With limited options for approaching opponents, particularly against ranged attackers, Azumarill’s Special Defense and Unite Move shield have been buffed. Whirlpool cooldown was also reduced for easier timing and usage.

5) Glaceon

Stats

Defense: 35-175 → 35-225 (Lv.1-15)
Special Defense: 25-134 → 25-180 (Lv.1-15)

Icicle Spear

Damage: 8% increase

Freeze Dry

Damage: 8% increase

Despite the buffs applied to Glaceon in August, its win rate has remained low, so the damage dealt by some of its moves has increased. Additionally, due to the challenging environment where Attackers with low durability are easily knocked out and struggle to perform effectively, its defense and special defense have been increased.

6) Espeon

Stats

Defense: 35-175 → 35-225 (Lv.1-15)
Special Defense: 27-135 → 27-180 (Lv.1-15)

Psyshock

Damage: 10% increase

Future Sight

Damage: 10% increase

The combination of Psyshock and Future Sight has been lacking in damage, resulting in a prolonged low win rate, so these moves have been buffed. Additionally, due to the challenging environment where Attackers with low durability struggle to perform effectively, Espeon's defense and special defense have been increased.

7) Gardevoir

Stats

Defense: 35-174 → 35-225 (Lv.1-15)
Special Defense: 27-138 → 27-175 (Lv.1-15)

Psychic

Special Defense Reduction Effect: 20% → 25%
Damage: 10% increase

Psyshock

Damage: 5% increase

Future Sight

Damage: 5% increase

Gardevoir’s high damage potential is paired with limited mobility and self-defense, yet its damage output was insufficient to stand out, leading to a low pick rate. Damage for several moves has been increased accordingly while also raising Gardevoir’s defensive stats to aid in survival.

8) Mewtwo Y

Basic Attack Speed

1.1-1.4 → 1.1-1.5 (Lv.1-15)

Future Sight

Movement Speed Reduction: 25% → 35%
Cooldown: 10s → 8.5s

Recover

Cooldown: 12s → 11s
Healing Amount: 20% of damage dealt → 30%

Recover+

Healing Amount: 30% of damage dealt → 40%

Teleport

Cooldown: 12s → 11s

Mewtwo Y has had low win and pick rates since the nerf in July. Its basic attack speed have been increased to improve combat effectiveness, and cooldowns for Recover and Teleport have been adjusted to strengthen survivability through defensive moves rather than durability increases.

9) Zacian

Sacred Sword

Defense-Piercing Effect: 20% → 10%
Attack Increase: 30% → 20%
Movement Speed Reduction: 30% → 20%

In high-rank matches, Sacred Sword has significantly increased Zacian’s win rate. Consequently, its overall effectiveness has been reduced.

10) Miraidon

Charge Beam

Boosted Damage: 10% decrease

Electro Drift

Boosted Damage: 8% decrease

Parabolic Charge

Cooldown: 10s → 11s

Damage from boosted Charge Beam and Electro Drift remained high, so they have been further reduced. Parabolic Charge cooldown has also been adjusted to reduce the skill rotation rate, lowering overall damage output.

11) Ho-Oh

Flame Vortex

Damage: 15% decrease
Shield Amount: 15% decrease
Cooldown: 8.5s → 9s

Sky Attack

Cooldown: 8.5s → 9s

Unite Move: Rekindling Flame

Energy Cost: 20% increase

The protective capabilities of Flame Vortex for both Ho-Oh and its allies were too strong, so it has been nerfed. In high-rank matches, players have become more adept at utilizing Ho-Oh's Unite Move to revive allies effectively, leading to a higher win rate. To balance this, the usage frequency has been reduced.

12) Pikachu

Electro Ball

Damage: 5% decrease
Cooldown: 5s → 5.5s

Thunder

Damage: 5% decrease

Unite Move: Thunderstorm

Damage: 8% decrease

Due to its ease of use and strong movesets that make it effective against any opponent, Pikachu has had the highest pick rate this season. To address its near-mandatory selection or ban status, some of its moves have had their damage reduced.

13) Ceruledge

Bitter Blade

Damage: 19% - 10% decrease (Lv.5-15)
Healing Effect: 10% decrease
Cooldown: 5.5s → 6s

Bitter Blade+

Healing Effect: 15% decrease

Psycho Cut

Defense Reduction Effect: 47% - 40% decrease (Lv.5-10)

Psycho Cut+

Defense Reduction Effect: 33% - 29% decrease (Lv.11-15)

Phantom Force

Damage: 15% decrease
Cooldown: 9s → 10s

Ceruledge’s power at Lv.5 often led to one-sided matches. Key moves, especially those affecting early-game performance, have been nerfed.

14) Armarouge

Flame Vortex

Damage: 20% decrease
Shield Amount: 25% decrease

Psyshock

Special Defense-Piercing Effect: 50% → 35%

Armor Cannon

Damage: 10% decrease
Cooldown: 6s → 7s

Despite adjustments in the previous Pokemon Unite Freezing Rush update, Armarouge’s win rate did not decrease as expected. In particular, Flame Vortex and Psyshock had an excessively high win rate, so these moves have been nerfed. Armor Cannon has also been nerfed due to its excessive damage and high usage frequency.

15) Mega Mewtwo X

Psystrike

Damage Reduction Effect: 25% → 15%

Psystrike's damage reduction effect was overly strong, so this move has been nerfed.

Also read: How to get Darkrai in Pokemon Unite

The November 1 Pokemon Unite update provides substantial changes that align with player feedback and data-driven balance needs. From Lapras's improved durability to Zacian's reduced potency in high-level play, the adjustments aim to offer a more balanced gameplay experience across all skill levels.

Check out other Pokemon Unite-related articles here:

🚨 Calculate how strong your evolved Pokémon will become with our newly launched Pokemon GO Evolution Calculator 🚨

Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh