Pokemon Unite update today (October 17, 2024): Freezing Rush patch notes revealed (Ver.1.16.2.6)

Pokemon Unite has just released its latest update, Ver. 1.16.2.6, on October 17, 2024, at 07:00 UTC. This update brings exciting new content, balance changes, and bug fixes, enhancing the overall gameplay and introducing fresh events for players to enjoy.

Let’s dive into the details of this update and see what to expect in Pokemon Unite.

Pokemon Unite Freezing Rush update (Ver.1.16.2.6): Darkrai joins the roster

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One of the biggest highlights of this update is the arrival of Darkrai. Players can participate in a special event to unlock this Pokemon or its exclusive Holowear. This addition promises to shake up battles with its unique moves and abilities, offering a fresh experience for both casual and competitive players.

Also read: Pokemon Unite Darkrai - Best movesets, builds, items, and more

Pokemon Unite Freezing Rush update (Ver.1.16.2.6): Halloween Event (October 19 - November 12)

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As the spooky season approaches, Pokemon Unite is getting into the Halloween spirit. From October 19 to November 12, players can participate in the Halloween Event.

During this event, completing Halloween-themed missions and challenges will reward players with Halloween coins, which can be exchanged for exciting rewards via the Halloween capsule dispenser. Make sure to participate and grab all the festive goodies.

Also read: Everything to know about Darkrai in Pokemon Unite

Shop and event updates

In addition to the new Pokemon and events, the in-game shop will also be updated. Players can expect new items and cosmetics to enhance their Pokemon’s appearance and performance.

Note: If your app hasn't updated automatically, simply restart it to apply the latest patch. Additionally, during the update process, you may experience server connectivity issues, so if you have trouble logging in, try again later.

Also read: Psyduck movesets leaked in the game

Pokemon Unite Freezing Rush update (Ver.1.16.2.6): Battle updates and balance changes

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The Ver. 1.16.2.6 update introduces several balance changes to existing Pokemon, aimed at fine-tuning the gameplay experience. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key changes:

1) Alolan Ninetales

Due to a lack of mobility moves, limited self-defense options, and a not particularly long attack range, Alolan Ninetales has struggled to stand out compared to other Attackers, resulting in consistently low usage and win rates over a long period.

In this balance adjustment, changes have been made to allow Alolan Ninetales to excel as an Attacker who supports the team and fights alongside allies on the frontlines. Its ability has been significantly buffed to better showcase its strengths in battle, and its defense and special defense have been increased to reduce the risk of getting close to opponents.

Additionally, the cooldowns of Avalanche and Blizzard have been reduced, allowing these moves to be used not only for countering opponents but also for initiating attacks more effectively.

Stats

Defense: 35-175 → 35-225 (Levels 1-15)
Special Defense: 27-135 → 27-175 (Levels 1-15)

Ability: Snow Warning

Cooldown: 8s → 4s

Avalanche

Cooldown: 8s → 7.5s

Blizzard

Cooldown: 8s → 7.5s

2) Machamp

The damage of Close Combat has been low, resulting in a continued low win rate, so it has been buffed.

One of Machamp's most iconic moments is dealing massive damage by hitting multiple opposing Pokemon with consecutive punches during its Unite Move, Barrage Blow. However, the Unite Move previously had two stages - first boosting Machamp's stats, then unleashing the consecutive punches.

This gave opponents time to scatter after the first stage, making it very difficult to hit multiple enemies with the punches. With this adjustment, the Unite Move has been changed so that Machamp can immediately start throwing consecutive punches upon activation, making it easier to turn the tide of battle.

Close Combat

Damage: 10% increase

Unite Move: Barrage Blow

Mechanics change: Now immediately unleashes consecutive punches upon activation. Note: The move description will be updated at a later time.
Stat boosts upon activation: Before Defense & Special Defense +200, Movement Speed +5%, Attack +30%, Duration 10 seconds.
After: Defense & Special Defense +250, Movement Speed +10%, Attack +25%, Duration 8 seconds.

3) Armarouge

In battles where Armor Cannon and Psyshock are learned, the damage output was higher than expected, while the hindrance abilities were lower than intended. Therefore, the damage of Armor Cannon has been reduced, and the cooldown of Psyshock has been adjusted to be shorter.

In battles where Fire Spin and Flame Charge are learned, Armarouge demonstrated more durability than expected. As a result, the shield amount from Flame Charge has been reduced.

Fire Spin has been adjusted to replace its defense and special defense boosts with a shield effect, making the defensive benefit more visible to nearby players while slightly reducing overall durability.

Armor Cannon

Damage: 10% decrease

Psyshock

Cooldown: 8s → 7s

Flame Charge

Shield amount: 50% decrease

Fire Spin

(New) Increases movement speed when used, with further speed increases when moving towards opposing Pokemon.
(New) Each time the user deals damage, a shield effect is applied, which can stack up to 6 times.
(Removed) Defense and special defense boosts on hit.

Fire Spin+

(New) Grants a shield when using the move.
(Removed) The movement speed boost upon hitting opposing Pokemon
Fire Spin's description has been updated as follows: “Has the user generate a fierce vortex of fire around itself, dealing damage to opposing Pokemon it hits and increasing the user's movement speed. When the user is moving toward Pokemon on the opposing team, its movement speed is further increased. Whenever the user deals damage, it receives a shield effect. This effect can stack up to 6 times. If the user hits opposing Pokemon with a basic attack, the duration of the vortex is increased.
Upgrade: Grants the user a shield when this move is used.”

4) Charizard

The damage dealt across all move paths was higher than expected, so the additional damage from basic attacks on burned opponents has been reduced.

Charizard's Unite Move, Seismic Slam, was made more versatile in a previous update, allowing it to be used on hindrance-resistant opponents, which improved its usability.

However, this made the move stronger than anticipated, so the energy cost has been increased, extending the time it takes to become available. Additionally, Fire Blast's crowd control effect was strong for an All-Rounder. Thus, the slow effect has been nerfed.

Basic Attack

Additional damage on burned opponents: 50% decrease

Fire Blast

Movement speed reduction: 35% → 30%

Unite Move: Seismic Slam

Energy needed: 20% increase

5) Urshifu

By optimizing held items and emblems, Urshifu was able to use Surging Strikes continuously without any downtime. To introduce more opportunities for counterplay between uses of Surging Strikes, the cooldown reduction from boosted attacks has been decreased. In return, the damage of Surging Strikes has been slightly increased.

Boosted Attack (Rapid Strike Style)

Cooldown reduction: 2s → 1.5s

Surging Strikes

Damage: 6-5% increase (Lv.5-15)

6) Blastoise

Blastoise has sufficient durability in the early stages of battles, but its endurance in the later stages has been lacking, resulting in a low win rate. To allow Blastoise to continue standing strong in front of allies as a Defender in the later stages, the growth rate of its defense and special defense has been increased.

Blastoise's durability during Rapid Spin has been significantly enhanced, enabling it to maintain the frontline more persistently than before.

Stats

Defense: 100-600 → 100-650 (Lv.1-15)
Special Defense: 70-420 → 70-455 (Lv.1-15)

Hydro Pump

Cooldown: 7.5s → 7s

Surf

Cooldown: 9s → 8.5s

Rapid Spin+

Defense and special defense increase: 50% increase

7) Delphox

Due to consistently high usage and win rates in ranked matches, the damage of Mystical Fire and Fire Blast has been reduced.

Mystical Fire

Damage: 8% decrease

Fire Blast

Damage on hit: 10% decrease

Fire Blast+

Damage on hit: 9% decrease

8) Snorlax

To ensure Snorlax can continue protecting allies by absorbing attacks from multiple opposing Pokemon in late-game team fights, the defense and special defense increases provided by Block+ have been buffed.

Additionally, the win rate and usage rate of the combination of Flail and Yawn were low, so both moves have been buffed.

Block+

Defense increase: 25% → 35%
Special Defense increase: 25% → 35%

Flail

Movement speed increase duration: 2s → 3s
Movement speed increase amount: 70%-30% (decreases by 10% every 0.5s) → 80%-40% (decreases by 10% every 0.5s)

Yawn

Cooldown: 12s → 10.5s

9) Dragapult

When learning Phantom Force, Dragapult could quickly become too strong by stacking multiple KOs early in the battle, disrupting the balance. To address this, the attack increase gained from KOs has been reduced.

Phantom Force

Attack increase per KO: 10 (up to 10 times) → 6 (up to 10 times)

10) Lucario

When Extreme Speed failed to hit its target, it would enter cooldown and leave Lucario unable to participate in battles for a long period, making it difficult to contribute. To help Lucario rejoin the battle more quickly, the cooldown has been buffed.

Extreme Speed

Cooldown: 9s → 7.5s

11) Gyarados

Frequent engagements using Bounce and the high damage output from Dragon Breath's quick basic attacks have led to an excessively high win rate. To address this, the frequency of Bounce and the overall damage output have been reduced.

Dragon Breath

Attack speed increase: 60%, 80%, 100% → 40%, 55%, 70%

Bounce

Cooldown: 7.5s → 8.5s
Damage: 10% decrease

12) Mamoswine

Despite becoming stronger in the latter stages of battle as a Pokemon that evolves twice, Mamoswine had too much power in the early game, so Icicle Crash has been nerfed.

Additionally, the crowd control duration when using moves like Earthquake, Ice Fang, and boosted attacks was too long, so the cooldown of the engage move, Earthquake, has been increased.

Earthquake

Cooldown: 7.5s → 9s

Icicle Crash

Damage of the 1st to 3rd hits: Approx. 10% decrease

13) Zoroark

Zoroark's win rate across all move sets has been low, so the damage of its primary moves has been buffed.

Feint Attack

Damage: 9% increase

Night Slash

Cooldown: 9s → 8s

14) Dragonite

After evolving into Dragonite, the frequency of stunning opponents with boosted attacks from Outrage became too high, allowing Dragonite to attack with little opposition, disrupting the balance.

To provide opponents with more opportunities to counterattack or escape before being KO'd, the damage and crowd control effects of Outrage have been nerfed.

Boosted attack

Duration where enemies are unable to act (electric): 0.6s → 0.5s

Outrage

Damage from boosted attacks: 10% decrease

15) Cramorant

The short cooldown and high rotation rate of Dive have allowed Cramorant to combine excessive damage with high mobility, resulting in a consistently high win rate. To reduce both its damage output and mobility, the cooldown for Dive has been increased.

Dive

Cooldown: 1.5s → 2s
Recovery time for charges: 5s → 6s

Bug fixes in the recent Pokemon Unite update

Fixed an issue where Tsareena's Unite Move, Queen Ascendant, would fail when used on Charizard in hindrance-resistant status due to its Unite Move, Seismic Slam.

If you are interested in other topics related to Pokemon Unite, check out these articles:

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

Edited by Dinesh Renthlei