Pokémon Unite: PokeMOBA

[narcodis]

I'm having a blast with this game. The pay2win stuff is a bit of a bummer, but eh. I dropped a bit of money on it so I could buy snorlax and get 3 level 20 items. Though now I'm wondering if I levelled up the right items

Either way, I've been grinding up ranked quite a bit, up to Veteran class 5, just shy of Ultra at this point! I always play Cinderace if I can. I always played ranged carries in other mobas, so this feels right at home. Love how much mobility his kit has, it's great. If I can't grab Cinderace, I will go for either Snorlax or Edelgoss, depending on my team comp.

And yeah I saw the patch notes. "Patch Hints" indeed. Some of the notes were just like... "Move downgrade". Cool. Patch notes indicate two of my go-to champs are getting hit with a nerf, but how severe those nerfs are is just a big ol ???. I'm glad Gengar is getting a nerf though, his Hex move is just silly.

I would like to learn how to play a speedster or all-rounder champ. Machamp seems like a really cool one. Maybe Lucario as well? I'll need to start savin my coins for those though. Or drop a few more bucks to fill out the roster.

 

[nataeryn]

I downloaded this and played about 3 matches.
I Love how easy to jump into this was. The tutorial walked me right through the basics and I was able to play a match against real humans and find some success almost immediately. Compared to LoL, Dota and HotS, Unite was much easier and less intimidating to jump into.

The menu interface is a mess and i dislike the multiple currencies and just about everything outside of playing the actual matches.

 

[MetManMas]

For the most part, I'm maining Cramorant. The waddling movement has endeared me to the goofy bird and they can be devastating under the right circumstances.

Slowbro, Cinderace, and Wigglytuff have seen some pretty common use; Eldegoss, Alolan Ninetales, and Venusaur are not too far behind. Greninja was recently acquired but I'm sure it'll catch up to the higher crowd eventually.

Really should put some more time into Crustle and Zeraora. Just wish there was a simplified pre-battle selection menu so things weren't constantly pausing to load a new model.

Getting close to 6,000 coins now so I'm debating whether or not I wanna go ahead and get the Talonflame I recently rolled a pilot suit for or hold out for something else. Like, I would welcome a second Speedster option, but I could really use an All-Rounder at all and another new Pokémon could be added any day now.

 

[Kalir]

You ought to be able to push X to pull up a model-less menu.

 

[Alixsar]

I think one thing that would make this game immensely better is a pre-battle chat option suggesting roles. "We need a Defender!" or "Can someone play Defender?"; something like that but for each of the roles. I'm sick of having 2 or even 3 Speedsters on a team, or four Attackers, for example. As previously mentioned, the other nice thing would be a better tutorial so people understand where and more importantly WHY they should go to a certain lane. Not to mention having slightly better in-game chat options would be good too. I'm way sick of calling for people to gather near Dreadnaw and them just staying top and losing the lane anyway while we get in a 3v3 that turns into a 3v5 when their top rotates down to Dreadnaw. Happens all the time. Just gimme a "let's get *objective*" option. Probably still won't make a difference but at least it'd be straightforward.

Also Eldegoss got nerfed but is still stupid crazy good. I'm pretty much only playing Eldegoss if I can help it. My win rate with her is considerably higher than with any other Pokemon. I kept deleveling in Ranked trying to play other people, and then I gained two entire levels in a day sticking to Eldegoss. Eldegoss is love, Eldegoss is life.

I also ran into two people playing who were clearly trolling so the entire game was basically a 3v5 and lemme tell ya; it was not great!

 

[narcodis]

I have seen people chat with "Let's attack X" at times but I have no idea how they did it. The chat interface is not great!

But, and perhaps this is my over-a-decade-of-moba-experience cynicism talking here, I think the limited chat functionality might be a net positive.

 

[Alixsar]

Same! I keep misclicking too so sometimes when I'm trying to call where I'm going I give the wrong impression, but that's my fault...but it makes me not even want to use the feature, almost. I've seen "Let's Attack Dreadnaw!" and I'm like YES YOU NEED TO HAVE SAID THAT 45 SECONDS AGO WHEN I WAS SPAMMING LETS GATHER HERE ahedjskalhsdjkl

Anyway

 

[MetManMas]

When people see me attacking Drednaw or Regigigas or one of the Electrodes* or whatever it'd be really nice if 1) they got that there was an important reason I was doing this, and 2) that I could really use the back-up if they're not currently preoccupied with something 'cuz odds are good the opposition may have a better grasp on why it's important for Zapdos to fall before somebody else can take it down.

* Moreso in the early game for Electrodes. Soloing one is bound to blow up in your face at the start but two people can usually take one with a few levels.

 

[MetManMas]

I already knew this would come eventually from the datamine, but...

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1427253815720386570

I know what I will probably buy with my coin hoard.

 

[pudik]

oh that's great

 

[narcodis]

Welp, I hit master rank.

Most my climb was with Cinderace, with Snorlax as a backup, either if I couldnt get cinderace or if the team comp demanded it. Once I hit Ultra 3, the climb really slowed down a bit. Went up to Ultra 4, down to Ultra 2, and oscillated like that for at least twenty games or more.

So I swapped over to using Pikachu, just because that pokemon has a ton of damage output, solid CC, and hella range. Also good at stealing objectives, which, that comes into play a lot and can often decide the game! Anyway once I committed to using Pikachu, it really helped me get over the cusp of Master 5, after which I had a crazy win streak to get master.

My item loadout (all at least level 20):
Cinderace -- Muscle Band, Scope Lens, Buddy Barrier
Pikachu -- Muscle Band, Wise Glasses, Shell Bell
Snorlax -- Focus Band, Buddy Barrier, Score Shield

Muscle band is just good as hell. Obvious on Cinderace, but I run it on Pikachu just to give me a bit of damage output between ability cooldowns.

Scope Lens is pretty situational, really just reserved for pokemon who rely on auto attacks a lot, like Cinderace, Greninja, maybe others.

Buddy Barrier might just be the strongest item in the damn game. An instant 40% HP shield is awesome, and if your ally is running this item, these stack, so it can be almost full HP shield for both of you. It's really clutch!

Wise Glasses - Really a must have if you're playing a special attack pokemon.

Shell Bell - good for survivability, and also has special attack as a bonus. A solid special attacker item.

Focus Band - Another one of the strongest items in the game. I sometimes swapped out the buddy barrier or scope lens for this on Cinderace, just because it helps a ton with early game survivability. On a tank like Snorlax you become annoyingly tanky.

Score Shield - Really really good for tanks or supports who aren't going to get a ton of farm. Scoring goals is a great way to nab some quick XP, and a heal if you're in a tight spot. Underrated item, really. Also essential if you wanna run an item that gives bonus stats on goal scored, not that I've ever tried it, but yeah.


If I could rewind time, I'd NOT level up float stone or rocky helmet.
I think maybe the Energy Amplifier is really good. That's the item I'm gonna try to level next.


Also for anyone wondering, yeah I spent a good chunk of money on the game. Around 55 bucks or something. Maybe not the best decision I've ever made. But I'm enjoying this game a ton. FWIW if you spend about 20 bucks, you can come out with 3 level 20 items and a couple pokemon to play. I just wanted to get more licenses and experiment with more items. Hopefully my post here might enlighten people on what works best.

 

[Torzelbaum]

If you spend a lot of money on this game then does that mean that you're a Wailord?

 

[nataeryn]

I have stabalized at Great 1 for a couple days now. I am winning just about exactly half of my games. I probably play maybe 4 games in the afternoon. I have a couple items up to level 10, but its sort of a slow grind without spending any cash. I've focused on Scope Lens, Wise Glasses and Shell Bell. I don't have access to the Focus Band or Buddy Barrier yet.

I tend to play Eldegoss or Slobro, so I let my attacker partner get last hits and am lower level. I just got access to the Exp held item, but it is just level 1 right now. Unsure if it is worth it to maybe experiment with it.

 

[MetManMas]

I primarily stick to Quick Battles but I just broke into the expert level recently. We'll see how long that lasts.

 

[Kalir]

Score Shield is absolutely amazing on anyone with even a middling amount of durability. I've even had success using it on Cramorant (who's on the durable side for an Attacker, but is still an attacker).

 

[MetManMas]

Just threw $3.99 in Gold Points Pokémon Unite's way to upgrade the Battle Pass and collect my spoils. Already up to Lv. 74 out of 90 on the Battle Pass and the first 245 Aeos Gems package you buy gives you double the gems (Exactly enough for said Battle Pass) so what the hey?

Not gonna spend too much on the game (As much as I'd like it that Cramorant outfit is not worth over $20 of gems to me) but if I come close to completing a Battle Pass once in a while I'm not averse to throwing a few bucks the game's way.

 

[nataeryn]

I got a little win streak and went up to great 2. I also got to be an MVP as Eldegoss. If I can finish up getting to trainer level 13, i'll have unlocked Crustle.

 

[MetManMas]

Blastoise is coming to the game in a couple of days. Known about it for a while 'cuz of the datamines, but it's finally official.

Release date for Mamoswine and Sylveon is still a mystery, but now that I've bought an All-Arounder (Lucario) I'll be hoarding my coins for whenever the ribbon doggo finally shows up in the game.

Anyway, I was just curious: Who would you like to be playable in Pokémon Unite? Here's a few of my desired picks.

Spoiler: Spoilered to cut down on vertical scrolling

Obstagoon

Who's that Pokémon? Zigzagoon got a family variation in the Galar region that lets it grow up to be this amazing KISS-esque monster badger.

Role? Defender, definitely. Obstagoon is the Blocking Pokémon and Obstruct is its signature move.

Cinccino

Who's that Pokémon? Atsuko Nishida, the designer for Pikachu and most of the good Eeveelutions, made some chinchillas for Gen 5. I'd argue that Minccino's the more iconic of the two, but Cinccino gets some handy moves that it doesn't.

Role? Cinccino has two specific features: They fast, they hit hard. An Attacker or Speedster would be the most suitable role. They utilize multi-hit moves like Rock Blast and Bullet Seed so be sure to utilize 'em.

Indeedee

Who's that Pokémon? These half-Psychic anthropomorphic goats are the reason why you can move tutor freely and painlessly in Galar. The boys and girls are stereotyped into the butler and maid roles respectively.

Role? There's no way they're not going to be a Support, their movesets are built around helping their teammates. If we can only have one...

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1430026496656117767

 

[Kalir]

There's a lot of dudes I'd like to see: Toxicroak, Yanmega, Vanilluxe, Floatzel, Xatu... the only problem is most of the jabronis I'd like to see aren't the conventionally popular ones. Ah well.

Oh, they did a pretty major update today for the first season halftime. Notably, they've realized that some people don't want to put up with this item enhancer grind and have added things to accommodate for this! Super Item Enhancers are available as event options that instantly cap the level of an item, and you can get passes for items that jump them to 30 for a while!

...Still would've preferred axing the system outright.

Oh and Cramorant's Dive got a ridiculous buff and now I really am just a FaN Scout but in a MOBA