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
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:
- Tinkaton's Pokemon Unite movesets leaked
- Galarian Rapidash's Pokemon Unite movesets leaked
- Everything to know about Darkrai in Pokemon Unite
- Darkrai in Pokemon Unite - Best movesets, builds, items, and more
- New battle mode in Pokemon Unite teased
- Everything to know about the Goal Hacker in Pokemon Unite
- Is EX Pokemon leaving Pokemon Unite?
- Unite license tier list
- Unite Solo Queue licenses tier list
- Best Build for every Unite license
- Best Boost Emblems in the game
- Held Item tier list
- Battle Item tier list