Pokemon Unite v1.16.2.6 Freezing Rush: Winners and losers
The v1.16.2.6 Freezing Rush update for Pokemon Unite brings a host of balance changes that shake up the battlefield, offering some Pokemon a chance to shine while others face significant downgrades. These adjustments aim to refine the gameplay experience, providing more counterplay opportunities and addressing imbalances that emerged after previous patches.
In this article, we will break down the major winners and losers of the patch to see who has emerged stronger and who has fallen behind.
Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.
Pokemon Unite v1.16.2.6 Freezing Rush: Major winners
1) Alolan Ninetales: Alolan Ninetales has finally received some much-needed buffs. With boosts to its defense and special defense, along with a drastic reduction in cooldowns for its Avalanche and Blizzard abilities, this Pokemon can now survive on the frontlines while still dishing out damage.
The significant improvement to its ability, Snow Warning, means it can consistently contribute to battles with more frequent activation. This makes it a stronger team player and a viable option in more compositions.
2) Machamp: Machamp received a massive quality-of-life upgrade with a rework to its Unite Move, Barrage Blow. By removing the delay between boosting its stats and unleashing punches, Machamp can now deal devastating damage much faster, catching opponents off guard.
The increased damage for Close Combat also boosts its value in melee combat, making it a more viable pick in high-stakes battles.
3) Snorlax: The combination of buffs to Block+ and the movement speed and cooldown improvements to Flail and Yawn has made Snorlax a stronger defender than before.
The critter's late-game survivability has been increased, allowing it to better shield allies from damage in intense team fights, while also retaining more offensive capabilities when using Flail.
Also read: Pokemon Unite patch update Freezing Rush notes revealed (Ver.1.16.2.6)
Minor winners
1) Blastoise: Blastoise players will appreciate the increase in defense and special defense growth, especially during late-game fights, as this Water starter evidently lacked defensive capabilities. The additional buffs to Rapid Spin+ further enhance its tanking potential, allowing Blastoise to stay on the frontlines for much longer.
The slight cooldown reductions for Hydro Pump and Surf also add to its sustained presence during battles, though these are more quality-of-life improvements rather than game-changers.
2) Zoroark: Zoroark, which had a consistently low win rate, has seen a buff in the damage for Feint Attack and a reduction in Night Slash’s cooldown. These changes should improve Zoroark’s standing slightly, although it may still struggle against other stronger picks.
3) Lucario: Lucario’s Extreme Speed now has a shorter cooldown, allowing it to jump back into fights more quickly. This adjustment gives Lucario players more uptime on one of their most important moves, which should increase its overall contribution in battles.
Also read: Pokemon Unite Darkrai - Best movesets, builds, items, and more
Pokemon Unite v1.16.2.6 Freezing Rush: Major losers
1) Charizard: With a significant reduction in additional damage from its basic attacks on burned opponents, and a nerf to Fire Blast’s crowd control, Charizard’s ability to lock down foes has been severely reduced.
Additionally, its Unite Move, Seismic Slam, now costs 20% more energy, meaning players will need to wait longer before using this powerful ability, affecting its late-game viability.
2) Delphox: Delphox’s dominance in ranked matches has led to nerfs for two of its key moves, Mystical Fire and Fire Blast. With a reduction in damage across both moves, Delphox’s burst potential has been toned down.
This adjustment may force Delphox players to adopt more conservative playstyles, as it will be harder to quickly burst down enemies.
3) Armarouge: Armarouge sees a mix of buffs and nerfs, but overall, it's one of the major losers in this patch. The decrease in damage for Armor Cannon, combined with a 50% reduction in the shield from Flame Charge, reduces both its offensive and defensive potential.
While Fire Spin now provides a shield instead of a defense boost, this makes Armarouge more predictable in combat, affecting its effectiveness as a versatile damage dealer.
Also read: Psyduck movesets leaked in the game
Minor losers
1) Urshifu: While the damage increase for Surging Strikes is a welcome buff, the decreasing its cooldown reduction from boosted attacks may frustrate some Urshifu players. This change introduces more opportunities for opponents to counterplay between Surging Strikes, which could lower Urshifu’s effectiveness in prolonged fights.
2) Gyarados: Gyarados has been hit with a nerf to both Dragon Breath’s attack speed boost and Bounce’s cooldown, alongwith a reduction in damage. This combo of changes makes Gyarados less threatening in sustained battles, although it will still be a formidable opponent in the right hands.
3) Mamoswine: Mamoswine’s early-game dominance has been curbed with the nerf to Icicle Crash and the increased cooldown for Earthquake. The reduced crowd control duration weakens its ability to lock down opponents, though it remains a strong tank option in the late game.
Also read: Everything to know about Darkrai in Pokemon Unite
The v1.16.2.6 update has shaken up the Pokemon Unite meta. While Alolan Ninetales and Machamp emerge as big winners, key players like Charizard and Delphox have taken a hit.
These changes will likely encourage more strategic team compositions and force players to adapt to a more balanced playing field. Keep an eye on how these updates affect win rates and pick rates as the patch continues to evolve.
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