Pokémon UNITE updates to ver.1.21.1.2 — License Journeys now available, Ranked Matches get revamped, plus Balance Adjustments for over a dozen Pokémon

Pokémon UNITE updated to Version ver.1.21.1.2 at 4:00am (UTC) on December 4th. This update, dubbed "The Roar of Sea and Sky" (Japanese: 「蒼天海吼」), is possibly the game's biggest overhaul yet, bringing the new "License Journeys" feature and discontinuing Aeos Coins. Additional changes include a revamp of the Ranked Matches Draft Selection, overhaul of the main menu UI, addition of the new Theia Sky Ruins (Kyogre) map, addition of Mega Gyarados to the fray, the time-limited Snowball Battle in Shivre City event, and the usual balance adjustments for various Pokémon, bug fixes, and Shop and Event updates.

Version 1.21.1.2 Update Patch
This update brings Shop and Event updates, along with changes to some Pokémon stats and moves to adjust the balance of Unite Battles. Specifically, this update provides buffs (⇧) for Glaceon, Mewtwo (X), Mewtwo (Y), Ho-Oh, Scizor, Gyarados, and Tyrannitar; both buffs and nerfs (⇅) for Dhelmise and Mamoswine; while bringing nerfs (⇩) for Latios, Darkrai, Clefable, Suicune, and Alolan Raichu.

The full patch notes can be found below:

Update Details​

• A new feature—License Journeys—is now available!
  • License Journeys give players a new way to obtain Unite licenses.
  • Multiple times per License Journey, players will choose a Unite license they wish to obtain. Then, they can play the game to accumulate license points toward unlocking that Unite license.
  • With the introduction of this new feature, Aeos coins will no longer be distributed. Players will be able to exchange previously earned Aeos coins for various items at the limited-time Aeos Coin Exchange.
  • This will not affect Unite licenses that were obtained before this update.
• Ranked matches have been revamped! You can increase your rank based on your performance in battle!
• Kyogre descends upon Theia Sky Ruins! The ranked match map will be changed to Theia Sky Ruins (Kyogre)!
• Main menu appearance changed!
• Mega Gyarados coming soon!
• The new battle pass season is special! Fabulous Holowear—Miracle Style: Glaceon—is now available!
• Discounted items now available in the Special Shop!
• Aeos gems discount and 50%-off coupon campaign coming soon!
• Treasure Chest Challenge updated! Fairy-Tale Style: Mewtwo now available!
• Prize Machine updated! Warm Style: Lapras available again!
• Snowball Battle in Shivre City event underway! You can obtain special rewards!
• Shop Updates
• Event Updates
• Bug Fixes
• Text Fixes

Changes have been made to some Pokémon stats and moves to adjust the balance of Unite Battles.

Ranked Match Changes​

Draft Mode Start Condition Change​

The conditions under which Draft Mode begins in Ranked Match Series 32 will be as follows.

• When all 10 matched players are Master Rank or higher.

Balance Adjustments​

Glaceon​

Stats

• HP: 3200–6350 → 3200–6700
• Defense: 35–225 → 70–275
• Sp. Def: 25–180 → 64–230

Icicle Spear

• Damage: 10% increase

Freeze-Dry

• Cooldown: 8.5s → 7.5s
• Sp. Atk increase duration: 3s → 4s

Unite Move: Diamond Stage

• Damage: 20% increase

Glaceon had low durability even among Attackers and was often knocked out immediately when approached by opponents. Its stats have been improved to increase survivability, and Freeze-Dry and Icicle Spear have been strengthened to allow Glaceon to deal sustained damage.

Mewtwo X​

Stats

• HP: 3500–7800 → 3600–8200
• Attack: 170–500 → 210–540
• Defense: 90–430 → 110–480
• Sp. Def: 90–340 → 110–390

Ability: Pressure

• Changed so that the Mega gauge is not lost when knocked out.

Teleport

• Movement speed increase: 20% → 30%
• Damage increase: 10% → 20%

Teleport+

• Damage increase: 20% → 30%

Since the last balance adjustment, Mewtwo X's win rate has remained low. The risk of being knocked out before Mega Evolving was extremely high, making it difficult to perform well. Its overall combat capabilities have been raised to make it easier to fight on the front lines, and adjustments have been made to maintain the gauge even if knocked out.

Mewtwo Y​

Stats

• HP: 3400–6500 → 3400–6800
• Sp. Atk: 150–780 → 200–830
• Defense: 50–200 → 84–250
• Sp. Def: 50–180 → 82–230

Ability: Pressure

• Changed so that the Mega gauge is not lost when knocked out.

Teleport

• Cooldown: 11s → 10s
• Movement speed increase: 10% → 30%
• Damage increase: 10% → 20%

Teleport+

• Damage increase: 15% → 30%

Recover

• Cooldown: 11s → 10s

Like Mewtwo X, Mewtwo Y's win rate has remained low since the last adjustment, so the risk upon being knocked out has been reduced. Additionally, its mobility has been enhanced, allowing it to leverage its strength as an Attacker that deals damage while maintaining distance from opponents.

Ho-Oh​

Unite Move: Rekindling Flame

• Required energy: 120,000 → 100,000 (Approx. 17% decrease)

The energy required to activate its Unite Move was high, limiting the number of times it could be used during a match. By reducing the required energy, Ho-Oh can now revive allies more actively.

Scizor​

Stats

• HP (Scyther): 3100–6450 → 3200–6800
• Defense (Scyther): 45–300 → 92–360
• HP (Scizor): 3100–8200 → 3200–8600
• Defense (Scizor): 45–557 → 92–620

Boosted Attack

• Defense increase (Scizor): 40% → 50%

Dual Wing

• HP recovery: 10% increase

To further emphasize Scizor's characteristic resilience against physical damage, its durability has been improved to allow it to fight more tenaciously. At the same time, Scyther's durability and recovery, which were insufficient for fighting on the front lines, have also been increased.

Gyarados​

Waterfall

• Shield amount: 30% increase
• Damage: 10% increase

Dragon Breath

• Basic Attack / Boosted Attack damage increase: 15% increase

To further enhance its explosive power after evolving, the sustained fighting capability from Waterfall and the basic attack damage after hitting with Dragon Breath have been buffed.

Tyranitar​

Dark Pulse

• Additional damage: 35% increase

Ancient Power

• Cooldown: 11s → 10s
• Shield amount: 20% increase

As Tyranitar has struggled to be effective for a long time, the frequency and shield amount of Ancient Power have been improved. The additional damage when hitting the same opponent consecutively with Dark Pulse has also been increased.

Dhelmise​

Whirlpool

• Cooldown: 6s → 5s
• Damage: 10% increase
• Third hit area of effect: 2.3m → 3.3m
• Changed so that Dhelmise can move while using this move.

Anchor Shot

• Hitbox diameter: 1m → 1.5m

Power Whip

• Damage: 10% decrease

Unite Move: Seaweed Snare

• HP recovery: 40% decrease

The usability of Whirlpool and Anchor Shot has been improved. Whirlpool can now be activated while moving, broadening tactical options. Anchor Shot's hit registration has been improved to fix situations where it appeared to hit visually but did not register.

Latias​

Dragon Pulse

• Psychic projectile damage: 12% decrease

Mist Ball

• Damage: 10% decrease

Dragon Cheer

• Shield amount: 10% decrease

Latias was performing too well in both offense and support. Its ability to protect allies and deal damage to opponents have both been nerfed to balance it with other Supporters.

Darkrai​

Boosted Attack

• Damage: 10% decrease

Dark Void

• Cooldown: 4s → 6s

Nasty Plot

• Time to recover a use: 3s → 4s

The combo of repeatedly putting opponents to sleep and attacking them one-sidedly was too powerful. The frequency of Dark Void and the burst damage from boosted attacks have been lowered to create room for opponents to counterattack.

Clefable​

Moonlight

• Recovery amount: 5% decrease

Follow Me

• Shield amount: 10% decrease

The playstyle of using Follow Me to draw attention and hinder opponents, while safely returning due to high durability and recovery, was too strong for a Supporter. The recovery and shield amounts have been reduced.

Suicune​

Stats

• HP: 3250–7400 → 3250–6900
• Defense: 70–340 → 70–290
• Sp. Def: 60–275 → 60–230

Ability: Pressure

• Shield amount: 10% decrease

Avalanche

• Damage: 15% decrease

Despite being an All-Rounder, Suicune was overwhelmingly powerful due to its combination of high damage, high hindrance capability, and durability. Its early-game offensive power and late-game durability have been reduced.

Alolan Raichu​

Electro Ball

• Damage: 8% decrease

The burst damage from this move was high, and its ability to instantly KO opponents when placed in goal zones or grass was too powerful, so the damage has been slightly reduced.

Mamoswine​

Stats

• HP: 3280–9648 → 3450–9900
• Defense: 85–510 → 108–540
• Sp. Def: 65–379 → 96–410

Icicle Crash

• Damage: 10% decrease

Earthquake

• Time opponent is unable to act: 1.5s → 1s

The ability to deal damage while rendering opponents unable to act for a long time was too powerful, so the hindrance capability and damage have been reduced. In exchange, its durability has been improved to strengthen its role as a Defender that takes damage on the front lines.

Vaporeon​

Ability: Water Absorb

• Cooldown: 20s → 30s
• Cooldown reduction from boosted attacks: 1.5s → 1s
• Cooldown reduction from moves: 3s → 2s
• HP recovery: 25% of missing HP → Approx. 15% of max HP

Tackle

• Damage: 20% decrease

Hydro Pump

• Damage: 30% decrease
• Cooldown: 6s → 7s

Hydro Pump+

• Cooldown: 5s → 6s

Aqua Ring

• Dash range: 4m → 2.5m
• Cooldown: 7s → 8s
• Recovery amount: 20% decrease

Muddy Water

• Slow effect: 50% → 40%
• Slow duration: 2s → 1s

Muddy Water+

• Slow duration: 3.5s → 2s

Flip Turn

• Damage: 20% decrease
• Cooldown: 6s → 6.5s
• Shield amount: 20% decrease

Unite Move: Aquamarine Splash

• Damage: 20% decrease

Vaporeon joined Unite Battles as a reliable Defender capable of protecting and supporting allies, similar to Umbreon. However, post-release observations revealed that it possessed not only the durability characteristic of a Defender but also healing capabilities rivaling Supporters, and offensive power and mobility comparable to Attackers. It proved to be slightly too versatile.
As its Ability and all its moves contributed to this strength, overall adjustments have been made to its healing and damage. These changes are designed to preserve its reliability as a Defender while ensuring it does not take over the roles of other Pokémon.

Held Item & Battle Item Adjustments​

Assault Vest

• Shield acquisition condition changed to: "When not receiving Sp. Atk damage for 15 seconds."
• Changed so that even if a shield remains, the shield amount recovers to max if the above condition is met.

Choice Scarf

• Cooldown: 12s → 8s

Drive Lens

• Cooldown reduction (at Lv.30): 4.5% → 3%

Accel Bracer

• Cooldown reduction (at Lv.30): 4.5% → 3%

Slow Smoke

• Duration: 3s → 3.5s

Goal Hacker

• Cooldown: 90s → 80s

Full Heal

• Cooldown: 55s → 60s

Bug Fixes​

The following bugs have been fixed.

• Fixed a bug where quick chat could not be used on ally goal zones.
• Fixed a bug where, when dealing damage with Garchomp's boosted attack, additional damage or held item damage would occur before the boosted attack damage.
• Fixed a bug where the second stage of Latias's Dragon Cheer could sometimes be activated even if there were no allies nearby.
• Fixed a bug where the cooldown of Gengar's Hex was sometimes not reduced even when hitting an opponent with a status condition.
• Fixed a bug where Vaporeon could move without stopping inside the area of Clefable's Gravity when using Aqua Ring and Flip Turn.
• Fixed a bug where a blue circle would appear around Glaceon when using Ice Shard.