Pokemon Unite v1.16.2.6 Freezing Rush: Who Came Out on Top and Who Fell Short

The recent v1.16.2.6 Freezing Rush update for Pokemon Unite introduces a series of balance adjustments that alter the dynamics of gameplay. Some Pokémon are set to thrive with these changes, while others will encounter significant setbacks. The objective of these modifications is to enhance the overall gaming experience, increase counterplay possibilities, and tackle discrepancies that arose in former patches.

In this article, we will highlight the key Pokémon that have gained or lost ground in this patch, identifying those who have become more formidable and those who have lagged behind.

Pokemon Unite v1.16.2.6 Freezing Rush: Significant Winners

Freezing Rush v1.16.2.6 major winners (Image via The Pokemon Company)

1) Alolan Ninetales: Alolan Ninetales has received essential buffs that it desperately needed. Enhancements in both defense and special defense, paired with a significant decrease in cooldown times for Avalanche and Blizzard, empower this Pokémon to stand its ground while dealing damage effectively.

This enhancement to its Snow Warning ability allows for more consistent engagement in battles, resulting in a stronger collaborative presence and increased versatility in various team compositions.

2) Machamp: Machamp has undergone a substantial quality-of-life improvement thanks to a revamp of its Unite Move, Barrage Blow. The removal of the delay between boosting its abilities and launching attacks now enables Machamp to inflict massive damage more swiftly, surprising its adversaries.

Furthermore, the boost in damage for Close Combat enhances its effectiveness in face-to-face confrontations, making it a valuable pick in competitive gameplay.

3) Snorlax: With the enhancements to Block+ combined with improvements to the movement speed and cooldowns of Flail and Yawn, Snorlax has solidified its role as a dominant defender.

The increase in its survivability during late-game phases allows it to more effectively shield teammates from incoming damage during critical team skirmishes while still maintaining offensive prowess with Flail.

Minor Winners

1) Blastoise: Blastoise users will be pleased with the enhancements to both its defense and special defense stats, particularly in late-game situations, where it had previously been vulnerable. The additional boosts to Rapid Spin+ further reinforce its potential to absorb damage, enabling Blastoise to hold its position on the frontlines longer.

A few cooldown reductions for Hydro Pump and Surf offer slight improvements to its sustained battle presence, although these changes lean more toward quality-of-life instead of being transformative.

2) Zoroark: After grappling with a consistently low win rate, Zoroark has benefitted from an increase in damage for Feint Attack and a cooldown reduction for Night Slash. While these alterations will help improve Zoroark’s competitiveness, it may still find challenges against stronger contenders.

3) Lucario: Lucario’s Extreme Speed now boasts a reduced cooldown, allowing it to re-enter combat more swiftly. This change offers Lucario players increased uptime on one of their essential abilities, thus enhancing its overall contribution in engagements.

Pokemon Unite v1.16.2.6 Freezing Rush: Significant Losers

Freezing Rush v1.16.2.6 major losers (Image via The Pokemon Company)

1) Charizard: A notable decrease in additional damage from basic attacks against burned enemies, coupled with a reduction in crowd control from Fire Blast, has drastically diminished Charizard’s ability to control opponents.

Moreover, the increased energy cost for its Unite Move, Seismic Slam, now demands 20% more energy to execute, which could impact its effectiveness during late-game scenarios.

2) Delphox: Following its strong performance in ranked matches, Delphox has faced nerfs for its key abilities, Mystical Fire and Fire Blast. The decrease in damage across both skills has diminished its burst damage potential.

This adjustment may push Delphox players to adopt more defensive strategies, as eliminating enemies quickly will become more challenging.

3) Armarouge: Despite receiving a mixed bag of buffs and nerfs, Armarouge ranks as one of the major losers in this patch. The reduced damage output from Armor Cannon, along with a significant decrease in shield strength from Flame Charge, compromises its offensive and defensive capabilities.

Additionally, the modification of Fire Spin to provide a shield instead of a defensive boost makes Armarouge more predictable in engagements, impacting its versatility as a damage dealer.

Minor Losers

1) Urshifu: Although the buff to Surging Strikes’ damage is welcome, reducing the cooldown from boosted attacks may frustrate many Urshifu players. This change presents greater opportunities for opponents to counter between Surging Strikes, potentially hindering Urshifu’s effectiveness in extended battles.

2) Gyarados: Gyarados has received nerfs impacting both Dragon Breath’s speed boost and Bounce’s cooldown, along with a decrease in damage. This combination of changes diminishes Gyarados’ threat level in longer engagements, though it remains a strong contender in skilled hands.

3) Mamoswine: Mamoswine’s early-game advantages have been lessened due to the nerfs applied to Icicle Crash and the increased cooldown for Earthquake. The reduced crowd control duration has weakened its capacity to immobilize adversaries, even though it continues to serve as a reliable tank option later in the game.

The v1.16.2.6 update has significantly influenced the Pokemon Unite meta. As Alolan Ninetales and Machamp rise in prominence, key figures like Charizard and Delphox have been negatively impacted.

These alterations are likely to encourage the formation of more strategic team compositions and compel players to adapt to a newly balanced competitive environment. Stay vigilant on how these changes will affect win and pick rates as the patch unfolds.

Source