The competitive landscape of Pokemon Unite is constantly evolving, and the latest balance patch has sent shockwaves through the arena! 🎮✨ TiMi Studios has delivered a significant update aimed at reshaping the meta, targeting some of the most dominant and frustrating Pokemon to face while giving a helping hand to others who needed it. This isn't just a minor tweak; it's a calculated shift to promote healthier gameplay and more diverse team compositions. For players who've felt the sting of an invisible Sableye or the unstoppable force of a well-played Urshifu, these changes are a welcome sight. Let's dive deep into the nerfs that will calm the storm and the buffs that are set to create new stars on the battlefield.
🔥 Major Nerfs: Taming the Titans
Several top-tier threats have been reined in to create a more balanced playing field.
Sableye: The Stealth Menace Adjusted
The mischievous ghost-type has been a source of constant frustration with its unparalleled stealth capabilities. The core adjustment targets Shadow Sneak, making its stealth activation less instantaneous and more punishable.
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Shadow Sneak Activation Time: Increased from 0.75 seconds to 1.5 seconds. This gives opponents a crucial window to react and land attacks before Sableye vanishes.
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Stealth Interruption: Sableye can now be prevented from entering stealth if it is crowd-controlled during that 1.5-second wind-up period.
Urshifu: Offense Over Defense
The mighty fighting-type has been tuned to encourage aggressive play rather than overly defensive sustainability.
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Single Strike Style (Wicked Blow): The damage reduction effect while charging has been significantly reduced, making Urshifu more vulnerable during its powerful strike setup.
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Ebon Fist (Unite Move): Its area-of-effect damage and throw capability have been nerfed by 25%. Now, if no direction is specified, it only affects the designated target.
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Swords Dance: Cooldown increased from 5s to 6s, and the attack boost decreased from 15% to 12%, hitting its mobility and burst potential.
Scyther/Scizor: Mobility Trimmed
The swift bug-type's unparalleled agility has been clipped.
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Dual Wingbeat & Swords Dance: Cooldowns and attack bonuses adjusted, reducing its relentless pursuit and damage output.
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Green Illusion Dive (Unite Move): The area of effect for the first stage is reduced by ~30%, and the dash distance for the second stage is cut by ~20%.
Mr. Mime: Late-Game Power Reduced
To curb its overwhelming presence throughout entire matches, especially later on, key tools have been weakened.
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Power Swap: The movement speed boost for linked allies reduced from 15% to 10%, and HP restoration is down by 15%.
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Showtime! (Unite Move): Effectiveness has been toned down.
✨ Significant Buffs: Rising Stars
While some were brought down, others have been elevated to new heights!
Clefable: The Premier Support Enhanced 🌙
The fairy-type supporter has received massive quality-of-life improvements, solidifying its role as a team protector.
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Moonlight: HP restoration increased, allowing Clefable to sustain its allies more effectively during prolonged engagements.
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Gravity: The crowd control duration has been extended, making it a more reliable tool for locking down agile opponents and creating fight-winning zones.
Hoopa: Warping Freedom Restored
The trickster ghost has been granted much-needed flexibility and reliability.
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Phantom Force: Adjusted to allow Hoopa to warp to locations freely without requiring an enemy target, greatly improving its mobility and playmaking potential.
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Hyperspace Hole: Cooldown reduced from 12s to 10s. The cooldown before allies can return to the warp point is also reduced from 15s to 10s. HP recovery for Hoopa and allies now begins instantly (0 sec) instead of after a 0.5-second delay.
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Rings Unbound (Unite Move): Timing has been made more forgiving, allowing for better strategic execution.
Dragapult: Shadowy Damage Boost
The spectral dragon gets a direct power increase.
- Shadow Ball & Shadow Ball+: Damage has been buffed, giving Dragapult a sharper edge in its long-range poking and finishing potential.
🧐 What This Means for the 2026 Meta
This patch represents a clear philosophy from the developers: promote active, offensive play and reduce the potency of overly safe or oppressive strategies. The nerfs to Sableye's stealth and Urshifu's damage reduction directly address defensive tools that could feel unfair to play against. Conversely, the buffs to Clefable and Hoopa aim to make supportive play more impactful and rewarding, encouraging team coordination. Expect to see a shift away from compositions overly reliant on single, unstoppable carries and towards more balanced teams where protectors and playmakers shine. The reduced mobility on Scyther/Scizor also opens the door for other All-Rounders and Speedsters to compete. As Pokemon Unite continues to grow and evolve in 2026, these balance changes ensure the battlefield remains dynamic, challenging, and, most importantly, fun for everyone. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a new recruit, it's time to adapt, experiment, and discover the new power rankings! 🏆