Thursday, July 28, 2022

Energy Exchange in Pokémon Unite

I was planning on discussing something else related to Pokémon Unite, but I'm not ready to do just that. However, digging into my Unite history, there is one unique facet that I have mentioned at times but haven't discussed in depth. That would be energy exchange, which is a process of obtaining rewards from energy that is gained after a battle. It's a thinly veiled gacha system, but it does have its own benefits, and it has recently been expanded with the "anniversary update" as well. So, it is still fair to be discussed even now, even though it's personally somewhat late.

After each battle, a Trainer earns a certain amount of energy, which when accumulated to 100 allows for one exchange. Certain periods, as well as two specific items (Extra Energy Tank and Energy Boost Tank, both of which may be earned from missions or else purchased in Aeos Emporium), will increase the amount of earned energy, which means faster collection of another chance at an exchange. Once a Trainer is ready to exchange, "Energy Rewards" is chosen from the main menu and the Trainer proceeds accordingly.

By selecting "Exchange", the energy is then exchanged for the rewards. Prior to the current "anniversary update", the selection of rewards only covered fashion items, certain Holowear, and essential currencies (or items of that sort). If a fashion item or Holowear turns out to be a duplicate, they're exchanged into their respective tickets, which may then be exchanged at the shops for other items of the same kind. It is also possible to exchange more energy after one exchange (to a limit), though this may be undesirable for reasons to be explained shortly.

Trainers may choose to stockpile exchange opportunities, especially if they feel they've gained all the rewards that can be gained. There is some truth to this: in the one year of the game, the reward selection as above has not changed (much), and by now, most of the items may have been gained, aside from the essential currencies. Therefore, instead of making the exchange right away, the opportunities are saved for something better, and with the "anniversary update", that "something better" seems to have come and they may feel justified to have saved the opportunities.

With the "anniversary update", Trainers can now exchange for the "common rewards" as above, or they can exchange for Pokémon emblems, which is an enhancement system of sorts and needs to be explained separately from this post. Five exchange opportunities can now also be made right away before committing to further exchanges (or not, as it's still possible to stockpile and wait for the right time to exchange). It is apparent that Trainers may have to come back to this facet for more exchanges today.

Energy exchange remains a gacha system that provides a bevy of rewards for those interested, whether they're the common ones or now the new Pokémon emblems. The method of earning the opportunities for exchange is also as simple as can be, by just participating in battles; after that, Trainers can be as conservative or radical as they wish for exchanging to the items that they desire. At least, it may provide the "energy" for the drive to go into even more battles with the furnished rewards, and then to gain more of them.

Three years ago: Team GO Rocket Blasting Off
Four years ago: Figure Photography

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