Theia Sky Ruins, Subterranean Edition

Closing up the run of this week's discussions on Pokémon Unite matters is one that is of great interest and importance. Starting this Battle Pass season, Ranked match players continue to deal with the Theia Sky Ruins map as they have done for a few years now, but with a few differences. The discussion was originally planned to focus on the most major element of those differences, but it turns out there is more than that. As such, I decided to expand it to cover the importance of its elements taken together. 

And taken together, the overall gist is as suggested in the title of this post: the map now comes in a "subterranean" edition. What makes it as such is that the central "legend pit" now has Groudon instead of Rayquaza, which when defeated grants faster scoring of goals and increased power instead of a protective shield. Its appearance is fairly obvious: the pit is now bordered by pools of magma rather than dense clouds. It has always been apparent that the "legend pit" is important, and now it is more so.

That, of course, is not all. A few other things are changed, specifically the titan "axis" in the middle. The original trio now appear at the top and Regieleki now appears at the bottom, while Regidrago will sometimes appear in the middle to boost goal scoring when defeated, marking its first time showing up in a map for Ranked matches. Herds of Natu might also show up in the center, and the two outermost goal zones might have different point requirements. As such, the changes are quite spread out.

Dealing with the map might require a bit of strategy changing for those who are already acquainted with the previous edition. The titans being shuffled around might prompt some players to choose Pokémon they don't normally play in order to deal with any or all of them. Certainly, reiterating the above, players will want to go into the "legend pit" in order to take down Groudon for themselves before the other team does so, or the consequences might indeed become very dire for them otherwise.

Opportunities for new supremacy might just arise with these latest changes to affect the Theia Sky Ruins map that has been in place as the venue for Ranked matches in Pokémon Unite for some time - something that is not likely to change any time soon, apparently unlike the map itself. The appearance of Groudon in lieu of Rayquaza brings the sky-high map down to earth (perhaps a little bit under that), and this and the other new or mixed-up elements will pique and challenge players with all that they can offer.

One year ago: No Lies... and Lies

Two years ago: A Win for the Ages

Three years ago: One-Minute Cooking in Café Remix

Four years ago: Hidden Tracked Statistics in Pokémon Go

Five years ago: Let's Talk About Household Creatures

Six years ago: And Intelligence

Seven years ago: Proud to Be a Clean Cosplayer

Eight years ago: Poké-Mobile Devices

My Pokémon Unite Boost Emblem Progress, Revisited

Meanwhile, it's been over a year since I discussed the progress of my boost emblems in Pokémon Unite. Since then, progress has been slow and steady - albeit slightly inconsistent - and this becomes a prompt for me to make the update. It comes at the right time with this month's series of posts involving the game, and it just seems so natural to be made given the circumstance; thus, I might as well make it and fit it into the subject at hand.

Out of 259 currently available boost emblems - more on this soon - for me, 29 of these are Platinum emblems, 195 are Gold or higher, 242 are Silver or higher, and 249 are Bronze or higher. That means Bronze is pretty much nearly complete, Silver needs a little bit more work, Gold still needs a good amount of work, and Platinum is going to be incremental (especially given the way that they're gotten). This might then just make it the closest update yet.

Now, 8 of these emblems are the ones I previously mentioned as "out of band" since they're not of Pokémon of the first and second generations. This group includes the Sprigatito family, which have been added only in Platinum form (and I have them), as well as Latias and Latios also only in Platinum (and I'm missing them). It seems that adding Pokémon emblems "out of band" will continue to be viable and I'd need to be on the lookout for these.

If that is also any indication, I'd also still need to be on the lookout for the Platinum emblem missions as part of the Unite Weekend as mentioned previously. I've been missing some of them, often unintentionally, and it may be anyone's guess when or how the ones I missed might ever return. Meanwhile, I may still be weighing my options on using the emblems I already have in order to boost the Pokémon I frequently use and perhaps may desire as such.

The boost emblem progress in my case could still be regarded as pretty good at any rate, and that may be the only thing that matters. Inconsistency may still be expected, especially with regard to the process of obtaining certain emblems and/or their state, but general efforts in a more consistent direction might help to even things out for the progress. The only thing that's left is more consistent progress on the core gameplay for which the emblems boost.

One year ago: Why Do I Still Play Pokémon Unite?

Two years ago: Another Pokémon Watch

Three years ago: The Intricacy of Declining Raid Invitations

Four years ago: Greater Friendship Levels in Pokémon Go?

Five years ago: Getting Feline with Pokémon

Six years ago: This Is It

Seven years ago: Cosplay: Club Cosplay Party

Eight years ago: Pokkén BanaPassports

The Set Shop in Pokémon Unite

For many players, including me, the aspect or feature of Pokémon Unite that I have chosen to take up for discussion in this post might not matter much, but those who possess the means for it might find it very much useful. Along with the regular shops of Pokémon Unite, which I've discussed oh-so-long ago, Pokémon Unite also has a few other distinct specialty shops, one of them being the Set Shop. Admittedly, this has become a "regular" shop of sorts, but for the most part, it can still be considered "specialty" for what it's worth.

The Set Shop is accessed from the upper-right corner of the main screen, just below the Aeos Gems indicator and access to its shop. Now, it's called the "Set Shop" because its contents are comprised of bundles of items, most often a Unite License and a matching Holowear so one can play with the Pokémon and have something to show off for it. As can be discerned, they're essentially "better together" items, so players get at least some value for them - moreover that they're discounted to an extent. Quite a few are also related to certain Legendary Pokémon, so they're (slightly) useful for those who missed their respective events.

Yet there is a catch, a typical one for the game. The items in the shop are only purchasable by spending Aeos Gems, which means one will have to pay for them with real money by proxy. As such, this is the part that probably won't matter much to many players, as the ones who don't pay for or really ever use Aeos Gems for any purpose. The Unite Licenses might have already been obtained or could be gotten with alternative currencies, so the only sticking point would be the offered Holowear, the only thing that would prompt payment for and spending of Aeos Gems in any case and even outside of this specific shop.

While the Set Shop is a fascinating and useful aspect or feature, its usage of Aeos Gems to purchase its items is certainly a limiter for those who are not concerned with spending this currency (and its real-world money equivalent) and/or just want to keep things free to play. As a "specialty" shop, though, it fills a void for those who do invest in the game and look to get more out of that investment, and there is nothing wrong with that. It may be the start or continuance of that effort for when it matters the most.

One year ago: High-Score Skip in Café Remix

Two years ago: Cosplay: Bocchi Noizu Mini Gathering

Three years ago: Quickies: Building with the "Builder Trio"

Four years ago: Wallpaper: Journeys Gap Ad

Five years ago: Multilingual Pokémon Go

Six years ago: Gym Tours

Seven years ago: (A Further) Local Ex-Raid, 9/10/2018

Eight years ago: Cosplay: BJF - Shizen ni Modoru

Possibility of a Universal Event "Claim All"?

Next on the agenda for a run of Pokémon Unite discussions is one related to implementation (specifically, a way of it) and a bit of a feature request. Some modern Pokémon games now have a "Claim All" or sometimes "Receive All" button for rewards gained through pass tracks or sometimes just tasks. It's a feature that is helpful when many individual rewards are present and a player just wants to get them all without fuss. Pokémon Unite implements this as well, and it is fine in a number of cases except one.

In some specific screens, both related and unrelated to events, a "Claim All" button is present and takes care of things nicely. In fact, sometimes it becomes the more convenient and workable option due to certain issues of responsiveness (not pertinent to this discussion). However, with the burgeoning number of events and event formats, it can be kind of tedious to go through all the separate event screens and claiming the rewards in each one, even if they have that "Claim All" button. What would be great is to be able to get the claiming done for all different kinds of events, much like as in Café Remix with its "Receive All" button for tasks.

As such, the feature request would be for a "Claim All" button that would be "universal" across events, not just individual ones. Some of the events can still have their own "Claim All" button for their purposes, but for those who like and want to get things done all at once - most likely since they don't spend too much time within the game - the "universal" button would then do the trick. It might be a little hard to implement due to the way that the various events present themselves in both rewards and functions, but if there is a way to do just that, then it might very well be worthwhile to make the implementation.

The multitude of events that are now present in Pokémon Unite is certainly not going away, and further, they're likely to expand upon themselves. This goes along with the rewards that they can possibly furnish, which might require some separate claiming efforts at the moment even if they're all within a single event. A "universal" button for claiming all rewards would be the certain feature to implement, even if this could present some difficulty, and from there all that remains is to get and keep all of the usual gameplay going.

One year ago: Quickies: Odd Architecture, Here and There

Two years ago: The Lucky Wheel in Café Remix

Three years ago: The 2022 Silph Arena Continentals Meta

Four years ago: Capturing Toward the (Pokémon) Future

Five years ago: More Music from Pokémon Go

Six years ago: The Music of TCGO

Seven years ago: Cosplay: Tachiagare

Eight years ago: My Book of Days

Sharing Results in (and from) Pokémon Unite

This month, I'm returning to an actual Pokémon subject for my "gimme five" posts that will span this week. The subject is the MOBA game that is Pokémon Unite, for discussing a few facets from both past and present. The one I've chosen for today might seem benign but actually has an element of importance to it. As such, it's also helpful to understand it and possibly make use of it for better gameplay.

Some achievements in the game (exchanging for a gold emblem, attaining certain ranks, obtaining a Unite License, among others) allow for them to be shared in the form of an image. This can then be placed on a player's preferred social media platform, and from there they can also be saved for posterity and one's records. It also becomes a useful way to engage existing players and possibly motivate non-players to play or rejoin.

For example, here's my shared fourth anniversary recap.

At certain times, there is another motivation and encouragement to share: doing so may allow the player to earn 50 Aeos Coins, which is a small sum but could be quite useful to balance its earnings from other sources - especially for those who (almost) never pay for Aeos Gems. This will be clearly indicated when the Share button pops up, and sharing the achievement right then and there will result in the small earning.

It goes without saying that the opportunity to share achievements or results should be utilized whenever it allows for the earnings above. However, since the sharing result is an image, any achievement that may deserve to be memorialized in such a form can therefore be shared to preserve them. The process may allow for their record-keeping, which I would say is a pretty good side benefit whether or not there is the earning above.

Evidently, even a small and seemingly benign facet like the sharing of results or achievements in (and from) Pokémon Unite can have its benefits, which means it's worthy to be detailed as the above. It's up to players to utilize it however they may, just like it's up to me to detail about them in the posts of this blog and outline how that might be done. As far as I'm concerned, that's a great thing for everyone.

One year ago: On Getting Rained Out and Rained On with Pokémon

Two years ago: The Persistence of Theia Sky Ruins in Pokémon Unite

Three years ago: Like a Headless Torchic... or Pokémon

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Multiple Pokédexes, Realized

Five years ago: Pokémon Documentaries?

Six years ago: The New Flavors of Pokémon

Seven years ago: Other Uses of Pokémon Go

Eight years ago: Incubators in Pokémon Go

It's Everywhere Competitors Want to Be

The last stop on this current "Pokémon Is Everywhere" tour is the grandest stop of all, since this weekend is the Pokémon World Championships, and Friday today is its first day, the day I cover the festivities. Now, this annual Pokémon agenda could be considered localized and routine after all these years, but on the other hand, it is always special no matter what the year is and in recent times it has wide-ranging impacts for Trainers not even at the venue. As such, I decided to "shoehorn" it into this "everywhere" week, regardless of it making perfect sense - and I've even remarked on it (by the title of this post) in a manner that the more affluent of Trainers will recognize.

As for the location of this year's edition, that would be in Anaheim, California, making it a return to the U.S. mainland (and this city, many years ago). The city is also known for it being "hip" (in some way) or being close to other centers of "hip" people (in one way or another), and so the Pokémon also get into the vibe. Notably, that is in the form of varsity jackets that evoke such a feeling by way of association with schools or colleges, and the representing Pokémon (including the de facto series mascot Pikachu) wear this attire for the vibes. Pikachu in particular is not only present in illustrations but also in merchandise form as well as in forms that the games can make use of... but that's for later.

Speaking of the games, the lineup remains consistent with main series VGC (the classic), physical TCG (the "handy"), Pokémon Go PvP (the blitz), and Pokémon Unite (the team-spirited). All the players - that is, the competitors - have certainly qualified to be a part of this event and to duke it out against others of similar caliber, including the representatives of my local area for all of these, which are still part of an entourage with good size. They'll all surely come out fighting in their battles, whether or not in the end they'll be on top.

Now, the World Championships have been in a bit of transition in recent times - besides with regard to the venue - to something enjoyable for everyone, including those who don't compete. For that, including last year's edition, people have been able to reserve Spectator badges as well as spots at a pop-up edition of Pokémon Center, in particular to buy that Pikachu with the varsity jacket outfit. And then there's the possibility of cosplayers being present, which I don't have to say that it would be a dream for me (and Ash) to be able to go there.

In some capacity, Anaheim is also known for a kind of magic that it offers for certain groups of people, in addition to that "hip" thing I keep droning about in this specific coverage. Whether it's magic or "hip", though, Pokémon benefits from that and especially for a grand tournament like this one, returning to that city after many years and certainly with new and modern twists for competitors and supporters alike.

Many players will still dream of competing here, and now many fans too might dream of coming here just for the fun of it. Either one is a great thing, but then it would be even greater to be able to make that dream come true. For those whose dreams have already come true and are here for either, then I wish good luck as always (for the competitors) and great fun (for supporters) in that "hip" and happening place.

One year ago: Respect for Rachael Lillis... in Memoriam

Two years ago: The Matter of Mega Evolution in Unite

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies, Round 4

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/14/2021 and 8/15/2021

Five years ago: Matters of Shadow and Light (Purification)

Six years ago: The Subtle Generational Spoiler

Seven years ago: Don't Look Back... in Anger

Eight years ago: Pokémon Desktop Wallpapers

Seeking for (My) Pokémon Unite Friends

If there is anything that is clearly understood about Pokémon Unite today, it is that it's a game for friends to play with friends - certainly being that it's very much a MOBA with maps that require three to five players. Of course, it is also clearly understood that the landscape of the game is very different today than it was when it started, including those who play the game, which also implicates the friends that are made by and for the game. I thought it would be fascinating to discuss and reflect on this, particularly by my own experience.

Those who play the game like me will probably have gotten their friends from being randomly matched up with others in the various of matches of the game. It is a quick and easy way of linking up with others as friends, especially for play within the short term, but it might not necessarily guarantee that they'll still be able to play in the long term. In my case, I've rarely encountered those who have become friends with me early on, so this seems to affirm such a state of affairs. Seeking for these friends now might be a case of futility, even if in the past they provided some utility; it's anyone's guess if that utility might become suddenly useful now.

Meanwhile, the rest of the friend lists might be composed of those who players have obtained through certain groups and especially added through the use of codes. Finding the groups and then the codes may not be the easiest thing, but inputting them to make friends is still the easy part. Yet even then, it may sometimes be hard to determine if the players that were sought in the past can still play in the present, much like the above. In fact, the same thing has been true for me as well, and the difficulty of seeking them to play now seems to have become as great as the difficulty of seeking them in the first place.

As for physical friends for playing the game, they might be the ones who are the hardest to seek and then play with, since they come and go, and the methods of contact may not have been ascertained. But as with other MOBA games, players will certainly meet them during tournaments and have the chance to make friends with them... which sadly hasn't happened for me, having never been to a physical tournament, but I do think it can and will happen someday, which would be good for continuing my game efforts.

Friends in the game can clearly be sought and gotten through various ways - some easy and some hard - though the act of playing with them afterwards may not be the easiest thing, even in my case. They're obviously still needed by the nature of the game and what it demands, so the challenge of seeking them for play is also an ongoing one, just like the changes in the game are ongoing for me and other friends.

One year ago: The Values of Posts, Again

Two years ago: By Experience or By Information?

Three years ago: The Importance of Training in Café Remix

Four years ago: Realized Personal Social Media Experiments with Pokémon

Five years ago: Let's Talk About Events, Conventions, and Beyond

Six years ago: A Tale of Two (OK?) Performances

Seven years ago: Ode to Magikarp

Eight years ago: Snorlax's Awakening

The Electrode Volleyball in Pokémon Unite

As part of its anniversary event and festivities, which were also referenced in the recent Pokémon Presents, Pokémon Unite also introduced a new play mode. Now, the game is known for having some greater resemblance to certain ball sports compared to other MOBA, but this new play mode takes the cake as it references a sport outright - and its influence. As indicated by the title, the play mode is called "Electrode Volleyball", and its dynamics are emblematic of both the referenced sport as well as the game in general.

The play mode is a Quick match... because it literally is that. Two teams of three Pokémon duke it out as in normal volleyball on a rectangular map, trying to smash an Electrode to the other team's side. They'll have to bump it back and forth - possibly even to an outer edge - to be the first to score three points by smashes, or to just stay on top within five minutes of play. In doing so, one team can attack the other with their items and moves to block their attempts at defending the ball from being smashed into their side.

Since the Pokémon need all that they can muster to volley and run in this play mode, they are immediately leveled up and moves need to be chosen for them at once. The gameplay then escalates into a fast and frenzied status, especially during the designated "final stretch" moment - the match point, where one side has already scored two points - at which point HP recovery and speed are increased and barriers close to the outer edge are lowered, opening up the rest of the field to the mayhem.

In my experience, some matches are really fast and seem to be over before they could begin, while others need the full five minutes in order to be resolved. Of course, that might be because earlier on players were still grappling with the restrictions and dynamics of the new play mode, and later matches have resulted in them (and/or me) being put on the spot in order to defend the ball and others in the team while attacking to fend off threats and actually make the much-needed score to (try to) win.

Pokémon Unite will probably never shed its association with ball sports by its partial and uncanny resemblance to certain ones, so having a play mode that actually does flat-out resemble one plays off of this nicely. It also couldn't have come at a better time, with this time of the year being the anniversary celebration for the game. The fast pace and explosive (ahem) nature of the play mode may demand a different way of thinking for the players, especially with consideration of MOBA and ball sports alike.

One year ago: Pokémon Center Merchandise Odds and Ends

Two years ago: NADWPKMN - The Video Series: Special Episode #1 - AsiA Cosplay Competition Single Performance

Three years ago: NADWPKMN - The Video Series: Episode #4 - In Character Spirit

Four years ago: Other Uses of the Pokémon TCG

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Fest 2020, Day 1

Six years ago: Pokémon for Print Projects

Seven years ago: World of Pokémon... Media

Eight years ago: Videophones and Pokémon, Then and Now

Making a Difference: Pokémon Presents, 7/22/2025

Well, that (bi)annual happening I referenced in this year's Pokémon Unite anniversary post is none other than an edition of Pokémon Presents. Sometimes there's just one of it in one year, but other times there are two of them in one year; evidently it's the latter for this year because there had already been one earlier. And if there's a second one, then that means some of the information is important and can't wait for the usual anniversary edition. It may be construed as a way of "making a difference"... which becomes highly evident.

First up, dedicated fans and viewers who tuned in early could catch a one-hour long DJ Pikachu performance featuring tunes from the first generation games from the early game to the endgame, all remixed in typical DJ fashion but still with different styles. This is certainly different from earlier iterations that don't have actual "pre-show" entertainment, and though it's not really part of the presentation proper, it's still pretty much adjacent and rather complementary to it, something to be considered for future iterations of the presentation.

The actual presentation, meanwhile, is approximately half an hour long and contains all the expected info and more. One of those is for the upcoming World Championships in Anaheim, CA in the U.S., with a preview of the festivities. This was followed by info for existing games: Scarlet and Violet (main series) with a new battle event, the physical TCG with card content for the new Mega Evolution expansion, Pokémon Go with a really big wrap-up, Unite with its anniversary festivities, Café Remix with a seafaring event, Sleep with a beastly trio event and a new area, and Masters EX with a new Sync Pair and bonuses - all of them a handful and varied.

Entertainment is also hot on the list. Pokémon Concierge, the stop-motion series on Netflix, now has a preview of its upcoming episodes slated to premiere in September. Speaking of stop-motion, the "kings" of it - Aardman Animation - also want in on Pokémon, and they've come up with a different animation featuring Sirfetch'd and Pichu, also teased here and slated for release in two years. For more realistic entertainment, there is also PokéPark Kanto - not a game this time, but a whole amusement park in the flesh (at least, a subset of one); it's due to open early next year. All the entertainment will come in due time.

Also hot are new games on tap. The first is a wholly new game called Pokémon Friends, which combine brainteaser puzzles and plush collections, available now on the Switch and mobile platforms. Meanwhile, Pokémon Champions has revealed more of its mechanisms (a "Recruit" feature and stat adjustments), which may just affirm its "battle client" spirit, as well as a planned release next year. As for the eagerly awaited Legends: Z-A game, it'll be due in three months and its most tantalizing additions are revealed here as well, including a new Mega Evolution of a very familiar dragon. Worlds of differences seem to await players and fans alike.

If certain worldly and life principles are of any indication, being different is not necessarily bad, and this edition of Pokémon Presents had that quality in spades. This edition had that for its introduction, the new content to existing games, the forthcoming entertainment forms, and certainly all the new games that fans can't wait to get their hands on and play. They're all important and beyond the usual norms, and that may be useful for Pokémon in general, as the maintenance of norms while occasionally breaking them for variety.

One year ago: Seventh Anniversary of My Raid Group

Two years ago: Cosplay: Shokumatsu

Three years ago: Respect for Zeno Robinson

Four years ago: More on Ideal Raid Lengths

Five years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 5

Six years ago: Movie Manga, Part 2 (Really 2)

Seven years ago: Pokémon Style Figure Sun & Moon 2 - Mimikyu

Eight years ago: Cosplay in a Bag

Pokémon Unite 4th Anniversary

Since the past four years, July has become a happening month for anniversaries of Pokémon game, one of them being earlier in the month and another one being around this day. The latter is of course for Pokémon Unite, as the implementation of MOBA with elements of the franchise. In those four years, a lot has happened, shaping the game from a rudimentary implementation to something for working and playing well with others. That said, it would be helpful to recap some of the most recent changes that have been made to see them in the perspective of these past four years.

Perhaps one of the most significant things in the past year, besides the addition of new Pokémon through Unite Licenses - which I'll deal with shortly - is the addition of new, other means of providing bonuses like discount coupons and event mechanisms. Still, the players might need to provide something of their own (paid, that is) in order to take advantage of these bonuses, although a lot of the perks can be obtained freely. Wallets may or may not be a determinant of the festive quality.

For the Pokémon, it might be said that some of the more esoteric choices are being pulled out even now and will continue to be pulled out along with the remaining sensible ones. One of the former in this regard, added just a while ago, is a particular yellow duck whose powers are best manifested with a headache (yet it won't evolve into its more sensible next stage), while the latter comprises two "siblings" whose ventures are well-known to fans and their addition is right here and now, at least in stages, through its usually instituted anniversary event.

This year's anniversary for the game, it has to be said (at least for the writeup part of it), is also closely coincidental with an annual or even biannual Pokémon happening, which involves not only this game but also the broader world of Pokémon and all things related to its games and entertainment. This is surely to be discussed in another post, but it has to be noted that Unite is definitely part of that package.

It might appear that this year's anniversary for Pokémon Unite might be a bit on the blander side, but it's an anniversary nonetheless and should be celebrated for what it is, especially for what it brings. That means appreciating what has been developed since its rudimentary beginnings and continuing to deal with all the complexities that have been and will be presented for dedicated players.

All things considered, it seems not that bad at all. Happy fourth anniversary to Pokémon Unite.

One year ago: Pokémon Unite 3^rd Anniversary

Two years ago: Pokémon Unite 2^nd Anniversary

Three years ago: Pokémon Unite One-Year Anniversary

Four years ago: Go Fest 2021 Epilogue: Nighttime Music, Vocal Version

Five years ago: Getting Crafty for Go Fest

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 7/21/2019

Seven years ago: Pokémon Style Figure Sun & Moon 2 - Mimikyu

Eight years ago: Cosplay in a Bag

Held Items in Pokémon Unite

In all the times I've dealt with Pokémon Unite and wrote about its facets on this blog, it seems unbelievable that I haven't directly covered the facet I'm about to cover and I only had mentioned it indirectly, as in the case of "builds" for specific Pokémon. And yet, it's also so key to the workings of the game, not to mention having other particularities of its own that are worthy of discussion even now. It is therefore fitting to make that discussion and delve into the facet into some (and greater) depth for its understanding.

The facet is certainly that of held items, which all Pokémon in the game can carry three into battle. Some of these items are based on items in the main series games, like the Focus Band (previously mentioned), Weakness Policy, and Amulet Coin (recently introduced). Others are unique to the mechanics of the game, such as the Score Shield (previously mentioned), Slick Spoon, and Rescue Hood. New items are certain to be introduced to keep the dynamics of the game changing and fresh, alongside the Pokémon.

Each item is upgradeable to level 30 ("Max Grade") with the use of Item Enhancers that can be either earned or purchased - likely the latter if one is serious to get more than the earned ones can provide. If one is unsure, though, one can use a 7-Day Trial Coupon for this purpose to see if the upgrade works out. For other items that work out, one can also use the Super Item Enhancer to upgrade an item to Max Grade and recoup the Item Enhancers used for that purpose. Judgment of these three situations remains the discretion of the player.

Such is also true of the usage of the items, which constitutes the "build" for the Pokémon as mentioned. Those who are certain might have already made their "builds" by trying things out, but for those who are less certain, they can use sets made by other players through the Example Sets feature in the Held Items menu. This also offers exploration potential and a quick way of accomplishing that - especially for Pokémon that fewer players use, yet others need to get up and running for certain purposes.

As for other aspects, there are but a couple. Zacian is notable for having a permanent held item, the Rusted Sword, which is also already at Max Grade, and so it only can (and needs to) bring two other held items. Longtime players also will likely - or rather, should - have had all their held items upgraded to Max Grade, which also becomes another prompt for the continued addition of new items alongside just challenging players anew with combinations that they may never have thought of before and have great battle potential.

Held items have been a longstanding concept or facet in the main series games, so it was natural to bring it to Unite, itself being a part of the MOBA games family for which others have similar implementations. Likewise, though, they all require some understanding of the aspects that may be involved aside from the functions of the items themselves, which might take some time... just like for this post to be made about the ones in Unite. The essentials as above may just point players and their Pokémon in the right direction in battle.

One year ago: Saving (Preserving) Pokémon Locations

Two years ago: The Flurry of Unite Team Creation

Three years ago: Say You Love Me (Not)

Four years ago: Earthing with Pokémon

Five years ago: Taking Pictures of Pokémon

Six years ago: LINE Pokémon Emoji

Seven years ago: The Super Incubator

Eight years ago: The Badge Arcade Hit Its Limits

The State of Playable Legendaries in Unite

Since their introduction a somewhat long time ago, playable Legendary Pokémon have colored battles in Pokémon Unite in different ways. There have also been struggles to make them work within the ecosystem of the game, including to keep things fair. Because of these factors, it seems pertinent to make a review of the situation and see what that bodes for current players, and from there to gain insights for future additions of playable Legendary Pokémon.

Currently, the existing playable Legendary Pokémon cover Mewtwo with its Mega Y form and Miraidon with the Attacker role, Mewtwo with its Mega X form as well as Zacian and Suicune with the All-Rounder role, and Ho-Oh with the Defender role. None have the Speedster or Supporter roles, though Darkrai and Hoopa respectively for them (despite being Mythical rather than Legendary) seem to fill the roles nicely until a proper one appears.

Taking a somewhat generalist overview, it seems players have not become too dependent on them, as other Pokémon, both new and old, become used more often instead of any of these; the restrictions placed by them being EX Licenses may have also helped in this regard. Meanwhile, of the species above, the most rarely used seems to be Ho-Oh, given that its controls are a bit tricky from my first-hand experience - yet it might be different in some cases.

For the future additions, it's plainly obvious by the above: additions to fill the Speedster and Supporter roles, especially to complement the existing ones by virtue of their relations to other Pokémon. As well, a possibly more workable Defender than Ho-Oh (even with this being already capable in the hands of certain players) could be another consideration, at the least in order to provide alternatives that fit the current play styles of players.

While the addition of playable Legendary Pokémon to Pokémon Unite shook things up initially, they seem to have become normalized since, with further additions not being as problematic and in a way being suitable to the current dynamics of the game. Future additions are almost a certainty in this regard, and they along with regular species additions will keep defining the dynamics along with the players that will help to make it so.

One year ago: Alive, in Life

Two years ago: Consolidation: New Café Remix Updates

Three years ago: Starter Pokémon in the Wild

Four years ago: The Retro Cup of GBL

Five years ago: Going Elite with TMs

Six years ago: Detective Pikachu Burger King King Jr. Toys - Arcanine

Seven years ago: Round Pikachu Keychain

Eight years ago: Cosplay: Isshoni Tanoshimimashou 12

A Unite's Dozen of Victories

Recently, Pokémon Unite revived an event framework that had been absent for some time, and it's one that is fascinating in both description and execution. As is the norm, the game has a hidden expectation for a player to become familiar, at least to a certain extent, with not just one Pokémon, but maybe five (given the number of roles) or a few more than that (given the multitude even in a single role). The event framework, meanwhile, proposes a different optimal number: 12 - a dozen, and a characteristic "Unite's dozen" at that.

The framework is called "Victory by the Dozen", because it requires the player to achieve 12 victories, regardless of play mode (except custom ones). As expected, these 12 victories need to be accomplished with Pokémon that are all different, and not just any of them; they must be all taken from a preselected list of 18 Pokémon, which are indicated on the event progression screen as well as Pokémon selection at the start of a battle. Rewards are given out for certain numbers of victories in addition to the ultimate number.

Because of the way the framework is, ideally a player would have to have most of the Unite Licenses available for the preselected Pokémon in order to get almost all of the victories in. For the remaining ones, they can elect to use 3-day or 7-day limited Unite Licenses to fill in the remaining victories, while trying out the Pokémon in question. Of course, there is nothing to stop players - aside from a lack of resources as such - from purchasing all the needed Unite Licenses, especially if they're collectors, and using them in battle.

Certainly, players will also have to pick and choose which Pokémon they want and need to win with. Given 18 of them on the table, there is a good chance many players already use some of them regularly or semi-regularly, so they're no-brainers. It's the ones that they don't use often that might present problems, but at least there are up to six of those that they can cast aside and avoid their problems. The "Unite's dozen" will then be the 12 they can muster victories of, with or without the possibility of extraneous ones.

Getting to know the Pokémon that one will use along with those of the other team members and the opposing team is a vital part of playing Pokémon Unite. While it won't measure up to a "Unite's dozen" in one battle, over many of them, it might just measure up as such, and the process of knowing becomes warranted. Such seems to be the case for the "Victory by the Dozen" event framework, which just might assist in that process and becomes timely when it is revived, as in the case of the present.

One year ago: Three Pokémon Visions in Dreams

Two years ago: Tournament: SWEEP JR vs. Sac and The City (SA Factions)

Three years ago: The Type Is Wild

Four years ago: Cosplay: "How Are You, Communities?"

Five years ago: Subcultures and Specialties

Six years ago: Pokémon and eSports

Seven years ago: Fondness for Latias and Latios

Eight years ago: A Story of Love, A Story of Passion

Revision Roundup

Every so often, a current Pokémon game - necessarily of the spinoff type - will include a "revision" of some sort to something that I've covered previously, some of which is to my chagrin and others being to others'. It just so happens that three games that I have quite a bit of stake in at present have all recently included something to that effect, so I thought I'd "round up" the revisions and cover them all at once instead of making separate "treatises" for each when the matter becomes majorly pertinent.

The first one comes from Pokémon Unite, where Theia Sky Ruins returned as the map for Ranked matches after a temporary soirée with Remoat Stadium right around the time of the franchise anniversary. The situation thus perfectly described that state of affairs, as it became a perfectly designed throwback. Meanwhile, the latter's (re)incarnation as the "First to 500" play mode is persistent as of yet... but this could be due for a "revision" of some kind in the near future, hopefully for the better rather than otherwise.

Café Remix also has a "revision" to the now-regular event structure. Instead of the same two team and individual point events during a major one, just one of them occurs, and that is followed by a minor points event that extends to the end of the major event, overlapping with a Cook and Collect event for Gholdengo. This has the effect of allowing other older Pokémon featured in past events to come back, which is definitely a good thing for those who missed them or didn't get as much as they could for them.

And then, there is Pokémon Go. The recent Go Tour event had been advertised to include a pose, but this didn't materialize, and the mention was removed. However, fortunate Trainers caught the mention of the missing pose, and ultimately compensation had to be made - though not in the form of a pose. It's a "revision" that's typical of the way things have been done for the game, and in its second life, there may just be other "revisions" that further characterize the (future) happenings of the game.

"Revisions" are common - and part of the norm - for continuously updated games of the present, including some Pokémon ones. Depending on the effects and quality of the aspects involved in the "revisions", as well as the results of the "revisions" themselves, they may be anywhere from pleasantly acceptable to necessarily repetitive, if the above instances illustrate as such. Yet it's hard not to expect at least some "revisions" in current games, and people on both sides of the gaming table need to deal with them wisely.

One year ago: Direct vs. Quiz Selection

Two years ago: Performance Critique: Mezase Pokémon Master feat. Otaku

Three years ago: More Berries for Pokémon Go?

Four years ago: The Future of WhatsApp Pokémon Stickers

Five years ago: Virulent Impacts

Six years ago: From One Path to Another

Seven years ago: (Again a) Local Ex-Raid, 3/24/2018

Eight years ago: The Many Forms of Pikachu in Shuffle

The Legendary Challenge in Pokémon Unite

Ever since the first addition of playable Legendary Pokémon to Pokémon Unite, the Unite (EX) Licenses for them have initially been available for free, as long as players can put in effort in the associated event for that purpose. That associated event is called the "Legendary Challenge", which has a different title for each Pokémon, but the mechanics for the event and its individual editions are essentially the same, as is the effort required for them.

The event revolves around rolling dice to clear spaces on boards to earn coins, which can then be exchanged for the Unite License and/or other items of interest. Each day, one earns a die to roll; if the roll isn't a six, one can roll again for a guaranteed higher value by (progressively) spending coins. If the result of the roll is accepted, the marker on the board moves that many spaces forward, and if the board is cleared, the remaining spaces carry over to the next. At the end of a roll, except on a board clear, one needs to complete one of two missions in order to be able to progress; one of these is an individual task of various objectives, and the other is a team task that simply has someone play as a particular Pokémon. Completing the mission gives 10 coins, while clearing the board gives 100 or 150; the Unite License takes 1000.

Support may be provided in one of three ways. Landing on a highlighted space moves the marker a few spaces forward, which may be an option to (try to) land on rather than rerolling. Extra dice may also be earned from special accompanying events, which in the past were also linked to an active Panic Parade event and points exchange, but in more recent times are just based on daily or other missions. Finally, for those who prefer to pay (and/or need to because of missing some days or to try to get all the items), each board can be automatically cleared by offering 120 Aeos Gems, which are of course paid as a proxy of real money.

Because of the way the event is structured, both casual and hardcore players can deal with the event in their own ways, with Standard, Quick, or Ranked matches in any combination. The important thing is to go through the event, earn the coins, and exchange for the Unite License. Payment is only an extra for the other items, unless one wasn't diligent enough for the daily die and/or didn't make the necessary rerolls. The free aspect regardless should be enough of an incentive for players to go through the event and obtain the Unite License while it still is.

For what it's worth, the Legendary Challenge is a respite from many of the paid elements of Pokémon Unite and gives all players a fair shot at a newly introduced playable Legendary Pokémon. Some effort still needs to go into playing through it, just like most other parts or events of the game, but it's a noble effort for the game's noblest playable Pokémon.

One year ago: Pokémon Plush Dolls of All Kinds of Sizes

Two years ago: Tools for Solving Pokémon Go Problems... and Life Problems?

Three years ago: Quickies: Trees, the Symbol of Life

Four years ago: The Sentience of Pokémon

Five years ago: There Are Monsters Outside

Six years ago: "Monkey Trio" Keychain Figures

Seven years ago: What's Played, What's Not, and What's Next

Eight years ago: Pokémon X Food Network ...?

"Back to Basics" for Pokémon Unite

Along with the announcement on Pokémon Day of the new Unite Licenses to come, Pokémon Unite also was the subject of announcements pertaining to a few other additions and changes to the way things are played. This includes the way that a player (or a team) would evaluate themselves against others as well as things themselves are evaluated on a battle map. Taking into account what goes into them, it could be said that the game is going "back to basics" for veteran and new players alike.

First up, as of the season change some days ago, Remoat Stadium is back as the map of choice for Ranked matches, after the longest time with Theia Sky Ruins. Of course, the latter will still be playable as a map for Standard play, but for Ranked match purposes, the old convention is now the new convention. Much has happened (and many Pokémon have been added) since the previous change, so it would be fascinating to see how things would play out on the old map. It is admittedly a "basic" map, which to some extent may explain the change years ago, but it also makes sense to go back to that so players can grasp more of the applicable principles.

Meanwhile, the same map has been taken, modified with a few additional elements, and made into a new Standard play mode called "First to 500". The gist, evidently, is to have either team score 500 points first to claim victory. But that won't be easy, for the changed elements, the other team, and even extra skills will challenge players to score the necessary points. I'll have more on this map and play mode in a separate post, but in general, what I can presently say is that the play mode is quite different from the usual norms of the game, and as such, players have to draw on basic skills once again for it.

In other areas, there is now a tracker for collected Holowear, which will furnish bonuses if all the Holowear for a Pokémon are collected. It's a small thing for some players - particularly those who aren't active in this effort - but it still establishes that Holowear itself is a basic thing if nothing else and there may be something to be gained for it.

Having appeared for close to four years now, Pokémon Unite has had many new things added to it within that time. They're all fine and great for players to take advantage of, but it seems there is also a need for them to recall the "basics" of what makes the game good in the first place. The recent changes or additions above may just help to do that, to focus on grasping the "basics" and then to take them to the next level.

One year ago: Continuity: Pokémon Presents, 2/27/2024

Two years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki! Japan Fest x ICGP Regionals 2023

Three years ago: Made (Deep) in Obsidian

Four years ago: Pokémon First-Generation Drink Bottle

Five years ago: Hope For Problematic Pokémon Fans

Six years ago: A Gold and Silver Postcard

Seven years ago: Being a Pokétaku

Eight years ago: I'm Swept Away

Ever Onward: Pokémon Presents, 2/27/2025

Following Pokémon Go Tour, the matter of Pokémon Presents from the anniversary day for the franchise also needs to be dealt with, in similar fashion as a couple of the past years (see below). Last year - which was discussed on a different date - I brought up the theme of "continuity" for how the things brought up in the presentation at that time followed on for certain Pokémon things. This time, it may be said that those things kept following on to the future, which is why I've settled on the descriptor and theme as in the title of this post.

"Onward" truly describes the situation of existing games. Pokémon Go had Go Tour as its announcement (of course) with another early twist, while Café Remix had an announcement of a very apple-y festival. Pokémon Unite is getting three new Unite Licenses, two within the next two months, and TCGP has a new Themed Booster Pack. For other games, Sleep is getting the tale of the "moon islands", Masters EX is getting two new supreme Sync Pairs, physical TCG is getting Mega Evolution, and current main series games (Scarlet, Violet) are preparing the fully evolved starters for gleaming things. The games are all moving forward in some way.

Then, other areas are also moving forward. For Latin America, certain games and the physical TCG will be localized in Latin American Spanish, which ought to allow more of its speakers to enjoy Pokémon in that language. Pokémon Concierge, the stop-motion animation series on Netflix announced two years ago, will also receive new episodes, while its first four will be available on YouTube for a limited time. They're steps that hopefully will please many fans.

Last on the discussion agenda is new games on tap. A new game has been announced, which will be called Pokémon Champions; it looks to be in the style of the Stadium or Colosseum games, which also might mean a possible entry of VGC-style battles, and is therefore a way of experiencing them in a different manner, something that I had postulated several years ago, on this very day (also see below). Then, there was also a "first look" at Legends: Z-A, showing that the game too is really moving forward, including with regard to its time setting.

It might seem that fans have needed some reassurance that some Pokémon things - especially the very last one I brought up - are moving forward somehow. The things announced in the "anniversary edition" for Pokémon Presents may provide that reassurance, as well as show that they're proceeding "ever onward" for the next things to serve the enjoyment of the fans. In that way, the fans should be able to make much of the same moves in the same direction.

One year ago: Cosplay: Utsuru 8.5

Two years ago: It's All Relative: Pokémon Presents, 2/27/2023

Three years ago: Newfound Glory: Pokémon Presents, 2/27/2022

Four years ago: More PokéStops in Specific Areas?

Five years ago: Re-Experiencing Main Series Battles

Six years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki! Japan Fest x ICGP Regionals 2019

Seven years ago: Investing for PokéCoins

Eight years ago: To Pre-Order or Not to Pre-Order?

Unique Pokémon Unite Tournaments

Pokémon Unite is rightfully a MOBA game, and tournaments in similar fashion as other MOBA games can be (and have been) created for it. However, it too differs from most MOBA games in different ways, something that players, both active and inactive, have made observations of. In this way, the game might open itself up to some unique or even unusual tournaments - which has in fact happened - and that becomes something interesting to explore.

Recently, a tournament was held for solo and team players alike with a special restriction: knocking out other team players was discouraged, and if that occurred, it counted as a -20 point penalty at the end, while 10 KOs meant an automatic loss. As such, it was dubbed as a "scoring-focused" tournament, and it itself was initiated by the observation that matches in the game seem to be about scoring more than anything else, which in some ways might be true given the overall objectives and mechanisms of the game.

Then, a long time ago, there was a one-on-one custom tournament that was initiated as a way to use the Custom Battle feature in a slightly unusual manner, not to mention for the participants of the tournament. The usual methods to determine a winner still applied, so some players had to get crafty with their approaches to win against the other player. In any case, the tournament could be construed to be a way of getting players used to the ways of Pokémon Unite, even though those ways are much like other MOBA games.

A possibly unusual restriction for tournaments is to have teams composed of Pokémon of a single role, which sometimes occur in regular play (including Ranked) but not very often - though some have documented their experience with these kinds of teams. With the inclusion of more and more Pokémon in the game, these kinds of teams can stand to occur more often and in unusual ways, so having a tournament dedicated to having teams that are all like this would not only be creative but also force players to really strategize.

Even with the state of the game as it is now, which some players may or may not be aware of, Pokémon Unite can stand to be played with out-of-the-ordinary restrictions (even as a MOBA game), and that could make for unique tournaments as detailed above. At this point, that may be just what is needed to reinvigorate or at the least maintain interest in it, and to continue to affirm its place as both a MOBA game and a Pokémon game.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Saving Opportunities

Two years ago: Follow-up for the NADWPKMN YouTube Channel

Three years ago: Respect for Ahmad Zulkifli Lubis... in Memoriam

Four years ago: Quickies: Water, the Source of Life

Five years ago: To Lure or to Walk?

Six years ago: Romancing the Ball

Seven years ago: Once and Again: Cosplay Teaser for 3/11/2018

Eight years ago: We Three Birds of Kanto Are...

My Pursuit of Unite Licenses Thus Far

Next on the personal discussion agenda is something related to the battle royale that is Pokémon Unite. To battle with and against others in the game, one needs Unite Licenses to be able to use certain Pokémon. Any deserving player Trainer will certainly try to obtain them whenever possible, and that's also what I've done. For that, it can be said that I've made good progress on this front based on what has happened.

The best progress of all on this front is that I have obtained all the Unite Licenses for all Speedsters and Defenders that are in the game up to this point. While I may not use all of them right away, this can make for adaptability in certain situations, with one example being me joining a team and having either of these as dedicated roles. Of course, I'll also need to be on the watch for new Pokémon with these roles in order to continue completing them.

As for other roles, I have a good collection of the Pokémon in each despite not having all. I'm only missing a few for Supporter and Attacker, and a few more for All-Rounder. Likewise, using them all will take time and effort, but the adaptability is nice to have. Furthermore, in the process of doing so, I might just develop new occasional usage favorites - a recent one being Azumarill for All-Rounder. Eventually, I may or may not have all Pokémon for these as well.

How did I come to obtain the Unite Licenses for these Pokémon? I actually obtained some of them through a set of gift boxes that were distributed back in the game's usual holiday event, one for each role; for example, I used the Attacker box to obtain Dragapult because it was the most expensive of the ones I don't already have. For the others, I paid for them with Aeos Coins, practically the only other "free" way of obtaining them. 

Continuing the pursuit of Unite Licenses thus means looking out for the events that allow me to obtain them freely (like the above, or certain Legendary Pokémon events) while also considering which ones I can afford and are pertinent to my battle needs. The former might not come often and the latter might not always be easy to determine, but both will certainly have some kind of results when I go through them.

It's not always an easy matter to battle with the Pokémon that are now and will be present in Pokémon Unite, so obtaining different Unite Licenses might be one way to make the matter easier. That is regardless a key point of the game, even if one has settled and become familiar with specific roles by necessity or preference. With that, my pursuit of Unite Licenses for Pokémon of concern keeps on going for what might come next.

One year ago: Laughing with Pokémon (Species)

Two years ago: More Insights (and Strides) for the Daily Adventure Incense

Three years ago: Pokémon Asia Pikachu Mug + 2 Promo Cards

Four years ago: "Post-Shuffle" Activity

Five years ago: Fusion without Confusion

Six years ago: Pokémon Theme Park Ideas

Seven years ago: Playing the Meta Game

Eight years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 1

A Pokémon Unite Dream

Most of my Pokémon dreams have a situational setting in the Pokémon world or a blending of that with the real world, and rarely are they about the games. So, when a Pokémon dream comes about that involves a game, it becomes a rarity to behold. Such was the case for a dream that I had a couple of weeks ago that involved a Pokémon game, although at the time I couldn't make a write-up on it due to the run of posts at the end (and beginning) of the year. However, I did jot down all the significant details so I could make the write-up later on, and today's a good day for that.

The game in question is of course Pokémon Unite, and while it proceeded along the lines of the game, there was a bit of strangeness as well. In the dream, I was part of an in-person team and was playing against another team in a match as such. However, the map seemed somewhat different, as in addition to battling other Pokémon, we were also being demanded to figure out a puzzle in order to access another part of the map. Specifically, we were to use certain keys to open a certain door, and we were thinking about the solution for accomplishing that goal and proceeding further.

Ultimately, that was to lead to a final battle or "showdown", much like what would happen in the "Legendary pit" with Rayquaza as is the norm in Theia Sky Ruins. Alas, the progression of the dream was not meant to be, and it ended before that resulting climax could be shown. What did happen after that was certainly me waking up and recording the details of the dream... and then actually playing the game to set my mind straight. Still, I only wish I could have seen that moment.

As for what this dream may signify, it may be that fans of the game, who play but not very intensely, and teams of players who do play intensely, can and should interface with one another and make discourse for improvement of the game, which can result in something as unique as the above. Fortunately, the game already offers a way for this in the form of a regular Feedback questionnaire that sometimes appears. It may also be a prompt for all of us to make use of this feature if and when it appears.

Dreams may have a way of indicating certain things and making them evident, and this particular dream that features a Pokémon game (here, Pokémon Unite) may have just done that. For that seems that there is more involvement to be had in the game by myself and others, possibly including the developers themselves. That might just lead up to more content and challenges in the game.

One year ago: Four on the Floor

Two years ago: Cosplay: Pokémon Festival Jakarta

Three years ago: Two and Two Together

Four years ago: A Dream with Partners

Five years ago: A Clear Vision

Six years ago: Home and Heart... and Hope

Seven years ago: Now Accepting Donations

Eight years ago: Confessions and Concessions