Pokémon Unite’s new patch almost kills Pay to Win via new items

Since the exit, it was difficult to talk about the merits of the MOBA pocket monster Pokémon United. The fun factor was there, though largely obscured by TiMi Studio Group’s monetization practices, which allow you to increase articles with real money. But with Wednesday’s big new patch, Pokemon Unite is now much more generous to players who do not want to take out their wallet.

Previously, Pokémon could contain items that affected their abilities in the game or grant a variety of stat boosts. There is an item, for example, that increases your health every time you score a goal. All items can be leveled up to rank 30 via an in-game currency that you can earn during normal playtime, without spending any money. The problem was that once you hit level 20, continuing to pump things out became a huge chore. Theoretically, you can indeed maximize items without spending any money, but the game distributes so little change that it would likely take months to complete a single item. Your Pokémon can carry three, and you’re probably using more than one character to better serve your team’s needs. It was much, much easier to get out of those last 10 levels.

Now, as someone who has reached the rank of Master and is now around 250 hours, I am confident to say that the small stat bonuses granted by these items do not correspond at all to a coordinated, team-based team. objectives. Your ability to, say, stay alive 1% more than usual, say at random, means crap if you don’t score, or if you’re faced with a counter-choice that has specific tools to help you score. demolish you in depth. Still, I admit it’s crap to have this type of monetization at all.

Things are different now. With the September space-themed patch, which includes a long list of balance settings and new customization options, TiMi Studio Group has introduced a whole new type of item, the Super Item Enhancer. These Advanced Enhancers can be earned via an extremely easy to obtain event. You get one for levels 10, 12, and 14 – and since I’m at level 40, I logged in this morning automatically completing the requirements to get the Enhancers. Anyone who plays regularly will likely experience the same.

And damn, are they powerful. Just one piece will level up any item you want, which, yes! But the best part is, if the item you’re using it on is already halfway through its levels, the new Enhancers will “refund” you the difference. So, for example, I used an Enhancer Coin on a level 25 item, which increased it to 30, only to find out that I then had thousands normal Enhancers on the left. These were then quickly used for other things I needed to level. Now I have several loads at their peak performance.

So while you only get three of these bloated boosters throughout the event, in practice they might help you level more than three items. But at the very least, that’s enough to maximize a loadout on your favorite Pokémon. So now everyone gets maximum articles, not just the people who paid their way there.

Also new: There are now “Maximum Quality Trial Cards”, which allow you to temporarily cast any item you want to reach at level 30. They last for a week and can be earned via an in-game event that is also incredibly simple. You just need to finish battles while holding an item. You were probably going to do it anyway, and the number of matches needed to get a handful of cards is pretty low. So anything that you haven’t been able to permanently upgrade, you can still enjoy to its full potential.

Another thing that relieves this tension is the addition of a greater variety of challenges, events, and the new season pass. And they are generous too! An event earlier in the year had items that, if completed, would each give you as two item boosters. What the hell can you even do with it? But now the incentives to keep playing are much better. As I go through them, I see a variety of challenges that offer at least 150 Enhancer items each, or hundreds of tickets that can be converted into Enhancers. And they’re all pretty easy to get, if you play regularly. We’re talking about the ease level of “playing as support five times” here. You will take on some of these challenges without actively trying to do so.

This is just the start of what is set to be a massive change for the Pokemon Unite community. At the end of the month, the first season officially ends. Those of us who punish ourselves by playing ranked will then receive thousands no more tickets that can be used for Enhancers, among other things. This too will likely mean that many people will be able to maximize their articles without spending a dime. Pair that with a new influx of mobile gamers which have cross-play, and the whole Pokemon Unite the landscape is now based on active tectonic plates.

When everyone has access to the same perks, the frustration surrounding this cutesy MOBA is sure to subside. And thank goodness for that; now I don’t have to perpetually justify my enjoyment of what is truly a great game with all those Enhancers, Tickets, and Gems. In addition, with TiMi Studio Group continuing to update the game and add more characters on a regular basis, the future of Pokemon Unite indeed looks brilliant.