Pokemon Unite has built up a solid following of casual and hardcore players over its first few months. Pokemon Unite has taken a unique approach to the MOBA genre, offering something for both sets of fans, and like with other MOBAs hardcore players can gauge the game’s meta. Being able to analyze which characters are performing well can help build the best teams in Pokemon Unite.
However, the game consistently introducing new Pokemon means the meta can shift a couple of times a month. Some Pokemon might release and be too strong, while others need a buff. December did the former with both the Gen 7 Pokemon Tsareena and Gen 1's Dragonite coming in as strong options for players at every skill level. As a result, the meta for Pokemon Unite going into January 2022 has changed, with players valuing different picks for ranked matches.
S-Tier Pokemon
The current meta for Pokemon Unite has begun to focus on survivability, rather than the previous meta that focused on bursting down opponents. This has seen shifts as Pokemon like Zeraora dropping in usage, meanwhile other strong options like Talonflame are becoming increasingly common. There are others like Eldegoss who excels as a support option. A standout option for S-tier Pokemon is Snorlax, who despite not having the best damage is a great option for denying enemies the opportunity to score with a surplus of health.
- Tsareena: Even though Tsareena is a newcomer to Pokemon Unite, the character's consistent damage and survivability make it a great pick. Chaining Stomp can deliver heavy damage in fights where enemies are grouped up.
- Venusaur: Consistent damage with area control. Venusaur's Unite Move can be tricky, but if placed well it can put multiple enemies at low health or eliminate them.
- Eldegoss: Great at keeping teammates alive and can quickly turn the bottom area into a dangerous snowball.
- Snorlax: Can dominate in bottom and top. While great with defense, Snorlax can also provide solid support for scoring by preventing enemies from attacking their teammates. Snorlax’s Unite Move can also be a nuisance and make late-game fights around Zapdos or Articuno difficult for the enemy team.
- Talonflame: Jungling has quickly become this Pokemon’s strong suit thanks to its survivability, mobility, and damage output. Even after a nerf to Fly, Talonflame can dominate in small skirmishes and is lethal to pretty much any Pokemon that isn’t tanky. Its ability to disengage and make a quick getaway also means high-reward, low-risk fights are more common.
A-Tier Pokemon
Most A-tier Pokemon in Pokemon Unite follow the same premise as S-tier. While they lag in a couple of ways, they’re still some of the best options and offer a lot for those players focused on raising their rank.
- Greedent: Tanky Greedent can be a pain for enemy teams to deal with. Its playstyle is unique, but Snorlax is also capable of doing similar things as Greedent with greater control in big team battles. That said, Greedent is great in lanes with small skirmishes.
- Blastoise: Blastoise is the champion of denial in Pokemon Unite, with nearly its entire kit geared towards helping players disrupt enemies. Players who can dominate their lanes and level up fast will find Blastoise can shut down enemies throughout the match.
- Greninja: Greninja has many of the same benefits as Talonflame, but not as much survivability. On the flip side, Double Team can help deliver lethal burst damage while Smokescreen is a solid option for disrupting opponents.
- Lucario: Movement and sustained damage are where Lucario excels. Before Tsareena it was the best option for this category, but its inability to chain moves in the same way hurts Lucario. Still, Lucario is great for positioning with decent mobility.
- Dragonite: While a tough opponent, the recently added Dragonite can find itself vulnerable after using moves. This means interactions swing either way, but its ability to define engagements means those who practice will find Dragonite to be a favorable choice.
- Wigglytuff: While limited by not having heals as a support character, Wigglytuff’s crowd control is unmatched. Wigglytuff’s Unite Move will provide teammates around it with a shield, but its greatest strength comes from its area-of-effect move, Sing, which puts opponents to sleep.
B-Tier Pokemon
As the middle of the pack, B-tier Pokemon still have usefulness, but recent changes in the meta mean they're less effective. For former favorites like Zeraora, this comes from a lack of health, but characters like Sylveon just struggle to keep up in team fights.
- Absol: Absol’s kit can be lethal and will benefit lower-ranked players. While there’s mobility its place can be interchangeable with the likes of Zeraora, but overall Talonflame can do what Absol does but better.
- Pikachu: In need of some love, Pikachu has hidden potential when it comes to shutting enemies down. Its biggest drawback is a lack of HP, but being able to engage from a distance is a plus.
- Sylveon: This Pokemon dominated when it was first released, but is struggling right now. While Hyper Voice and Draining Kiss can be effective in lane fights, the former can be hard to aim and the latter struggles during team engagements.
- Cramorant:Cramorant’s kit can make denial easy and poke damage is a great asset. It can feel out of place, but still viable for those that want to push their enemies back.
- Decidueye: A hopeful sleeper for fans of Pokemon Sun and Moon, Decidueye had potential at launch but was quickly eclipsed by Tsareena and Dragonite. With a buff to damage, Decidueye could see a bump in usefulness, but right now the Pokemon struggles to find a place to fit in.
- Cinderace: There might be room for Cinderace in A-tier, but characters that get in close can make quick work of the Pokemon. However, at a distance Cinderace can dominate, and its ability to reposition itself means that lower-ranked games will see this Pokemon excel.
- Gengar: This Pokemon will likely be able to bounce back, as solid burst damage makes Gengar lethal and some crowd-control options early on in games give it increased utility. For lower ranked players, now might be the time to get comfortable with Gengar in hopes that it’s able to trampoline itself into S-tier.
- Zeraora: Zeraora’s lack of health and below-average mobility compared to other options has dropped it down some. While Discharge and Spark are good options for clearing the central and bottom areas, in higher ranked games it is simply outmatched by the likes of Talonflame and Tsareena.
C-Tier Pokemon
The C-tier for Pokemon Unite might be its most conflicting area. Here Pokemon like Alolan Ninetales are lethal in the right hands, but the niches they fill are too difficult for many players, preventing them from being meta-defining. There are some with great upward mobility potential, and given the current state of Pokemon Unite, it might just take time as players get comfortable with what January will be like.
- Alolan Ninetales: Disruption and crowd control are a plus, but ease of use is where Alolan Ninetales struggles. Wigglytuff is simpler despite not doing as much damage.
- Machamp: Displacing enemies and dealing damage is Machamp’s specialty. This could become significant as players adjust, and Machamp has the potential to be a consistent counter to the likes of Tsareena. Close Combat to Submission can force enemy Pokemon away from their teams, making Machamp ideal for singling out any opponents that need to be shut down.
- Garchomp: The ability for Gen 4 favorite Garchomp to occasionally deal passive damage to Pokemon would suggest it should be higher, but without other great options at its disposal it falls flat. Rushing in without an escape is dangerous, and it gets outmatched by Pokemon like Lucario.
- Slowbro: In a similar situation as Alolan Ninetales, Slowbro has potential and can be a great asset, but there are other easier options. At the same time, it’s a great pick for the top area, especially with a Wigglytuff in the bottom area, as both together can shut down opposing teams in fights.
- Mamoswine:Mamoswine is similar to Slowbro but might not be as a big of a game-changer. However, Mamoswine’s ability to displace opponents means that separating targets is easier, and it can be a menace to players that are reliant on their lane partners for support.
- Crustle: For some players, Crustle should be higher, and for others it should be lower. At the end of the day, this Pokemon can excel at area control, but this is a specialty with some limited use. Crustle is possibly the best option for disrupting players trying to capture Rotom, Dreadnaw, and Articuno or Zapdos.
D-Tier Pokemon
The lowest tier options in Pokemon Unite struggle to find solid footing in the current meta. Every Pokemon in D-tier has potentia,l but their kit feels like it’s lacking something. While Gardevoir might be one of the most popular picks in Pokemon Unite, it tends to be outclassed in most situations, something that rings true for others ranked this low.
- Mr. Mime: Mr. Mime’s area control can be effective, but in a game where this isn’t the most important aspect, it falls flat. Mr. Mime is still good for punishing any roaming Pokemon, but it can feel underwhelming in team battles and struggles to keep up with Pokemon that have better crowd control.
- Gardevoir: While full of potential, Gardevoir’s kit can be difficult and its effectiveness can be questionable. Gardevoir can use its abilities from a distance to deliver effective damage, but it struggles in lane with skirmishes.
- Blissey: With more consistent heals Blissey could be a better option, but with one ability focused on damage instead of survival it falls short. If Egg Bomb also healed allies in the target area Blissey could rise to A-tier, but with only a choice of Soft-boiled or Safeguard to keep allies up Eldegoss replaces this Pokemon.
- Charizard: While Fire Blast and Fire Punch can make a good combo, it can be hard to feel like picking Charizard is viable. Flamethrower is a step up from Fire Punch with greater range but still doesn’t feel like the complement that Fire Blast needs in the current meta.
Overall seeing a favorite Pokemon ranked low can be discouraging, but one of Pokemon Unite’s most redeeming qualities is how quickly the meta can shift. With the consistent release schedule of new Pokemon, by the time the Agent of Disaster battle pass ends and a new season starts these rankings could easily change.
Pokemon Unite is available now on Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch.
