Patch Notes are extremely important for Pokemon Unite, the top-down Multiplayer Online Battle Royale game by Tencent Games that is the latest offering in the Pokemon games franchise for mobile devices. In these highly competitive titles, meta changes are often important to derive more strategy in the game and Patch notes are the term used to implement these changes. This month’s Patch titled 1.4.1.7 brings a new Pokemon Duraludon which was majorly hyped since the inception of its leaked video on various social media sites. 

The challengers of Mer Stadium can also expect some different buffs, nerfs, and adjustments to the current roster of Pokemon that are heavily dominating the ranked modes, especially at the highest level. Players can expect this Patch to be implemented on 14th March 2022 after maintenance ends. Duraludon’s abilities and passives are also explained in the given patch. Let’s jump into the details of Patch 1.4.1.7 of Pokemon Unite.

New Pokemon – Duraludon

Duraludon is the latest Pokemon coming to Pokemon Unite as a playable unit with Patch 1.4.1.7 on 14th March 2022 after maintenance. Duraludon is going to be classified as a Ranged Physical Attacker type Pokemon with an Intermediate difficulty curve to learn and master him. Duraludon’s passive ability Heavy Metal is a unique and amazing ability that lets him hold his ground and he cannot be thrown or shoved whenever an enemy Pokemon tries to CC (Crowd Control) him. This passive is on a 30 seconds cooldown. Keep in mind that this only protects him from not being able to move out of his stand and not from CC abilities which are Stun, Sleep, Paralyze, etc. Duraludon’s boosted attacks which trigger after 3 consecutive basic attacks always deal 3% damage to enemies MAX HP and can also be struck as a critical hit. His boosted attack can also hit multiple enemies.  

Duraludon’s moveset focuses on dealing huge burst damage while being far away from the range. His attacks can be very deadly if they hit enemies who have 5 marks on them. These marks are on enemies with the help of Duraludon’s 1st upgraded skill Dragon Pulse which states he will deal AOE damage once he finishes charging up in a circle. During this charging time, his movement speed is slowed making him vulnerable. However, after this move has finished charging, he will deal additional damage to enemies with more damage marks on them. These marks can be applied to enemies by damaging them with Duraludon. His Unite move Revolving Ruin is an amazing setup move that can trap enemies in a circle of fire, quite literally as he shoots a ring of fire from his mouth. If this ring touches any Pokemon during its making, Duraludon will gain 8% Attack and some Shield amount per enemy Pokemon it hits. Enemy Pokemon who try to leave this ring or touch it will also get slowed plus take additional burn damage from ticks. His move sets and passives are as follows: –

Heavy Metal (Passive) – Prevents Duraludon from being thrown or shoved by the first attempt to throw or shove them. This ability goes on cooldown after it’s triggered (30 seconds Cooldown) 

Basic Attacks – Becomes a boosted attack with every third attack, shooting a long beam that deals a large amount of damage to all enemies hit. Deals 3% max HP damage and can critically strike.

1st Move Set Chains

Laser Focus – Reduces damage received by 20% for .5s. Afterward, Duraludon’s basic attacks deal additional damage to enemies hit. This buff expires after 8s or after 3 basic attacks.

Flash Cannon (Can be chosen at Level 5) – Duraludon ruptures the ground in the designated direction; dealing damage to enemies in the area of effect and decreasing their movement speed for a short time. Afterward, go into “Cannon Mode” rooting Duraludon for 6s or if a basic attack is not made for 2.5s. While in Cannon Mode, basic attacks have a longer range and deal increased damage. Stealth Rock, Dragon Tail, and boosted attacks can be used while in this mode, and boosted attacks decrease the movement speed of enemies hit for a short time.

Dragon Pulse (Can be chosen at Level 5) – Charges power before dealing damage to enemies in the area of effect. Duraludon’s movement speed is decreased while charging, but the longer power is charged, the wider the move’s area of effect becomes and the more damage it deals.

After learning this move: a damage marker will be attached to any enemy when Duraludon damages them (additional boosted damage counts). Marks accumulate to 5 orbs and 1 ring. Marks last for 8s and refresh in duration when a new mark is applied. Marks can be cleansed with Full Heal or Natural Cure. When Dragon Pulse hits a marked enemy, additional damage is dealt for each damage marker attached to it, then all damage markers are removed. An opposing Duraludon can wipe your stacks on wilds if they Dragon Pulse, but they will not receive the additional damage that your orbs have would have done. If this move knocks out an enemy, the cooldown is reduced slightly, and the next 3 basic attacks will each deal additional damage and further reduce this move’s cooldown when they hit.

2nd Move Set Chains

Metal Claw – Send sharp claws forward; dealing damage to enemies hit and decreasing their movement speed for a short time. After this move is used, Duraludon’s next basic attack becomes a boosted attack.

Dragon Tail (Can be chosen at Level 7) – Duraludon shoves enemies and moves backward a short distance. The next basic attack becomes a boosted attack. This move ignores obstacles. A maximum of 2 uses can be kept in reserve for this move. There is a 1.1s cooldown between uses.

Stealth Rock (Can be chosen at Level 7) – Hurl a stone at the designated area, creating an invisible field of stones for the 60s or until triggered. The field deals damage over time to enemies in the area of effect and decreases their movement speed by 15% for 2s. If the hurled stone hits an enemy before the designated area, the field will instead be centered on where the stone hit that Pokémon. Once an enemy takes damage from the field, it will become visible to all enemies. If an enemy takes damage from this move 4 times, that enemy becomes unable to move for 1s. After this move is used, Duraludon’s next basic attack becomes a boosted attack. A maximum of 2 uses can be kept in reserve for this move. There is a 1.1s cooldown between uses.

A maximum of 3 Stealth Rocks may be on the game field at one time, but 3 more can still be kept in reserve.

Revolving Ruin (UNITE MOVE) – Fire a beam of light at the ground in a sweeping circle around Duraludon. If this beam hits an enemy, it deals damage to them, grants Duraludon a shield, and increases Attack by 8% for a short time. Both the shielding effect and the Attack increase are strengthened for each enemy that is hit by the beam. Damage is dealt with any enemy in the area of effect after the beam of light is fired. A burning ring is also left where the beam of light touched the ground; enemies that touch this ring take additional damage every .5s and have their movement speed decreased for a short time. Subsequent hits after the first have the Attack stat bonus from this move applied to them.

Duraludon has already been released for almost a week and the consensus about him is clear within the community – Top Tier Pokemon. Duraludon is a top-tier DPS Pokemon that can dish out consistent DPS with his strong base attack, attack speed, and critical hit rate increase paired with the factor that he’s a ranged Pokemon. He also is a tank melter as he deals damage based on enemy MAX HP. Duraludon can be purchased using 10,000 Aeos Coins or 460 Aeos Gems in the Unite License Shop.

Balance Changes (Nerfs/Buffs/Adjustments)

Patch 1.4.1.7 is a heavy patch that delivers on the major concerns of all players – the lack of balance changes between the patches. Pokemon Unite developers tend to deliver all the balance changes in 1 single patch once a month. Here are the balance changes in brief: –

Blastoise (BUFFED)

Rapid Spin ? Move Upgraded.

Mr. Mime (NERFED AND BUFFED)

Guard Swap ? Changed ability description.

Confusion ? Damage dealt decreased.

Psychic ? Controls Adjusted.

Cramorant (NERFED)

Dive ? Damage dealt decreased, Controls Adjusted, and Move Upgraded.

Air Slash ? Cooldown Increased

Alolan Ninetales (NERFED)

Boosted Attack ? Controls Adjusted.

Aurora Veil ? Move changed and ability description changed.

Lucario (NERFED)

Close Combat ? Damage dealt decreased and effects weakened.

Greedent (NERFED and BUFFED)

Basic Movement Speed ? Decreased.

Tackle ? Cooldown increased.

Defense Curl ? Effects on the user weakened.

Eldegosss (BUFFED)

Cotton Guard ? Effects on the user weakened.

Unite Move ? The Unite Move Charge Rate increased.

Decidueye (BUFFED)

Spirit Shackle ? Damage dealt to Pokemon increased, Move Upgraded.

Unite Move ? Damage dealt to enemy Pokemon increased.

Zeroara (BUFFED)

Volt Switch ? Damage dealt to Pokemon increased.         

Trevenant (BUFFED)

Wood Hammer ? The move’s HP decreased effect has been weakened but effects on opposing Pokemon increased.

Pain Split ? Effects on enemy Pokemon increased, Movement speed buff from this move has been increased.

Tsareena (BUFFED)

Trop Kick ? Damage dealt to enemy Pokemon increased while Cooldown decreased.

Stomp ? Damage dealt to enemy Pokemons increased.

Gengar (BUFFED)

Unite Move ? Special Attack increased gained from this ability after Level Up

Boosted Attack ? Damage dealt to enemy Pokemon increased.

Hoopa (NERFED)

Shadow Ball ? Damage dealt to enemy Pokemon decreased.

Hyperspace Hole ? Cooldown Increased.

Hoopa Confined Basic Attack ? Damage dealt to enemy Pokemon decreased.

Hoopa Confined Hyperspace Fury ? Damage dealt to enemy Pokemon decreased.

Trevenant (BUG FIX)

Fixed the bugs of Aegislash that affected Area of Effect abilities.

BATTLE ITEMS

Slow Smoke (NERFED)

Cooldown increased and the Effects weakened.

That sums up everything coming to Pokemon Unite with Patch 1.4.1.7 and the majority of new gameplay changes along with the newest playable Pokemon Duraludon. Play Pokemon Unite on your PC using BlueStacks for a much better lag-free experience on a bigger screen using your keyboard and mouse.