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Everything to know about the Pokémon UNITE 1st Anniversary celebration

New Pokémon, Holowear and special campaigns are on the way

07/15/2022

Provided by Pokémon UNITE Glaceon, Buzzwole and four others will debut in Pokémon UNITE during the upcoming celebration.

The Pokémon UNITE 1st Anniversary celebration is coming up soon, since the game first launched on the Nintendo Switch on July 21, 2021. Since then, the multiplayer online battle arena game has received a consistent stream of updates adding new characters, modes, cosmetics and more.

Over the next few months, players will get to experience even more new content at a rapid pace. Here’s everything there is to know about the Pokémon UNITE 1st Anniversary celebration, from the dates to the kinds of content that will be available.

New playable Pokémon

Six new Pokémon will join UNITE over the course of the 1st Anniversary celebration. The first of them, Glaceon, will become available beginning on the anniversary day itself. Players can unlock the game’s third Eeveelution by completing missions in the Icy Glaceon Challenge. This event will run from 3 a..m. ET on July 21 to 7:59 p.m. on Aug. 14.

Don't freeze up! Glaceon comes to #PokemonUNITE on July 21! pic.twitter.com/Z5KUyMYpoy

— Pokémon UNITE (@PokemonUnite) July 15, 2022

Another two playable Pokémon have confirmed release dates for next month. Buzzwole will launch on Aug. 3, followed by Tyranitar on Aug. 15. In addition, three more unspecified Pokémon will join the game starting in September.

Boss Rush

A mode called Boss Rush will also be playable at select times during the Pokémon UNITE 1st Anniversary celebration. In this new type of quick battle, players will not directly fight against other teams. Instead, they will team up to take down large Pokémon like Drednaw, Zapdos, Regigigas and Avalugg.

By earning high scores in Boss Rush, teams can earn better rewards and secure higher positions on the mode’s Unite Squad Ranking and Squad Member Ranking. Players can try out Boss Rush during these three segments of time throughout the celebration:

3 a.m. on July 21 to 7:59 p.m. on July 24
8 p.m. on July 31 to 7:59 p.m. on Aug. 7
8 p.m. on Aug. 14 to 7:59 p.m. on Aug. 21

Pokémon UNITE 1st Anniversary Holowear

The Pokémon UNITE 1st Anniversary celebration will introduce new Holowear as well as easier methods for obtaining existing Holowear. Battle Pass Season 9 will introduce new rewards beginning at 3 a.m. on July 21. Among them are the Band Style: Pikachu and Songstress Style: Wigglytuff cosmetics.

In addition, players can obtain Unite licenses and accompanying Holowear simply by starting up the game on five different days from midnight on July 21 to 4:59 p.m. on October 12. If the player already has the Unite license or Holowear they would have received, then they will get 100 Aeos coins instead. Players will be gifted the following Unite licenses and Holowear costumes on each of the five days:

Day 1 – Pikachu and Fashionable Style: Pikachu
Day 2- Lucario and Concert Style: Lucario
Day 3 – Blastoise and Firefighter Style: Blastoise
Day 4 – Snorlax and Bedtime Style: Snorlax
Day 5 – Sylveon and Checkered Style: Sylveon

Ranked Match Season 5 will kick off on July 21 and run through September 2. During this truncated season, players will have an easier time climbing up to Master Rank. In addition, competitors will vie for the Tuxedo Style: Decidueye Holowear as the primary reward.

Attention Trainers! We've shortened the period of this ranked season to roughly 6 weeks. In addition, we've also made changes so that you're still able to reach Master Rank in that time. Fight to the top! #PokemonUNITE https://t.co/dSo2HX3Y79

— Pokémon UNITE (@PokemonUnite) July 15, 2022

The new Anniversary Cake Challenge will allow players to unlock rewards by completing missions and collecting frosting. Available rewards include new Holowear for Crustle and Cramorant. Finally, the Costume Party Style: Lucario and Cake Style: Crustle Holowear will return for a limited time during the celebration.

Other Pokémon UNITE 1st Anniversary events and items

The Pokémon UNITE 1st Anniversary celebration will include various campaigns to reward participants for playing alongside their friends. From 3 a.m. on July 21 to74:59 p.m. on Aug. 4, the Returning Trainer Support Event will allow players to earn points and claim rewards simply for battling with returning players.

In addition, the Invite-a-Friend Campaign enables players to receive new items by inviting their friends to the game from 3 a.m. on July 21 to 7:59 p.m. on Aug. 11. Meanwhile, invited players can obtain the Bonfire Style: Slowbro Holowear.

Finally, the Team Up & Rank Up campaign will grant players performance points more easily if they team up with other players to participate in ranked matches. This event will take place in two sections: from 8 p.m. on July 23 to 7:59 p.m. on July 24, then again from 8 p.m. on Aug. 20 to 7:59 p.m. on Aug. 21.

Take a look at all the fun events that you can expect during the #PokemonUNITE 1st Anniversary celebration! pic.twitter.com/rsJZuf9Svd

— Pokémon UNITE (@PokemonUnite) July 15, 2022

This celebration will also introduce a new kind of energy reward known as Pokémon Boost Emblems. These collectibles depict a number of different Pokémon, some of which are playable in UNITE and many of which aren’t. There will be gold, silver and bronze variants of each Pokémon Boost Emblem.