Five basic Pokémon UNITE builds players can use for characters

Pokémon UNITE, much like conventional massive online battle arena games, has different preset builds that players can use for various characters. These builds are crafted by using items in the game. Players must purchase or unlock held and battle items and then add them to their Pokémon.

Held items can also be upgraded with the use of item enhancers. But, as held items cost 1,000 Aoes coins — and to purchase all of them is a grind — sticking with one build on a Pokémon and enhancing those items may be the way to go.

Here are five Pokémon UNITE builds for each role that players can use. They can start out with these and experiment once they’ve purchased and unlocked  every battle and held item.

Speedster build: Zeraora

Zeraora is a free Pokemon UNITE character. He is powerful and can go into any lane and the jungle. The Pokémon is strong in the early parts of the game and this build can smooth his transition into a late-game powerhouse as well. The held items include the following:

• Muscle Band
• Scope Lens
• Float Stone

Muscle Band and Scope Lens increase Zeraora’s basic attacks and his critical strike damage. The Float Stone give the character more movement speed out of combat, letting the Pokémon run through the middle area faster. For the battle item, if players take this build to the jungle, Fluffy Tail is the best option for clearing middle area Pokémon. For the other two lanes, X Speed or X Attack also work well.

This build’s ability path is Volt Switch and Discharge, for more speed and damage amplification.

Attacker build: Venusaur

Venusaur is a high damage output Pokémon but is also extremely vulnerable if hindered, knocked up or attacked in general. This build will help with its vulnerability and make getting within melee range a bad idea. The build can go in either lane. The held items include the following:

• Buddy Barrier
• Rocky Helmet
• Energy Amplifier

This build is centered around Venusuar’s area of effect abilities and Unite move. Energy Amplifier and Buddy Barrier enhance Unite moves; one with shields the other with damage. And Rocky Helmet deals with pesky opponent damage. For the battle item, Slow Smoke is used to stop enemies chasing a player and to trap them in their area of effect abilities. This build’s ability path leads into Sludge Bomb and Solar Beam.

All-Rounder build: Machamp

The four-armed Pokémon is a great fighter around the map and excels at skirting around fights and dealing damage. This build can go into either lane and even the middle area if players choose. This build is team fight focused and skirmished focused. The held items include the following:

• Muscle Band
• Scope Lens
• Leftovers

Muscle Band and Scope Lens are great items to enhance any fighter’s build. They boost Pokémon who focus on using basic attacks like Machamp. Leftovers is thrown in so Machamp can leave the fight and return with more health for Round 2 of a fight. The battle item for this build is Full Heal as it will stop any status effects that would prevent Machamp from diving into a fight. The build’s ability patch includes Cross Chop and Submission. Cross Chop for more damage and Submission for stuns and more damage.

Supporter build: Eldegoss

Eldegoss is one of the best Pokémon in Pokémon UNITE and can become unstoppable depending on its build. Eldegoss can go to either lane. However, it needs a partner because the character’s damage output becomes lower as the game goes on. This build focuses on Eldegoss’ support playstyle and augments her allies while also rewarding players for smart goal opportunities. This build can also snowball well into the late game when in the lead. The held items include the following:

• Exp. Share
• Aeos Cookie
• Buddy Barrier

Exp. Share and Buddy Barrier are focused around teamplay; the barrier for shields during Eldegoss’ Unite move and Exp. Share for running around and supporting allies. The Aeos Cookie is the snowballing item that give Pokémon more health with each goal scored. The battle item for this build is Eject Button. Eldegoss may need to escape from the center of a team fight or pursuing enemies. The abilities for this build include Leaf Tornado and Cotton Guard for initiating fights and healing allies.

Defender build: Snorlax

Snorlax is one of the simplest Pokémon in the game and is easy to master. This build give the Pokémon even more survivability and allows for quick escapes. Snorlax can go to either lane but is better suited for the top lane for easy assess to Rotom. The held items for this build include the following:

• Leftovers
• Rocky Helmet
• Assault Vest

Each of these items help increase Snorlax’s survivability and tank status. Leftovers is a great item for any defender and Rocky Helmet is good for dealing passive damage to those attempting to kill the character. Assault Vest ties the build together by giving Snorlax a shield when out of combat, which synergizes nicely with Leftovers. The battle item for this build is Eject Button to give Snorlax more mobility to escape and regain health. The abilities for this build include Heavy Slam and Block.