Attacker
Ranged DPSSquishy carries who deal sustained damage from a distance. League ADC equivalent.
Picks: Pikachu, Cinderace, Greninja, Decidueye, Cramorant
Pokémon UNITE · beginner guide
Pokémon UNITE for new players.
UNITE looks like every other MOBA but plays differently. Matches are 10 minutes. There's no last-hitting. The scoring resource is the only resource that matters. This page covers what to learn first, what to unlock first, and the six mistakes every newbie makes.
Step 1 · understand the 5 roles
Every Pokémon does one of five jobs.
Pick the role that fits how you play other games. If you bottom-lane in League of Legends, you'll like Attackers. If you off-tank in Overwatch, you'll like Defenders.
All-Rounder
BruiserDurable melee threats that mix damage and survivability. League fighter / Dota offlaner.
Picks: Lucario, Charizard, Garchomp, Tsareena, Tinkaton
Speedster
Assassin / junglerHigh-mobility burst killers. The jungle role 90% of the time. Squishy outside their windows.
Picks: Absol, Zeraora, Talonflame, Meowscarada, Leafeon
Defender
TankLane-bullies and zone-controllers. Soak hits, displace enemies, body-block goals.
Picks: Snorlax, Mamoswine, Greedent, Goodra, Slowbro
Supporter
Healer / CCHeal allies, lock down enemies, set up kills. The bottom-lane partner role.
Picks: Eldegoss, Wigglytuff, Blissey, Alcremie, Comfey
Step 2 · best Pokémon to unlock first
Six picks that don't waste your Aeos Coins.
You earn ~1,000 Aeos Coins per day from quests. Your first unlock matters because new players have limited Coins and the wrong pick burns a week of progress. These six all have simple kits and teach core skills that transfer to every other Pokémon.
Snorlax
EasyThe friendliest Pokémon in the game. Block lanes with Heavy Slam, body-block goals with Block, and live forever. You will die last on your team, which is exactly what you want when you're still learning maps.
Pikachu
EasyRanged DPS that doesn't require precise positioning. Thunder + Volt Tackle is the simplest "press buttons, deal damage" combo in the game. You learn the macro game while still contributing.
Eldegoss
EasyThe cheapest viable Supporter. Cotton Guard + Pollen Puff heals teammates without you needing to land skill shots. Great way to learn lane priority by sitting bottom with a stronger DPS.
Lucario
Easy-MidBone Rush + Power-Up Punch is the most rewarding "do everything" kit at low ranks. Sustains itself, kills squishies, and tanks for the team.
Cinderace
MidLate-game ranged carry. You can lose lane and still win the game because Cinderace scales hard. Pyro Ball one-shots in the final minute. Teaches you the "survive to scale" pattern.
Wigglytuff
MidThe lockdown queen. Sing puts enemies to sleep for a long time, which means even your bad teammates get free kills off your CC. Highest "uplift the team" potential at lower ranks.
The unlock economy in one paragraph
Aeos Coins (free, earned through play) buy Unite Licenses. That's how you unlock Pokémon. Aeos Gems (paid, $0.99 = 60 Gems) also buy Licenses but you don't need to spend money. Coin cap is 11,000/week. New accounts get a free Unite License coupon for one Pokémon from a curated beginner pool. Use it on Cinderace if it's in the pool (a 14,000 Coin saving). After that, the priority order: held items first (Muscle Band, Score Shield, Buddy Barrier, 1,000 Coins each), then your first Pokémon (Snorlax or Eldegoss at 6-8K), then your second. Don't buy new Pokémon until your three held-item slots are filled.
Step 3 · your first 5 matches
What to focus on, match by match.
Resist the urge to play ranked. Standard matches don't affect your rank and matchmake against similarly-new players. Stay in Standard for at least 30 matches.
- Match 1
Learn the map
Two lanes (top and bottom), one jungle in the middle. Five goal zones on each side. Don't worry about strategy yet. Just walk around and try to score. Lose. It's fine.
- Match 2-3
Pick one easy Pokémon
Slowbro or Eldegoss from the free rotation, or Pikachu if you unlocked the new-player coupon. Stick with the same Pokémon for 5+ matches before switching.
- Match 4
Watch where your team goes
Rotate with them. If 3 of your teammates are at bottom lane, walk to bottom lane. Solo-laning when nobody else is there gets you killed.
- Match 5
Stop chasing kills
You score points by depositing Aeos Energy in enemy goals. Kills give energy but they don't score on their own. Walk past the dead enemy, dunk in their goal, leave.
Step 4 · the six mistakes every newbie makes
Fix these and you'll climb fast.
These are the mistakes new players get told about most often. None of them are about fast fingers. They're all about the choices you make.
- Solo-laning when the team is groupedLook at the minimap every 10 seconds. Walk where the dots are.
- Hoarding Aeos Energy to dunk for "the big play"Carrying 30+ energy makes you a target. Dunk 10-15 at a time. Smaller dunks, more often.
- Chasing kills past mid-laneIf you cross the river to get a kill, you usually die. The kill wasn't worth it.
- Picking Speedster as your first characterSpeedsters punish bad map sense. Learn the game on a Defender or All-Rounder first.
- Ignoring objectives (Drednaw, Rayquaza)Drednaw at 7-minute mark and Rayquaza at 2-minute mark decide most games. Always be near them when they spawn.
- Not buying held items with Aeos CoinsHeld items (Muscle Band, Shell Bell, Scope Lens) give bigger stat boosts than levels. Save Coins for held items, not new Pokémon.
FAQ
Quick newbie questions.
How long until I should play ranked?
Wait until you've played 30+ Standard matches AND own at least 3 held items (Muscle Band, Score Shield, Buddy Barrier are the universal starter set). Ranked below Ultra rank pairs you with similarly-new players, but only if your account level is high enough to qualify, which takes ~10 hours of play.
Which role should I main?
Defender or Supporter if you're brand new. Both forgive bad positioning, both contribute even when you're losing 1v1s, both teach map awareness. Attacker if you mainly want to do damage. Avoid Speedster until you're confident on the map. They punish bad rotations hardest.
Should I spend money?
Not until you've played 30+ hours. The free Aeos Coin economy is generous enough to unlock 3-4 Pokémon and a full held-item set in your first 2 weeks. Cosmetics (Holowear) are the only IAP that genuinely never become free, but they're purely visual.
What's the weekly free rotation?
Every Monday, 6 Pokémon (rotating through the full ~90-Pokémon roster) become free to play in matches without owning the Unite License. Use it to test Pokémon before spending Coins to unlock permanently.
Held items or new Pokémon: which first?
Held items, every time. A free Pokémon with 3 max-level held items is significantly stronger than your favorite Pokémon with no items. Plan your Coin spending: 3 held items (3,000 Coins) → first Pokémon (6-8K) → max-out item levels (~5K) → second Pokémon. New Pokémon unlocks should be slow.
I keep getting matched with bots. When does that stop?
Account level 7. Before that, ~50% of matches are bot-filled to ease you in. After level 7, all matches are real players. The transition can feel sudden; expect a losing streak. Stay on Defender or Supporter through it.
What's a "Unite Move" and when do I use it?
The big ultimate move every Pokémon gets at level 9 (Attacker level 9, otherwise level 9 or 11 depending on Pokémon). Press the big button on the right side of the screen. Save it for team fights, not lane skirmishes. Recharges over ~90 seconds.