TL;DR
- Alolan Ninetales excels at battlefield control through freezing and area denial
- Strategic move combinations create devastating environmental obstacles for opponents
- Proper positioning and timing are critical for maximizing disruption effectiveness
- Team coordination amplifies Aurora Veil’s protective capabilities significantly
- Mastering wall placement and cyclone splitting separates beginners from experts
Discover the strategic depth of Alolan Ninetales, Pokemon Unite’s premier battlefield disruptor that redefines traditional attacker roles.
The mobile launch of Pokemon Unite has introduced countless newcomers to MOBA mechanics, presenting a fresh take on the beloved franchise. Unlike conventional Pokemon adventures, this team-based format demands tactical thinking and precise execution. Among the seven attacker-class Pokemon available, Alolan Ninetales stands apart as a control specialist who manipulates the arena to create advantageous situations. If you thrive on outmaneuvering opponents through clever positioning rather than brute force, this icy tactician offers unparalleled satisfaction.
While categorized as an Attacker, Alolan Ninetales truly functions as a battlefield controller. Its comprehensive moveset focuses on environmental manipulation, from creating impassable barriers with Avalanche to generating area-denial zones with Blizzard. The passive Snow Warning ability synergizes perfectly with its freezing capabilities, allowing you to immobilize targets and capitalize on vulnerable moments. Aurora Veil provides crucial defensive utility for both you and teammates, making Alolan Ninetales a versatile pick that balances offense with team support. This unconventional approach to combat makes it ideal for players seeking sophisticated tactical options beyond straightforward damage dealing.
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced
Evolution levels: Alolan Vulpix Start | Alolan Ninetales at Lvl. 4
- Powder Snow – Projects freezing energy that slows enemy movement speed upon impact. Five-second cooldown enables frequent harassment. Upgrades at Level 4 to:
- Avalanche – Summons an ice barrier that blocks movement paths and explodes for area damage when destroyed. At Level 11 enhancement, it additionally reduces movement speed of affected opponents.
- Dazzling Gleam – Emits a cone-shaped brilliant light that damages and temporarily stuns enemies. 7.5-second cooldown requires strategic timing. Level 11 upgrade increases both damage output and stun duration.
- Icy Wind – Blasts frigid gusts that impair enemy mobility with movement speed reduction. Eight-second cooldown. Upgrades at Level 6 to:
- Blizzard – Conjures a swirling ice storm that continuously damages all opponents within its radius while pushing them back and slowing movement. When contacting obstacles, the cyclone divides into two smaller storms that maintain area control. 11-second cooldown. Level 13 improvement decreases time between damage ticks.
- Aurora Veil – Generates a protective energy field that reduces incoming damage for all allied Pokemon inside. Simultaneously boosts Alolan Ninetales’ movement speed and enhances basic attacks. 13-second cooldown. Level 13 upgrade provides additional damage reduction for teammates.
Mastering Alolan Ninetales requires understanding advanced positioning techniques. Place Avalanche walls diagonally across narrow jungle paths to completely block enemy retreat or advancement during team fights. The seven-second duration of these barriers can secure crucial objective steals or protect allies during escapes. For Blizzard placement, aim at walls or obstacles to automatically split the cyclone, effectively doubling your area control without additional cooldown investment.
Coordinate Aurora Veil deployment with your team’s engagement timing. The 13-second cooldown means you must predict when major team fights will occur. Deploy it just before your team’s initiator engages to maximize the damage reduction benefit. Remember that the movement speed bonus allows you to reposition quickly during fights, making you harder to target.
Avoid these common mistakes: Don’t waste freezing effects on already-cc’d targets—chain your crowd control for maximum duration. Never use Avalanche randomly; each wall should serve a specific tactical purpose like blocking goals during Zapdos fights or separating enemy frontlines from their damage dealers. Poor Blizzard placement that doesn’t utilize wall-splitting dramatically reduces your effectiveness.
For players looking to expand their tactical understanding of different roles, our comprehensive battlefield strategy guide offers valuable insights. Additionally, mastering character mechanics is similar to optimizing weapon loadouts for maximum performance.
Cramorant performs optimally when positioned at the vanguard of team formations. Its offensive capabilities simultaneously target multiple adversaries while applying debilitating status conditions. The innate Gulp Missile passive delivers an automated retaliation strike against the first opponent that attacks it. By remaining within its own attack zones, Cramorant perpetually reloads this countermeasure, ensuring constant defensive pressure. Its respectable durability makes it superior to most other Attackers for frontline duties. With formidable offensive stats and no evolutionary requirements, it maintains consistent damage throughput throughout matches. Cramorant establishes early game dominance and sustains relentless pressure, emerging as a formidable presence that demands opponent attention.
Evolution levels: None
- Surf – Projects a massive wave in a targeted direction, then reverses course for a secondary assault. Pokémon struck twice experience knockback from the returning wave. Cramorant can collect prey by riding the wave. At Level 11 the wave temporarily disables opponent abilities upon impact.
- Dive – Generates an aquatic portal that Cramorant plunges through, causing impact damage and repelling struck Pokémon. Can be activated three times consecutively before entering cooldown. At Level 11 damage output receives significant enhancement.
- Hurricane – Summons violent winds that lift and throw caught Pokémon, dealing impact damage upon landing. 9 second cooldown. At Level 13 strikes lower opponents’ Defense and Special Defense statistics.
- Air Slash – Fires razor-sharp wind projectiles that inflict damage while propelling Cramorant backward to create spacing. 5 second cooldown. At Level 13 the ability’s cooldown diminishes with each successful hit landed.
Greninja represents one of the most versatile attackers in the roster, blending damage output with exceptional battlefield control through its unique disruption capabilities. Unlike straightforward damage dealers, this ninja Pokémon thrives on creating chaos and capitalizing on enemy mistakes.
Evolution levels: Froakie Start | Frogadier at Lvl. 5 | Greninja at Lvl. 7
Understanding Greninja’s evolution timeline is crucial for planning your early game strategy. The transition to Frogadier at level 5 provides your first major power spike with access to upgraded moves, while reaching Greninja at level 7 unlocks your full potential with the second move upgrade. This progression makes the level 4-6 phase critical for securing experience without overextending.
Greninja’s playstyle revolves around calculated aggression – knowing when to engage for quick bursts of damage and when to use your mobility tools to disengage and reset the fight. Proper timing separates average Greninja players from masters who can single-handedly shift match momentum.
Starter Move: Bubble
- Water Shuriken – Creates and throws multiple shurikens made of water. Movement speed is increased while using the move, and every successful hit restores some of Greninja’s HP. 8 second cooldown. At Lvl. 11 more shurikens are created.
- Surf – Rides a wave into opponents, damaging them and restoring some of Greninja’s HP. If this move knocks out an opponent, the cooldown is reset. 9 second cooldown. At Lvl. 11 more HP is restored on hit.
Level 5 Upgrade Decision: Sustain vs Reset Potential
Water Shuriken provides consistent sustain during extended trades, making it ideal for players who prefer hit-and-run tactics. The movement speed boost allows for better positioning while the healing effect reduces your reliance on goal zones for recovery.
Surf offers incredible snowball potential with its reset mechanic, allowing skilled players to chain eliminations during team fights. The healing component also provides burst sustain when engaging multiple targets.
Level 7 Upgrade: Evasion vs Stealth
- Double Team – Quick movement away from current position while creating copies to help in battle. 11 second cooldown. At Lvl. 13 cooldown is reduced.
- Smokescreen – Rolls in the designated direction while leaving a trail of smoke behind, rendering Greninja invisible and increasing its speed. Greninja’s next attack is boosted. 11 second cooldown. At Lvl. 13 damage output is increased after smoke disappears.
Double Team excels at creating confusion during engagements, as opponents must identify the real Greninja among the decoys. The cooldown reduction at level 13 significantly improves your mobility and escape potential in late-game scenarios.
Smokescreen provides unparalleled repositioning capabilities with its invisibility effect, allowing you to set up perfect angles for your next attack. The damage boost at level 13 enhances your burst potential for eliminating key targets.
Greninja’s effectiveness stems from mastering its disruption timing rather than raw damage output. Properly executed moves create windows of opportunity that your team can exploit against disorganized opponents.
Optimal Engagement Patterns
Initiate fights with Bubble to slow enemies, then follow up with your chosen upgraded moves based on the situation. Against burst-heavy compositions, use Water Shuriken for sustained trading, while against squishier targets, Surf’s reset potential can quickly turn skirmishes in your favor.
Escape and Repositioning Tactics
Your survival depends on anticipating enemy engages and using Substitute effectively. The 8-second cooldown makes it your primary defensive tool, so avoid wasting it on unnecessary positioning adjustments.
Team Fight Contribution
Position on the flanks during team fights, using your disruption tools to break enemy formations. Double Team can draw crucial cooldowns from opponents, while Smokescreen allows you to bypass frontlines and target vulnerable backline attackers.
Against coordinated teams, your role shifts to creating pick opportunities rather than sustained damage. Isolate targets with your mobility, then burst them down before their team can respond.
Objective Control Strategies
During Zapdos or Rotom fights, use your area denial capabilities to control engagement spaces. Bubble’s slow effect zones enemies away from key areas, while your upgraded moves provide the sustained presence needed to secure objectives.
Timing Errors to Avoid
The most common mistake is using Substitute aggressively instead of saving it for escapes. Since this is your only reliable mobility tool until level 7, premature usage often leads to preventable deaths during ganks.
Resource Management
Manage your cooldowns strategically – Bubble’s 9-second cooldown means you have limited opportunities to initiate or disengage fights during the early levels.
Target Selection Priorities
Focus on disrupting enemy carries rather than trading with tanks. Your damage scales better against squishy targets, and your disruption tools are more effective against damage dealers who rely on precise positioning.
Late Game Scaling Considerations
As you reach level 11 and 13 upgrades, your playstyle should evolve accordingly. Water Shuriken users gain significant sustain for extended fights, while Surf specialists should look for reset opportunities to chain eliminations.
Advanced Optimization
Master the art of feigning retreats with Substitute or Smokescreen, then turning on pursuing enemies when they overextend. This psychological warfare aspect separates elite Greninja players from competent ones.
For players looking to expand their gameplay fundamentals, our Complete Guide covers essential mechanics that translate well to Pokémon Unite.
Understanding Greninja’s power spikes relative to other Pokémon is crucial for timing your aggression. Check our Class Guide for analogous role comparisons that can inform your decision-making.
As Venusaur begins each match in its unevolved Bulbasaur form, mastering the foundational abilities is crucial for establishing lane dominance and reaching evolution thresholds efficiently.
- Sludge Bomb – Hurls toxic waste that contaminates the battlefield, creating a persistent hazard zone that inflicts damage over time while simultaneously reducing enemy movement speed and special defense. 7 second cooldown. At Level 11 the contamination zone expands significantly.
- Giga Drain – Channels life-force absorption from surrounding opponents, simultaneously healing Venusaur while providing temporary damage reduction. 8 second cooldown. At Level 11 the health restoration effect is substantially enhanced.
- Petal Dance – Summons a protective cyclone of petals that envelops Venusaur, granting increased mobility while continuously damaging nearby enemies. 11 second cooldown. At Level 13 the swirling petal radius expands.
- Solar Beam – Channels concentrated solar energy into a devastating forward-facing cone attack. Requires brief charging time between activation and execution. 11 second cooldown. At Level 13 both the charge duration and cooldown are reduced.
Your first evolution milestone arrives at Level 5, presenting a critical decision point that defines your combat role for the remainder of the match.
The second evolution at Level 7 completes Venusaur’s ability kit, offering distinct playstyle specializations that complement your Level 5 choice.
Venusaur’s innate abilities provide crucial combat advantages that separate skilled players from beginners.
Mastering Venusaur requires understanding ability synergies and strategic timing beyond basic mechanics.
Optimal Ability Combinations: Sludge Bomb + Solar Beam creates devastating zone control, while Giga Drain + Petal Dance enables aggressive brawling. The key is matching your Level 7 choice to complement your Level 5 selection rather than mixing conflicting playstyles.
Common Mistakes to Avoid: Using Solar Beam without proper setup leads to easy dodges. Overextending with Petal Dance without escape options results in quick eliminations. Failing to leverage Overgrow’s damage boost by playing too cautiously wastes your passive potential.
Positioning Fundamentals: Maintain optimal distance based on your build—Solar Beam requires backline positioning while Petal Dance demands calculated aggression.
Action Checklist
- Practice Avalanche wall placement in narrow corridors to block enemy movement effectively
- Master Blizzard splitting by aiming at walls to create multiple control zones
- Coordinate Aurora Veil timing with team engagements for maximum damage reduction
- Learn to chain freeze effects by combining basic attacks with move sequences
- Practice positioning to maintain optimal distance while controlling battlefield zones
- Practice Cinderace’s Flame Charge into basic attack combos in practice mode
- Master Cramorant’s Gulp Missile reload timing by staying in your own Whirlpool
- Experiment with both Surf and Dive builds to determine personal playstyle preference
- Learn to time Feint for crowd control removal rather than just mobility
- Practice positioning Cramorant at frontlines while keeping Cinderace at safe distances
- Secure early farm to reach Frogadier evolution at level 5
- Choose between Water Shuriken (sustain) or Surf (reset potential)
- Master Substitute timing for both engages and escapes
- Practice Double Team or Smokescreen positioning at level 7
- Coordinate disruption with team fight initiations
- Practice last-hitting wild Pokémon with Seed Bomb to reach Level 5 evolution faster
- Test both Level 5 evolution paths against training bots to understand their feel
- Master the Sludge Bomb + Solar Beam combo for area denial and burst damage
- Learn to activate Overgrow strategically by managing your health around the 30% threshold
- Practice Verdant Anger placements on moving objectives like Zapdos and Rotom
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