In Pokémon GO, changes to the battle system and trainer battles (PvP) are coming. There are now new attacks available. We will show you which Pokémon will learn new moves.
What’s new? On Friday evening, Niantic released an announcement highlighting upcoming changes to the battle system. There are also some new attacks in the game, and Pokémon can learn new moves.
These changes have been announced for “the coming weeks,” meaning they will be gradually implemented in the game. If you can’t see them right away, that’s perfectly normal.
Changes to the Battle System – PvP and Team Rocket
What is the goal? The changes are meant to make battles against other trainers and against Team Rocket more dynamic from Pokémon GO version 0.157.0 onwards.
What is changing? The developers improved the timing for damage dealt and charged energy. They found it unintuitive that damage and energy changes would only take effect a turn later.
You will also notice while battling that a Pokémon’s health bar briefly pulses when it takes damage.
These Attacks are Being Revamped – Bubble Beam, Confusion, and More
What is the goal? With the changes to the existing attacks, Niantic apparently wants to introduce more variety into battles. Attacks are now more effective and have a direct impact on the battle outcome. We will show you what is changing.
Bubble Beam: When you use Bubble Beam in battle, it now reliably lowers the opposing Pokémon’s attack by one stage.
Power-Up Punch: The damage of Power-Up Punch will be reduced. The developers explain it this way: “This way, Pokémon that can learn Power-Up Punch can be used differently than other Pokémon by utilizing their other attacks to deal damage. It also makes it clear that the proper reaction to a Power-Up Punch from the opponent is not to block it.”
Confusion: The attack Confusion deals more damage and can be used more quickly in Arena battles, Raids, or PvP. If you’re lucky, this attack will also lower the defense of the opposing Pokémon.
Lecture: The changes to Lecture aim to improve energy gain in battles. This way, attackers with this move should be able to use their charge attacks more often.
New Attacks and Changes to Movesets in Pokémon GO
Which attacks are new? The team behind Pokémon GO has decided to introduce new attacks.
- The new quick attack Thunder Fang of the Electric type can be learned by Arcanine, Steelix, Magnezone, and Hippowdon.
- The new quick attack Ice Fang of the Ice type can be learned by Suicune, Magnezone, Flunkifer, Hippowdon, and Piondragi.
Additionally, the damage of Fire Fang has been increased to match the damage of the two new Fang attacks.
Changes to the Movesets
Why are there changes? With the changes to Pokémon movesets, Niantic aims to adjust the balance. This way, weaker Pokémon will have more reasons to be used in trainer battles.
The following Pokémon will learn new attacks:
- Alolan Raichu – Thunder Shock
- Alolan Sandshrew – Ice Shard
- Alolan Ninetales – Charm
- Electrode – Bubble Beam, Synchro Noise, Cross Chop
- Alolan Marowak – Fire Spin, Fire Wheel
- Remoraid – Bubble Beam
- Flunkifer – Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Power-Up Punch
- Snibunna – Lecture
What do you think of these changes? Somewhere else, the next EX Raid Boss is probably becoming clear:
