It’s 2026, and Pokemon Unite has cemented itself as a titan in the MOBA arena. The blend of quick matches, beloved Pokemon, and that satisfying dunk mechanic keeps millions logging in daily. Yet, for all its polish, the game still leaves veteran trainers scratching their heads over some baffling design choices. A chat with any top-tier player reveals the same wishlist year after year. Let’s dive into the improvements the community is still begging for.
1. The Matchmaking System Needs a Complete Overhaul
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Nothing tilts a player faster than seeing a Master-ranked teammate with a 40% win rate while the enemy team is a five-stack of coordinated monsters. In 2026, this is still the norm. The current system throws together competitors with wildly different skill levels, making ranked play feel like a coin toss. The core purpose of a ladder is to measure progression, but when a Veteran player with a 45% win rate gets matched with someone in the top 100, the match is decided before the first Rotom spawns. The algorithm exists; it just needs stricter MMR boundaries and a penalty for premade groups that queue into solo lanes. Without this fix, every other improvement is just a band-aid.
2. The Ranked Ladder Is Too Shallow
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Reaching Master rank used to mean something. Back in the early days, it was a badge of honor. Now, anyone with a pulse and a few hours to grind can stumble into it. The problem? There are simply not enough tiers. Even with the addition of new ranks over the years, the journey from Beginner to the top remains too short. A dedicated duo can breeze through Ultra in a weekend. The result is a top tier flooded with a mix of strategic geniuses and button-mashing casuals. Introducing a GrandMaster tier or a points-based leaderboard within Master (similar to other MOBAs) would give the hardcore crowd a reason to keep pushing. Being a Pokemon Master should feel legendary, not like a participation trophy.
3. Bots Are Still Sabotaging Games
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Losing because of a bad decision stings. Losing because your jungler is a bot that auto-paths to the nearest berry bush is soul-crushing. Trainer bots in Pokemon Unite are infamous for their suicidal dives, refusal to score, and a bizarre obsession with farming during Zapdos fights. They don’t respond to pings, they ignore objectives, and they make every standard or quick play match feel like a 4v6. While bots might be necessary to fill queues in smaller regions, their AI needs a massive update. At the very least, allow players to opt out of bot matches completely, even if it means waiting a few extra minutes. Competitive integrity simply cannot coexist with artificial idiocy.
4. Dedicated Queues for Solos, Duos, and Trios
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There’s a special kind of pain that comes from queuing solo, landing in a team with a trio, and then watching that trio ignore you entirely. They move as a unit, use voice comms, and leave you to fend for yourself in a collapsing lane. Meanwhile, the enemy team might be a full five-stack. The advantage of coordinated communication is so massive that the match outcome is practically predetermined. Adding a strict solo/duo queue, or even a flex queue for trios, would let players pick their poison. It rewards teamwork without punishing those who just want to play a quick game by themselves. The technology is standard in the industry; it’s time Unite caught up.
5. More Moves Per Pokemon
A MOBA lives and dies by its combat depth, and right now Pokemon Unite feels like a one-two punch followed by awkward circling. Each Pokemon gets two active moves plus a Unite move. Once those are on cooldown, trainers are reduced to basic attacks and hoping the enemy doesn’t notice their helplessness. Compare this to the four abilities plus items in traditional MOBAs, and the strategic ceiling plummets. Adding a third standard move would transform fights from brief skirmishes into dynamic back-and-forth battles. It would also open up new build possibilities and let each Pokemon better express its identity. A Blastoise that can defend, crowd-control, and damage would feel like a true powerhouse rather than a one-trick turtle.
6. Unlockable Alternate Forms as Rewards
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Shiny hunters have been crying out for this since launch. Imagine the dopamine hit of unlocking a Shiny Lucario after 100 wins, or a Dark Mewtwo after mastering a particularly brutal achievement. Alternate forms—Shiny, Mega X/Y, Gigantamax—are a goldmine of player engagement sitting untouched. Holowear is great, but it’s purely cosmetic and often locked behind a paywall. These form changes could be earned through gameplay: win 200 matches with a Pokemon to unlock its Dark Variant, or complete a season-long quest for a Gigantamax form. It gives veterans a long-term goal and rewards dedication with something that actually shows off their mastery in battle, not just in the lobby.
7. Refresh the Fashion Ticket Exchange
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Fashion tickets pile up like confetti during events, yet the Aeos Emporium remains a ghost town of outdated items. If you’ve been playing regularly throughout the 2020s, you’ve likely bought every sock, hat, and background the exchange has to offer. Now, hundreds of tickets gather dust with zero value. A seasonal refresh is non-negotiable. Rotate in limited-time hairstyles, poses, or even battle entry animations. Better yet, let players convert excess tickets into Aeos coins or item enhancers at a reasonable rate. Fashion is about expression, and right now the only expression veteran players can make is frustration at a full inventory of useless currency.
Will 2026 be the year Pokemon Unite finally listens? The game’s core is brilliant, but these lingering flaws hold it back from true greatness. Whether you’re a casual fan chasing cute trainer outfits or a sweaty solo queue warrior, these changes would make every match feel fairer, deeper, and more rewarding. Until then, trainers will keep spinning in circles, waiting for cool-downs—and for the devs to make the right move.