Pokemon Unite is set to add the legendary Pokemon Ho-oh on its roster as part of the video game's third anniversary update on Friday, July 19.
The character will have a Fire/Flying EX license and is also classified as a novice-level ranged Defender.
Pokemon Unite is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena video game developed by TiMi Studio Group, a subsidiary of the Chinese giant Tencent Games, and published by The Pokemon Company.
The title was first released on July 21, 2021 for the Nintendo Switch console, followed by a wider mobile release for Android and iOS on September 22 of the same year.
Notably, Nintendo is one of the joint owners of The Pokemon Company, alongside Game Freak and Creatures.
Ho-Oh's Pokemon Unite release date moved earlier
Ho-Oh was originally set to join the battles on Aeos Island on Sunday, July 21, exactly three years after the game's release on the Switch console.
However, the Pokémon Unite team subsequently announced on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that Ho-Oh's release will instead be two days earlier than scheduled.
Ho-Oh's moveset for Pokemon Unite
Ho-Oh has a well-rounded set of attributes as a versatile novice-level ranged Defender.
The character possesses a rating of 4/5 in Endurance, 3/5 in Offense and Support, 2/5 in Mobility, as well as 1/5 in Scoring.
One of the Pokemon's unique features is called Regenerator, a healing ability which restores HP if Ho-Oh remains undamaged by an opposing Pokemon for a specific amount of time.
At the same time, Ho-Oh's Fly ability enables it to soar over walls while also strengthening its movement speed and attack power.
Upon landing, Ho-Oh is able to perform three boosted attacks that could inflict damage on nearby opposing Pokémon.
Ho-Oh also possesses a similar Sky Attack ability, allowing it to fly through the air while leaving a blazing trail. This attack damages enemies and applies a slowing effect to them.
The latest Pokemon also features a Unite Attack called Rekindling Flame, which revives nearby fallen Pokémon by dropping feathers and using Aeos energy.
On the other hand, the Ho-Oh's Fire Spin ability creates a flaming vortex around itself, causing damage and protection by slowing down opponents nearby.
The Fire Spin ability also provides a temporary shield that releases a heat wave around Ho-Oh, inflicting extra damage to opponents that are within the vortex.
Along with this, Ho-Oh's Flamethrower ability allows it to unleash flames at opposing Pokémon, reducing the damage of their regular and special attacks, as well as a debuff to their movement speed which could affect other nearby Pokemon as well.
