A simple technical adjustment can sometimes disrupt an entire ecosystem. Pokémon GO has just announced a major overhaul of its combat system, a few months after the changes applied to Dark Raids and Dynamax Battles.
Presented as an update of surprising transparency and level of detail, this overhaul aims to correct several imbalances linked to timings and connections between players. But while these adjustments seem beneficial to casual players, they could radically transform the competitive scene.
Niantic “strengthens the foundations of trainer battles in Pokémon Go”
According to the information provided, Niantic strengthens the foundations of trainer battles in Pokémon Go. Among the major changes:
Damage will now be resolved at the end of each turn.
Energy will be supplied at the same time as the damage is taken care of.
Charged attacks will always be resolved if they are launched on the same turn as a fatal quick attack.
Trades will continue to resolve before damage.
Forced trades will no longer cost turns.
Another key point: both players must be connected before the fight begins, but clashes will continue even if a client stops responding. The stated objective is to eliminate the advantage that players benefiting from a better connection could have had.
The end of the connection perk
Until now, the quality of the connection strongly influenced the outcome of battles. A player with lower latency could execute their actions more efficiently. With these adjustments, damage and effects will be resolved in a fixed and predictable order, reducing variances due to network conditions. On paper, this makes the clashes fairer. In practice, this profoundly changes the habits of experienced players.
A headache for the competitive PvP scene
Competitive Pokémon GO players are well versed in current timings. They know exactly when to switch Pokémon, when to launch a charged attack, or when to time out. These reflexes are the result of hundreds of hours of training. With the new update, attack and change timings will be changed. Muscle memory acquired over the seasons could become obsolete.
An overhaul designed for the future of PvP
This decision is part of a broader desire to consolidate the foundations of all combat modes, including PvP. If the objective is to make the system more stable and fairer, the impact on the competitive hierarchy remains to be observed. The best players will likely need to adapt their strategies, relearn new action windows, and redefine their tactical priorities. The update is coming soon, and it could well mark a turning point in the competitive history of Pokémon GO.