Pokemon Unite Vaporeon: Best moveset, builds, counters, and more

Pokemon Unite Vaporeon has finally arrived, expanding the long list of Eeveelutions in the title. This Gen 1 Pokemon is played as a Defender, introducing a playstyle centered around disruption and reliable tanking. With ranged attacks and Special-based damage, Vaporeon excels at wearing opponents down from a safe distance.

Classified as an intermediate difficulty level character, Vaporeon brings a unique toolkit to the battlefield. Here’s a complete breakdown of its moves, best builds, and how to counter it.

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Pokemon Unite Vaporeon: Ability and move breakdown

1) Passive - Water Absorb: Vaporeon periodically generates a water-based shield. When hit, this shield negates the incoming damage and converts it into HP recovery. Once triggered, the passive goes on cooldown. Landing boosted attacks on opponents helps reduce this cooldown, letting Vaporeon refresh its shield quicker.

2) Basic Attack: Every third basic attack is boosted, dealing more damage and reduces Ability cooldowns when it hits an opposing Pokemon.

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Starting move (Level 1 or 3)

• Swift: Fires star-shaped projectiles in a chosen direction, dealing damage and applying a movement slow to everyone in its path.
• Tackle: Vaporeon lunges forward, damaging enemies in its path and shoving them on impact.

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Level 4 Move options

• Hydro Pump: Shoots a stream of high-pressure water in a linear direction that damages and pushes back enemies. The attack ends with a stronger final burst that repeats both effects. Upgrade: Shorter cooldown
• Muddy Water: Creates a splash of muddy water around Vaporeon, damaging nearby foes, slowing them, and knocking them around slightly. Upgrade: Stronger slow effect.

Level 6 Move options

• Aqua Ring: Vaporeon jumps to a location, summoning a ring of water surrounding it that heals it and its allies standing in the ring. Upgrade: Increased healing.
• Flip Turn: Vaporeon surfs a wave of water reducing damage taken and boosts movement speed. In this form it can dashes forward, damage and stun enemies in its path before flipping back into the starting point. Upgrade: Further damage reduction.

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Unite Move - Aquamarine Splash (Level 8)

Vaporeon using Aquamarine Splash in the game (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Pokemon Unite Vaporeon leaps skyward and plunges underwater, creating a vortex that pulls nearby enemies towards the center. It then erupts from the water, damaging and tossing foes caught in the landing zone.

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Best Moveset for Pokemon Unite Vaporeon

Hydro Pump + Aqua Ring

This setup offers a strong mix of consistent damage output and healing. Hydro Pump lets Vaporeon hit multiple targets from a safer distance, while Aqua Ring provides a solid chunk of healing for itself and its team in the vicinity.

Alternative: Muddy Water + Flip Turn for a disruptive, tankier and brawler role.

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Best Held Items for Pokemon Unite Vaporeon

• Slick Spoon: Extra HP, boosted Sp. Attack, and Sp. Defense penetration.
• Choice Specs: A flat increase to Sp. Attack.
• Drive Lens: Special Attack scaling and shortens cooldowns.

Alternate picks: Aeos Cookie, Energy Amplifier, Sp. Atk Specs, Wise Glasses, Resonant Guard and Shell Bell

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Best Battle Item for Pokemon Unite Vaporeon

Eject Button (More escape and repositioning, especially useful with Flip Turn) or Potion (Simple but effective source of healing)

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Best Emblem Setup for Pokemon Unite Vaporeon

Green x6, White x6

• Green x6: +4% Sp. Attack
• White x6: +4% HP

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How to counter Pokemon Unite Vaporeon

• Burst it before Water Absorb resets. Long-range attackers can out-damage Vaporeon’s shield window before it refreshes.
• Dive past its range. Vaporeon using Hydro Pump is safest at a distance, melee Pokemon can quickly close space.
• Interrupt Hydro Pump and Aqua Ring setups. Hard-engaging characters with stuns or knockups can disrupt its rhythm.
• Avoid grouping during Aquamarine Splash’s. Spreading out makes its Unite far less impactful.
• Pressure it early. Vaporeon becomes effective after Level 4 and 6, so strong early laners can slow its momentum.

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If you are interested in other topics related to Pokemon Unite, check out these articles:

• All Unite First to 500 Aeos Technology, explained
• Unite license tier list
• Unite Solo Queue licenses tier list
• Best Build for every Pokemon Unite license
• Best Boost Emblems in Unite
• Held Item tier list
• Battle Item tier list