Sableye is creeping its way onto Aeos Island as Pokémon UNITE’s newest and spookiest Melee Supporter. With the capability to enter stealth and steal away your opponent’s hard-earned Aeos energy, this Pokémon is well equipped to terrorize the competition. You can obtain Sableye for 12,000 Aeos coins or 575 Aeos gems at the Unite Battle Committee shop. Sableye will only be obtainable with Aeos gems for the first seven days of its release.

Read on to learn more about everything this Pokémon has to offer and to pick up a few tips before wreaking havoc on Aeos Island.

Sableye Basics

Sableye’s basic attack becomes a boosted attack with every third attack, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits and decreasing their movement speed for a short time. If Sableye is in stealth when it hits an opposing Pokémon with a boosted attack, it will deal damage and apply a fear effect. Opposing Pokémon affected by fear will be forced to move away from Sableye. When Sableye enters stealth, it will be able to use the boosted attack immediately.

When Sableye is outside the visual range of Pokémon from the opposing team, its Prankster Ability  activates, and it enters stealth and increases its movement speed. When Sableye enters the visual range of a Pokémon from the opposing team, it does not immediately become visible but instead remains in stealth for a short time. Sableye exits stealth when it attacks.

Lv. 1 & 3 Moves

Thief

Sableye dashes in the designated direction, dealing damage to any opposing Pokémon it hits and decreasing their movement speed for a short time. If Thief hits Pokémon from the opposing team, it steals a small amount of their Aeos energy. If those Pokémon do not have any Aeos energy, they will be left unable to act for a short time.

Astonish

Sableye attacks in a cone in front of itself, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon and decreasing their movement speed for a short time. If Astonish hits opposing Pokémon from behind, it deals increased damage and a greater decrease in movement speed.

Lv. 4 Moves

Knock Off

Sableye moves in the designated direction and then back again while attacking around itself, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon hit by the attacks and leaving them unable to act for a short time. For a short time afterward, Knock Off can be used again. If it is, Sableye attacks in front of itself with its claws, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits and shoving them. When either the first or second stage of Knock Off hits opposing Pokémon, those Pokémon will drop some of their collected Aeos energy, and for a short time, they’ll be unable to pick up Aeos energy. When either stage of Knock Off hits opposing Pokémon that do not have Aeos energy, those Pokémon will be left unable to act—and for a longer duration. While using Knock Off, Sableye receives reduced damage. Knock Off can be upgraded so that for a short time after it’s used, the next time Sableye picks up Aeos energy, Sableye recovers HP and has its movement speed increased.

Shadow Sneak

Shadow Sneak increases Sableye’s movement speed for a short time and has it enter stealth. While Sableye is in stealth, its first boosted basic attack deals additional damage. While Shadow Sneak is active, if Sableye exits stealth and a hindrance has not left it unable to act, it will be able to enter stealth again. Shadow Sneak can be upgraded to increase the duration of its effects and to make it so that while Shadow Sneak is active and Sableye is in stealth, Sableye will also gradually restore HP.

Lv. 6 Moves

Feint Attack

Sableye throws dummy Aeos energy to a designated location. While dummy Aeos energy remains at a location, that location and the area around it will be visible to Sableye. Dummy Aeos energy can remain at up to five locations at a time. If an opposing Pokémon picks up dummy Aeos energy, that energy explodes, dealing damage over time to that Pokémon and decreasing its movement speed for a short time. A maximum of three uses can be kept in reserve for Feint Attack. Feint Attack can be upgraded so that if an opposing Pokémon is knocked out while taking damage from Feint Attack, it will drop more Aeos energy than it normally would.

Confuse Ray

Sableye fires a sinister ray in the designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits. If Confuse Ray hits Pokémon from the opposing team, it also leaves them confused. While confused, Pokémon continuously attack nearby Pokémon with basic attacks. Confused Pokémon will target nearby Pokémon in the following order of priority: first, their ally Pokémon; then, wild Pokémon; last, Pokémon on Sableye’s team. Confuse Ray can be upgraded to increase the movement speed and basic attack speed of Pokémon from the opposing team while Confuse Ray has left them confused.

Sableye’s Unite Move, Phantom Ambush

Sableye shoots light from both of its eyes, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon in an area of effect in front of itself. Pokémon from the opposing team hit by Phantom Ambush who are facing Sableye freeze in place and start involuntarily preparing to return to base. If they take damage before returning to base, they remain where they are and are left unable to act for a short time. Opposing Pokémon hit by Phantom Ambush who are not facing Sableye have their movement speed decreased for a short time. 

Metagame Watch

Sableye joins Pokémon UNITE as a unique Melee Supporter with a toolbox of riotous skills. Confuse Ray is a powerful disruption move with the potential to change any team fight, especially in conjunction with Sableye’s Unite Move, Phantom Ambush. Sableye’s most unique skills, though, are Knock Off and Feint Attack, which play around with Aeos energy. Knock Off directly disrupts opponents who are trying to score points and puts a halt to stacking items like Attack Weight. Feint Attack matches Sableye’s tricky demeanor and can catch any opponent trying to score off guard, leaving them unsure which Aeos energy is safe to pick up.

Strong Against: Tsareena

Tsareena is one of the most powerful Melee All-Rounders on Aeos Island, largely thanks to the mobility granted by Trop Kick and the high damage output from Stomp. However, Tsareena usually relies on scoring early to get the most out of its commonly used held item, Attack Weight. Sableye’s Knock Off is a strong tool for locking down Tsareena in any given fight and makes it more difficult for Tsareena to stack Attack Weight early. As an unevolved Pokémon, Sableye also has a key advantage early in the game against Pokémon that evolve twice, like Tsareena.

Weak Against: Cramorant

Sableye has plenty of moves that allow it to skirt around and frustrate its opponents, but strong ranged Pokémon can create similar headaches for the Darkness Pokémon. Cramorant has an easy time dealing with Sableye thanks to being a strong unevolved Pokémon with a powerful ranged move, Air Slash. Cramorant also has additional mobility from its move Dive, which can make it difficult for Sableye to effectively disrupt Cramorant. When playing Sableye against Ranged Pokémon, it’s best to consider the opponent’s cooldowns on moves that have movement before inflicting any hindrances.