Transport your teammates to victory with Lapras in Pokémon UNITE! This Water- and Ice-type Pokémon from the Kanto region loves being at the center of attention, giving its teammates a ride or two and disrupting the opposition with a chilling Ice Beam. You can obtain Lapras for 12,000 Aeos coins or 575 Aeos gems at the Unite Battle Committee shop. Lapras 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 coasting through battle with Lapras on Aeos Island.
Lapras Basics
Lapras’s basic attack becomes a boosted attack with every third attack, launching a blast of water in front of Lapras. If this blast hits opposing Pokémon, it deals damage to them and restores Lapras’s HP. Lapras’s Shell Armor Ability reduces damage Lapras takes from a single attack that exceeds a set percentage of its max HP.
Lv. 1 & 3 Moves
Whirlpool
Lapras creates a whirlpool centered on itself that lasts for a short time, dealing damage over time to opposing Pokémon in the area of effect. The time between hits is shorter the farther opposing Pokémon are from the whirlpool’s center.
Ice Shard
Lapras hurls chunks of ice in a forward direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon they hit and leaving them frozen for a short time. If Ice Shard hits an opposing Pokémon that is already frozen, it deals damage to it and shoves it.
Lv. 5 Moves
Water Pulse
Lapras releases a pulse of water centered on itself that spreads out, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits and decreasing their movement speed. For each opposing Pokémon hit by a pulse from Water Pulse, an additional pulse will be released the next time Water Pulse is used, up to a total of 2 extra pulses. After the first pulse after activating Water Pulse hits an opposing Pokémon, Lapras’s next basic attack becomes a boosted attack. Water Pulse can be upgraded so that up to a total of 3 additional pulses can be released.
Perish Song
Lapras sings an eerie melody that echoes around it, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits. Perish Song can be used up to three times consecutively within a set time, and opposing Pokémon hit all three times take additional damage. Opposing Pokémon that take this additional damage will be knocked out if their HP falls below a set percentage of their max HP. Perish Song can be upgraded so that Lapras’s next basic attack after using Perish Song becomes a boosted attack.
Lv. 7 Moves
Bubble Beam
Grants Lapras a shield and has Lapras spray bubbles in the designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits. After the bubbles fly a set distance, they slowly float for a short time. Opposing Pokémon hit by a floating bubble are enveloped by it and then left unable to act for a short time. Bubble Beam can be upgraded to strengthen the effect of the shield it grants.
Ice Beam
Lapras unleashes an ice-cold beam of energy in the designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits and freezing the ground. Opposing Pokémon on the frozen ground take damage over time and have their movement speed decreased, and they become frozen if they remain on the frozen ground for a set amount of time. When Lapras is on the frozen ground, its movement speed is increased. Ice Beam can be upgraded to increase the length of time opposing Pokémon are frozen.
Lapras’s Unite Move, Lapras Express
Lapras rides a wave quickly and continuously forward. Lapras’s movement speed increases while riding but decreases if Lapras hits an obstacle. If Lapras hits an opposing Pokémon, Lapras stops in place, dealing damage to and throwing the opposing Pokémon. While Lapras is riding the wave, one nearby ally Pokémon of Lapras’s choice can ride on its back. If Lapras Express is used again, Lapras stops and launches a wave that continues moving forward, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits and throwing them. Ally Pokémon riding on Lapras’s back can dismount whenever they choose.
Metagame Watch
As the latest Defender in Pokémon UNITE, Lapras can disrupt opponents, make space for its teammates, and do plenty of damage. Water Pulse and Perish Song are both strong area-of-effect moves that can dish out solid damage and set up key knockouts—Lapras’s opponents will have no choice but to try and escape. Meanwhile, Bubble Beam and Ice Beam offer ranged disruption that can keep strong Melee Attackers away from less durable Ranged Attackers. Lapras can also use these moves to start a fight on its own terms and put pressure on both Melee and Ranged Attackers on the opposing team.
Strong Against: Urshifu
Melee Attackers often struggle with Ranged Defenders, and Urshifu is no different in the face of a Pokémon like Lapras. Lapras’s Ice Beam effectively disrupts both Single Strike Urshifu and Rapid Strike Urshifu since they need to stick on a Pokémon to continually deal damage. If Lapras uses Ice Beam defensively to protect an ally, Urshifu will have difficulty continuing the chase without getting frozen. Bubble Beam can be used similarly by placing the floating bubbles near Lapras’s allies, effectively keeping all Melee threats away.
Weak Against: Mew
As a Ranged Defender, Lapras can deal with most Ranged Attackers without getting zoned by strong ranged moves, but Mew’s high mobility makes it an exception. Normally, Lapras might be able to put the pressure on a Ranged Attacker with its Unite Move, Lapras Express, or even a combination of Water Pulse and Ice Beam, but Mew’s Agility and Surf help Mew create distance without much issue. It can be difficult to approach Mew as it dashes away—especially with the threat of a powerful Solar Beam or Electro Ball—but coordinating Lapras Express with another powerful Unite Move can make the difference.
