Attack Vs. Special Attack | Physical and Special Damage Explained | Pokemon UNITE

This is an guide on the Attack and Special Attack stats in Pokemon UNITE. Learn more about the key differences between the Attack and Special Attack stats, as well as a list of which Pokemon and items specialize in each stat.

List of Pokemon According to Attack Type

Attack Type Pokemon (Physical Attackers)

Absol	Charizard	Cinderace
Crustle	Garchomp	Greninja
Lucario	Machamp	Mamoswine
Snorlax	Talonflame	Zeraora

List of Physical Attackers

Special Attack Type Pokemon (Special Attackers)

Alolan Ninetales	Blastoise	Blissey
Cramorant	Eldegoss	Gardevoir
Gengar	Mr. Mime	Pikachu
Slowbro	Sylveon	Venusaur
Wigglytuff

List of Special Attackers

Attack vs. Special Attack (Physical vs. Special)

Attack Type Varies Between Pokemon

Each Pokemon is classified as a Physical Attacker or a Special Attacker. Physical Attackers deal Move damage based on their Attack stat, and their Moves' damage is affected by the enemy's Defense stat. Special Attackers deal Move damage based on their Special Attack stat, and their Moves' damage is affected by the enemy's Special Defense stat.

List of All Pokemon

Basic Attacks Are Counted as Physical Attacks

Basic Attacks, or attacks made by pressing the A Button, are counted as Physical Attacks (using the Attack stat) for all Pokemon, even if the Pokemon doing these attacks is a Special Attacker.

This is true for all Basic Attacks for all Pokemon with the exception of Boosted Attacks, as explained below.

Boosted Attacks Vary Based on Attack Type

Boosted Attacks are powered up attacks that occur on every third Normal Attack for most Pokemon. The type of damage that boosted attacks deal varies depending on the Pokemon's attack type, similarly to their Moves. Physical Attackers deal Attack damage with their Boosted Attacks, while Special Attackers will deal Special Attack damage with their Boosted Attacks.

Boosted Attacks Guide: How to Use

Attack Vs. Special Attack Chart

The chart below details which stat is used by Pokemon of each Attack Type for each kind of attack. Notably, Physical Attackers will never use the Special Attack stat, while Special Attackers still use the Attack stat for Basic Attacks.

When to Boost Attack and Special Attack

Taking your Pokemon's attack type into consideration when giving them items is very important to ensure optimal performance. For instance, if you give a Special Attacker Pokemon such as Pikachu the Wise Glasses item, it will boost Pikachu's Special Attack stat, which will make its Moves more powerful.

On the other hand, if you give an Attacker Pokemon such as Garchomp the same Wise Glasses, it's pretty much a waste of an item slot as Garchomp's attacks and Moves can't make use of the Special Attack stat.

Items That Boost Physical Attack

Attack Weight	When the Pokemon scores a goal, its Attack increases by (6/9/12). Lv: 30 Stats :Attack +18
Float Stone	Increases movement speed by (10/15/20)% when the Pokemon is not in combat. Lv: 30 Stats :Attack+24, Movement Speed +120
Muscle Band	When basic attacks hit, the damage is increased by 1%/2%/3% of the opposing Pokemon's remaining HP. Lv: 30 Stats :Attack +15, Attack Speed +7.5%
Razor Claw	After the Pokemon uses a move, its next basic attack deals a minimum of (10/15/20) damage. The higher the Pokemon's Attack, the more this damage increases. When this item is held by a melee Pokemon, this basic attack also decreases the movement speed of opposing Pokemon for a short time. Lv: 30 Stats :Attack +15, Critical-Hit Rate +2.1%
Weakness Policy	Increases the Pokemon's Attack for a short time by a minimum of (2/2.5/3)% when the Pokemon receives damage. This increase grows larger the more times damage is received Lv: 30 Stats :HP +210, Attack +15
X Attack	Increases your Pokemon's basic attack damage by 1.2x, and move damage by 1.05~1.15x for 8 seconds.

Items That Boost Special Attack

Choice Specs	Increases the damage of moves by a minimum of (40/50/60) when they hit. The higher the Pokemon's SP. Atk. the more the damage is increased Lv: 30 Stats :Sp. Atk. +39
Shell Bell	Recovers a minimum of (45/60/75) HP when a move hits an enemy. You will recover more HP if your Sp Attack stat is higher. Lv: 30 Stats :Sp. Attack +24, Cooldown -4.5%
Sp. Atk. Specs	When the Pokemon scores a goal, its Sp. Attack increases by (8/12/16). Lv: 30 Stats :Sp. Attack +24
Wise Glasses	Increases Sp Attack by (3/5/7)%. Lv: 30 Stats :Sp. Attack +39
X Attack	Increases your Pokemon's basic attack damage by 1.2x, and move damage by 1.05~1.15x for 8 seconds.

How to Test Physical vs. Special Damage

Raise Attack/Special Attack and Compare Damage

Item	Effect
Float Stone	Tier: Attack + 24 Movement Speed + 120 Increases movement speed by (10/15/20)% when the Pokemon is not in combat.

You can raise your Attack stat by a flat value using the Float Stone. Compare your damage before and after having the Float Stone equipped in Practice Mode using the dummy.

If damge is increased, it scales with Attack. If it does not, it scales with Special Attack.

Pyro Ball (Attack)

Damage without Float Stone 947	Enlarge
Damage with Float Stone 951	Enlarge

Solar Beam (Special Attack)

Damage without Float Stone 6600	Enlarge
Damage with Float Stone 6600	Enlarge

Raise Special Attack for Self Targeting Moves

Item	Effect
Wise Glasses	Tier: Sp Attack +39 Increases Sp Attack by (3/5/7)%.

You can determine whether moves that target self scale on Special Attack by using Wise Glasses. For Eldegoss's Synthesis move, you can find how much damage you recover at low health by the green number that pops up. Simply compare between with an item equipped and unequipped to see if its Attack or Sp. Attack.

Synthesis (Special Attack)

Without Wise Glasses	With Wise Glasses
Enlarge	Enlarge

Pokemon UNITE Related Guides

Game Modes and Rules
Game Modes Explanation	Match Types Explanation
Unite Battle Guide	Ranked Match Guide
Quick Battle Guide	How to Use Training Mode
Fair Play Points Guide	Can Players Use the Same Pokemon?
Gameplay Manual Guides
List of Status Effects	Stats Explanation
How to Upgrade Items	Unite Moves Guide
List of Berries and Effects	How To Surrender
Recall Guide and Best Timing	Super Jump Guide
Vision Guide: How Does Vision Work?	Evolution: How to Evolve and Timing
Character Creation Guide	Free Rotation Guide
Microtransactions Guide	Attack Vs. Special Attack
Badge Guide and Explanation	How to Check Team Score
How to Check Leaderboard	Tutorial Missions: Access and Rewards
How to Increase Movement Speed	Critical Hit Guide
How to Use Quick Chat and Pings	How to Use the Camera
How to Cancel Moves	Invincibility Guide
Move Types and When to Use	Grass Guide: How Does Grass Work?
Boosted Attacks Guide	How to Recover HP
How to Check Player Levels and Kills
Game Setup Guides
List of Controls	List of Settings
How to Change Your Name	How to Change Your Gender
How to Play Online Multiplayer	How to Add Friends
Language Settings	How to Use Voice Chat and Best Apps
Do You Need Nintendo Online?	Server Reset Time
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Player Count and Limit	Can You Play Offline?
How to Reduce Lag	What Happens When You Go AFK
How to Play with Bots	How to Check Match History
Battle Screen and Menus Explanation	Spectator Mode
How to Update the Trainer Card	Squads Guide