Pokémon Unite, the new MOBA-style spinoff of the beloved, age-old Pokémon franchise, is a free-to-play game where two groups compete to score as many points as possible in a 5v5 match. While playing solo can be enjoyable, many players may want their friends to jump in and join the fun. However, you may be at a loss with how you’re supposed to invite your friends or how they’re supposed to join you. Thankfully, this guide will show you the ins and outs of how to add friends, create a lobby, and get into a match together.
How to Add Friends in Pokémon Unite
In order to play with your friends in Pokémon Unite, you’ll need to add them to your list of friends in-game. From there, you’ll need to either create a lobby or share your lobby ID to have them join you.
First of all, let’s go over how to add your friends to your “friends list” in Pokémon Unite. Keep in mind, the list of friends you have on your Nintendo Switch is separate from the one in Pokémon Unite. This means you’ll have to go through and add everyone manually.
Starting from the in-game main menu, press the L button to open your Trainer Info. Below your avatar, you’ll find your Trainer ID associated with your trainer’s name in Pokémon Unite. You’re going to use this code to add your friends or vice versa.
Back at the main menu, press the X button and scroll down to Friends. Choose Friend Search and press X again to input their Trainer ID. After you’ve entered the ID, simply select Add Friend.
Next, we need to invite your friends into a Pokémon Unite match. There are two methods to do this — inviting friends to your lobby or sharing your Lobby ID with them. From the main menu, choose Unite Battle, and your trainer will be taken to a lobby screen. Here, invite your friends by pressing the Y button. Those who are online should then appear on the screen. Select their names and invite the friends you’d like to enter your lobby.
The alternative method to have friends join you is by sharing your Lobby ID, which allows them to join on their own. You can easily find this code in the upper left corner of your lobby screen. If you decide to join their lobby instead, simply have your friends follow the same steps above, and you’ll be ready to jump into a match with your friends.
However, you must take into account that players can only play Ranked matches after reaching Level 6 in Pokémon Unite. Likewise, Quick Battle mode can only be played by those who’ve reached Level 8. So if you want to play these specific game modes with your friends, make sure everyone is at the appropriate level.
Pokémon Unite is available now on Nintendo Switch and is coming to mobile devices this fall.