Since Era 2 (Gold/Silver/Crystal), new mechanics have been added to Pokemon battles. Right here’s a brief listing:
- Maintain gadgets (Gen 2)
- Double Battles (Gen 3)
- Surprise Launcher Battles and Wild Double Battle encounters (Gen 4)
- Triple and Rotation Battles (Gen 5)
- Mega Evolution, Horde encounters, Sky Battles, Inverse Battles (Gen 6)
- Z-Strikes, SOS Battles, Battle Royale (Gen 7)
- Dynamax and Dynamax Raid Battles (Gen 8)
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (Gen 9) proceed the custom with Terastal Pokemon. On this information, we’ll clarify all the things we learn about this phenomenon.
What’s the Terastal Phenomenon?
Terastal power suffuses Paldea. No person is aware of why this distinctive phenomenon occurs solely on this area. It creates a jewel-like luster across the affected Pokemon, altering or reinforcing its typing. These with two parts, like Charizard, will flip into their singular Tera Sort upon activating the phenomenon. The transformation makes a ‘Tera Jewel’ sprout from the creature’s head, denoting the brand new kind. Its types fluctuate relying on the ingredient it represents.
From this trailer (timestamp 2:45), we will see six Tera Jewel types:
- A bunch of flowers with a large sunflower within the center (Grass)
- A candelabra with 5 flames, one large one within the middle surrounded by 4 smaller ones (Hearth)
- A fountain splash (Water)
- Diamonds (Regular, confirmed within the Nov. 1 overview trailer)
- A bunch of balloons (Flying)
- A ghost form paying homage to Gen 1’s Pokemon Tower encounters earlier than getting the Silph Scope (Ghost)
The opposite types for the remaining 12 sorts will likely be revealed later or on the video games’ launch.
Activating it should want a Terastal Orb, which you’ll obtain within the story. Like Mega Evolution, it may possibly solely be achieved as soon as per battle and lasts till it ends (or your Pokemon will get KO’d). Nonetheless, the orb have to be recharged by touching a Tera Power Crystal or going to the Pokemon Heart. That’s one thing you don’t must do with Mega Stones.
Every Pokemon has a Tera Sort. It doesn’t rely upon species or typing, as a Pikachu you caught may have Floor whereas your buddy’s Pikachu has Fairy. Equally, if you happen to seize or breed a bunch of Eevees, they might all have a wide range of Tera Varieties.
It is also one of many Pokemon’s unique typings. Within the linked trailer, the participant’s Quaxly has a Water Tera Sort, its precise typing. If you understand about STAB (Identical Sort Assault Bonus*), this will increase that injury bonus for any Water assault.
Because the transformation modifications the Pokemon’s kind, the elevated injury bonus will solely occur when the Tera Sort matches (one among) its unique typings.
Word: STAB will increase the injury of an assault by 1.5 if the assault’s kind matches the Pokemon’s (ex., Bug Pokemon makes use of Leech Life). With the Adaptability potential, the bonus rises to x2. The Protean and Libero skills permit the creature to at all times have this extra injury.
The assault’s kind when it’s used determines whether or not it should obtain STAB or not. A Water-type utilizing Climate Ball whereas it’s raining will obtain the bonus. Nonetheless, regardless of being listed as a Regular-type assault, a Regular-type Pokemon won’t get extra injury if it makes use of the transfer in the identical situations.
Wild Tera Encounters and Tera Raids
Generally, you’ll see wild Pokemon with a glow round them. These are wild Tera encounters, and also you’ll combat one underneath the consequences of Terastallization. This allows you to know what Tera Sort they’ve with out having to catch them first. Dealing sufficient injury breaks the transformation, reverting to their unique typing.
Tera Raids have eye-catching entrances within the type of crystal growths within the surroundings. In addition they sparkle with crystal mud, so that they’re straightforward to establish. You’ll want the assistance of (as much as three of) your mates or AI characters to battle these stronger-than-average Terastallized Pokemon with uncommon Tera Varieties.
These raids have improved during the last technology’s Dynamax Raids. You don’t have to attend for the others to take their flip, making fights sooner and simpler. As a substitute of getting a 4-knockout restrict, there’s a time restrict, so be environment friendly in utilizing your turns. In case your Pokemon will get KO’d, they’ll return to the battle after 5 seconds of ready.
Additionally, as an alternative of attacking, you may cheer in your aspect, giving a wide range of results. There’s one for an assault enhance, one other for protection, and the final can heal the staff. Efficiently defeating the Pokemon enables you to seize it and rewards you with some gadgets for the difficulty.
You can even Terastallize your Pokemon through the raid. Nonetheless, it isn’t recognized but if there’s a restrict to what number of can do it. The trailers solely present one doing it, so there’s more likely to be a restrict of 1, identical to in Dynamax Raids.
Further Data
Trailers have proven that Gymnasium Leaders additionally use the phenomenon, which could be advantageous for trainers. In any case, Leaders wouldn’t use an off-typed Pokemon if its Tera Sort doesn’t match their Gymnasium’s theme. It additionally alerts to you after they would use Terastallization.
In any other case, it may be one thing to show the tides of battle. For instance, when confronted with an enemy together with your final Pokemon’s weak spot, Terrastallizing modifications that weak spot and provides you area to stall. Both you may preserve preventing or revive one other in your get together with a greater kind match-up.
Prefer it or not, this battle mechanic is a core characteristic of Pokemon battles in Scarlet and Violet. The way you’ll use it’s as much as you.
Take pleasure in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet!