On top of having some new Pokémon for trainers to catch, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet also comes with a brand-new phenomenon that is exclusive to the Paldea region, called the Terestral Phenomenon. This gamewide event allows players to Terastallize Pokémon, which gives them a gem-like appearance and increases their overall power.
Tera Pokémon are somewhat similar to the Gigantamax Pokémon seen in previous entries in the series, and here’s everything you need to know to Terastallize a Pokémon.
How to Terastallize a Pokémon
If you’re looking to Terastallize a Pokémon, then you’re first going to need to get your hands on a Tera Orb. These special items are used to evolve your chosen Pokémon into a Tera Pokémon, and when used, you’ll acquire special powers and abilities not available on the normal version of that Pokémon.
What exactly determines the Tera Type of a Pokémon is unclear. However, it is known that most Pokémon Tera Types will match up with the regular type. So, if you Terastallize a Water-type Pokémon, you’ll end up with a Water Tera-Type Pokémon. However, some Pokémon which have two types can be one or the other. It has also been revealed that wild Pokémon that can Terastallize can potentially have any of the 18 types as a Tera Type.
Additionally, there are special Tera Pokémon, like a Tera Pickahu you get with preordering, that have abilities they wouldn’t normally have. You’ll also be able to find other special Tera Type Pokémon using the Tera Raid mechanic in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Here are the Tera Types that Tera Pokémon can take on when they Terastallize:
- Normal
- Fire
- Grass
- Water
- Poison
- Flying
- Ground
- Electric
- Fighting
- Psychic
- Ice
- Rock
- Bug
- Ghost
- Dragon
- Dark
- Ghost
- Fairy
- Steel
Pokémon can Terastallize in battle to increase the power of any move that is the same type as their Tera Type. So, this means that Terastallizing a Quaxly, one of the starter Pokémon in the upcoming games, will make its water moves more powerful.
It’s also important to note that you can only Terastallize a Pokémon in your team once per battle. Once you have used a Tera Orb, you’ll need to interact with a special shining crystal that is filled with Terastal Energy, or visit a Pokémon center to recharge it.
Now, you can prepare to jump in and learn more about Tera Pokémon once Pokémon Scarlet and Violet releases on November 18. And, if you’re looking for more information on the different versions of the game, be sure to check out Newsweek‘s handy guide on which version you should buy.