Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: How the Terastal Phenomenon works

This week’s Pokemon Presents featured a ton of information for the majority of running Pokemon titles like Pokemon Masters EX, Pokemon Cafe and more. But the main event was the new information about Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet, this November’s HUGE new Pokemon releases.

Mixed in with all the exciting new information on the game was the announcement of the Terastal Phenomenon, hidden by “leakers” who definitely aren’t Nintendo’s ad team. This new gimmick — like Gigantamaxing, Z-Moves, and Mega Evolutions of the past —powers up your Pokemon only this time turns any Pokemon into a beautiful crystalline version of itself with a big stat boost. But how does it work?

What IS a Tera Form

Thank you for asking, Tiffany. You see, a Tera Form is when you power up your Pokemon by giving them a new, gorgeous, crystalline form as seen in the image below.

See the massive thinking on Eevee’s head? Every Pokemon has a “Tera Type”. This is a particular Pokemon type that comes out in full force when it takes this form. The Eevee in this picture has a Normal Tera Type so it has a big diamond on its head.

But one of the cool things that is going to create some surprising turnabouts in the battles is that the same species of Pokemon can have different types. In the trailer, it shows Eevee with a Normal Tera Type as well as some with a Water or Grass type. Not only does this give it a different look but also changes its type and boosts its power with those particular moves.

How do you activate it?

Excellent question, Michael. See, it would appear that you can activate it on your turn in battle by hitting R. But there is a catch. To Terastrallize your Pokemon, you need to use your fancy Tera Orb. But when you do it, it drains the energy held within. To recharge it you need to either go to a Pokemon Center or find crystals overflowing with the Terastal Energy.

What’s this I heard about a special downloadable Teratype Pokemon?

Ugh, Brian, you with the last-minute questions. Fine, but you’re not even allowed in this lecture hall.

If you get the game early, once you unlock the Mystery Gift feature, which Nintendo says takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, you’ll be able to download a special Pikachu whose Tera Type is Flying.

It’s basically a nod to the special Flying Pikachu Pokemon card where Pikachu is held aloft by three balloons.

This particular Tera Type can appear in the wild as well, but unlike those normies, this Pikachu knows the move Fly, which the other ones cannot learn. This means that you can theoretically surprise your opponent as Pikachu suddenly goes airborne.

Just bare in mind, to get this you only have until February 28th, 2023 to download it before Game Freak opens fire on the remaining Pika balloons and sends the rest of them hurtling into the canyon down below.

So, what do you think? I honestly think this is a really cool mechanic that adds a fun surprise to competitive play as even if you think you know a Pokemon, it’ll be able to pull something out of left field that completely catches you off guard. What are your thoughts? Comment it up and thanks for coming to my lecture.