Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet will have a new battle and raid mechanic when it launches later this year called Terastal Pokémon. This follows on from other similar mechanics in previous games, such as Dynamax in Sword and Shield, and Alpha Pokémon in Legends Arceus.
So what is this new Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Terastal mechanic? Well, first off it will see regular Pokémon transform into altered forms, giving them the visual appearance of a gemstone, with most having some sort of jewel or chandelier-style additions to their designs.
Terastallizing has tangible effects in battle too. Terastal Pokémon will have stronger attacks, their typing will get a boost, and your Pokémon may even change its typing all together. Each Pokémon you find and catch will have both its regular typing as displayed in the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Pokédex, but will also have a Tera typing, which could be radically different.
For example, a Pokémon Scarlet and Violet pre-order bonus Pikachu, will change from Electric-type to its Tera type of Flying if you Terastallize it. Commonly-found Pokémon may not change type at all, or might just drop one of their secondary typings (for example, an Azumarill can be seen changing from Water/Fairy to just Water-type). To get more extreme and rare Tera types, you’ll have to go hunting in Tera Raid Battles.
As with Dynamax Raid Battles, you and three other trainers will take on a beefy boss (which will be in Terastal form) that you can catch once you defeat it.
Every single ‘mon in the new Pokémon region of Paldea can Terastallize, according to today’s Pokémon Presents.
As well as the reveal of this new mechanic, we also saw our first Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Paldea form in Paldean Wooper, which gives the cute little axolotl a new typing of Ground/Poison. Two new Pokemon for Scarlet and Violet were also shown in Cetitan and Fidough.