Game Freak has revealed the new Terastal mechanic in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gameplay trailer. Game Freak announced further details about the RPGs in an August Pokémon Presents presentation, where they officially unveiled the Paldea Region and the series' new gimmick called the Terastal phenomenon. However, the Gen 9 feature may have taken inspiration from a popular Pokémon card set released in 2005.
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, fans will play a new student enrolled in the Paldea Region's oldest Academy. Unlike previous generations, Gen 9 will actually feature three separate story campaigns that can be completed in any order. Regardless of which storyline players decide to tackle first they will encounter the Terastal phenomenon during their journey. The new battle gimmick transforms Pokémon into a crystalized form, and boosts the power of their attacks that are the same as their Tera type. Just like Pokémon Sword and Shield's Dynamax feature, only a single Pokémon can be terastallized per battle, before reverting back to their original form.
Rare Pokémon will even be able to change their battle typing altogether while in their Tera state. On the official site, Game Freak uses the example of an Eevee becoming a Grass-type, or Gardevoir turning into a Water-type after the Tersatal gimmick is used. The Gen 9 mechanic allows players to mix and match the franchise's 18 battle types, and create unique strategies with their Pokémon team. Despite its groundbreaking design, the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet feature may have been a recycled idea from a classic Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion.
Scarlet and Violet Terastal Gimmick Is A Pokémon TCG Mechanic?
Following the debut of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire's Hoenn region on the Game Boy Advance, the Pokémon TCG launched the Gen 3-themed EX Delta Species expansion in 2005. The Pokémon card set shook up the Nintendo tabletop game, by introducing the new Delta Species Pokémon variant. Just like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Terastal gimmick, Delta Pokémon were able to change their battle typing. For example, there was a Charizard card that could use Electric-type attacks and a Starmie that had Fighting-type moves.
In the series lore, Delta species were able to change their typing because of electromagnetic radiation, similar to the Terastal energy in the Gen 9 RPGs. While not crystalized, Delta Pokémon would also radiate with the energy of their new typing. Just like the Delta Species' mechanic, the Gen 9 Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Starters Fuecoco, Sprigatito, and Quaxly can be seen in the August trailer glowing with the color of their Tera type after being Terrastalized.
Despite the many similarities, there are some differences between the two mechanics. In the TCG, Delta Pokémon did not take on the weakness of their new typing. So the Electric-type Charizard card was still weak to Water-based attacks. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, it appears that Pokémon who change typing while Terastallizing will also gain a new type-weakness as well. Although the Gen 9 battle gimmick is overall more complex, it's hard to not see how closely the Terastal phenomenon mirrors the Delta Species mechanic from 2005.
Want more Pokémon Scarlet & Violet articles? Check out our essential content below...
