Terastal phenomenon

Artwork of the Terastal phenomenon

Terastallized Pikachu with the Flying-type Tera Jewel

The Terastal phenomenon (Japanese: テラスタル Terastal) is a temporary transformation affecting Pokémon that was introduced in Generation IX. This transformation gives the Pokémon a gem-like appearance and changes its type. Each individual Pokémon has a designated type it turns into when it Terastallizes, which is called its Tera Type (Japanese: テラスタイプ Teras-Type).

History

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding the Terastal phenomenon and why it only happens in Paldea. Professor Sada^S/Professor Turo^V was known to be researching this mysterious transformation.^[1]

The Terastal phenomenon was first discovered 140 years ago in Area Zero along with Terastallized Pokémon at the bottom of the Great Crater of Paldea. However, attempts to remove Terastallized Pokémon from the crater caused the light to disappear. Further details of the Terastal phenomenon thus remained unclear for a while.

Ten years before the events of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the game's professor started to solve the mystery. The professor discovered the energy emitted from shining crystals in Area Zero is what triggered the Terastal phenomenon. The Tera Orbs were then created by the professor from the Terastal energy located in Area Zero. Clavell helped support the research on it. This allowed people to Terastallize their Pokémon outside of Area Zero. The Tera Orb was then shared to the Paldea League and Naranja Academy^S/Uva Academy^V.

At some point, the Terastal energy was used by the professor to create a time machine, bringing in Paradox Pokémon from the ancient past^S/distant future^V, including a pair of Koraidon^S/Miraidon^V.

The crystalline petals of Glimmora seem to resemble the Tera Jewels that appear during the Terastal phenomenon. It is unknown if there is a connection between Glimmora and the Terastal phenomenon, though many of them (along with its pre-evolution, Glimmet) can be found in Area Zero, the place where the phenomenon originated. Additionally, eight Glimmet Crystals are needed to make TM171 (Tera Blast), a move that changes type with Terastalizing.

The Scarlet Book/Violet Book makes cryptic hints that it may be linked to an unknown Pokémon resembling a disk made of layers of overlapping hexagons, but the truth of this has yet to be confirmed. A journal in Research Station No. 1 further implies its existence and relationship to the phenomenon. The journal reads:

"We've determined that this energy crystallization is linked to the being we call ▊▊▊▊▊▊. The interlocking hexagonal plates that comprise ▊▊▊▊▊▊'s shell must somehow cause this phenomenon—which I've dubbed 'Terastallizing.'"

This Pokémon is likely to be Terapagos, based on its description.

Effects

Trainers who obtain a Tera Orb are able to use it to Terastallize their Pokémon, which makes a Tera Jewel appear above the Pokémon's head, causes the Pokémon's body to glisten like gems. This changes the Pokémon's defensive type(s) to its Tera Type, removing all other types. Terastallized Pokémon are identified by having "Tera" in front of their name.

While Terastallized, Pokémon receive STAB on moves matching their Tera Type, in addition to moves matching the type(s) they had immediately before Terastallizing. If the Pokémon's Tera Type is the same as one of its original types, moves of that type receive an ×2 power boost instead of the usual ×1.5.^[1]

During this time, Adaptability works only for the Tera Type (with ×1.5 becoming ×2 and ×2 becoming ×2.25). Additionally, moves of the Tera Type that have base power below 60 but are not a multi-strike move or an increased priority move are stealthily boosted to 60BP; this is checked for after Technician's boost.^[2] Pokémon can only have one Tera Type. The move Tera Blast changes type to the Pokémon's innate Tera Type upon Terastallization.^[3]

Terastallized Pokémon cannot have their type changed from moves and Abilities such as Soak, Double Shock, Protean, or Transform. A Pokémon using Transform before Terastallizing will not copy its opponent's Tera Type and will instead keep its own.

The Terastal phenomenon lasts until the battle ends or the Terastallized Pokémon faints. After being used once, the Tera Orb loses all its Terastal energy and has to be recharged by either touching crystals containing Terastal energy or visiting a Pokémon Center.^[1] An exception to this can be found in Area Zero, where the Tera Orb will automatically recharge each time it is used.

After beating the Medali Gym, the player can change their Pokémon's Tera Type at the Treasure Eatery by exchanging 50 Tera Shards of a given type with the chef.

The Terastal phenomenon is only found in Paldea, apparently due to the Terastal energy seeping from the ground of the region.^[1]

Catching Tera Pokémon

Normal wild Pokémon found in Paldea typically have a Tera Type that matches one of their normal types. This Tera Type does not reflect their potential evolutions and cannot be passed down through breeding. For example, a Charcadet will always have a Fire Tera Type. Typically, there are only two ways to obtain a wild Tera Pokémon with unique typing: either catch a wild Tera Pokémon scattered around Paldea, or participate in a Tera Raid Battle. These Pokémon may know TM moves that match this set Tera Type.

Wild Tera Pokémon

There are precisely 68 wild Tera Pokémon scattered around Paldea, the majority with unique Tera Types. They can be found in fixed locations and typically have Tera Types different from their base types, a notable exception being the eight Eeveelutions, who have Tera Types that match their base types, and would normally have a Normal Tera Type if evolved from Eevee. The wild Tera Pokémon are indicated by a bright glow emitting from their bodies, and when battled against will immediately Terastallize. Wild Tera Pokémon cannot be caught while Terastallized until after they lose their Terastallization, which will happen after sustaining a certain amount of damage from direct attacks. Once this threshold is reached, the damage the Pokémon has taken will be capped until they lose their Terastallization, even from multi-strike moves.

Wild Tera Pokémon will eventually respawn after being caught or defeated and will always have a perfect 31 in at least three of their IVs.

Tera Raid Battle

Tera Raid Battles occur all over Paldea, with the locations changing at random each real-life day at midnight. These locations are indicated on the map, and in the overworld are indicated by a large, colored "shining crystal", with a beam of sparkling lights shooting into the sky.

Tera Jewels

Type	Image	Description
Normal		The Normal-type Tera Jewel is based on a diamond ring, or possibly a Normal Gem.
Fighting		The Fighting-type Tera Jewel is based on a large fist, similar to All-Out Pummeling and Max Knuckle.
Flying		The Flying-type Tera Jewel is based on a cluster of balloons, a possible reference to Flying Pikachu. Some of the official art for the phenomenon features Pikachu, and a Flying Tera Type Pikachu has been distributed as a Mystery Gift.
Poison		The Poison-type Tera Jewel is based on the Generation I animation for receiving Poison damage. It is also based on the skull and crossbones, the standard warning sign for poisonous substances.
Ground		The Ground-type Tera Jewel is based on a cut-through model of the Earth.
Rock		The Rock-type Tera Jewel is based on the Parthenon, an ancient temple being part of the Acropolis of Athens.
Bug		The Bug-type Tera Jewel is based on the wings and antennae of an insect.
Ghost		The Ghost-type Tera Jewel is based on the Generation I sprite of a ghost.
Steel		The Steel-type Tera Jewel is based on a single-bladed axe.
Fire		The Fire-type Tera Jewel is based on a candelabra or chandelier.
Water		The Water-type Tera Jewel is based on a water fountain.
Grass		The Grass-type Tera Jewel is based on a bouquet of flowers.
Electric		The Electric-type Tera Jewel is based on a lightbulb.
Psychic		The Psychic-type Tera Jewel is based on an eye, resembling the type's TCG type symbol.
Ice		The Ice-type Tera Jewel is based on a snowflake.
Dragon		The Dragon-type Tera Jewel is based on the head and wings of a dragon.
Dark		The Dark-type Tera Jewel is based on a face with a mischievous grin.
Fairy		The Fairy-type Tera Jewel is based on a winged heart.

In the TCG

Full Art Tera Arcanine

Main article: Pokémon ex (TCG)

Terastallized Pokémon are first introduced in the English Scarlet & Violet expansion (the Japanese Scarlet ex and Violet ex expansions). These Pokémon are known as Tera (Japanese: テラスタル Terastal) Pokémon. While on the Bench, Tera Pokémon do not receive any damage from attacks done by either player.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 太晶化 Taaijīngfa Mandarin 太晶化 Tàijīnghuà French Téracristallisation German Phänomen der Terakristallisierung Italian Fenomeno Teracristal Korean 테라스탈 Terastal Spanish Fenómeno de la teracristalización

Tera Type

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 太晶屬性 Taaijīng Suhksing Mandarin 太晶屬性 / 太晶属性 Tàijīng Shǔxìng French Type Téracristal German Tera-Typ Italian Teratipo Korean 테라스탈타입 Terastal Type Spanish Teratipo

See also

• Dynamax
• Gigantamax
• Mega Evolution
• Z-Move
• Myths and legends involving Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
• Paradox Pokémon
• Koraidon
• Miraidon
• Area Zero
• Area Zero journals
• Tera Raid Battle
• δ Delta Species (TCG)
• The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero

References

This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.