Terastal energy
Terastal energy (Japanese: テラスタルエネルギー Terastal energy) is a type of energy in the Pokémon world derived from the Tera Pokémon, Terapagos. This energy was researched by Professor SadaS/Professor TuroV during their stay in Area Zero. Terastal energy can cause Pokémon to Terastallize, either naturally or through the use of Tera Orbs, a device created by the professor.
In the core series games
History and effects
Terastal energy is mainly found in the Paldea region's soil. It is produced by the Legendary Pokémon Terapagos which lived in Paldea in a bygone era. The species was made nearly extinct by a series of seismic shifts that took place over two million years ago. The sole surviving Terapagos protected itself by crystallizing its body and falling into a deep sleep in the depths of the region. As time went on, the Terapagos's Terastal energy began to spread throughout the Great Crater of Paldea, eventually forming large crystals and crystallized structures, including a large crystal tree within the depths. Special herbs with healing and growth powers, known as Herba Mystica, also began to grow in Area Zero. At some point, Glimmet and Glimmora started appearing in the crater, feeding on Terastal energy seeping through the walls of Area Zero's caverns.
Over time, explorers and researches traveled to Area Zero in attempts to uncover its secrets. Legends were told of "precious stones", "wondrous fruits", and some manner of valuable treasure. Over 200 years prior to the events of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Area Zero Expedition team, which included the historian Heath, claimed to have reached the depths of Area Zero. Heath described his experiences in the Scarlet BookS/Violet BookV including the discovery of Herba Mystica and an apparent encounter with Terapagos in its Stellar Form. 60 years later, Terastal energy began affecting the Pokémon within Area Zero, giving rise to the Terastal phenomenon in which a Pokémon becomes crystallized, their moves are strengthened, and even their typing may be changed. Attempts to move these Pokémon outside of Area Zero caused their Terastallization to vanish.
10 years prior to the events of the games, Professor SadaS/Professor TuroV, inspired by Heath's writings, began researching Area Zero with the goal of bringing Pokémon from other timelines to the present. Their research into Terapagos and its energy led to the naming of Terastal energy and Terastallization itself. The professor used their research to create the Tera Orbs, allowing Pokémon to Terastallize outside of Area Zero, which secured funding for further research. The professor eventually used Terastal energy to create an AI-powered robot with their exact appearance. The human and AI professors used Terastal energy to create a time machine to summon Pokémon from the ancient pastS/distant futureV and fulfill the human professor's dream.
Today, many Paldean Trainers, Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and Champions use Tera Orbs to Terastallize their Pokémon during battles. Pokémon have also begun to naturally Terastallize outside of Area Zero, either in the wild or in Tera Raid Battles. With the player's help, Jacq determines that "blasts" of Terastal energy escape the Great Crater from time to time, strengthening any Tera Raid crystals (and the boss Pokémon inside them) they come into contact with. Jacq also determines that the amount of Terastal energy being emitted from the crater is slowly growing. If the Terastal energy blast is powerful enough, the Tera Raid crystal becomes black and the Pokémon within becomes incredibly powerful.
Hundreds of years ago, Ogerpon and its human companion, who was carrying some crystals with Terastal energy, traveled from a foreign land to Kitakami but were shunned from the village. Kitakami's mask-maker crafted four masks for the pair to use to blend in with the other villagers. The crystals were embedded into the masks and provide Ogerpon the ability to Terastallize on its own without a Tera Orb.
At some point through unknown circumstances, the Crystal Pool formed at the top of Oni Mountain. According to Briar, the large crystals at the bottom of the pool emit energy with the same wavelength as the Terastal energy found in Paldea. Legends in Kitakami state that spirits of the dead can be seen in the pool.
In the Unova region's Blueberry Academy, Briar used soil from Paldea and water from Kitakami's Crystal Pool to create the Terarium Core, a large sphere hanging from the top of the Terarium. The Terastal energy subsequently emitting from the Terarium Core makes Terastallization possible within Blueberry Academy.
Within the Underdepths, large crystal clusters are found blocking the path to Terapagos. Briar states they are made of pure Terastal energy, and Carmine notes that they look like flowers. These clusters dissipate when the player character defeats nearby wild Pokémon that are Terastallized with the Stellar type. Briar's Rotom Phone indicates that the level of Terastal energy around them increases as they go deeper into the Underdepths; as they near Terapagos, Carmine and Kieran's Tera Orbs begin visibly reacting to the surrounding energy. The room in which Terapagos is found is so full of Terastal energy that Carmine's, Kieran's, and the player character's Tera Orbs become permanently charged with Terastal energy, no longer needing recharged between battles. Following these events, Briar adds crystals from the Area Zero Underdepths to the Terarium Core, causing some Pokémon in the Terarium to Terastallize with the Stellar type.
If the player returns to Kitakami's Crystal Pool with Terapagos in their party or Pokémon Storage System, Terapagos will come out, a strange mist will manifest around the pool, and the real Professor SadaS/Professor TuroV will suddenly appear for a brief time. The professor assumes that their appearance may have something to do with Terapagos and posits that they may not be from the same timeline as the player character.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Masters EX
Terastal energy is briefly mentioned in the Arceus Arc by Nemona in regards to Professor Bellis's research on the mysterious stones.
In animation
Pokémon Horizons: The Series
In Welcome to Naranja Academy!, the chairwoman of Naranja Academy's school board, Geeta, explained how Terastallization works to Liko, Roy, and Dot, who wanted to participate in the academy's Tera Training course. She showed the three a video explaining the phenomenon and how Trainers use it. She also explained how it is still being studied, and that it could be related to the Terastal energy being radiated from Paldea's land.
Trivia
- The way Terastal energy originates from Terapagos, a Legendary Pokémon, is similar to how Z-Power originates from Necrozma and Galar particles originate from Eternatus.
