Pokemon May Change in a Way Like Never Before
Well, I don’t know about you. But I was certainly blown away by Pokemon’s presentation on Wednesday. A lot of information was shared about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet coming this November. We got to see a lot of the new region, more new pokemon, some co-op features, and who can forget the new “Terastallization”. A feature that may change the way Pokemon battles play out in more ways than when Mega Evolution first became a thing.
Paldea and its rolling hills, mountains, lakes, hostile wastelands, and cities make its debut this time around. You’ll be able to travel across it using one of the legendary pokemon straight from the start. It’ll also have no set path for its 8 gyms, and 3 different main quests to complete. One of them we know will be the usual gym route. All of these things including the full open world is a first for Pokemon, and a huge step that I’m excited to see.
Fresh off the press, we have another three new Pokemon. Well, one may be considered a returning friend. But he’s got a new set of threads for this generation.
Paldean Wooper
In ancient times, Wooper lived underwater in the Paldea region. After losing in a struggle for territory, it seems they began living in bogs on land. To keep from drying out while living on land, they began to cover their bodies with a poisonous film. Their gills have hardened thanks to living on land for so long. Their bodies are heavy and they move slowly, but they can protect themselves by shooting powerful poisonous liquid from their gills.
The Pokemon Company
Category: Poison Fish Pokémon
- Type: Poison/Ground
- Height: 1’4″
- Weight: 24.3 lbs.
- Ability: Poison Point / Water Absorb
This little guy used to be a water and ground type, but now his regional Paldean typing swaps his water type for a poison type. Its ability Poison Point gives it a 30% chance to poison it’s foe if it’s hit by a move that makes contact. While Water Absorb, a much better ability in my opinion, makes it able to heal when hit with a water type move.
Fidough
Fidough’s skin has elastic qualities and is both firm and soft at the same time. When these Pokémon become excited, they intimidate their opponents by puffing up their bodies to appear bigger. Fidough ferments things in its vicinity using the yeast in its breath. The yeast is useful for cooking, so this Pokémon has been protected by people since long ago.
The Pokemon Company
- Category: Puppy Pokémon
- Type: Fairy
- Height: 1′
- Weight: 24 lbs.
- Ability: Own Tempo
This adorable ball of dough is a fairy type dog. But it’s ability in my honest opinion, makes it kind of weaker than the other pokemon revealed this time around. It prevents it from being able to be confused, but really it’s too situational to be very useful in battle. You might not want to let this dog lick you though, as its breath emits yeast. Very interesting!
Cetitan
Cetitan need to have tough muscles to be able to support their immense bodies, and physical attacks using their bodies have incredible power. They also migrate around the snowy regions, protected by a thick layer of fat.
The Pokemon Company
- Category: Tera Whale Pokémon
- Type: Ice
- Height: 14’9″
- Weight: 1,543.2 lbs.
- Ability: Thick Fat / Slush Rush
This big girl seems to be a huge land whale. Literally. It’s got legs and an ice typing to cover the snowy regions of Paldea. Its abilities Thick Fat, and Slush Rush can either make it super bulky or super fast, respectively.
Along with the new pokemon reveals, we also have some character reveals that will take part in its story. Starting with a rival first, we have:
Arven
Arven is an upperclassman at the academy. He’s good at cooking and is researching healthy recipes that can help Pokémon feel better.
The Pokemon Company
This man has some tough vibes to me, and he’s got some class that’s reminding me of Griffith from Berserk. I wonder what kinds of Pokemon he’ll use. It’d be funny if he used Fidough, like how the previously revealed rival used the first pokemon revealed in the game.
Jacq
Mr. Jacq is very knowledgeable about Pokémon biology and is the developer of the Pokédex app for the Rotom Phone. He’ll also be the player’s homeroom teacher
The Pokemon Company
Jacq seems to be the laid back kind of teacher who’ll probably put Bill Nye the Science guy in class for the third time in a week. It’s interesting to see a researcher who’s not a professor take a main role this time around.
Clavell
He acts as the director of the academy and will teach the player many things about their school.
The Pokemon Company
This man bought 60 pokeballs so he could get 6 premier balls for his team! SMH!
Gym Leader of the Glaseado Gym, Grusha
Grusha used to be a professional snowboarder, but he is now the Gym Leader of the Glaseado Gym full time. He is an Ice-type specialist who has Cetitan as his partner.
The Pokemon Company
I heard a lot of people’s first impression of this character was that he came off as female. That’s in fact, a dude with a killer ice type pokemon!
Penny
Penny has a bit of a shy personality, and for some reason, she doesn’t seem to come to the academy very often.
The Pokemon Company
My only comment is: “New tomboy just dropped.”
This time around for multiplayer features, we have a first in the series. The ability to have a co-op session with up to three other friends is debuting in Scarlet and Violet. Imagine finally being able to share your adventure with your homies. Of course, the usual multiplayer trading and battling will also be a thing. I’m just curious as to what limitations a co-op session will have over a single player one! I guess we’ll find out!
Last thing I want to talk about, but not least, and certainly the biggest deal in my opinion. Terastallization and Tera raid battles. Terastallization allows a trainer to unlock the hidden potential of their pokemon by crystalizing them, and giving them a third type temporarily. This may be a type they already have, or a new one entirely, and every pokemon is unique in this aspect. You could have an Eevee with a water type tera, or an electric type tera. All is up to what you find. You can also find rarer Tera types in Tera raid battles, which will function similar to raid battles in Sword/Shield.
This feature could potentially have the biggest impact on competitive Pokemon since Mega Evolution was first introduced. Imagine the possibilities of having a third STAB move (Same Type Attack Bonus), where a pokemon using the same type move as its own gives it an attack bonus. This could also give the Pokemon heightened resistances or weaknesses depending on its Tera typing.
Anyway, last thing for real this time. It wouldn’t be a game in 2022 if it didn’t have pre-order bonuses. For purchasing Scarlet/Violet early, players will get a flying Tera Pikachu with the move Fly, a move that it normally can’t learn. Along with an “Adventure Set”, if players purchase the game on the eShop before February 28th, 2023.
I personally think this will be the greatest Pokemon game since sliced bread. Hopefully GameFreak will impress us! I’ll definitely be exploring the more competitive side of Pokemon this time around. Stay tuned for an article on that scene in the future by yours truly. World’s 2022 is coming soon!
