How to Use Terastal Phenomenon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Is it just me, or is the world of Pokemon getting progressively weirder as time goes on? Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, Dynamaxing; Pokemon are exhibiting all kinds of wacky phenomena! The latest of these bizarre happenings is occurring in the Paldea region, where Pokemon are turning crystalline! Here’s how to use the Terastal Phenomenon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

How to Use Terastal Phenomenon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

The Terastal Phenomenon is the new transformation/power-up ability introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. When exposed to this mysterious phenomenon, Pokemon undergo a process known as Terastallization, transforming into crystalline bodies and donning gigantic, ornate crowns. When in this state, all of a Pokemon’s parameters are boosted, and any moves they use of the same Type as them deal boosted damage.

Related: How to Evolve Finizen and Transform Palafin in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

You first gain access to the Terastal Phenomenon a couple of hours into the game in the city of Mesagoza. After picking a fight with a Team Star grunt, your friend Nemona will use the opportunity to gift you with a Tera Orb. With this Orb, you’ll have the power to Terastallize your Pokemon in battle!

Using Terastallization

When you’re in a battle, you’ll see the Terastalize command to the left of your regular command menu. Press the R button to prepare to Terastalize, then select a move for your Pokemon like normal. Before it performs the move, your Pokemon will transform into its Tera Form! It’ll remain like this until you win the battle, switch it out with another Pokemon, or it faints.

There are a few important things to note about this process. First, every Pokemon has what’s called a Tera Type. A Pokemon’s Tera Type determines what Type it becomes when Terastallizing. You can see it under their usual Type on the status screen. You can only have one Tera Type, so dual-Type Pokemon will switch to pure Types when Terastallized. Sometimes, you may encounter Pokemon in the wild with a different Tera Type from their regular Type; when Terastalized, that’s the Type they’ll become, which means that’s the Type that gets the damage boost. You’ll know when a move has been boosted by Terastalized because it produces a big burst of energy when it hits.

Secondly, you can only Terastalize one Pokemon at a time. After you Terastalize a Pokemon, the energy in your Tera Orb will be exhausted. You’ll need to recharge it at a Pokemon Center before you can use the Terastal Phenomenon again.

The Terastal Phenomenon is a great way to empower your Pokemon’s existing capabilities or switch them to a completely different Type in the middle of battle. Plus, those crowns are absolutely fabulous.