Pokémon Scarlet & Violet – Open World Paldea Adventure (Gen IX)

• Released worldwide on November 18, 2022, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduce the Iberian Peninsula‑inspired Paldea region, the series' first true open world accessible from the start.
• Debut the Terastal phenomenon, letting Pokémon change type and gain crystal‑like appearances for new battle strategies.
• Feature three main storylines playable in any order: Victory Road (gym challenge), Path of Legends (Titan Pokémon), and Starfall Street (Team Star battles).
• First in the main series to allow up to four players to explore together in real time, battling, trading, and adventuring without separate modes.

🌍 A paradigm shift in Pokémon gameplay

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet embrace an open‑world design, giving Trainers unprecedented freedom in how they tackle their journey. Together, they add 103 new Pokémon to the National Dex, including regional forms like Paldean Wooper and ancient/future Paradox Pokémon tied to each version’s lore.

🏇 Legendary mounts from the start

From the very beginning, players can ride Koraidon (Scarlet) or Miraidon (Violet) — transforming between land, sea, and air travel — removing the need for HMs or separate ride Pokémon.

🏫 Academy life in Paldea

The adventure is framed around Naranja Academy (Scarlet) or Uva Academy (Violet), weaving school‑themed motifs into the quest structure and character interactions.

💎 Terastallization

Terastallization is Paldea’s signature battle mechanic, allowing a Pokémon to transform into its designated Tera Type once per battle. When Terastallized, the Pokémon’s typing changes entirely to that single pure type, altering its resistances, weaknesses, and Same‑Type Attack Bonus (STAB) calculations.

• Type change & STAB boost: If the Tera Type matches one of the Pokémon’s original types, moves of that type get a boosted STAB multiplier of ×2 (instead of the usual ×1.5). If it’s a different type, the Pokémon gains STAB on that new type’s moves while retaining STAB on its original types at ×1.5.
• Tera Boost for weaker moves: When Terastallized, any move matching the Tera Type with a base power under 60 is raised to 60 (with some exceptions), making certain utility moves unexpectedly strong.
• Unlocking & usage: Terastallization requires a Tera Orb, obtained early in the story. The orb must be recharged after use by visiting a Pokémon Center or touching a Tera crystal in the field.
• Finding unique Tera Types: Most Pokémon have a Tera Type matching one of their natural types, but rare variants with unusual Tera Types can be caught in Tera Raid Battles or found glowing in the wild. You can also change a Pokémon’s Tera Type later using 50 Tera Shards of the desired type.
• Strategic applications: Terastallization can:
  • Eliminate a crippling weakness (e.g., a Fire‑type becoming Water‑type to resist Water attacks).
  • Surprise opponents with unexpected coverage or resistances.
  • Supercharge offensive pressure by doubling down on an existing STAB type.
• Duration: The transformation lasts until the battle ends — unlike Dynamax, there’s no turn limit — but it can only be used once per battle.

🤝 Multiplayer & social features

Union Circle co‑op allows Trainers to see each other in the overworld, join Tera Raid Battles, share picnics, use emotes, and take group photos — enhancing the shared adventure.

⚡ 'Let's Go' auto‑battles & flexible team management

Send a Pokémon out to auto‑battle wild Pokémon and collect items, speeding up training. Access PC boxes from anywhere for unmatched convenience.

🗺️ The Paldea region

Paldea spans sunny coasts, snowy peaks, and varied biomes, each with unique Pokémon ecosystems. Its history — and the mysteries of Paradox Pokémon — intertwine with the main storyline.