Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Terastal Phenomenon could forever change Pokémon hunting

polygon.com:

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet got a new trailer on Wednesday, which revealed more about what our journeys in the Paldea region will look like. The trailer showed off adorable new Pokémon like Fidough and Paldean Wooper, but also new special blinged-out forms called Terastal Pokémon. While the flashy new mechanic might seem like just another gimmick, like Dynamax or Alpha variants, it could be a game changer for competitive battlers and Pokémon collectors alike.

With the Terastal Phenomenon, a Pokémon can transform into a bedazzled version of itself with a neat jewel-like hat styled like objects including flowers and balloons. Terastallizing also “provides a boost to a Pokémon’s type and make its moves stronger,” developers said in the video, and each individual Pokémon capable of the transformation will have a unique Terastal power that can change its elemental type. We don’t know which specific Pokémon will get which Terastal powers, but the trailer showed off a few specific examples, including Pikachu changing from electric type to flying type, and Eevees turning both water and grass type after Terastallizing.

The change will likely create waves in the competitive Pokémon community. You might be facing a Pokémon like Pikachu whose type you’ve known your entire life, but the Terastal Phenomenon casts its type into question, leaving you guessing if the matchup you’ve chosen is strong or weak against your opponent.

The Terastal Phenomenon will likely also impact Pokémon collecting. With 18 types in total, the addition of new forms creates an astronomically large roster of possible Pokémon combinations for enthusiasts to chase after. A Shiny hunter, a kind of Pokémon fan who chases after the special, rare Shiny forms of