Today’s Pokémon Presents – which was announced on the 2 month mark of the last big Scarlet & Violet update earlier this week – has finally dished the detail on the new Spain-inspired Paldea Region, the latest new Pokémon battle mechanic Terastallization and several new Pokémon.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet’s new Paldea Region

Finally, we have a name for the new region in Scarlet & Violet – the Paldea Region. Described as a “a land of vast open spaces dotted with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, and mountain ranges”, the Paldea Region’s completely open world takes a lot of inspiration from Pokémon Legends Arceus’ wide open fields full of wild Pokémon to encounter and catch.

In the center of Paldea sits the largest city in the region: Mesagoza. It’s here that players will find either Naranja Academy or Uva Academy depending on whether you’re playing Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet respectively.

To get around Paldea more easily, the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon in Pokémon Scarlet or Miraidon in Pokémon Violet will join players early on in their journey and change into multiple forms to serve as rideable Pokémon transport throughout the Region. These three forms are Sprinting Build/Drive Mode, Swimming Build/Aquatic Mode and Gliding Build/Glide Mode, fulfilling most of the same Ride Pokémon functions as the various Pokémon in Legends Arceus.

The Terastal Phenomenon

As has been the case ever since Mega Evolution was first introduced back in 2013, the latest Pokémon game also brings with it a brand new battle mechanic. This time, the Paldea Region is uniquely home to the Terastal Phenomenon – the ability to Terastallize a Pokémon and transform them into looking like a freshly cut gemstone with a Tera Jewel forming above their head like a crown.

All Pokémon in Paldea can Terastallize and doing so will increase the Pokémon’s power and type bonuses. A new, third Pokémon type – their ‘Tera Type’ can be any one of the 18 Pokémon types in the game regardless of the species’ own and allows for interesting combinations that can give Pokémon a Same Type Attack Bonus for moves they normally wouldn’t have it for.

One Pokémon on your team can Terastallize once per battle and much like Mega Evolutions, the effect will last until the Pokémon is either knocked out or the battle is over. The Tera Orb used to perform the Terastallization, however, must be recharged between uses by either touching crystals overflowing with Terastal energy or by going to a Pokémon Center.

More Multiplayer

Sword & Shield’s Max Raid Battles will also somewhat make a return in the form of Tera Raid Battles. Up to four players can take on these Terastallized Pokémon, with the option to catch them afterwards. These Pokémon might have quite rare Tera types allowing for the most powerful new combinations of this new mechanic. As an update to the previous Raid Battle mechanics, this time the battle system has a time limit and allows players to continue attacking seamlessly without having to wait their turn for other players to choose their actions first.

A new Poké Portal feature will enable trading and battling with players all around the world, while the Union Circle will allow up to three friends to join you in your game world and share an expedition across Paldea together. It’s not yet confirmed whether or not the Union Circle feature can be played online, but it is confirmed that Raid Battles and Poké Portal trading and battling can be, with Link Code support for connecting to friends online.

Pre-order bonuses

With the reveal of the Terastal feature, a new early purchase bonus has been announced for Scarlet and Violet. Anyone buying the game through to the 28th February 2023 can redeem a Mystery Gift present of a special Pikachu that not only knows the move Fly, but also has the Flying Tera Type to give it a Same Type Attack Bonus in battles after Terastallizing it.

An Adventure Set bonus for digital purchases of the game from the eShop will also be available, featuring the following items to get started on adventuring throughout Paldea with:

• Potion x10
• Full Heal x5
• Revive x3
• Ether x3
• Rare Candy x1
• Nugget x1

Meanwhile, anyone purchasing the Dual Pack of both Scarlet & Violet will also receive two codes – one per game – for 100 Poké Balls.

New Pokémon

Two new Pokémon have been revealed, as well as the first new Paldean regional form – a Poison/Ground type Wooper!

Fidough

• Category: Puppy Pokémon
• Type: Fairy
• Height: 1′
• Weight: 24 lbs.
• Ability: Own Tempo

Fidough’s moist, smooth 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.

Cetitan

• Category: Terra Whale Pokémon
• Type: Ice
• Height: 14’9″
• Weight: 1,543.2 lbs.
• Ability: Thick Fat / Slush Rush

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.

Paldean Wooper

• Category: Poison Fish Pokémon
• Type: Poison/Ground
• Height: 1’4″
• Weight: 24.3 lbs.
• Ability: Poison Point / Water Absorb

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.

Characters and Story

Finally, several new characters and details on the story of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet have been announced. It’s been confirmed that the 8 Gyms you’ll be able to challenge throughout the game represent just one third of the game’s overall ‘main’ stories. With two more, as yet, unannounced, also featuring as part of your adventure. Unlike previous Pokémon games, there is no set linear path throughout the game nor the order of the gyms. How you choose to engage with the game’s various activities and storylines, and in what order, is entirely up to you.

Clavell

He acts as the director of the academy and will teach the player many things about their school.

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.

Arven

Arven is an upperclassman at the academy. He’s good at cooking and is researching healthy recipes that can help Pokémon feel better.

Penny

Penny has a bit of a shy personality, and for some reason, she doesn’t seem to come to the academy very often.

Glaseado Gym Leader 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.