Every generation ofPokemonhas a unique gimmick that helps that set of games stand out, like Mega Evolution and Z-Moves, while withPokemon ScarletandViolet, the Terastal Phenomenon is the next big thing. InPokemon SwordandPokemon Shield,Dynamax was the big new feature that many parts of the game revolved around. With the introduction of The Crown Tundra, a new Dynamax-based game mode was introduced: Dynamax Adventures. This game mode combined the strategy of Dynamax with a fun, randomly generated dungeon for players to explore together using rental Pokemon. It was well-received by the community and added a lot of fun gameplay moments that were brand new to thePokemonseries.
InPokemon ScarletandPokemon Violet,the Terastal Phenomenon allows Pokemon to terastallize, which can change their base typing and give them additional stat benefits. Alongside terastallization, trainers can battle against Tera Pokemon in an attempt to recruit these powerful Pokemon. Players can encounter these special Pokemon in Tera Raids, which seem awfully similar toPokemon SwordandShield’s Dynamax raids. If Tera Raids are designed to be similar to the Dynamax Raids, thenPokemon ScarletandVioletshould adapt Dynamax Adventures as well to feature Tera Pokemon.
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Breaking Down The Best of Dynamax Adventures
Dynamax Adventures had a lot of features rolled into it that made it a great co-op experience inPokemon SwordandPokemon Shield. First, players were not allowed to bring their own Pokemon into the Dynamax Adventures, but instead had to pick from a list of randomly selected rental Pokemon. This forced players to try different Pokemon out and not rely on their overpowered Level 100, Perfect IV Zacian to carry them through everything. After selecting their desired Pokemon from the rental list, players will be shown the path to the end of the dungeon where one of themany Legendary bosseslies in wait. Along the path are several Pokemon, all obscured save for their type. Players must choose a path together and decide which Pokemon to pick up along the way if they want swap out for their rental Pokemon for a better type matchup against the boss.
What made Dynamax Adventure a breath of fresh air for thePokemonfranchise was not only the cooperative nature of Dynamax Adventure, but the reliance onrandomized Pokemon, strategy, and replayability. Players could only keep one of the Pokemon they caught in the dungeon run, so at the end of the run, players must choose between one of the Pokemon caught along the route, or the boss itself.
The bosses can only be claimed once, and the Dynamax Adventures had a higher shiny chance, so players were often grinding runs for shiny Pokemon without claiming any. Outside of the reward of shiny Pokemon, players also earned a currency used in The Crown Tundra that allowed players to purchase helpful items that were used to make Pokemon better for competitive battling, like thebeloved Ability Patchwhich changed a Pokemon’s ability to its hidden ability.
Dynamax Adventureswas not only a fun game mode because it was rewarding, but there was a sense of tension and anticipation as players had to adapt to unfamiliar Pokemon and take new ones along the route to try to best match up against the upcoming boss. Not knowing what Pokemon lay ahead added another layer of stress that made it all the more satisfying when players overcame that next obstacle. The on-the-fly thinking and swapping Pokemon was much more intense than simply relying on maxed-out Pokemon to steamroll through the entire dungeon. Should Tera Raids be adapted to have a Dynamax Adventure-like format, rental Pokemon returning is a must because it added so much to the strategy and cooperative elements of the dungeon runs that was unlike anything elsePokemontried in the past.
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Introducing Tera Raid Battles
From what fans know about Tera Raids so far, they are seemingly akin toPokemon Sword and Shield’s Max Raidswhich were found in the Wild Area, and later in the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra. Much like the Max Raids, Tera Raids will pit for trainers against one powerful Pokemon for a chance to catch it if the team is successful. Other trainers can join via online matchmaking, link codes, or players can tackle the challenge alone.
Tera Raids will be found throughoutthe Paldea Regionin crystal formations indicating the Tera Type of the Pokemon dwelling within. Players can still team up together to take down these Tera Pokemon, and there is still a limited amount of time to complete the battle. However, what sets Tera Raids apart from Max Raids is that everyone can take their turns simultaneously. What’s more, players can also use special cheers (up to three times per battle) to give boosts to teammates instead of using a move. The cheer mechanic seems similar to how it worked in Max Raids and Dynamax Adventures when the player’s Pokemon has fainted, as the cheers in Max Raids could also give stat boosts to the team or even heal them.
The fundamentals of Dynamax Adventures are the same as that of the Max Raids, so it would not be a stretch for fans to want Tera Adventures as well. WithPokemon ScarletandViolet’s heavy focus on co-opfeatures, it feels like a huge missed opportunity if the Dynamax Adventure format is left behind as another regional gimmick. After all, Dynamax Adventures was only a chain of Dynamax Raids back-to-back with rental Pokemon.
In theory, the same could be applied to Tera Raids and Tera Pokemon as the bosses - perhaps even Legendary Pokemon if they can terastallize. However, at the moment fans only know of standard Tera Raid Battles, but hopefully Tera Raid Adventures could materialize in the future. If not in the base game ofPokemon ScarletandViolet, then perhaps this structure could appear in a futurePokemon Scarlet and VioletDLCafter launch.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletrelease on November 18 for Nintendo Switch.
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