SV mechanics overview

This page aims to list the most important mechanics introduced in the ninth generation, which began with the Scarlet and Violet versions, released in November 2022. Unlike what you'll find on the SV Banlist page, everything here is directly tied to the games' core mechanics and do not depend on some specific community rules. Therefore, everything described below applies both on cartridge and simulators.

The Terastal Phenomenon

In general

Unlike Mega Evolution in Generation 6 or Z-Moves in Generation 7, Terastallization does not require the Pokémon to hold a specific item. Any Pokémon can Terastallize, although the mechanic can only be used once per battle. Once transformed, the Pokémon takes on a crystalline appearance and gains a Tera Jewel on its head corresponding to its Tera Type. There are no restrictions regarding the possible Tera Types a Pokémon can have. In theory, Pikachu can come in any Tera Type, although a given Pikachu can only have one Tera Type.

In practice, a Terastallized Pokémon:

• becomes the same type as its Tera Type: the defensive properties of its original typing are lost and replaced by those of the Tera Type. For example, a Gyarados (Water/Flying) with a Ground Tera Type becomes immune to Electric-type moves.
• retains the STAB(s) corresponding to its original type(s) while also gaining STAB on its Tera Type. Therefore, a Ground Tera Type Gyarados still benefits from STAB on its Water- and Flying-type moves in addition to gaining STAB on Ground-type moves. If the Tera Type matches one of its original types, the STAB multiplier for that type increases from x1.5 to x2.
• remains Terastallized until the end of the battle.

When a Terastallized Pokémon uses the Normal-type move Tera Blast, the move becomes the same type as the user’s Tera Type and becomes either physical or special depending on whether the Pokémon’s Attack or Special Attack stat is higher.

Note: a Tera Type is always a single type, unlike regular typings, which can be dual types.

The unique case of Ogerpon

Unlike all other Pokémon, Ogerpon cannot change its Tera Type. Its base typing, Ability, signature move type, and Tera Type all depend on the mask it is wearing:

• Teal Mask (base form): Grass type – Defiant – Grass Tera Type – Ivy Cudgel becomes Grass-type.
• Wellspring Mask: Grass/Water type – Water Absorb – Water Tera Type – Ivy Cudgel becomes Water-type.
• Hearthflame Mask: Grass/Fire type – Mold Breaker – Fire Tera Type – Ivy Cudgel becomes Fire-type.
• Cornerstone Mask: Grass/Rock type – Sturdy – Rock Tera Type – Ivy Cudgel becomes Rock-type.

Once Terastallized, Ogerpon gains the ability Embody Aspect, which replaces its original ability. The effect of Embody Aspect also depends on the mask being worn. Thus, depending on whether it is wearing the Teal Mask, Wellspring Mask, Hearthflame Mask, or Cornerstone Mask, Ogerpon will respectively receive a one-stage boost to its Speed, Special Defense, Attack, or Defense upon entering the field.

The Teal Mask form is the default one, meaning Ogerpon can hold any item in this form, whereas the other forms require their corresponding mask to be held. When held, the three other masks also boost the power of the user’s moves by 20%.

The Stellar Type

The Stellar type is the 19th Tera Type. Unlike all other Tera Types, a Pokémon Terastallized into the Stellar type retains the defensive properties of its original typing. The Pokémon also receives a one-time boost for each existing type: the multiplier is x2 if the move’s type matches one of the Pokémon’s original types, and x1.2 otherwise. In other words, if a Pokémon has two Water-type moves and two Fire-type moves, it can only benefit from the Stellar boost once for Water and once for Fire, on one move of each type respectively. Only Terapagos retains these boosts indefinitely.

The mechanics of Tera Blast are also modified: when used by a Pokémon Terastallized into the Stellar type, its base power is increased from 80 to 100 and it becomes super-effective against any Terastallized target (dealing neutral damage in all other cases), but the user’s Attack and Special Attack are lowered by one stage after each use.

Pokédex restrictions

At the games’ release, only 400 Pokémon were available out of more than 1,000 existing at the time. Compatibility with Pokémon HOME in late May 2023 reintroduced around one hundred Pokémon. Hisuian forms, which originally appeared in the spin-off Legends: Arceus, also made their debut in the main series through Pokémon HOME compatibility. The first DLC, The Teal Mask, released in September 2023, added around one hundred returning Pokémon. Further additions were made in the second DLC, The Indigo Disk, released in December 2023. Here is a list of some of the most iconic Pokémon from at least one generation of OverUsed that have not yet appeared in Paldea:

Move additions and removals

As this was already the case in the previous generation, a number of moves were removed. In addition to Pursuit, Hidden Power, Return, Frustration, Signal Beam, Heart Stamp, Recover, and Skill Swap, which had already been removed in Generation 8, the following moves were also cut (only moves that saw competitive use are listed):

• Aromatherapy - cures the status conditions of all Pokémon in the user's team; same function as Heal Bell.
• Psycho Shift - swaps the user’s status condition with the target’s.
• Dual Chop - hits twice.
• Autotomize - boosts the user’s Speed by two stages and reduces its weight.
• Power-Up Punch - deals damage and boosts the user’s Attack by one stage.

The move Tail Glow, which was removed in Generation 8, returned with Manaphy’s reintroduction in the first DLC.

Some Pokémon gained and/or lost moves upon the transition to Generation 9. In many cases, the removed moves were those previously learned via TMs (Technical Machines) or through Move Tutors.

The following table summarizes the most impactful changes for Pokémon that could have had, currently have, or may have a role in the OverUsed tier. A move highlighted in green indicates that the Pokémon regained access to it in the first DLC (it was unavailable at the games’ launch but was already known by the Pokémon in previous generations), while moves marked with an asterisk (*) are exclusive additions to the Generation 9 DLCs. A green background indicates that the Pokémon was added to the game in the first DLC. Same thing applies, with a blue background, to the second DLC:

Pokémon	Gained moves	Lost moves
	Weather Ball Scorching Sand	Roost
	-	Heal Bell Teleport Toxic
	Baton Pass Healing Wish Scorching Sand	-
	Baton Pass	-
	Gunk Shot Flip Turn	Scald
	Scald	Teleport Toxic
	Toxic* Sludge Wave	Scald
	Toxic Spikes Pain Split Sludge Wave	-
	Scale Shot	Power Whip
	Flip Turn Scald Roar	Toxic
	-	Self-Destruct
	Weather Ball	Defog Toxic
	Duel Wingbeat Knock Off*	-
	Scorching Sand	Defog Toxic
	Encore Scale Shot	Defog Dual Wingbeat Heal Bell Toxic
	Knock Off Toxic	Defog Roost
	Knock Off Whirlpool	-
	-	Scald
	Toxic Spikes Stealth Rock	Scald
	Toxic Roar*	-
	Scald	Teleport Toxic
	Toxic Spikes Sludge Wave	Scald Teleport
	Close Combat Knock Off Bug Bite Lunge*	Roost
	High Horsepower Knock Off Lunge*	-
	-	Defog Counter Toxic
	Weather Ball	-
	-	Teleport Toxic Wish
	Power Gem High Horsepower Roar Knock Off*	Superpower Toxic
	-	High Jump Kick Power-Up Punch Superpower
	Sabotage	Scald Power-Up Punch Superpower Toxic
	-	Scald
	Weather Ball	Defog Scald Toxic
	Vacuum Wave* Expanding Force	Ice Beam

Pokémon	Gained moves	Lost moves
	Close Combat Gunk Shot Bulldoze	-
	Reflect Light Screen	-
	Close Combat	-
	Weather Ball	-
	-	Scale Shot
	Trailblaze Shadow Claw Stone Edge Psychic Fang Knock Off Heavy Slam	Power-Up Punch Rock Polish
	Draining Kiss	Defog Roost Mystical Fire
	Flip Turn	Defog Roost Mystical Fire
	-	Toxic
	Headlong Rush Body Press Rock Blast High Horsepower Traillblaze Shell Smash Grassy Glide Iron Defense	-
	Aurasphere Raging Fury Agility Switcheroo Knock Off Drain Punch	-
	Roost Haze Flip Turn Air Slash Vacuum Wave	Defog Scald Toxic
	Flip Turn*	-
	Spikes Stealth Rock	Scald Toxic
	-	Toxic
	Liquidation Thunder Fang Spikes Scale Shot	Toxic
	Mach Punch	-
	High Horsepower	Toxic
	Knock Off Icicle Spear Triple Axel	-
	-	Toxic
	High Horsepower Dual Wingbeat Spikes Toxic Spikes Crabhammer	Defog Roost
	Traillblaze Endeavor	Superpower
	Pain Split	Defog Toxic
	Power Gem	Eruption Roar Toxic
	Flip Turn Take Heart Stored Power Baton Pass	-
	-	Toxic
	Gunk Shot High Horsepower Scale Shot Knock Off	-
	Flip Turn* Scald	Knock Off Toxic

Pokémon	Gained moves	Lost moves
	Liquidation Close Combat Stomping Tantrum Knock Off	-
	Iron Head Scale Shot	-
	Lash Out	Knock Off
	Stealth Rock	Defog Roost
	-	Defog Roost
	Aurasphere	-
	Weather Ball Knock Off	Defog Superpower Toxic
	Weather Ball Knock Off	Defog Superpower
	Nasty Plot Taunt Sandsear Storm Weather Ball	Defog Weather Ball Explosion Rock Polish Knock Off Superpower Toxic
	Aurasphere	Roost
	Vacuum Wave Baton Pass	Scald Toxic
	Body Press Close Combat Super Fang High Horsepower* Grassy Glide* Knock Off*	-
	Liquidation Swords Dance Switcheroo Sludge Wave	Scald
	Scald Flip Turn Sludge Wave	-
	-	Mystical Fire
	Toxic Scald* Knock Off*	-
	-	Defog Toxic
	Spikes	Mystical Fire
	Taunt Sludge Wave	Defog Toxic
	-	Scald
	-	Scald Knock Off
	-	Aromathrapy Heal Bell
	Vacuum Wave	-
	Spikes	-
	High Horsepower Grassy Glide	Superpower
	Swords Dance	-
	Shell Smash High Horsepower	Megahorn Superpower
	Flip Turn	-
	Parting Shot	-
	Roar*	-
	Swords Dance	-
	Swords Dance Knock Off*	Darkest Lariat
	Charged Beam	Rising Voltage

Healing moves' PP reduction

The moves Shore Up, Roost, Soft-Boiled, Milk Drink, Slack Off, and Recover, which restore 50% of the user’s maximum HP, have their PP reduced from 10 to 5 (or from 16 to 8 after using PP Max), matching Morning Sun and Moonlight, which have only ever had 8 PP (max) since their introduction in Generation 2. The same thing applies to Rest.

New weather : Snow

Hail, introduced in Generation 3, is replaced by snow and:

• can be triggered by the move Snowscape or the Snow Warning ability.
• grants Ice-type Pokémon a 50% Defense boost, similarly to how sandstorm boosts the Special Defense of Rock-type Pokémon.
• unlike hail, does not deal damage to Pokémon on the field.

Base stats reduction

Ash-Greninja’s base stats (72 / 145 / 67 / 153 / 71 / 132) are reduced to match those of Greninja (72 / 95 / 67 / 103 / 71 / 122), while Cresselia’s defenses are both reduced by 10 points, dropping from 120 to 110 in Defense and from 130 to 120 in Special Defense.

Ability changes

Libero and Protean

Libero and Protean, Cinderace’s and Greninja’s respective abilities, which previously changed the user’s type to that of the move it was about to use, now only activate on the first move used, until the Pokémon leaves the field.

Battle Bond

Battle Bond, Greninja’s other ability, which previously transformed it while boosting its Attack, Special Attack, and Speed after knocking out an opposing Pokémon, no longer causes a form change. The stat boosts are still granted after a KO (once per battle), but are lost upon switching out.

Empoleon

Competitive replaces Defiant as Empoleon’s hidden ability. The effect is largely the same, except that it raises the Special Attack stat by two stages instead of the Attack whenever one of Empoleon's stats is lowered.

Shiftry

Shiftry’s Early Bird ability is replaced by Wind Rider, which raises the holder’s Attack by one stage without dealing damage when hit by a wind-related move such as Hurricane, Heat Wave, Tailwind, Icy Wind, Blizzard, or Whirlwind.

Move changes

Mist Ball and Luster Purge

The base power of Latias’s and Latios’s signature moves, Mist Ball and Luster Purge respectively, has been increased from 70 to 95.

Summary

A red box means that the feature is absent from that generation, while a green box indicates that it is present.