Pokémon Scarlet and Violet official Tera Type icons chart released for confused players

The official Japanese Pokémon Twitter account has released a reference chart for Tera Type icons in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The chart helps players quickly determine which icon refers to which type. As for why they decided to release such a chart over two months since the games were released, it may simply be because the icons are difficult to understand and remember.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, a Pokémon’s status screen shows a type’s icon and name alongside each other, making it very clear which icon refers to which type. However, in Tera Raid Battles, only the Pokémon’s type icon is shown.

When looking at the map, you can confirm the location of crystals that let you take on Tera Raid Battles, but these are only shown by a type icon. Even the game’s online Tera Raid Battle Search function will only show an icon, but it’s even worse here, as all the icons are displayed in black as opposed to their usual colors. Just like the post by Pokémon’s official Twitter, there are surely players who often ask themselves, “Wait… what was this Tera Type again?”

The tweet has been met with a variety of different responses from users, with some expressing gratitude for the chart and others commenting on which icons are especially difficult to work out. Many found it very easy to confuse the icons for Normal and Psychic, Poison and Ground, or Rock and Steel.

It also doesn’t help that type icons vary between different Pokémon media. For example, in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the icon for the Psychic energy type is depicted with a symbol of an eye. An eye is also used as the icon for Dark types in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and this was pointed out as confusing.  

Things get even more confusing once you realize that in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Tera Jewel that appears on the head of a Psychic Tera Type Pokémon is in the shape of an eye. On the other hand, the Tera Jewel for Dark Tera Types, whose type icon is an eye, is in the shape of an evil-looking face.

This lack of consistency even within the same game likely plays a part in why some find it difficult to work out which icons represent each type. Regardless, having the official reference chart on hand as you play will no doubt make it a little easier to determine just which Tera Type you’re about to take on.

Written by.Marco Farinaccia based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2023-01-31 18:43 JST)