Generation 9#906–#1025 · 120 Pokémon

Paldea Pokédex

Fully open world, Terastallization and 120 brand-new Pokémon.

Scarlet, Violet · Released 2022

About Generation 9

Paldea is the Gen 9 region, and the first fully open-world mainline Pokémon game — no loading zones between areas, no fixed storyline order, and three parallel questlines you can tackle in any sequence. Scarlet & Violet also introduced Terastallization (temporarily changing a Pokémon's type mid-battle, opening new competitive archetypes) and the Paradox Pokémon (ancestral and futuristic alternate forms tied to the Scarlet / Violet version legendaries).

Paldea lore & design

Paldea is based on the Iberian Peninsula — specifically Spain and Portugal. Mesagoza is a fusion of Madrid and Barcelona, the Great Crater at the map's centre is the geologically real Sierra de Cazorla region, and the titular 'Area Zero' is inspired by subterranean Spanish caves. Koraidon and Miraidon reference past and future versions of the same creature, a motif tied to the game's time-travel theme.

Did you know?

Scarlet & Violet launched with severe framerate and visual-glitch issues that became a meme in its own right, but the games still sold 10 million copies in their first three days — the fastest-selling Nintendo software of all time, outselling even Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Terastallization and true open world

Scarlet and Violet made Pokémon genuinely open-world for the first time: three storylines playable in any order, no gym level scaling, and a seamless region with no route structure. It is the largest structural change to the series' format since it began.

Terastallization is the generation's battle mechanic. Every Pokémon has a Tera Type which, when activated, replaces its typing entirely for the rest of the battle. A Water-type Pokémon with a Fire Tera Type becomes purely Fire — losing its old weaknesses and gaining new ones, and converting which of its moves get the same-type attack bonus.

This is a deeper mechanic than Mega Evolution or Dynamax because it is genuinely hidden information. Your opponent cannot know a Pokémon's Tera Type until it is used, which introduces real bluffing into competitive play.

Paradox Pokémon and the Tera metagame

Paldea introduced Paradox Pokémon — ancient and futuristic counterparts of existing species, such as Great Tusk and Iron Treads, with stat spreads and typings distinct enough to function as entirely new Pokémon rather than variants.

Terastallization has made team preview substantially less informative than in previous generations. Deciding whether to Terastallize defensively to remove a weakness, or offensively to boost a move, is now one of the central skills of the format.

All Paldea Pokémon (120)

#0925maushold family of four

#0931squawkabilly green plumage

#0982dudunsparce two segment

Commonly Asked Questions About Paldea

How does Terastallization work?

Each Pokémon has a Tera Type which can be activated once per battle, replacing its typing entirely for the remainder of the match. A Water Pokémon with a Fire Tera Type becomes purely Fire — losing its previous weaknesses and resistances and changing which moves receive the same-type attack bonus.

What are Paradox Pokémon?

Ancient and futuristic counterparts of existing species introduced in Scarlet and Violet — Great Tusk and Iron Treads are Donphan's past and future versions. Their typings and stat spreads differ enough that they function as separate Pokémon rather than regional variants.

How many Pokémon are in the Paldea Pokédex?

103 new Pokémon in the base games, numbered from #906 Sprigatito, with further additions across the Teal Mask and Indigo Disk expansions, plus a set of Paldean regional variants.