Do Tera Pokémon Lose Their STAB?
In the latest Pokémon games, Scarlet and Violet, the concept of Terastallization has been introduced, allowing Pokémon to change their types and gain new abilities. One of the most significant aspects of Terastallization is the impact it has on Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB). But the question remains: Do Tera Pokémon lose their STAB?
How Does STAB Work?
Before diving into the answer, it’s essential to understand how STAB works in Pokémon. STAB is a bonus that increases the power of a move when the Pokémon using it has the same type as the move. For example, a Fire-type Pokémon using a Fire-type move will get a 1.5x boost in damage. This bonus is crucial for Pokémon battles, as it can significantly increase the chances of landing a critical hit.
Do Tera Pokémon Lose Their STAB?
According to various sources, including official Pokémon websites and reputable gaming media outlets, Tera Pokémon do not lose their STAB. In fact, when a Pokémon Terastallizes, it retains its original STAB bonus for its natural type, and gains an additional STAB bonus for its Tera Type. This means that a Fire-type Pokémon that Terastallizes into a Water-type will still get the STAB bonus for Fire-type moves, and gain an additional STAB bonus for Water-type moves.
Types of STAB Bonuses
There are two types of STAB bonuses:
- Original STAB: This is the STAB bonus the Pokémon has for its natural type.
- Tera STAB: This is the additional STAB bonus the Pokémon gains when it Terastallizes into a new type.
How Tera STAB Works
When a Pokémon Terastallizes, its Tera STAB is determined by its new type. For example:
- If a Pokémon Terastallizes into a type it already has, its Tera STAB will be the same as its original STAB.
- If a Pokémon Terastallizes into a type it doesn’t have, its Tera STAB will be based on the new type.
Examples of Tera STAB
Here are some examples of how Tera STAB works:
| Pokémon | Natural Type | Tera Type | Original STAB | Tera STAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charmander | Fire | Water | Fire (1.5x) | Water (1.5x) |
| Squirtle | Water | Fire | Water (1.5x) | Fire (1.5x) |
In the above examples, Charmander’s original STAB is Fire (1.5x), but when it Terastallizes into Water, it gains a new Tera STAB of Water (1.5x). Similarly, Squirtle’s original STAB is Water (1.5x), but when it Terastallizes into Fire, it gains a new Tera STAB of Fire (1.5x).
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tera Pokémon do not lose their STAB. Instead, they retain their original STAB bonus for their natural type and gain an additional STAB bonus for their Tera Type. This means that Pokémon can take advantage of multiple STAB bonuses, making them even more powerful in battle.