Highlights

  • Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's online features, such as Union Circle and Tera Raids, have been a major draw for players, providing additional gameplay opportunities beyond battling and trading with friends.
  • Tera Raids in particular offer the chance to catch powerful or rare Pokemon that are not normally available in the game, making them highly sought after by players.
  • However, the limited-time nature of these Tera Raid events means that players who miss out on them may permanently miss the opportunity to catch certain Pokemon, which can feel unfair and disappointing.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have been thriving with their online features, but their live-service elements may have crossed a certain line. The game itself is as solid as a Pokemon title can be, but some features could reach the point of hurting the game more than they help. There are some areas with clear room for improvement that hasn't been taken for one reason or another. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet represent the latest evolution in the Pokemon series to date, but even so, some innovations haven't been completely beneficial for players.

Even though the story of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is what received the most buzz upon release, the game's online features have similarly proven to be a major draw. The game has the usual Pokemon staples such as battling and trading with friends, but Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have a few additional features worth noting. Players can use the Union Circle feature to go on picnics and take pictures together in Paldea. The most notable multiplayer feature may be the Tera Raids, though. Similar to the Max Raids from Pokemon Sword and Shield, Tera Raids see players teaming up to battle and catch Tera Pokemon.

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The Indigo Disk DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is out now, and it includes additions to the Pokedex from across every previous region.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Live-Service Model Has Led to Some Notable Consequences

Walking Wake and Iron Leaves from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Tera Raids Grant Players New Pokemon Opportunities in Scarlet and Violet

A step up from Tera Raids are Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Tera Raid events, which feature limited-time raids featuring specific Pokemon. These typically involve memorable Pokemon from previous generations, such as starters and pseudo-legendaries. There are two main appeals to these Tera Raid events. First is the chance to get either a powerful or popular Pokemon, even though the player likely has a full team of mighty Pokemon at that point. Second, and probably more prominent, is the opportunity to get a Pokemon that isn't normally available in the game. This formula has made Tera Raid events a mainstay since Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's debut.

Event-only Pokemon started back in Generation 1, with a special Mew being distributed via events between April and May 1996.

Players Who Miss Tera Raids Miss Out On the Associated Pokemon

Unfortunately, one major downside to this approach becomes clear upon seeing the Pokemon missing after Scarlet and Violet's DLC. There are still plenty of Pokemon missing from Paldea's Pokedex, which was unfortunately expected considering the sheer amount of Pokemon in the franchise now. However, the list of missing Pokemon includes several that appeared previously in event Raids. Their data is in the game, but they're unobtainable outside of their raids. If those raids don't repeat, then players won't have any chance to get them. It feels unfair to completely lock out the Pokemon involved from those who weren't able to participate in the event when it happened.

Walking Wake and Iron Leaves Suffer the Most From Limited Distribution

This situation is especially bad with Walking Wake and Iron Leaves, the subjects of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's next Paradox Tera Raid. Those two are Paradox Pokemon, Scarlet and Violet's main gimmick aside from Tera Pokemon. With this being their debut in the generation, as well as Paradox Pokemon being a rather Paldea-focused gimmick, Walking Wake and Iron Leaves may have a more difficult path towards appearing in another game. Keeping these two Paradox Pokemon restricted feels like an incredible missed opportunity. Bringing them into the game in Indigo Disk would have remedied this situation, but instead they remain locked to events.

As it stands, there are a lot of Pokemon, including fan favorites, that are still missing even after Indigo Disk's release. While Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Tera Raid Events will likely continue for the foreseeable future, including repeats, it's still unfortunate for those who don't get the chance to participate. There are a lot of great Pokemon that are unavailable by any means in Scarlet and Violet unless they're currently the subject of an event thanks to this unfortunate phenomenon.