Demystifying the Slang and mechanics in Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
Hola fellow Pokémon trainers! My name is Terry and I‘m a huge gaming nerd with a passion for all things Pokémon. Today I want to provide an in-depth guide to the new Gen 9 games Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. These new titles introduce the gorgeous Paldea region based on Spain/Portugal as well as some fun slang terms like "cheugy."
But there‘s so much more to Scarlet/Violet than funny foreign lingo! In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know about these awesome new Pokémon games so you can start your journey off right. Let‘s dive in!
Understanding Pokémon Scarlet/Violet‘s "Cheugy" Slang
As soon as you begin your adventure, you‘ll notice NPCs in Paldea using words you‘ve probably never heard before. The most memorable example is when a kid in Mesagoza calls your outfit “cheugy.” This bit of Gen Z slang was popularized on TikTok and means something that‘s outdated or trying too hard.
So if someone calls you cheugy, it means your style is behind the trends! This is just one of many modern slang terms used to give the dialogue in Scarlet/Violet a youthful feel. You‘ll also hear characters say things like:
- "That‘s sus" – suspicious, shady
- "Hit different" – impactful in a unique way
- "Slay" – doing really well, looking awesome
- "Bruh" – an expression of exasperation
It‘s fun seeing Pokémon trainers use real world lingo for a change! But Scarlet/Violet borrow much more from Spanish/Portuguese culture than some silly words…
The Rich Spanish Influences Woven Into Paldea
GameFreak pulled out all the stops integrating Spanish/Portuguese elements into these titles. It brings the new Paldea region to life and gives off relaxing Mediterranean vibes. Here are some standout examples:
Language
- "Hola!" "Buenas!" – Frequently used greetings
- "Gracias" "De Nada" – Thank you and you‘re welcome
- "Qué tal?" – How‘s it going?
- "¡Olé!" – A Spanish exclamation used in battles
Architecture
- Mesagoza Plaza – Modeled after Plaza de España
- Levincia – Resembles Barcelona with Sagrada Familía inspirations
- Cascarrafa – Evokes imagery of Alhambra and Moorish architecture
Character Names
- Arven – Based on Spanish name Arvin
- Flavia – Latin origin, means "golden blonde"
- Jacq – Sounds similar to common Spanish name "Jaque"
Pokémon Designs
- Fuecoco – Resembles Spanish red pepper called Pimiento de Padrón
- Paldean Wooper – Inspired by endangered Spanish olm cave salamander
Food References
- Smoliv – Shaped like a green olive garnish
- Pawmi – Looks like a pastry dusted with powdered sugar
- Lechonk – Named after Spanish suckling pig dish called lechón
Music
The games‘ upbeat soundtracks blend traditional Spanish guitar, maracas, and festive brass instruments. You‘ll often hear bolero, flamenco, and fandango rhythms while exploring Paldea!
Seeing real world Spanish influences represented so thoroughly really brings the region to life. But beneath the flamenco dresses and flaming peppers lies a deep battle system just waiting to be mastered…
Unpacking Pokémon Scarlet/Violet‘s New Battle Mechanics
While Scarlet/Violet retain the classic Pokémon turn-based battle system we all know and love, they also introduce some huge changes that flip the competitive scene on its head! Here are the major new mechanics you‘ll need to understand:
Terastralizing and Tera Types
The biggest change is Pokémon now have a third type in battle called their Tera type, revealed when they Terastralize. This gives existing monsters completely new type combinations and resistances. For example, normally pure Grass Meganium becomes Grass/Fire type when Terastralizing, gaining Fire resistances and STAB bonus on Fire moves. This shakes up the strengths and weaknesses of every Pokémon!
[insert table comparing normal Meganium with Grass/Fire Tera Meganium]Tera types are set for each Pokémon and can‘t be changed. But by mega evolving Pokémon in new ways, it really freshens up the meta!
Auto Battles
Don‘t feel like manually giving orders each turn? Toggle on Auto Battles and your Pokémon will automatically choose their own moves in battle! This makes grinding and catching wild Pokémon less tedious. However, your team won‘t fight as strategically without your guidance. I recommend leaving Auto Battles off for tougher Trainers and Gym Leader fights.
Raid Battles
Across Paldea you‘ll find 5 star black crystal raids against ultra powerful Tera Pokémon. You can team up with three other players locally or online to take them down! Raid battles require careful strategy and are a great way to grind for rare items/materials. I‘ll go over some effective raid team comps later.
Picnics and Overworld Battles
No more transitioning to a separate battle screen! Trainer battles, wild encounters, and even gym battles now occur right in the open world. You‘ll also build your teams by hatching eggs during picnics instead of leaving Pokémon at daycares. It feels way more immersive and integrated exploring and battling in the same space.
Pokémon Scarlet/Violet really changes up the traditional formula to create an exciting new competitive scene. But which starters and teams are best to help you conquer it?
Ranking the Starter Pokémon and Best Team Comps
Picking your starter Pokémon is always the most important early game decision. I‘ve leveled up and tested out all three Gen 9 starters extensively to determine the most beginner friendly options. Here is how they stack up:
#1 – Fuecoco
Fuecoco‘s Fire/Ghost Tera typing makes it strong against common Grass, Bug, Ice and Psychic opponents. It learns powerful STAB attacks like Fire Punch, Heat Wave, and Burning Jealousy early on. Solid bulk and well-rounded attacking stats make Fuecoco a reliable partner.
#2 – Quaxly
Quaxly‘s amazing Hydro Cannon gives it one of the strongest Water moves pre-post game. Its Tera Fighting type also lets it hit troublesome Steel and Rock foes for super effective damage. However, Quaxly‘s poor Speed growth is a liability.
#3 – Sprigatito
Unfortunately, Sprigatito‘s low Attack and poor physical movepool hold it back despite getting the amazing Grass/Dark Tera. It struggles to dish out sufficient damage even with its speedy growth. You‘re better off catching a Cacnea or Nuzleaf early on.
For your team‘s remaining slots, cover Fuecoco‘s Fire weaknesses with these types:
- Ground – Super effective against Fire while resisting Electric
- Rock – Resists Fire and Flying, great for TM coverage
- Flying – Hits Grass types super effectively
- Steel – Massive defense, resists Fairy and Dragon
Here is an example well-balanced starter team:
| Position | Pokémon | Type | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Fuecoco | Fire/Ghost | Attacker |
| Member #2 | Onix | Rock/Ground | Physical Wall |
| Member #3 | Tinkatink | Steel/Flying | Special Wall |
| Member #4 | Dunsparce | Normal/Flying | Setup Sweeper |
| Member #5 | Cetoddle | Poison/Ground | Utility |
| Member #6 | Bellibolt | Electric/Water | Special Attacker |
This covers all of Fuecoco‘s weaknesses and gives you both offensive powerhouses and bulky utility Pokémon needed to defeat Paldea‘s toughest challenges. Now let‘s analyze the difficulty of those challenges – the gyms and Team Star bosses!
Ranking Paldea‘s Trickiest Gyms and Team Star Bosses
A Pokémon journey is defined by memorable milestones like challenging gyms and evil team bosses. Here I‘ve ranked all the gym leaders and Team Star generals from easiest to most difficult based on their team comps:
Paldea Gym Leaders Ranked by Difficulty
- Larry (Normal) – Has low PP moves and weaknesses to exploit
- Brassius (Grass) – Many common counters like Fire, Flying, Ice
- Ryon (Ground) – Mostly uses slow physical attackers
- Tulip (Fairy) – Strong but has poor coverage moves
- Iono (Electric) – Fast special attackers put pressure on Sp. Def
- Grusha (Ice) – Hits brutally hard with great coverage
- Dakim (Dark) – Very bulky with dangerous critical hit users
- Kofu (Bug) – Surprisingly tough thanks to Terastralizing
While Larry‘s Normal types are a pushover, beware Kofu‘s tricky Tera Bug teams late game!
Team Star Bosses Ranked by Difficulty
- Ortega (Steel) – Passive playstyle is easy for faster teams
- Candy (Fairy) – Only has two Pokémon so quick KOs win fast
- Giacomo (Dark) – Underleveled, limited movepools
- Bombastic (Electric) – Artillery weakness cripples his strategy
- Eri (Fighting) – Hits relentlessly hard so come prepared
- Denny (Ghost) – Uses Double Team hax and Perish Song cheese
- Pia (Grass) – Her healing and setup sweeper are problematic
- Lovis (Rock) – Sturdy + Stealth Rock leads demolish the unprepared
While most bosses seem easy, Eri and Lovis can quickly sweep unprepared teams. Take time to grind and get proper counters before facing them!
Essential Tips for Mastering Paldea
I want to wrap up this guide by quickly sharing some pro tips to help you on your Paldean journey:
- Save first! Then talk to an NPC a second time for hidden items.
- Sneak up on Pokémon and strike first for an advantage.
- Use Rally moves in battle for free stat boosts.
- Bread and sandwiches restore PP to keep moves flowing.
- Toggle on Let‘s Go to automatically follow the main path.
- Utilize Tera Raid Battles to power level and find TMs.
- Check Ivy and Tumbleweed rustling for rare Brilliant Pokémon.
- Change clothes at camps to slowly fill research tasks.
- About to lose? Open menu to reset and retry the battle!
Follow this guide and you‘ll be conquering gyms and mastering those unique Scarlet/Violet mechanics in no time my friend! The world of Pokémon awaits you. ¡Buena suerte!