Hi and Hello! I have seen a variety of arguments through the part of the thread I have read (19 pages, kill me now), and I would like to say that Tera points the metagame in a more bulky direction. I’ve seen a lot of complaints regarding defensive Tera being unpredictable, but since that’s the main complaint, the best solution to that is to play more defensively. Defensive Tera is very similar to switching to another mon, but the opportunity cost is different. Instead of swapping to another pokemon to get the advantage, you get your curren pokemon to get the advantage. Well, at least if you are playing against an offense-minded player. A defensive player would switch into a check or counter, and while what that is may change depending on your Tera (for example Tera Steel sub cm Sylveon turns Amoomgus from a check into setup fodder), but that means that Clodsire takes it on much better. On top of that, you can now know your opponent has one less fighting resist, which could make something like Great Tusk a lot better in the endgame.
Also, I see a lot of people comparing Tera to Z Moves, Gems, or even Dynamax somehow. Dynamax is probably the furthest comparison, as it boosts all of your moves and doubles your HP. Strong neutral coverage like Ghost still works. Against Dynamax it didn’t. People also say the fact that Tera lasts the whole battle makes it stronger than Dynamax, but I ask you this: Let’s look at Tera Grass Leaf Blade vs Bloom Doom vs Max Overgrowth on, let’s say, a Decidueye (Yes I know it’s not in the game sue me).
Leaf Blade is 90 base power, Bloom Doom is 180, and Max Overgrowth is 130 and sets Grassy Terrain. Same type Tera gives you a 1.3x (approximately) boost, making Leaf Blade approximately 120 base power. Over 2 turns, the approximate base power of each one would be Bloom Doom plus a Leaf Blade at 270 base power, Dynamax at 303 base power (Max Overgrowth + Terrain Max Overgrowth), and Tera still lagging behind at 240. Turn 3 is Max Overgrowth at 476 base power, Bloom Doom plus Leaf Blade at 360 Base Power, and Tera Leaf Blade tied at 360 as well. If we throw Grass Gem in there (gen 5 edition) we got 315 base power. So in terms of power, Same Type Tera is far from optimal, hitting the same power as Grassium Z after 3 turns, being weaker upon first hit, and losing a defensive type. However, you get an item slot.
Now I know that’s a long and potentially senseless comparison, but it does show that same type isn’t a particularly huge power boost. Yes, you can hold an item with this, but a choice band still makes it take 2 turns to catch up to Z moves, and you can use boosting sets still with Z moves.
Well, I just wrote an entire useless paragraph that I will say right now, stop comparing Tera to other mechanics. As a central gameplay mechanic, it should take more than a few mons being broken with it to get it banned. It should create a power vaccum that makes the first person who Dynamaxes wins or you have to Dynamax to beat the opposing Dynamax. Tera doesn’t do that. In fact, using your Tera first can lose you the game by losing your only Roaring Moon counter, for example.
Ditto is another good comparison to defensive tera vs offense. Scarf Ditto is a headache for offense to deal with, but defensive teams tend to handle it better.
I think that’s all I can write rn, but I’ll link a series of posts that you should 1000% read first.
5Camp’s Post
Clefable’s Post
Porygon2Bandit’s Post
Low Ladder Warrior’s Post
My previous post
edit: While I was writing this more people posted good posts wtf go pro Tera people (I’ll edit in more posts as I find them)
Mimikyu Stardust’s Post (this basically reflects my opinion exactly)
Advaita’s Post
I’d personally say No Tiering Action 100% of the time.
Also, I see a lot of people comparing Tera to Z Moves, Gems, or even Dynamax somehow. Dynamax is probably the furthest comparison, as it boosts all of your moves and doubles your HP. Strong neutral coverage like Ghost still works. Against Dynamax it didn’t. People also say the fact that Tera lasts the whole battle makes it stronger than Dynamax, but I ask you this: Let’s look at Tera Grass Leaf Blade vs Bloom Doom vs Max Overgrowth on, let’s say, a Decidueye (Yes I know it’s not in the game sue me).
Leaf Blade is 90 base power, Bloom Doom is 180, and Max Overgrowth is 130 and sets Grassy Terrain. Same type Tera gives you a 1.3x (approximately) boost, making Leaf Blade approximately 120 base power. Over 2 turns, the approximate base power of each one would be Bloom Doom plus a Leaf Blade at 270 base power, Dynamax at 303 base power (Max Overgrowth + Terrain Max Overgrowth), and Tera still lagging behind at 240. Turn 3 is Max Overgrowth at 476 base power, Bloom Doom plus Leaf Blade at 360 Base Power, and Tera Leaf Blade tied at 360 as well. If we throw Grass Gem in there (gen 5 edition) we got 315 base power. So in terms of power, Same Type Tera is far from optimal, hitting the same power as Grassium Z after 3 turns, being weaker upon first hit, and losing a defensive type. However, you get an item slot.
Now I know that’s a long and potentially senseless comparison, but it does show that same type isn’t a particularly huge power boost. Yes, you can hold an item with this, but a choice band still makes it take 2 turns to catch up to Z moves, and you can use boosting sets still with Z moves.
Well, I just wrote an entire useless paragraph that I will say right now, stop comparing Tera to other mechanics. As a central gameplay mechanic, it should take more than a few mons being broken with it to get it banned. It should create a power vaccum that makes the first person who Dynamaxes wins or you have to Dynamax to beat the opposing Dynamax. Tera doesn’t do that. In fact, using your Tera first can lose you the game by losing your only Roaring Moon counter, for example.
Ditto is another good comparison to defensive tera vs offense. Scarf Ditto is a headache for offense to deal with, but defensive teams tend to handle it better.
I think that’s all I can write rn, but I’ll link a series of posts that you should 1000% read first.
5Camp’s Post
Clefable’s Post
Porygon2Bandit’s Post
Low Ladder Warrior’s Post
Tera, in general: It has been argued how Terastilization favors offense and to be fair that’s true, but come on. Defensive teams are struggling in this meta in general. Look at these over powered Paradox freaks. There’s the bigger issue for stall and balance.
Defensive Tera plays can be utterly gutteral too. Have you ever used a Fire Type Breloom to beat Volcorona 1v1 with Rock Tomb? Because I have. Is it fun having Spore with a fire move to beat grass types trying to absorb it? You better believe it. That’s the type of creative team building and skillful plays Tera enables. I feel like it needs to be explored way more. What about running Fairy Ice Body Avualug in snow for the ultimate physical wall, or Dark type Slowking, for a really friggin sturdy ghost + dark check. We stand at the edge of an unexplored frontier! Frankly it is astonishing the cowardice that sees that and goes, nah, this mechanic favors offense. Let’s ban it so we can have the same-ish meta as the last 3 gens.
This is a cool mechanic that merits limitless exploration and innovation, both offensively and defensively. Does it create 50/50? Why yes it does. Welcome to competitive Pokémon, it’s always been that way. Tera is not immediately overbearing like the garbage mechanic Dynamaxing was, and it can work defensively as well as offensively. I do not support a suspect. If you’re complaining defense is struggling, ban the offensive juggernauts running this meta, and then we’ll talk.
My previous post
edit: While I was writing this more people posted good posts wtf go pro Tera people (I’ll edit in more posts as I find them)
Mimikyu Stardust’s Post (this basically reflects my opinion exactly)
Advaita’s Post
I’d personally say No Tiering Action 100% of the time.
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