Did you just pull a Pokemon ex with the label “Tera” in it? Learn everything about Tera Pokemon in Pokemon TCG, including how it works in matches!
Throughout the history of Pokemon TCG, various types of Pokemon ex have already been introduced, with one of the most recent being the Tera Pokemon ex. This type of ex card made its debut with the release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet base set in 2023, and since then, Tera Pokemon ex is always present in any Paldea-themed sets.
What sets a Tera Pokemon ex card apart from other types of ex cards is its Tera label, which we will talk about in this post so you can fully understand its purpose, especially in a Pokemon TCG game.
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Tera Pokemon in Pokemon TCG
Since all Tera Pokemon cards so far are all Pokemon ex, the more appropriate term for these cards is Tera Pokemon ex. The label for all Tera Pokemon ex reads as follows:
“As long as this Pokemon is on your Bench, prevent all damage done to this Pokemon by attacks (both yours and your opponent’s).”
Tera Pokemon ex are cards depicting Terastallized Pokemon. If you haven’t heard what Terastallized means, it’s the state of being afflicted with Terastallization, a mysterious phenomenon that changes a Pokemon’s type and appearance.
Terastallization only happens in the Paldea region, and its source can be traced back to the large crystals found in Area Zero.
In the video games, particularly the story of Scarlet and Violet’s DLC, The Indigo Disk, the actual reason for the phenomenon was finally revealed with the introduction of a Legendary Pokemon called Terapagos.
There are two types of Terastallization. The first is the one with the usual effect (changing a Pokemon’s type and appearance), and the second one is turning a Terastallized Pokemon into a Stellar type.
Stellar-type Pokemon are easily identifiable with their large crowns bearing jewels of different colors. In the Scarlet and Violet series, you can find some Stellar-type Tera Pokemon ex cards in expansions like Stellar Crown and Prismatic Evolutions.
Keep in mind that in Pokemon TCG, the regular Terastallized Pokemon and Stellar types have no differences in terms of their effects in gameplay, as they are both considered as Tera Pokemon ex.
Playing Tera Pokemon ex cards
If you’re playing Pokemon TCG and you want to build a deck based on Tera Pokemon ex cards, you need to grasp the concept of how Tera Pokemon ex work.
As already mentioned, a Tera Pokemon ex cannot be damaged by attacks as long as it’s placed on the Bench.
Attacks basically mean the damage caused by a Pokemon’s move. However, this is where things become a bit confusing, as moves can deal damage in various ways.
The following sections will explain how different kinds of attacks behave when dealt to a Tera Pokemon ex on the Bench.
Attacks That Tera Pokemon ex Cards Can Nullify
Basically, any kind of Pokemon move with an effect that deals damage to a Bench Pokemon. The keywords here are “deal” or “does damage.”
Several examples of moves that won’t work on a Tera Pokemon ex on the Bench are Greninja ex’s Mirage Barrage, Tapu Koko ex’s Linked Lightning, and Alakazam ex’s Mind Jack.
Attacks That Tera Pokemon ex Cards Can’t Nullify
If a move mentions putting a damage counter on any Pokemon or a Bench Pokemon, it’s considered a different thing from the act of attacking, so even a Benched Tera Pokemon ex can get its full effect.
Some examples of moves that Tera Pokemon cards won’t be able to prevent are Dragapult ex’s Phantom Drive and Mismagius’ Eerie Voice.
How Many Tera Pokemon Can I Play in a Game?
Since the label “Tera” doesn’t change a Pokemon’s name, Tera Pokemon ex are still treated as regular Pokemon ex. This means you can include up to four copies of a Tera Pokemon ex in your deck, but be careful not to include any other Pokemon ex of the same species.
For example, you can’t have four regular Charizard ex and four Tera Charizard ex in one deck. You can, however, add, like let’s say three Tera Charizard ex and one regular Charizard ex, since again, they are all considered as one type of Pokemon.
Conclusion
Apart from their labelling, Tera Pokemon cards in Pokemon TCG are basically Pokemon ex with an extra buff. They are usually safe when positioned on your Bench, unless your opponent uses a Pokemon that can deal damage counters.
Like other Pokemon ex, Tera Pokemon ex are still extremely powerful cards, so use them wisely, especially in times when you need them to take the Active Spot.
To ensure that a move can damage a Tera Pokemon ex, take some time to read the effects of the move’s attack to avoid any confusion in-game.
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