Extending the Ethereal: A Comprehensive Guide to Misty Terrain in Pokémon
Extending Misty Terrain in Pokémon battles is a crucial tactic for competitive play, providing crucial advantages. The primary method to lengthen the duration of Misty Terrain is by equipping the Pokémon that sets the terrain with a Terrain Extender. This held item increases the duration of Misty Terrain from its standard 5 turns to a more strategic 8 turns, offering prolonged protection and tactical opportunities.
Understanding Misty Terrain
Before we delve into extending its duration, it’s vital to understand what Misty Terrain actually does. When activated, Misty Terrain blankets the battlefield with a mystical fog for a set number of turns, providing significant benefits and restrictions:
- Status Condition Immunity: Grounded Pokémon are immune to status conditions, such as sleep, paralysis, poison, burn, and freeze. This protection also extends to confusion.
- Dragon-Type Damage Reduction: Grounded Pokémon take 50% less damage from Dragon-type moves.
- No Offensive Boost: Unlike some other terrains, Misty Terrain does not boost the power of any specific move types, except, in a twist that is often overlooked: Fairy-type moves will have their power increase by 1.5x if Misty Terrain is active.
The duration of Misty Terrain is normally 5 turns. However, the Terrain Extender is the key to maximizing its effectiveness.
How the Terrain Extender Works
The Terrain Extender is a held item specifically designed to increase the duration of terrain effects. When a Pokémon holding this item sets Misty Terrain (either via the move or through an ability), the terrain lasts for 8 turns instead of the usual 5. This additional 3 turns can make a huge difference, allowing for extended protection against status conditions and dragon-type attacks, as well as allowing for a longer window to capitalize on the 1.5x boost to Fairy-type moves.
Obtaining the Terrain Extender
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Terrain Extender can be purchased at the Cascaraffa branch of Delibird Presents after completing the main story and unlocking additional held items. This branch is located on the upper east level of the town. The item costs 15,000 Pokédollars. You can also obtain the item in other Pokémon games, using similar methods.
Optimizing Misty Terrain with a Terrain Extender
To effectively use the Terrain Extender, you must have a Pokémon capable of setting Misty Terrain, be it through the move Misty Terrain or through an ability. The move is available via TM (Technical Machine).
Here’s how to best implement the Terrain Extender:
- Equip: Equip a Pokémon with the Terrain Extender that is capable of using the move Misty Terrain.
- Strategy: Plan ahead on when to use the move. You may want to hold off on using it if the opponent does not threaten any status conditions or Dragon-type moves.
- Timing: Use Misty Terrain at an opportune time. A well-timed activation can give you the edge in a battle by eliminating status effects, reducing Dragon-type damage, and capitalizing on the boosted Fairy-type damage.
By strategically utilizing the Terrain Extender, you can turn Misty Terrain into a potent asset, providing prolonged safety and advantages during crucial battles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Misty Terrain
1. Does Misty Terrain affect flying Pokémon?
No, Misty Terrain only affects grounded Pokémon. Flying-type Pokémon, Pokémon with the ability Levitate, or Pokémon that are airborne for other reasons (such as with the move Fly), are not affected by Misty Terrain.
2. Can Misty Terrain be extended by more than 3 turns?
No, the Terrain Extender is the only method to extend the duration of Misty Terrain. It always extends it to 8 turns. No other item or ability will add more time on top of that.
3. Does Misty Terrain stop Toxic Orb activation?
Yes, if a Pokémon is on the ground, Misty Terrain will prevent a Toxic Orb from activating and inflicting a bad poison status. This can be a strong counter against a strategy that relies on the Toxic Orb.
4. Does Misty Terrain stop Swagger?
Yes, Misty Terrain will prevent the confusion status that is tied to the Swagger move. This makes Swagger mostly useless in Misty Terrain.
5. Does Misty Terrain block Taunt or Encore?
No, while Misty Terrain prevents status conditions, it does not stop moves like Taunt or Encore. These moves affect other aspects of a Pokémon, not its status.
6. Does Misty Terrain affect status moves like Thunder Wave?
Yes, Misty Terrain prevents Thunder Wave and other similar status moves from affecting grounded Pokémon. Therefore, you could theoretically prevent the paralysis debuff using this strategy.
7. Does Misty Terrain boost Fairy-type moves?
Yes, if a Pokémon is on the ground, and Misty Terrain is active, Fairy-type moves increase in power by 1.5x. This is one of the lesser known, but crucial aspects of Misty Terrain.
8. How does Misty Terrain interact with Prankster?
Prankster moves that target grounded Pokémon are blocked by Misty Terrain, nullifying their effects. This can prevent fast status moves from being used.
9. Does Misty Terrain remove existing status conditions?
No, Misty Terrain only prevents new status conditions. It does not remove existing status conditions that were applied before it was activated.
10. Can a Pokémon holding a Misty Seed benefit from Misty Terrain even if it isn’t grounded?
Yes, if a Pokémon is holding a Misty Seed and Misty Terrain is active, it will consume the seed and gain a one-stage Special Defense boost, even if it is not grounded.
11. Can you use Misty Terrain multiple times to extend its duration?
No, if Misty Terrain is already active, using the move again will not extend its duration. You will effectively just use up a move in your turn.
12. How does Misty Terrain interact with Roar and Whirlwind?
These moves move before the Trick Room due to its priority. It does not alter the affects of the Misty Terrain itself.
13. Is Misty Terrain affected by Trick Room?
No, Misty Terrain is not altered in any way from Trick Room. The turn order is affected, but not the duration or affects of Misty Terrain.
14. Can Abilities extend Misty Terrain’s duration?
No, only the held item Terrain Extender can extend the duration of Misty Terrain.
15. Is Misty Terrain a good move for competitive play?
Yes, Misty Terrain can be a potent tool in competitive play, offering immunity to status conditions and Dragon-type damage reduction. When coupled with the Terrain Extender, it becomes an even more strategic choice for players seeking advantages in battles. It also provides a boost to Fairy-type moves, which is a tactical boon.