How Does Grassy Terrain Work? A Comprehensive Guide
Grassy Terrain is a non-damaging field effect in the Pokémon world, a strategic element that can drastically alter the flow of battle. In essence, it creates a field of lush grass that affects all grounded Pokémon—those touching the battlefield—for five turns. This seemingly simple effect brings significant advantages, primarily through a combination of healing and power boosts to Grass-type moves. Let’s break down exactly how Grassy Terrain functions.
At its core, Grassy Terrain provides two key benefits. Firstly, it heals all grounded Pokémon at the end of each turn. This passive healing effect restores 1/16 of each Pokémon’s maximum HP. Secondly, it strengthens Grass-type moves used by grounded Pokémon by 50%, increasing their power by a factor of 1.5x. Importantly, this power boost applies regardless of whether the target of the move is grounded or not—only the user needs to be touching the grass. Understanding the nuances of these effects is crucial for any trainer looking to leverage Grassy Terrain to its full potential.
The duration of Grassy Terrain is typically five turns, but this can be extended with the use of the Terrain Extender item to eight turns. The terrain is created by specific moves or abilities, making it a controlled aspect of gameplay that requires strategic planning and counterplay.
Grassy Terrain: Key Benefits
Healing Properties
The healing effect of Grassy Terrain is a major draw for many trainers. This effect allows grounded Pokémon to recover a small amount of health each turn, providing a form of passive sustain. While 1/16 of max HP might seem small, over five or eight turns, this can add up, significantly increasing a Pokémon’s staying power. This can be especially useful for Pokémon that are bulky and can make great use of consistent, gradual healing.
Grass-Type Move Power Boost
The 1.5x power boost to Grass-type moves is a significant factor for any trainer fielding Grass-type Pokémon. This effect turns already powerful Grass-type attacks like Frenzy Plant into absolute heavy hitters, while also making weaker moves more viable and effective. The increase in power allows for more effective offensive pressure and enhances the overall damage output of teams built around Grass-type Pokémon.
How to Set Grassy Terrain
Grassy Terrain isn’t just a passive condition that appears out of nowhere. It is triggered by specific moves and abilities. Notably, the move Max Overgrowth, used by Dynamaxed or Gigantamaxed Pokémon, always creates Grassy Terrain. Similarly, the Seed Sower ability automatically triggers Grassy Terrain when the Pokémon with that ability is hit by an attack. Understanding how to activate Grassy Terrain is key to utilizing it effectively in a battle.
Abilities and Moves
Several abilities and moves trigger Grassy Terrain. Tapu Bulu’s Grassy Surge ability, for example, creates the terrain immediately upon entering battle. While Max Overgrowth guarantees Grassy Terrain after its use, abilities such as Seed Sower require a different kind of tactical approach. The best way to set up Grassy Terrain depends on your team and battle strategy.
Additional Effects and Interactions
Grassy Terrain is not without its nuanced interactions and counterplay. While providing substantial advantages to grounded Pokémon, there are a number of effects that can nullify or alter its impact. For instance, the presence of a Ground Clearance item will ensure Flying-type Pokémon and those with the Levitate ability will be affected by it while retaining their immunity to Ground-type moves.
Neutralizing Effects
Although powerful, Grassy Terrain can be negated. The terrain can be removed by Defog, Steel Roller and Ice Spinner. Additionally, specific moves or abilities can be used to effectively counter or neutralize the advantage of the terrain.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Grassy Terrain
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify and expand upon the mechanics and interactions of Grassy Terrain:
1. How much HP does Grassy Terrain restore per turn?
Grassy Terrain restores 1/16th of the maximum HP of all grounded Pokémon at the end of each turn.
2. Does the Grass-type move power boost only affect the user?
No. Grassy Terrain boosts the power of any Grass-type move used by a grounded Pokémon, regardless of whether the target is also grounded.
3. How long does Grassy Terrain last by default?
By default, Grassy Terrain lasts for five turns.
4. What item extends Grassy Terrain’s duration?
The Terrain Extender item extends the duration of Grassy Terrain to eight turns.
5. Does Grassy Terrain weaken any specific moves?
No, Grassy Terrain itself does not weaken any specific moves, but it interacts in different ways with different moves. It does not weaken Stomping Tantrum or Earth Power for example.
6. Does Grassy Terrain heal raid Pokémon?
Yes, Grassy Terrain heals raid Pokémon, just like any other grounded Pokémon, making it useful for raid battles.
7. Can a Pokémon be healed by Grassy Terrain if it is already at full HP?
No, the healing from Grassy Terrain does not over-heal a Pokémon past its maximum HP.
8. Does Grassy Terrain affect flying-type Pokémon?
Generally, flying-type Pokémon are not affected by Grassy Terrain, but holding the Ground Clearance item will make them susceptible to its effects.
9. Does Grassy Terrain affect Pokemon with the Levitate ability?
Generally, Pokémon with the Levitate ability are not affected by Grassy Terrain, unless they are holding the Ground Clearance item.
10. Can Grassy Terrain be removed?
Yes, the moves Defog, Steel Roller, and Ice Spinner can remove the effects of Grassy Terrain from the battlefield.
11. Does Leech Seed interact with Grassy Terrain?
Yes, Leech Seed‘s speed debuff increases when Grassy Terrain is active.
12. Does Psychic Terrain block status moves under Grassy Terrain?
Psychic Terrain still blocks status moves such as Spore and Toxic, regardless of the presence of Grassy Terrain.
13. Is Grassy Terrain a status condition?
No, Grassy Terrain is not a status condition. It is a field effect, meaning that it affects the battle arena itself.
14. Does Grassy Terrain work with all Grass-type moves?
Yes, Grassy Terrain works with all Grass-type moves, increasing their power by 1.5x when used by grounded Pokémon.
15. What is the best way to counter Grassy Terrain?
The best way to counter Grassy Terrain is to either use moves to remove the terrain or to deploy strategies that negate its effects, such as utilizing Flying-types and Pokémon with Levitate or using a team that is not heavily reliant on Grounded Grass types.
Conclusion
Grassy Terrain is a powerful battle mechanic that can swing the tide of battle in your favor. Understanding its mechanics—from healing and power boosts to how it is set and counteracted—is essential for any trainer looking to gain a competitive edge. Its strategic implementation can turn the tide of battle, making it a valuable asset in any trainer’s arsenal.