Summary
The mystery Pokémon in Pokémon Horizons has been named Terapagos, confirming its connection to the series’ newest legendary. Terapagos has appeared as a pendant and a Pokémon, making it difficult to evade Adventurers. Terapagos has a normal form and a special Terastal form, and it is unclear how these forms are related or whether they can be activated by certain conditions. The Pokémon anime may reveal more about Terapagos in the future.
Warning: Spoilers for Pokémon Horizons Episode 24 The mysterious Pokémon is only seen in Pokémon Horizon was finally given a name: Terapagos. This reveal confirms the crystalline turtle Pokémon’s connection to the series’ newest legendary, though the nature of the reveal still leaves some questions about what exactly the deal is with this version of Terapagos.
The crystalline turtle Pokémon first appeared in the second episode of the series, when Riko’s pendant transformed into Terapagos to protect her from an oncoming stray attack. As of episode 23, the Pokémon has returned to being a pendant, only appearing again when the team encounters the Titan Arboliva that once belonged to the ancient Explorer Lucius. However, after contact with Lucius’s Galarian Moltres, the turtle Pokémon did not revert to a pendant but instead remained a Pokémon, making it difficult to hide its presence from Adventurers, who were pursuing it for unknown reasons, becomes much more difficult.
The new Pokémon is actually Terapagos
After Riko, Roy and Friede reach Riko’s grandmother’s castle, they show the Pokémon to her and she immediately recognizes it by its face as Terapagos. However, Riko’s grandmother notes that this appears to be a different form than the one she is familiar with and confirms its connection to Lucius. In a flashback, Riko’s grandmother is shown turning pages in Lucius’ diary, which has an image of Terapagos’s form shown along with Scarlet and Violet’s Indigo Disk DLC. That confirms Riko’s grandmother knows what she’s talking about, but there’s still some mystery to this new form.
According to information released regarding Scarlet and Violet, this is Terapagos’ standard state, known as its “normal form,” and the large, regal-looking version in the DLC is a special Terastal form. It is not known exactly how these forms are related; Terastal form can only be active when it Terastallize, but that almost certainly means this Terapagos form will be locked to Scarlet and Violet forever, as later games do not feature Terastallization. There’s always the possibility that Terapagos could change form triggered by items or other conditions, like many other Legendary Pokémon, which would prevent it from being locked in such a way.
Pokémon Anime May Reveal More About Terapagos
Fans have believed this Pokémon is related to Terapagos since it first appeared, but it’s always good to have official confirmation, even if it seems like a sure thing from the perspective of fan. With the Indigo Disk DLC coming out in just a few months, it’s important for the anime to get information about Terapagos before the DLC, lest it somehow spoil events in the anime that have yet to happen. Now Terapagos has been 100% confirmed as a new product Pokémonperhaps fans can also look forward to seeing its elegant Terastal form in the anime soon.