Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk release date, new Pokémon, and more

New features, new Pokémon, and new areas are coming.

The Indigo Disk is the second part of the Pokémon Scalet and Violet DLC, and it’s releasing this December. The Pokémon Company has already revealed new Pokémon, new moves, and the legendary Terapagos, which is the poster Pokémon of this expansion.

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We have compiled all information revealed so far around The Indigo Disk, including the new and mysterious 19th Tera type. If you like Pokémon battles better than completing your Pokédex or shiny hunting, The Indigo Disk may have a lot of juicy content for you.

The Indigo Disk release date

The Indigo Disk will launch on December 14, 2023. This was confirmed via the official Pokemon Twitter account on November 2, so we won’t have to wait much longer now.

Full list of new Pokémon in The Indigo Disk

Four new Pokémon have been confirmed to be in The Indigo Disk: Terapagos, Iron Crown, Raging Bolt, and Archaludon. Here are their images:

PokémonImage
Terapagos (Type unknown, Normal and Terastal forms)A picture of Terapagos in its normal form.A picture of Terapagos in its Terastal form.
Iron Crown (Steel/Psychic)A picture of Iron Crown.
Raging Bolt (Electric/Dragon)A picture of Raging Bolt.
Archaludon (Steel/Dragon)A picture of Archaludon

Terapagos is the key new Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk. When Terastalized, this Pokémon can transform from its fragile-looking form into a gigantic turtle with all Pokémon types stamped on its shell, indicating it is linked to the Terastal phenomenon in some way.

Iron Crown and Raging Bolt are Paradox forms of two known legendary Pokémon, Cobalion and Raikou. They can be encountered during a special event in The Indigo Disk, but Raging Bolt is only available in Pokémon Scarlet and Iron Crown in Pokémon Violet.

Archaludon is the only Pokémon with no ties to legendaries that we know of. It’s the evolution of the Steel/Dragon Pokémon Duraludon, released in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Since there’s no Duraludon in Scarlet and Violet so far, we know it’s coming back to get its first evolution in The Indigo Disk.

Full list of returning Pokémon in The Indigo Disk

Over 93 Pokémon already released are returning in the DLC. All starters from older generations will be available in The Indigo Disk, as confirmed in a recent trailer. That’s right, you can easily build a monotype team made only from starters, which is what I’ll do with Grass types led by Meganium.

Do note that, thanks to Tera Raid events, some of these Pokemon may technically be available prior to the release of The Indigo Disk.

Here’s the full list of Pokémon returning in The Indigo Disk:

Generation I

  • Bulbasaur
  • Ivysaur
  • Venusaur
  • Charmander
  • Charmeleon
  • Charizard
  • Squirtle
  • Wartortle
  • Blastoise
  • Sandshrew
  • Sandslash
  • Oddish
  • Gloom
  • Vileplume
  • Doduo
  • Dodrio
  • Seel
  • Dewgong
  • Exeggcute
  • Exeggutor
  • Rhyhorn
  • Rhydon
  • Magmar
  • Lapras

Generation II

  • Chikorita
  • Bayleef
  • Meganium
  • Totodile
  • Croconaw
  • Feraligatr
  • Cyndaquil
  • Quilava
  • Typhlosion
  • Skarmory
  • Smeargle
  • Bellossom
  • Tyrogue
  • Hitmontop
  • Magby

Generation III

  • Treecko
  • Grovyle
  • Sceptile
  • Torchic
  • Combusken
  • Blaziken
  • Mudkip
  • Marshtomp
  • Swampert
  • Trapinch
  • Vibrava
  • Flygon
  • Feebas
  • Milotic
  • Beldum
  • Metang
  • Metagross

Generation IV

  • Turtwig
  • Grotle
  • Torterra
  • Chimchar
  • Monferno
  • Infernape
  • Piplup
  • Prinplup
  • Empoleon
  • Rhyperior
  • Magmortar
  • Cranidos
  • Rampardos
  • Shieldon
  • Bastiodon

Generation V

  • Snivy
  • Servine
  • Serperior
  • Tepig
  • Pignite
  • Emboar
  • Blitzle
  • Zebstrika
  • Cottonee
  • Whimsicott
  • Minccino
  • Cinccino
  • Solosis
  • Duosion
  • Reuniclus
  • Golett
  • Golurk
  • Vullaby
  • Mandibuzz

Generation VI

  • Chespin
  • Quilladin
  • Chesnaught
  • Fennekin
  • Braixen
  • Delphox
  • Froakie
  • Frogadier
  • Greninja
  • Espurr
  • Meowstic
  • Inkay
  • Malamar

Generation VII

  • Rowlet
  • Dartrix
  • Decidueye
  • Litten
  • Torracat
  • Incineroar
  • Popplio
  • Brionne
  • Primarina
  • Pikipek
  • Trumbeak
  • Toucannon

Generation VIII

  • Grookey
  • Thwackey
  • Rillaboom
  • Scorbunny
  • Raboot
  • Cinderace
  • Sobble
  • Drizzile
  • Inteleon
  • Milcery
  • Alcremie
  • Duraludon
  • Kleavor
An image of Lacey in The Indigo Disk with her hand on her chin.
Lacey is also part of the BB League. Image via Nintendo.

The Indigo Disk Story

If you hate the school-themed story of Scarlet and Violet, you’d better start liking it. The Indigo Disk doubles down on it and sends your character to the Blueberry Academy as an exchange student. In this new school, your character will let go of the “what is the meaning of life?” vibes of Naranja and Uva to focus on actual Pokémon battles, including taking on the Elite Four of Blueberry Academy, like the ones in older games.

Inside Blueberry Academy there’s the Terarium, which is probably the most interesting part of this DLC. It’s a major dome home to four artificial biomes with different Pokémon in each of them, where you can even find regional-exclusive Pokémon like Alolan Exeggutor. That’s where you’ll probably spend most of your time trying to complete your new Pokédex.

Some key characters you’ll meet are Lacey, Crispin, Amarys, and Drayton. Lacey is the one who will greet you once you arrive at Blueberry Academy.

The new Tera type shown in battle in The Indigo Disk. Image via Nintendo.
The new Tera type shown in battle. Image via Nintendo.

New Tera type

A new Tera type was revealed in the latest The Indigo Disk trailer published on Aug. 13. It shows the battle Tera icon changing types until a new icon with seven white crystals appears. The Pokémon that’s terastalizing is not shown in the video, but the new symbol above its head is surrounded by the icons of each Pokémon type. It heavily implies that whatever this Tera type is, it’s a mix of every other Pokémon type.

There’s no further information about this new Tera type yet, not even if this type will be in any Pokémon outside of Terastal forms. Either way, this will be the 19th Pokémon type in the main series and the first new one in 10 years, when the Fairy type was introduced in Generation VI with Pokémon X and Pokémon Y.

The player character flying upward with Miraidon in The Indigo Disk.
Exploration will be even more trivial now. Image via Nintendo.

Flying Miraidon and Koraidon

You will be able to actually fly your mount Miraidon and Koraidon in The Indigo Disk. Amarys, in the BB Elite Four, will teach your Legendary to fly so you can pass her trial, but it’s heavily implied that they can permanently gain that power later on. In the base game, the best you can do is temporarily glide.

The Indigo Disk exclusive new moves

Thunderclap and Tachyon Cutter are two of the new moves coming exclusively with Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk. These are the signature moves of Raging Bolt and Iron Crown, respectively. The former looks like an Electric version of Sucker Punch, while the latter is a multi-hit attack that can’t miss.

Here’s the full list of new moves in The Indigo Disk and their descriptions:

Move nameDescription
Thunderclap (Electric, Special)“Allows the user to move first if the opposing Pokémon has chosen an attack as its next move. The user unleashes an electric blast to deal damage, but this move will fail if the target was not readying an attack of its own.”
Tachyon Cutter (Steel, Special)“Never misses. Allows the user to unleash two successive hits on a target. The Pokémon attacks by firing off blasts of energy from its horns.”
Upper Hand (Fighting, Physical)“The user reacts to the target’s movements and strikes with the heel of its palm. If the target was trying to use a priority move, Upper Hand will get the jump on them, allowing the user to attack first and cause their opponent to flinch without fail. This move will fail if the target wasn’t readying a priority move.”
Psychic Noise (Psychic, Special)“Deals damage as it bathes the target in abrasive sound waves. This attack also prevents the target from recovering HP through moves, Abilities, or items for a certain number of turns.”

Extra activities

The Indigo Disk seems willing to cater to players who want a challenging battle experience in the story. After you were forced to beat underwhelming opponents both in Scarlet and Violet and The Teal Mask, you now have the option to fight the Blueberry Academy Elite Four. They’re all in the Terrarium, one opponent in each of the biomes.

You can also be part of the League Club, where you can donate Blueberry Points you get in The Indigo Disk to build a nice room for the club and be visited by characters you encountered before, like gym leaders. You can fight them again for an extra challenge and even trade Pokémon with them.

About The Author
Bhernardo Viana
Working in the gaming industry since 2015 with a bit of everything, which made me love different games for different reasons. Huge Pokémon and Slay the Spire fan now dedicating some time to getting good at the Pokémon TCG.
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