Tera Type Symbols: Complete Guide to Every Tera Type

If you are searching for Tera Type Symbols, you are probably trying to identify the icons used in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, understand what each symbol represents, or figure out which type you will face in a Tera Raid Battle. These symbols are more than decorative icons: they provide important information about a Pokémon’s Tera Type and can help you prepare for battle.

The Terastal phenomenon was introduced in Generation IX as a major battle mechanic. When a Pokémon Terastallizes, it takes on its Tera Type and gains a crystalline appearance with a Tera Jewel above its head. There are 18 standard Tera Types, corresponding to the familiar Pokémon types, while Stellar was introduced later in The Indigo Disk as a special Tera Type with different mechanics.

Understanding Tera Type Symbols is particularly useful when looking at Tera Raid locations, checking a Pokémon’s Tera Type, selecting a counter, or learning how Terastallization changes offensive and defensive matchups.

This guide covers all Tera Type symbols, their meanings, weaknesses, visual clues, Tera Raid usage, Stellar mechanics, common mistakes, and practical ways to memorize the symbols.

What Are Tera Type Symbols?

Tera Type Symbols are visual icons that represent the Tera Type assigned to a Pokémon.

A Pokémon’s Tera Type does not always have to match its normal typing. This is one of the most important concepts to understand when learning the Terastal system.

For example, a Pokémon might normally be a Water type but have a Fire Tera Type. Before Terastallization, its normal typing matters. After standard Terastallization, it changes into its Tera Type for defensive purposes while retaining access to the offensive benefits associated with its original typing and gaining STAB for its Tera Type.

Tera Type Symbols provide a quick visual way to identify that change.

Why Tera Type Symbols Matter

The symbols are useful because you can encounter a Tera Type that is not obvious from the Pokémon’s species.

They can help you:

• Identify the Tera Type of a Pokémon.
• Read Tera Raid information.
• Check the relevant type weaknesses.
• Prepare an appropriate battle team.
• Understand a Terastallized Pokémon’s defensive typing.
• Recognize the special Stellar Tera Type.
• Avoid choosing a counter based only on the Pokémon’s original species.

The symbol is therefore a quick piece of battle information rather than simply a visual decoration.

Quick Tera Type Symbols Chart

There are 18 standard Tera Types in the normal Pokémon type system.

These visual descriptions are memory aids rather than official names for every graphical detail of the icons.

The 18 Standard Tera Types

The standard Tera Types are:

1. Normal
2. Fire
3. Water
4. Grass
5. Electric
6. Ice
7. Fighting
8. Poison
9. Ground
10. Flying
11. Psychic
12. Bug
13. Rock
14. Ghost
15. Dragon
16. Dark
17. Steel
18. Fairy

Stellar is an additional special Tera Type and is discussed separately because it does not follow the same defensive rules as the standard types.

How Tera Type Symbols Work in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Terastallization is a temporary transformation that can be used during battle.

When a Pokémon Terastallizes, a Tera Jewel appears above its head and the Pokémon takes on a crystalline appearance. Under normal Terastallization, the Pokémon’s defensive typing changes to its Tera Type.

This creates two important layers of information.

Original Pokémon Typing

This is the Pokémon’s normal type or types before Terastallization.

For example, a Pokémon could be:

Water / Ground

Its original typing affects its moves, resistances, weaknesses, and other battle properties before it Terastallizes.

Tera Type

The Tera Type is the type the Pokémon changes to when it Terastallizes under the standard rules.

For example:

Original typing: Water / Ground
Tera Type: Grass

Once Terastallized, the Pokémon’s defensive typing changes to Grass under the standard Terastal rules.

This is why knowing the Tera Type symbol can completely change how you evaluate a matchup.

What Does Each Tera Type Symbol Mean?

Normal Tera Type Symbol

The Normal Tera Type symbol has a geometric appearance.

Normal has one standard weakness:

• Fighting

Normal is one of the less visually literal symbols, so it can take a little more practice to memorize.

A useful approach is to associate its geometric design with the Normal type rather than trying to find a real-world object represented by the icon.

Fire Tera Type Symbol

The Fire Tera Type symbol uses imagery associated with fire and a candelabra-like shape.

Fire is weak to:

• Water
• Ground
• Rock

If you see the Fire symbol on a Tera Raid, these are the standard type weaknesses to consider.

However, a raid counter should not be selected from the Tera Type alone. The raid Pokémon’s moves and original typing can also matter.

Water Tera Type Symbol

The Water symbol represents the Water type through a water-themed design.

Water is weak to:

• Electric
• Grass

This is a straightforward symbol to learn because its appearance naturally suggests its type.

Grass Tera Type Symbol

The Grass symbol has a flower-like appearance.

Grass is weak to:

• Fire
• Ice
• Poison
• Flying
• Bug

Because Grass has several weaknesses, there may be multiple possible attacking types for a raid matchup. The safest choice still depends on the opponent’s moves and your Pokémon’s defenses.

Electric Tera Type Symbol

The Electric symbol resembles a light bulb.

Electric has one standard weakness:

• Ground

This is one of the easiest symbols to memorize because the light-bulb shape provides an obvious visual association.

Ice Tera Type Symbol

The Ice symbol resembles a snowflake.

Ice is weak to:

• Fire
• Fighting
• Rock
• Steel

If a Tera Raid displays the Ice symbol, these four types are the standard weaknesses you should check first.

Fighting Tera Type Symbol

The Fighting symbol is represented by a fist.

Fighting is weak to:

• Flying
• Psychic
• Fairy

The fist makes the Fighting icon particularly easy to identify once you have seen it several times.

Poison Tera Type Symbol

The Poison symbol is associated with skull imagery.

Poison is weak to:

• Ground
• Psychic

The skull is a useful visual clue because Poison is one of the types most strongly associated with poisonous or hazardous imagery.

Ground Tera Type Symbol

The Ground symbol has an earth-themed appearance.

Ground is weak to:

• Water
• Grass
• Ice

Ground is worth memorizing separately from Rock because the two types can be confused by beginners even though their weaknesses are different.

Flying Tera Type Symbol

The Flying symbol has a balloon-like design.

Flying is weak to:

• Electric
• Ice
• Rock

The easiest memory trick is to connect the symbol’s appearance with something floating through the air.

Psychic Tera Type Symbol

The Psychic symbol features an eye-like design.

Psychic is weak to:

• Bug
• Ghost
• Dark

The eye provides a strong visual association and makes Psychic relatively easy to recognize.

Bug Tera Type Symbol

The Bug symbol has an insect-like appearance.

Bug is weak to:

• Fire
• Flying
• Rock

If you confuse Bug and Flying symbols, focus on the insect imagery rather than simply looking for wings.

Rock Tera Type Symbol

The Rock symbol represents stone or rock.

Rock is weak to:

• Water
• Grass
• Fighting
• Ground
• Steel

Rock is one of the types where learning the symbol’s exact shape is more useful than relying on a general color or material association.

Ghost Tera Type Symbol

The Ghost symbol uses imagery connected with ghosts and supernatural themes.

Ghost is weak to:

• Ghost
• Dark

Ghost can sometimes be confused with Dark because both have darker themes, but their symbols and type matchups are different.

Dragon Tera Type Symbol

The Dragon Tera Type symbol uses dragon imagery.

Dragon is weak to:

• Ice
• Dragon
• Fairy

This is one of the most intuitive symbols because its visual design directly suggests the type.

Dark Tera Type Symbol

The Dark symbol has a dark-themed face-like appearance.

Dark is weak to:

• Fighting
• Bug
• Fairy

Dark and Ghost are common sources of confusion for new players, so learning the actual symbol is more reliable than identifying it based on its general appearance.

Steel Tera Type Symbol

The Steel symbol has a metallic or weapon-like appearance.

Steel is weak to:

• Fire
• Fighting
• Ground

When identifying this symbol, think of metal or a sharp metallic object rather than stone.

Fairy Tera Type Symbol

The Fairy symbol is associated with a heart and wings.

Fairy is weak to:

• Poison
• Steel

Its heart-and-wings appearance makes Fairy one of the easiest Tera Type symbols to remember.

What Is the Stellar Tera Type Symbol?

Stellar is a special Tera Type introduced in The Indigo Disk.

It is sometimes described as the 19th Tera Type, but it is important to understand what that means. Stellar is not simply another ordinary defensive type added to the existing type chart.

No Pokémon naturally has Stellar as its ordinary type outside the Terastallization system. Stellar exists specifically through Terastallization.

What Does the Stellar Symbol Look Like?

The Stellar Tera Jewel has a distinctive design connected to the Terastal phenomenon and Terapagos.

It features a white crown-like structure surrounded by elements representing the other 18 types, with a Terapagos-inspired crystal at the top.

This makes the Stellar design noticeably different from the simpler symbols associated with standard types.

How Is Stellar Different From Normal Tera Types?

This is one of the most important distinctions in the entire topic.

A standard Tera Type changes the Pokémon’s defensive typing when it Terastallizes.

Stellar does not simply give the Pokémon Stellar defensive weaknesses and resistances. Instead, a Stellar Terastallized Pokémon retains the defensive characteristics of its original typing.

Stellar mainly changes offensive mechanics.

That means you should not use a normal type chart to ask:

“What is Stellar weak to?”

That is the wrong way to approach the mechanic.

Instead, consider the Pokémon’s original defensive typing and then evaluate the special offensive effects of Stellar.

How Stellar Tera Type Moves Work

Stellar has special effects on move damage.

In standard battles, the Stellar Tera Type provides a boost to moves of each type, but the additional boost is generally applied once per move type during the battle. In Tera Raid Battles, the Stellar boost works differently and remains available for moves of the relevant types throughout the raid.

There are also special interactions with Tera Blast and Tera Starstorm.

Stellar Tera Blast

When used by a Pokémon Terastallized into Stellar, Tera Blast becomes a Stellar-type move.

It has a special effect against Terastallized targets and lowers the user’s Attack and Special Attack after use.

Stellar Tera Starstorm

Tera Starstorm is associated with Terapagos.

When used by Terapagos in its Stellar Form, it has additional effects compared with the ordinary version of the move.

The important takeaway is that Stellar is a specialized battle mechanic rather than simply another ordinary type.

What Do Tera Raid Symbols Mean?

Tera Raid symbols help players identify the Tera Type of the Pokémon associated with a raid.

Tera Raid Battles involve battling a wild Tera Pokémon, and raid locations can be identified across the game world. The Tera Type is an important part of deciding how to prepare for the battle.

For example, if you identify a Fire Tera Type symbol, you immediately know that the Tera Type itself is weak to Water, Ground, and Rock.

But that does not mean you should automatically choose any Water-, Ground-, or Rock-type Pokémon.

You need to take another step.

How to Choose a Tera Raid Counter From the Symbol

Use this simple decision process.

Step 1: Identify the Tera Symbol

First determine which Tera Type the symbol represents.

For example:

Tera symbol → Fire

Step 2: Check the Tera Type Weaknesses

Fire is weak to:

Water + Ground + Rock

Now you have possible offensive options.

Step 3: Check the Raid Pokémon’s Original Type

Do not forget that the Pokémon itself has an original typing.

Its moves may still create dangerous matchups for your selected counter.

Step 4: Check Defensive Safety

Ask:

Can my Pokémon survive the raid Pokémon’s attacks?

A Pokémon that deals super-effective damage is not automatically a good counter if it cannot survive long enough to contribute.

Step 5: Check Your Moves

Make sure your selected Pokémon actually has useful attacks for the matchup.

A type advantage is much more useful when your Pokémon can consistently exploit it.

Step 6: Consider the Raid’s Specific Mechanics

Tera Raid battles have mechanics that make them different from ordinary trainer battles. Consider shields, stat changes, abilities, and team support rather than focusing only on type effectiveness.

This produces a much better decision than simply matching one symbol to one Pokémon.

Tera Type Symbol Decision Tree

A quick decision tree can make the process easier:

Do you see a Tera Type symbol?

↓

Yes

↓

Identify the Tera Type

↓

What is that Tera Type weak to?

↓

Check the raid Pokémon’s original typing

↓

Can your proposed counter survive its moves?

↓

Yes → Check your moves and ability

No → Choose another counter

↓

Enter the raid with a complete matchup strategy

This approach is useful for both beginners and experienced players because it prevents the common mistake of treating the Tera symbol as the only piece of information that matters.

Tera Type vs. Original Type

These two terms are often confused.

Under standard Terastallization, the Pokémon changes to a single type matching its Tera Type for defensive purposes, while retaining STAB from its original types and gaining STAB from the Tera Type. If the Tera Type matches one of its original types, that matching Tera-type STAB receives a stronger boost.

Tera Type vs. Tera Jewel

These terms describe different things.

Tera Type

The Tera Type is the type associated with the Terastallized Pokémon.

Examples include:

• Fire
• Water
• Grass
• Electric
• Dragon
• Fairy

Tera Jewel

The Tera Jewel is the crystal-like object that appears above the Pokémon’s head when it Terastallizes.

Its design visually represents the Pokémon’s Tera Type.

So:

Tera Type = battle typing

Tera Jewel = visual crystal representation

Knowing the difference helps prevent confusion when reading guides about Terastallization.

How to Memorize Tera Type Symbols

Trying to memorize all 18 symbols at once can be frustrating.

A better approach is to group them by obvious visual associations.

Start With the Most Obvious Symbols

Learn these first:

• Fire → flame/candelabra
• Electric → light bulb
• Ice → snowflake
• Fighting → fist
• Poison → skull
• Psychic → eye
• Dragon → dragon
• Fairy → heart with wings

These provide strong visual memory cues.

Learn the Confusing Symbols Together

Next, focus on symbols that are easier to mix up.

Ground vs. Rock

Both relate to earth and physical materials, but their type weaknesses are different.

Ghost vs. Dark

Both can appear visually ominous, but their symbols and battle properties differ.

Bug vs. Flying

Both may suggest wings or movement through the air, but Bug has insect-related imagery.

Steel vs. Rock

Both can suggest hard materials, so focus on the actual shape of the icon.

Connect Symbols With Weaknesses

A useful memory method is:

Symbol → Type → Weakness

For example:

Light bulb → Electric → Ground

Snowflake → Ice → Fire/Fighting/Rock/Steel

Fist → Fighting → Flying/Psychic/Fairy

This creates a practical memory chain rather than memorizing an isolated image.

Common Mistakes When Reading Tera Type Symbols

Assuming the Tera Type Matches the Pokémon

This is one of the most important mistakes to avoid.

A Pokémon can have a Tera Type that differs from its usual typing, especially when obtained through Tera Raid Battles or other special encounters.

Choosing a Counter From the Symbol Alone

The symbol gives you the Tera Type, but not every detail about the opponent.

You should also consider the Pokémon’s moves, abilities, stats, and original typing.

Treating Stellar Like an Ordinary Type

Stellar has no ordinary defensive type chart like Fire, Water, or Grass.

A Stellar Terastallized Pokémon retains its original defensive characteristics.

Confusing Tera Type With Tera Jewel

The Tera Type describes the battle type.

The Tera Jewel is the crystal that appears during Terastallization.

Relying Only on Color

Colors can help with recognition, but shape and visual imagery are more reliable when the symbol is small or displayed in a busy interface.

Can You Change a Pokémon’s Tera Type?

Yes.

Eligible Pokémon can have their Tera Type changed using Tera Shards.

After the required progression, players can use the restaurant in Medali to change a Pokémon’s Tera Type by exchanging the required amount of Tera Shards. Serebii documents the standard process as 50 Tera Shards of the chosen type.

This is important because the Tera Type a Pokémon has when obtained does not necessarily have to be its final competitive or strategic choice.

What Are Tera Shards?

Tera Shards are items connected to changing a Pokémon’s Tera Type.

There are shards corresponding to the different Tera Types, including Stellar Shards.

For players building specialized Pokémon, collecting enough shards can therefore become an important part of preparing different Tera strategies.

Why Tera Type Symbols Matter for Competitive Battles

Tera Type information becomes even more significant in advanced battles because Terastallization can alter expected matchups.

A Pokémon can use a Tera Type to:

• Strengthen an attack type.
• Change its defensive typing.
• Remove certain weaknesses.
• Gain useful resistances.
• Create a surprise matchup.
• Improve a particular battle strategy.

This means an opponent’s Tera Type can sometimes make a familiar matchup behave differently from what you would expect from the Pokémon species alone.

The symbol gives you the key clue, but understanding the strategy behind that type is what turns the information into a useful battle decision.

Tera Type Symbols and Offensive Strategy

Tera Type Symbols are not only defensive information.

The Tera Type can also influence offensive damage because Terastallization grants STAB to moves matching the Tera Type. When the Tera Type matches one of the Pokémon’s original types, that type receives a stronger STAB modifier under the standard mechanics.

For example, consider a Pokémon whose original typing includes Fire and whose Tera Type is also Fire.

When it Terastallizes, its Fire-type attacks benefit from the stronger matching-type Tera STAB.

This is one reason players may deliberately choose a Tera Type that matches an existing type rather than selecting a completely different defensive type.

Tera Type Symbols and Defensive Strategy

Defensive Terastallization can be just as important.

Imagine a Pokémon has an original typing with a weakness that is causing problems.

Changing to a different Tera Type can alter its defensive matchup during Terastallization.

A useful defensive question is:

“What weaknesses does this Pokémon have before Terastallizing, and what will those weaknesses become after Terastallizing?”

That question is more valuable than simply asking which Tera Type has the strongest attacks.

Are There 18 or 19 Tera Types?

This depends on whether Stellar is included.

There are:

18 standard Tera Types

plus:

1 special Stellar Tera Type

That gives 19 Tera Types associated with the Terastal system.

However, calling Stellar simply “the 19th normal type” can create confusion because Stellar does not function like the other 18 types defensively. Serebii describes it as the 19th Tera Type while Bulbapedia explains its unique mechanics and exclusive relationship with Terastallization.

The clearest wording is:

18 standard Tera Types + the special Stellar Tera Type.

What Is the History Behind Tera Type Symbols?

The Terastal phenomenon was introduced with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the Generation IX games.

The mechanic is closely connected to Paldea and the Terastal energy found in the region. Later story content in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero expanded the system and introduced Stellar.

The Indigo Disk also established a deeper connection between Stellar and Terapagos.

According to Bulbapedia’s account of the game’s lore, Terapagos is closely connected to the origin and nature of the Terastal phenomenon and Stellar type.

This background explains why Stellar’s visual design incorporates imagery associated with the other types and Terapagos.

Where Can You Encounter Stellar Tera Type Pokémon?

Stellar is not limited to the ordinary 18-type Tera system.

After progressing through The Indigo Disk content, wild Stellar Tera Type Pokémon can appear in the Terarium. Serebii documents specific Stellar Pokémon locations and explains that these encounters become available after the relevant progression involving Terapagos and the Terarium’s core.

This gives Stellar a different role from the common Tera Types encountered throughout Paldea.

A Practical Tera Symbol Checklist

Before entering a Tera Raid, use this checklist:

• Identify the symbol.
• Name the Tera Type.
• Check its standard weaknesses.
• Identify the raid Pokémon.
• Check its original typing.
• Consider its likely attacks.
• Choose a Pokémon that can survive the matchup.
• Confirm that your Pokémon has useful attacks.
• Consider support options if playing multiplayer.
• Do not treat Stellar as an ordinary defensive type.

This simple process prevents most beginner mistakes without requiring you to memorize complicated battle calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tera Type Symbols

What are Tera Type Symbols?

Tera Type Symbols are visual icons that identify a Pokémon’s Tera Type in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. They are especially useful for recognizing the type associated with Terastallized Pokémon and Tera Raid encounters.

How many Tera Type Symbols are there?

There are 18 standard Tera Type symbols corresponding to the traditional Pokémon types. Stellar is an additional special Tera Type introduced in The Indigo Disk.

What are the 18 standard Tera Types?

The 18 standard Tera Types are Normal, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel, and Fairy.

Is Stellar the 19th Tera Type?

Yes, Stellar is commonly described as the 19th Tera Type. However, it is a special Terastallization-only type and does not function like a normal defensive type.

Can a Pokémon have a Tera Type different from its original type?

Yes. A Pokémon’s Tera Type can differ from its original typing. Tera Raid Pokémon and other special encounters are important sources of different Tera Types.

Does Terastallization change a Pokémon’s type?

Under standard Terastallization, the Pokémon changes its defensive typing to its Tera Type. It also keeps STAB from its original types and gains STAB for moves matching its Tera Type.

Does Stellar change a Pokémon’s weaknesses?

No, not in the same way as a standard Tera Type. A Stellar Terastallized Pokémon retains its original defensive typing and therefore its original defensive weaknesses and resistances.

What do Tera Raid symbols mean?

They indicate the Tera Type associated with the raid Pokémon. You can use that information to check the Tera Type’s weaknesses and begin planning a counter.

Can you change a Pokémon’s Tera Type?

Yes. Tera Shards can be exchanged to change the Tera Type of eligible Pokémon after the required game progression. Serebii documents the Medali restaurant process using 50 shards of the selected type.

What is the easiest Tera Type symbol to recognize?

Several symbols have strong visual associations. The Electric symbol resembles a light bulb, Ice resembles a snowflake, Fighting resembles a fist, Poison uses skull imagery, Psychic resembles an eye, and Fairy has a heart-and-wings design.

Are Tera Type symbols the same as Tera Jewels?

No. A Tera Type is the Pokémon’s Terastallization type, while the Tera Jewel is the crystal-like object that appears above the Pokémon when it Terastallizes.

Does a Tera Type only affect defense?

No. Standard Terastallization also affects offensive STAB. A Pokémon gains STAB for moves matching its Tera Type, and a matching original/Tera type receives a stronger boost under the standard mechanics.

Why should I learn Tera Type Symbols for Tera Raids?

Knowing the symbol lets you identify the Tera Type before choosing your battle strategy. It gives you a starting point for checking weaknesses, selecting attacks, and evaluating whether your Pokémon can safely handle the matchup.

Key Takeaways

Tera Type Symbols are an important part of understanding Terastallization in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

The most important points are:

• There are 18 standard Tera Types.
• Stellar is a special additional Tera Type introduced in The Indigo Disk.
• A Pokémon’s Tera Type can be different from its original type.
• Standard Terastallization changes the Pokémon’s defensive typing to its Tera Type.
• Terastallization also provides offensive STAB benefits.
• Tera Raid symbols help identify the raid Pokémon’s Tera Type.
• The Tera symbol should be used as the beginning of your battle analysis, not the entire strategy.
• Stellar has unique rules and should not be treated like an ordinary defensive type.
• Visual associations are one of the easiest ways to memorize the symbols.
• For difficult raids, consider the Pokémon’s original typing, moves, abilities, and defensive safety in addition to its Tera Type.

References

• Bulbapedia — Terastal phenomenon: Covers Terastallization, Tera Types, Tera Jewels, Tera Shards, Tera Raid Battles, Stellar, and related mechanics.
• Bulbapedia — Stellar: Provides detailed information about the Stellar type, its unique battle properties, appearance, and relationship with Terastallization.
• Serebii — Terastal Phenomenon: Provides information about standard Terastallization, Tera boosts, Stellar, and changing Tera Types.
• Serebii — Stellar Type: Details Stellar’s unique mechanics, Tera Blast, Tera Starstorm, and its defensive behavior.
• Serebii — Wild Stellar Type Pokémon: Documents Stellar Tera Type Pokémon found in the Terarium.

Conclusion

Tera Type Symbols give players a fast way to understand one of the most important parts of the Terastal battle system. Each of the 18 standard types has its own visual symbol, while Stellar has a distinctive design and a unique set of rules.

For everyday gameplay, the most useful habit is simple: identify the Tera Type first, check its weaknesses second, and then look at the Pokémon’s original typing and possible moves before choosing your strategy.

That approach is especially valuable in Tera Raid Battles, where selecting a Pokémon based only on the raid symbol can lead to poor matchups.

Once you learn the most recognizable symbols and connect each one with its type weaknesses, reading Tera Type information becomes much faster. And when you understand the difference between a Pokémon’s original type, Tera Type, Tera Jewel, and Stellar mechanics, the entire Terastal system becomes much easier to understand.

Daniel Harper

I am Daniel Harper, an education enthusiast and writer who enjoys creating helpful content to make learning more accessible and engaging.

I focus on sharing knowledge about effective study methods, educational growth, and skills that help learners succeed in a changing world.

Through my writing, I aim to inspire students to explore new ideas and develop a passion for learning.

Books by Daniel Harper:

• The Path to Lifelong Learning
• Unlocking Your Learning Potential