Summary
- The Teal Mask DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduces new and returning Pokémon.
- The DLC-level scaling doesn’t pose a challenge for players with high-level endgame teams.
- There are ways people can increase the difficulty of the new DLC themselves through creative challenges.
The new DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, The Teal Mask, seems set to see Kitakami’s Pokémon devastated by players. The first of a two-part DLC, The Teal Mask adds many new and returning Pokémon to the Generation 9 titles to battle and capture. However, at the same time, it is clear that Kitakami is not prepared for the onslaught that it now faces as a result.
The Teal Mask follows the events of a school trip organized between Paldea’s Academy (Naranja or Uva, depending on the game version) and sister school Blueberry Academy as a joint venture to the Land of Kitakami. Here, the character meets a variety of new personalities, such as Kieran and Carmine, and uncovers the story of the new Pokémon Ogerpon and the Loyal Three. But while the narrative of The Teal Mask may be an engaging addition to the base game, it seems that the actual mechanics that govern it leave Kitakami Pokémon notably vulnerable.
The Teal Mask’s Pokémon Are Too Easy To Battle
Assuming that the average person has completed the base game prior to playing The Teal Mask, then Kitakami’s Pokémon in the new DLC will spawn with levels in the mid-50s and upwards. It is worth noting that as The Teal Mask is accessible relatively early on. After beginning the Treasure Hunt a few hours into the game, there is a level of scaling difficulty attached to the content, ensuring that those new to the game are not overwhelmed by a sudden spike in difficulty. Conversely, however, the maximum levels that this scaling can reach are arguably too low to pose a challenge for an endgame Pokémon team.
By the time someone completes Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, it is likely that the average level of their team will be in the 70s or 80s, especially if already contending with top-level Tera Raid Battles. As a result, this means they will begin with at least a 15-level gap in The Teal Mask. NPC Trainers have teams beginning at the same levels as wild Pokémon, although more notable characters do break this trend. For example, Kieran begins with a level 59 Sentret and level 60 Yanma, and his team grows stronger later on. Similarly, unique Pokémon like Ogerpon are somewhat more powerful at Level 70, but not meaningfully so.
Naturally, such a disparity makes battling in The Teal Mask incredibly easy, with one-hit KOs being a common sight. Even with a Type disadvantage, an endgame team will be able to sweep through much of the opposition with little problem. Of course, there will undoubtedly be some accessing Kitakami organically, which can easily change this experience. However, at this point in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s lifespan, it seems far more likely that most will be playing on postgame save files and, as a result, will be facing the upper limits of what Kitakami can offer. The Pokémon found in The Teal Mask are simply no real threat.
Pokémon Home Makes The Teal Mask Even Easier
Another major factor in The Teal Mask’s actual difficulty is the fact that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s compatibility with Pokémon Home means that people can also transfer plenty of strong team members from previous games. These Pokémon are even likelier to have reached level 100 than a team only formed in Scarlet and Violet. As a consequence, many who have played since release will most likely have access to a team that thoroughly trivializes The Teal Mask even at its strongest. Although the level scaling included with the DLC is undoubtedly a factor, the endgame levels are still simply not high enough to make a noticeable impact on gameplay.
The simple fact of the matter is that this DLC is too easy to be content following on from the endgame of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Of course, the fact that it is chronologically placed far earlier in the game does explain this to some extent; the extremely high levels attached to Pokémon like Poochyena and Spinarak are very incongruous given they evolve far before this point, but an early-game visit to Kitakami would instead produce Pokémon of far more appropriate levels. Nevertheless, The Teal Mask being released so long after the base games will make this occurrence a rarity unless one is on their second playthrough.
Set Challenges To Increase Difficulty In The Teal Mask
On the other hand, despite the DLC’s inadequate scaling, there are ways to adjust Kitakami’s difficulty level to create a more challenging experience. For example, instead of using their starter Pokémon in The Teal Mask, a trainer could take advantage of the new Pokédex expansion to build a team of Kitakami-exclusive Pokémon to play through the DLC with. No matter what point the DLC is accessed at during Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, capturing and using wild Pokémon from Kitakami will guarantee a relatively equal playing field between the player’s Pokémon team and the rest of the new content.
Another option is to take out lesser-used Pokémon from their Boxes so that they use those Pokémon that were initially captured to complete the Pokédex more than to build an actual team. Similar to using Pokémon introduced to Scarlet and Violet in The Teal Mask, this would promote the usage of a wider range of Pokémon and encourage the development of new tactics as a result. Of course, an approach that combines both strategies, using new Pokémon from Kitakami supplemented by Pokémon from Boxes, is an equally valid way of exploring Kitakami at a level more appropriate to the difficulty the DLC automatically sets.
It is somewhat disappointing that the level of Kitakami’s Pokémon is so far below the average endgame Pokémon team in The Teal Mask. It means that despite the DLC releasing long after the base Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games, there is likely no real difficulty here unless measures are taken independently to adjust to Kitakami; even though the DLC attempts to cater to the existing levels. Instead, battling sees endgame Pokémon with overwhelming power, defeating all opponents with ease. Although crushing every opponent as a true Champion-ranked trainer does admittedly have its own appeal, those seeking an actual challenge in Kitakami may need to take some extra precautions.
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