Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. Guides

How to redeem Mystery Gifts in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

By

Since the launch of the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo has been very generous with rewarding players who either preorder its exclusive titles or have save data from previous entries. The Pokémon games are a prime example of this, with recent releases offering all kinds of bonuses for dedicated fans of the series to claim. That remains true with Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, which offer rewards in the form of Mystery Gifts.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

1 hour

What You Need

  • Preorder of Pokémon Scarlet or Violet

  • Unlocked the Poké Portal

If you preordered either version of the ninth generation Pokémon titles, you no doubt saw that you would be given a free exclusive Pokémon in the form of a special Flying Tera Type Pikachu. This version comes wearing a cute hat and holds a bunch of sparkling balloons, plus already knows the move Fly, which a normal Pikachu could never have. Once you boot up your copy, you won't find this Pokémon in your team. Claiming it takes a bit of time, and you have to do so before a certain date or miss out completely. Here's how to claim your Mystery Gift in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

A shining Pikachu.

How to claim Mystery Gifts

Assuming you've preordered your copy of either Pokémon Scarlet or Violet, there are a few things you need to accomplish before you can add this special Pikachu to your team. Here's everything you need to do.

Step 1: Complete the opening tutorial.

Step 2: Climb the lighthouse and locate the Academy.

Related

Step 3: Reach Los Platos and visit the Pokémon Center.

Step 4: Mystery Gifts will unlock.

Step 5: Open your menu by pressing X.

Step 6: Select the Poke Portal option.

Step 7: Select Mystery Gift.

Step 8: To claim your Pikachu, choose the Get Via Internet option.

Step 9: The Pikachu will be placed in your party. If your party is full, it will go to your storage box.

This is the only Mystery Gift available to claim at the moment, but new ones are expected to become available later on during future events. You have until February 28, 2023, before the Pikachu Mystery Gift expires, at which point you will no longer be able to claim it, even if you preordered.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…
How to use Bubbul Gems in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Link and Kilton in Tears of the Kingdom.

Link is back in Hyrule, but things have changed since you last visited in Breath of the Wild. Among the many returning features and items, Tears of the Kingdom also introduces a brand new suite of abilities, enemies, and tools for you to experiment with and use. One that was not featured or mentioned in any marketing material before the game's release is the Babbul Gems. When you take into account the open nature of the game, you may not find or learn about these for hours. If you want to figure out what to do with these mysterious items, here's how to use Babbul Gems in Tears of the Kingdom.

Read more
How to connect your Nintendo Switch to a TV

The Nintendo Switch has quickly become a household item. The system works as both a handheld device and a TV console, making it both versatile and convenient for players to use. Although using the Switch in its handheld form is awesome, the reality is that the graphics on a TV can enhance the experience of any Switch player. For those of us that struggle to put systems together, there is hope. Fortunately for us, the Switch is actually pretty easy to hook up to any TV, so long as it has an HDMI slot. Here's how.
Setting up the Nintendo Switch

For those who are new to the system, every purchase of the Nintendo Switch not only includes the Switch itself but also a Switch dock. This dock will be key in putting your system together for the TV. The first thing you're going to want to do is take out the dock and all the cords. Make sure that you have the dock, an HDMI cord, and a power cord for the system. If all three are present, you're good to start!

Read more
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC lets players venture outside of Paldea
Key art featuring new characters and Pokémon that are in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Teal Mask.

During a Pokémon Presents showcase to celebrate Pokémon Day, the DLC for Scarlet and Violet was revealed. The Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC is titled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero and will release in two parts, both planned to launch in 2023.
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero ✨| Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet
Both pieces of DLC take place outside of the Paldea region and will be accessible once players start the Treasure Hunt in the main game's story. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Teal Mask, which comes out first, sees players go on a school trip to the Japan-inspired land called Kitakami. While there, players will encounter new Pokémon, such as the monkey-like Munkidori, dog-like Okidogi, bird-like Fezandipti, and the mask-wearing Legendary Pokémon Ogerpon. The Teal Mask comes out this fall.
Then, this winter, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: The Indigo Disk will arrive and let players transfer to Blueberry Academy, where they will meet lots of new students and teachers. It will continue the story established in The Teal Mask and ultimately culminate in an encounter with another new Legendary Pokémon called Terapagos. Over the course of both DLCs, over 230 older Pokémon will come to Scarlet and Violet, including Chingling, Milotic, Shiftry, Vikavolt, Yanma, Ninetales, Zebstrika, Metagross, Dewgong, Espurr, Whimsicott, and Alcremie.
Additionally, once players preorder The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC by October 31 will get a Hisuian Zoroark that knows the moves Happy Hour, Tera Blast, Bitter Malice, and Nasty Plot and has a Dark Tera Type as a bonus alongside some new outfits. 
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch. The Teal Mask launches sometime during fall 2023, while The Indigo Disk will arrive during winter 2023.

Read more