Pokemon

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet version 1.2 update patch notes: Release window, Box changes, bug fixes

Luca Di Marzo
Pokemon Scarlet Violet Miraidon Koraidon

The Pokemon Scarlet & Violet version 1.2 update is set to address some of the game’s major bugs, so here’s the release date and everything you need to know about the patch.

Players were shocked to discover the state of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet at launch. While the gameplay earned a ton of praise, the technical aspect of Scarlet and Violet received a ton of scrutiny. So much so that Nintendo vowed to fix the game’s various visual bugs and glitches.

While little has been done to address the issues in Scarlet and Violet since its November launch, fans will be pleased to discover that a major update is on the way.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet 1.2 update.

When is the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet 1.2 update?

Nintendo and The Pokemon Company confirmed that a Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Version 1.2 update will arrive in late February. While a specific date has not been confirmed as of yet, we’ll provide an update once it comes to light.

February is shaping up to be an exciting month for Pokemon fans with the Garchomp and Sylveon Tera Raid event, Pokemon Day, and a highly anticipated update.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet 1.2 patch notes

Nintendo released official patch notes for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet version 1.2 and confirmed the update is still targeting a late February release date. “With this update, we are planning to add features to Pokémon Boxes and fix bugs that affect game progress,” the official post read.

Here are the official patch notes for Pokemon Scarlet Violet version 1.2:

Feature Adjustments

  • Additional functionality will be added for Pokémon Boxes:
    • From a Pokémon’s summary, players will be able to change Pokémon’s nicknames, markings, held items, and mark- or Ribbon-related titles, as well as being able to reorder moves, have Pokémon remember moves, have Pokémon forget moves, and use TMs.
    • Players will be able to swap out held items by pressing the Y Button when in the Held Items view.
    • Players will be able to select All Boxes while moving Pokémon or items in the Party and Boxes view and Held Items view.
    • When in the Battle Team view, Pokémon in your Boxes that are assigned to a Battle Team will now have their icons displayed in a darker hue if those Pokémon are members of the Battle Team that is currently being displayed.
  • The News screen will be displayed when you connect to the internet from the main menu, just as it is when connecting to the internet from the Poké Portal.

Bug Fixes

Tera Raid Battles

  • A bug that can prevent an opposing Tera Pokémon’s HP gauge from properly reflecting damage done by certain moves (such as Play Rough) or certain status conditions may occur in Tera Raid Battles, resulting in the Tera Pokémon’s HP gauge fluctuating in an unusual manner. This will be fixed.
  • A bug that causes all Pokémon on your side to faint at once despite their HP gauges indicating that they still have HP may occur in black crystal Tera Raid Battles against Pokémon with the Mightiest Mark. This will be fixed.
  • A bug that can temporarily prevent a player from entering any input into the game may occur if a Tera Pokémon takes certain actions while the player is choosing the target of their move. This will be fixed.
  • A bug that causes a communication error may occur when someone connecting to a Tera Raid Battle sees a different Pokémon displayed on their screen than what the host sees. This will be fixed.
  • A bug may occur that causes players joining a Tera Raid Battle from the Tera Raid Battles search screen to be brought to a Tera Raid Battle against a Pokémon different from the one they saw displayed. This will be fixed.
  • A bug that causes Tera Raid Battle crystals to not appear for a set amount of time may occur under certain circumstances. This will be fixed.

Battles

  • Type matchups against Pokémon that have fainted will no longer appear when selecting a move or target during Double Battles.
  • A Zoroark that has Terastallized and is disguised as another Pokémon via its Illusion Ability can be identified as a Zoroark by using the Check Target option. This is a bug and will be fixed.
  • When a Zoroark has Terastallized and is disguised as another Pokémon via its Illusion Ability, the type matchups of moves are displayed based on the type of the Pokémon that Zoroark is disguised as, rather than Zoroark’s Tera Type. This is a bug and will be fixed.
  • The stats of a Dondozo with a Tatsugiri in its mouth will increase when Dondozo uses Order Up, even when the move should have been negated (for example, by an opponent using Protect). This is a bug and will be fixed.
  • If a Pokémon Terastallizes after using Destiny Bond and then faints, the effects of Destiny Bond will fail to activate. This is a bug and will be fixed.

Other

  • We will address an issue that can cause the game to forcibly close at certain locations. As a result of this fix, there may be a reduction of Pokémon and people displayed in certain towns or in the wild.
  • When a Pokémon that is not a part of the Paldea Pokédex is obtained through a Link Trade, it is displayed as being registered to the Paldea Pokédex. This is a bug and will be fixed.
  • Certain actions can cause the main character’s expressions to not change until the game is closed and reopened. This will be fixed.
  • A bug occurred for some players after Ranked Battles Season 1, wherein visiting the Ranked Battles screen immediately after the season’s results had been calculated caused a communication error right after these players received their rewards. Following this error, players were unable to participate in any further Ranked Battles. This will be fixed.
  • If a player has created several Battle Teams but does not use the Battle Team in the first slot for their Ranked Battles, they may not receive the Master Rank Ribbon after winning Ranked Battles in the Master Ball Tier. This will be fixed.
  • When a Pokémon you caught comes back to you from another player through Link Trade, it may not listen to your commands in accordance with what is written in the profile app (“Pokémon caught at Lv. XX or below will listen to your commands”). This will be fixed.
  • A bug is preventing the Pokédex from displaying additional entries (such as entries for Shiny Pokémon or Pokémon that were received through Surprise Trade from players that play in a different language) for Pokémon species that were already registered in the Pokédex. This will be fixed.
  • Objects such as Poké Balls may be displayed in certain locations of the field unintentionally. This will be fixed.
  • Passersby will no longer be displayed during certain battles that take place in towns during the main story.
  • Other select bug fixes will be implemented.

The inclusion of bug fixes will surely relieve players who have been vocal about the need to improve the technical quality of both Scarlet and Violet.

Nintendo also noted that they’re planning further features and bug fixes not listed in these patch notes. Fans speculate these will be related to the rumored DLC announcement for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Others think it might be similar to the surprise addition of Galarian Slowpoke in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Has Pokemon Scarlet & Violet received an update yet?

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet received two updates so far. One that arrived just before the games launched, and a 1.1 patch on December 1. The day-one patch helped fix some of the game’s bugs and issues with performance.

Despite both updates, a ton of bugs continue to plague the game with players calling for more to come. Fans of Scarlet and Violet are desperate for a patch to make the game run smoother, and Nintendo confirmed their plan to do exactly that.

Perhaps the Scarlet and Violet update 1.2 will be the patch that players have been begging for since launch day.

For more Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, check out our guide to every upcoming Pokemon Tera Raid Battle Event, or the Scarlet & Violet Mystery Gift codes for 2023.

Image Credit: Game Freak / The Pokemon Company

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