How to Play as Pokemon in The Indigo Disk DLC

One of the best new features in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet The Indigo Disk DLC is the ability to play as a Pokemon. Here is how to unlock and play as a Pokemon in The Indigo Disk so you can enjoy this welcome new perspective.

How to play as a Pokemon in The Indigo Disk

There is only one way to play as a Pokemon in The Indigo Disk and that is by unlocking the Synchro Machine. This is a new item you can get in the second DLC for the Gen 9 games, which you can only get in the new Terarium area at Blueberry Academy. Without this item, you won’t be able to synchronize with your Pokemon and play as them.

Unfortunately, this also means you aren’t able to play as your Pokemon anywhere outside of the Terarium itself. But once you have your hands on the Synchro Machine, it is quite easy to play as a Pokemon. All you need to do is hold down the L button on the Switch (the one above the left trigger) and then press the R button at the same time. This will switch you to whatever Pokemon is first in your party.

How to Unlock the Synchro Machine

Of course, you need first to unlock the Synchro Machine before you can use it to play as a Pokemon. Thankfully, you can unlock this feature very early in The Indigo Disk DLC. All you need to do is unlock the Terarium and step into it. As soon as you get there, you can head to the Central Plaza and speak with the professor in the above screenshot.

Go through a tutorial where you learn how to control the Pokemon and then a second one about battling as a Pokemon to fully unlock the Synchro Machine. From that point forward, you can then use it on any Pokemon you want anywhere in the Terarium. You can play as Charizard, Rayquaza, Terapagos, Quaxly, and anyone else available in this game without restriction.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet and The Indigo Disk DLC are available exclusively for Nintendo Switch.