The Gen IX Pokémon games, Scarlet & Violet, introduced plenty to the franchise upon their release in November 2022. Still, the Terastal phenomenon and Tera Raids have been among the more notable additions. Tera Raids have proven to be an effective way of showing off the new battle mechanic, and players are flocking to them to reap the rewards.
Tera Raids allow players to catch strong Pokémon of high levels upon completion and reward them with plenty of valuable items. These can range from Herba Mystica and Tera Shards to Bottle Caps and various other valuable items that are worth a fair amount when sold. Tera Raids can be daunting and difficult, but these rewards make them well worth the time and effort in farming them. There are even certain tips and tricks to making them much easier.
Updated on June 28th, 2023 by Tom Steel: With the recent trailer releases for the incoming DLC, any excitement for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet has shifted away from Tera Raids and the competitive scene and towards the final months of the year. Tera Raid events have slowed down, but there is still a Gimmighoul Spotlight event in July 2023. Gimmighoul can come in any Tera type, ranging from one to five-star raids. This list has been updated to highlight the generally easiest ways to beat Tera Raids towards during Gimmighoul raids.
10 Don't Proceed If A Teammate Has A Serious Type Disadvantage
When searching for and joining a Tera Raid, players have to consider many things. However, regardless of how they have prepared themselves for facing a certain Pokémon and Tera type, players should always look at what Pokémon their teammates are taking into battle. In Tera Raids, any time a Pokémon is knocked out, it takes off a chunk from the overall timer.
If each player falls at least once during the raid, it ends almost immediately. There will always be some players who don't know everything about Pokémon or fail to consider certain matchups. It is always worth looking and then backing out if the others don't have the best Tera Raid Pokémon. For example, if players queue up to face a Dark Tera Gimmighoul and see some Ghost types in their party, backing out may be the best course of action depending on the star rating, since Gimmighoul will obviously have its Ghost-type moves.
9 Understand When & When Not To Cheer
Cheering was introduced alongside Pokémon raids in Sword & Shield, but it has reached a new level of importance in Scarlet & Violet's Tera Raids. Cheering can be used anytime during a raid and counts as the user's turn.
"Go All Out" gives the team offensive boosts, while "Hang Tough" focuses on shoring up defenses, with "Heal up" providing a quick replenishing of HP. There are specific moments and team lineups where a player must realize that their turn is best spent supporting others, whether it is a heal or brief stat boost. This can help the best Tera Raid Pokémon to thrive.
8 Use Level 100 Pokémon
Getting Pokémon up to Level 100 should be an aim for players anyway, especially once they have made their way through all the storylines and post-game antics. Still, it is especially important for those tougher Tera Raids. Each Tera Raid Pokémon's level reflects the battle's difficulty, and bringing a Level 100 Pokémon simply covers all bases.
The seven-star Tera Raids are Level 100 Pokémon, as shown in previous events. Six-star raids are Level 90, and five-star raids are Level 75. Tera types, diverse movesets, high stats, and type resistances can add more to a raid's difficulty. Taking precautions and bringing the best Tera Raid Pokémon possible gives players the best chance at achieving victory. However, these Gimmighoul Spotlight Tera Raids range from level 12 to level 75, but it is often better to be safe than sorry.
7 Reinvest Raid Rewards Into Leveling Up New Pokémon For Future Raids
Leveling Pokémon up to 100 has always seemed daunting and time-consuming, but Scarlet & Violet have introduced various ways to streamline this process. Completing five-star and six-star raids will get in several experience candies each time, which can then be reinvested into new Pokémon, making them viable for future Tera Raids.
Many players have favorites to take into Tera Raids — from Iron Hands to Gholdengo — but there is no harm in experimenting with new ideas. The best Tera Raid Pokémon will always have certain Pokémon/Tera type combinations they're weak against, so new options will always be welcome. Experimenting with new Pokémon is part of the fun of Tera Raids, as players strive to do their best and find the best to help them do just that.
6 Consider IVs, EVs, & Items To Prepare The Pokémon Of Choice
Training IVs and EVs are normally pivotal in preparing Pokémon for the competitive scene. Still, in Scarlet & Violet, it should be done to get the best out of a player's Pokémon in any situation. Buying and applying Bottle Caps, defeating certain Pokémon, and using vitamins are great ways to ensure that the stats look good going into a Tera Raid.
Players need to consider which stats are bolstered and sacrificed, while making sure that weaknesses are covered for or strengths enhanced through their held item. Ultimately, this level of preparation will change depending on the Tera Raid's type and moveset. Players should consider which items are relevant for the Pokémon they want to take into their next Tera Raid.
5 Pay Attention To The Raid Pokémon's Tera Type
When searching for a Tera Raid, a player's attention will always be drawn to the silhouette as they guess which Pokémon they'll face. However, in Scarlet & Violet, they should also be paying attention to the Tera type. A Terastallized Pokémon loses its initial typings in favor of one focused Tera type, which can bring a whole new lineup of type weaknesses and resistances.
Ultimately, the best Pokémon for Tera Raids have super-effective moves against the foe's Tera type rather than over that Pokémon's initial typings. What helps even more is the player having a super-effective Tera type of their own for when they can Terastallize. For example, taking a Fighting-type Pokémon to face a Dragonite would be a bad call because of its Flying-type offense. By that line of thinking, taking a Pokémon with Fighting-type moves against a Normal Tera Dragonite would be acceptable. The Gimmighoul Spotlight Tera Raids can be any typing, but players need to plan accordingly beforehand.
4 Take A Pokémon That Resists The Raid Pokémon's Moves
On the flip side, players need to consider what moves the Tera Raid Pokémon will have, regardless of its new Tera type. Taking a Pokémon that resists most of the opponent's moves is ideal, since players can focus most of their attention on offense instead. Preparing for Tera Raids can require much prior type matchup knowledge, but it helps to know what to expect going into such a potentially tough battle.
In one of the first Tera Raid events, Dragon Tera Charizard was easily thwarted by Azumarill. Azumarill's Water/Fairy typing resisted everything Charizard had apart from neutral Flying-type damage from Hurricane. No matter the type of the Gimmighoul in the June/July Spotlight events, its moveset will never go beyond Normal-, Ghost- and Rock-type moves. This makes the Dark/Steel Kingambit a perfect candidate.
3 Take A Pokémon That Enhances Or Reduces Stats
Boosting stats is a vital strategy for defeating Tera Raids, but there is always the risk the raid Pokémon will clear all stat changes and conditions. However, the early rounds are the time to act. Players initially saw Iron Hands and Azumarill Belly Drum strategies as the main example of this, but many more have since been revealed.
Players have also discovered that boosting stats in the early stages with Slowbro and Vaporeon helps dispatch many Tera Raid Pokémon with Stored Power. Learning a Tera Pokémon's patterns helps players to gauge how many stat boosts or reductions they can get away with before they are nullified.
2 HP-Regaining Moves Are Pivotal To Success
Similarly to how Belly Drum Pokémon remain among the best Pokémon for Tera Raids, so are those that can regain HP while dealing damage. Draining Kiss is a Fairy-type option for this strategy, but the Paradox Pokémon Iron Hands and its Fighting-type move, Drain Punch, is the most commonly used approach.
If Iron Hands can set up with Belly Drum, Drain Punch is then at maximum output. This makes it capable of inflicting serious damage while possibly regaining all of that HP lost to the initial move. Held items and the "Heal Up" cheer can also regain valuable HP, but Drain Punch is the most efficient alternative.
1 Playing Offline Makes It Easier To Manage Time & Stick To A Plan
Tera Raids will always need four participants, but Scarlet & Violet offers players a choice. The lineup can comprise four human players, or NPC characters can fill any space. Playing online with other people can be a good option if everybody knows what they are doing and how to play optimally, but that is not always the case.
Playing offline with three supporting AI gives the player more of a grasp on time while giving them more room to carry out their own plans, unimpeded by other players ruining them. Playing solo and offline can still carry risks and drawbacks in the allied Pokémon chosen. Still, it's perfect for players to learn about their own strategies and figure out the best Pokémon for Tera Raids without relying on others.