Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Ground-type Pokémon are solid choices for players who want to tackle Tera Raids. Usually resilient, Ground-types tend to be among the best options for facing Fire-, Poison, Steel- and Electric-type Pokémon due to their super-effective moves. In fact, it is the only type that is super-effective against Electric-type Pokémon, provided they do not have a mixed typing, like Magnemite. Furthermore, because of Scarlet and Violet’s options, Ground-types can be better than the traditional Water-types when facing Fire-type opponents. This is especially true in higher leveled Tera Raids, which require more sturdiness and resistance than sheer attack power.

Luckily for players, there are many options for them to choose from. They range from a few fan-favorite franchise classics, like Garchomp, to newly added creatures. Most of the best Ground-types in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet for Tera Raid battles are actually Generation 9 Pokémon, introduced in the most recent games. Similar to Steel-types, their strength and resilience tend to be so great that they can even be used in fights where they do not even have the super-effective advantage. Of course, they are always better used when making the most of super-effective attacks.

Related: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: How to Evolve Tarountula into Spidops

Garchomp Reigns As The Best Ground-Type Pokémon

The Pseudo-Legendary from Sinnoh, Garchomp, is the best Ground-type Pokémon. Although it can take advantage of its alternate Tera Forms in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Garchomp is unstoppable with a Ground Tera type. Even Terastallized, it receives STAB (Same-type attack bonus) with moves like Earthquake. Although Game8 recommends learning both Outrage and Iron Head for wider coverage, it can also learn an additional STAB move. A few examples are Stomping Tantrum and Bulldoze, as long as they make the best use of its high Attack stat. This and HP should be the main stats trained. It is also worth remembering that it can learn many counter moves to its weaknesses because of its Dragon-type.

Great Tusk Can Also Trample Tera Raids

With a base stat total of 570, which is lower than Garchomp’s 600, the Paradox Pokémon Great Tusk is only second to the Pseudo-Legendary regarding Scarlet and Violet’s best Ground-types. Although it was originally introduced as the Quaking Earth Titan in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, players can actually catch Great Tusk and find out it is a powerful Pokémon. With abnormally high HP, Attack, and Defense stats, it is an excellent ally in Tera Raids. An Attack and HP-built Great Tusk with Earthquake and Headlong Rush can be a consistent presence on the field. Giving it Booster Energy should also further increase its attack power.

Related: How to Get Choice Band in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Iron Treads Is Very Customizable

As Great Tusk’s futuristic Paradox counterpart, Iron Treads shows a few differences in approach. While it lacks the prehistoric’s sheer firepower, it has wider-distributed stats among the rest, and an impressive amount of Speed, making it one of Scarlet and Violet’s best Ground-type Pokémon for Tera Raids. However, because of its somewhat undecisive stat distribution, there is a lot of ground in terms of building it. Ideally, players should focus on its Attack and HP stat and teach it some of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s most powerful moves, like Earthquake and it's signature Steel Roller. On the other hand, the weak Bulldoze may give it some superiority in the initial stages of the fight by reducing the opponent’s Speed.

Ting-Lu Can Survive For Long In Tera Raids

Ting-Lu, one of the four Treasures of Ruin Legendaries, is the most resilient of the batch and a mighty Ground-type Pokémon. Its main function in Tera Raids is staying alive while contributing to the team’s damage. Because it has very high HP and Defense stats, players will need to boost its Attack stat to allow it to apply more damage. With Leftovers, it can recover whatever its defenses fail to mitigate, and a few physical attacks can make it a consistent striker. Ting-Lu’s best build in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet does come with the downside of its Ability to reduce the Tera Raid team’s Special Attack stats by 25%, but it compensates for that by being very difficult to take down.

Related: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Cinderace Build for Tera Raids

Sandy Shocks Uses It Special Attack Stats

One of Scarlet and Violet’s best Ground-type Pokémon for Tera Raids is yet another Paradox creature. Sandy Shocks, the ancient form of Magneton, is the only one on this list focused on Special Attack instead of the Attack stat supremacy. Because of this, Sandy Shocks has a different tactical approach, and a few other priority moves instead of Earthquake. With Earth Power, Thunderbolt, and Flash Cannon, it will strike heavily, but after shielding itself with Magnetic Flux. Metal Sound can substitute Flash Cannon as a strategy to make the boss weaker. Sandy Shock’s build in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is not very flexible, but only because it has such solid stats and moves to use.

There are other fan-favorite Ground-type Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet that can effectively be used in Tera Raids, such as Hippowdon, Krookodile, Sandaconda, Mudsdale, Donphan, and the recently added Toedscruel, but their base stat sums are far inferior to those presented previously in the list. For example, while Garchomp reigns with a 600 base stat, Great Tusk, Iron Treads, Ting-Lu, and Sandy Shocks, all have 570 base stat points. Any other Ground-type creatures present in the games have a base stat total of 525 points or less, according to Game8. This may prove slightly harder to cope with in higher-grade Tera encounters, such as Cinderace’s frustrating Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Of course, finding a perfect balance between strong Ground-type Pokémon and the creature you want to showcase in Tera Raids is essential. If facing a weaker Tera boss, it is completely acceptable to use a weaker Ground-type Pokémon to face it. Nevertheless, having at least one of the Pokémon mentioned in the list prepared for harder activities is the ultimate recommendation, seeing how often strong Fire-, Electric-, and Poison-type Tera Raids show up. While there are counters for Fire- and Poison-type, for example, Ground-types are likely the ones that will better resist their blows in a battle, not counting on the fact that only they can cause super-effective damage in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Electric-type Tera Raids.

More: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: How To Shiny Hunt Paradox Pokémon

Source: Pokémon/YouTube, Game8, Game8

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  Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

  Released:

  2022-11-18

  Developer:

  Game Freak

  Franchise:

  Pokemon

  Genre:

  RPG, Adventure, Action

  Platform:

  Nintendo Switch

  Publisher:

  Nintendo, The Pokemon Company

  ESRB:

  E

  Summary:

  Pokémon returns in its next installment series: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Set in a fictional town near Mediterranean Spain, gamers will explore Paldea, catching new and classic Pokémon. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is the first ever open-world game in the series and features new Pokémon that can transform into vehicles. Pokémon staples like gym battles are still present, but co-op exploration and Terastallize battles are also introduced.

  Multiplayer:

  Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer

  Prequel:

  Pokémon Sword and Shield

  Mode:

  Single Player, Multiplayer

  How Long To Beat:

  31 Hours