Tera Raids are one of the core gameplay mechanics for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, with a lot of depth to their implementation. On the surface, Tera Raids are simply a timed boss battle where the player is limited to only using one Pokémon and can team up with other players if they wish to. However, there is a large amount of depth and strategy that goes into this mechanic.

Low-level Tera Raids are unlocked early in the game and are an introduction to the mechanics since they are much easier than 6- and 7-Star Raids that are unlocked, beating Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's main story. The player will find giant crystals scattered around the Paldea region and can interact with them to see a silhouette of the boss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnA5OS3etOQ Another way to join a Tera Raid is to use the Poké Portal Menu, where they will be given an array of options to join. An important thing to remember is that a Tera Raid boss's type will be whatever type symbol the Raid card shows, not the Pokémon's natural typing.

Related: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Best Chansey & Blissey Build For Tera Raids

How To Train Pokémon For a Tera Raid

Players are limited to one Pokémon per Tera Raid battle, and it will always be the lead Pokémon in their party. Especially for higher Raids, players are incentivized to min-max several party members so that when they get to a Raid, they can choose a Pokémon that best fits the boss. Players will want the best builds for Dragonite, Charizard, Tinkaton, and so on. This varies from Pokémon to Pokémon, but a consistent trend is a powerful move with a Same Type Attack Bonus, an Ability that boosts the damage of that attack, and a nature that increases the relevant stat, such as Adamant for Attack or Modest of Special Attack.

Once a trainer has selected the Pokémon they want to use for Tera Raids, they will need to start training them. Each Pokémon species have a base spread of stats they favor: Skeledirge has high Special Attack, HP, and Defense, Meowscarada has high Speed and Attack, and so on. But they also have Effort Values. Effort Values or EVs change from specific Pokémon to specific Pokémon, and like in Pokémon Sword and Sheild, EVs can be reset in Scarlet and Violet using special berries. This is important because EVs affect a Pokémon's stat growth when leveling up. A Meowscarada with a high Special Attack EV will have its Special Attack grow just as much as its Attack and Speed through leveling up. A Meowscarada with a high Attack EV will have a monstrously high Attack stat.

Trainers should pick their Tera Raid Pokémon's best one or two stats and then focus on maximizing the EVs for those stats. Pokémon can only have 510 EVs total, so the other stats should be dumped and minimized. By looking at their Pokémon's Status, they will get an imprecise summary of their Pokémon's EVs. The below table points to which berry reduces which stat EV. Trainers will also want to effectively raise their Pokémon's EVs through training; trainers will need to face specific enemies in battle, as the Pokemon will learn from fighting them and grow to favor those EVs. There are also specific vitamins and feathers, a type of held item, that help with EV training. Vitamins raise the EV immediately, while the feathers help with battle experience. Like with the berries, refer to the below table.

How To Prepare For a Tera Raid

Once a Pokémon has been trained, it will need a good set of moves and a held item. This varies for Pokémon from species to species. For example, Gastrodon's Tera Raid build in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet benefits from knowing moves like Earth Power and Stockpile, while Skeledirge builds are all going to prioritize Torch Song.

Related: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Every Active Mystery Gift Code (February 2023)

Likewise, the Pokémon's Held item will significantly affect the battle itself. For example, Shell Bell is great for heavy-hitting Pokémon, as it restores some of their health for every attack they land. On the other hand, Pokémon with Cheek Pouch ability are going to want to hold a Berry - probably Petaya or Liechi, but it depends - instead of a specific item, thanks to the bonus health restoration. Throat Spray is great for Pokémon with sound-based Special Attack moves. Leftovers are great for tank Pokémon like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Clodsire in Tera Raids. Again, this goes on and on and depends on the specific Pokémon in question.

A rule of thumb is to maximize damage output. For example, in Tera Raids, fainted Pokémon are restored to full health after five seconds, so if a build gives massive amounts of damage, accepting constant faints might be worth it.

How Seven-Star Tera Raids Work

Finally, there's the high-tier Tera Raids, Seven-Star Raids. Endgame content is unlocked after a trainer has completed the game's main story, beaten the Academy Tournament, and done ten Four-Star or Five-Star Raids or higher. Seven-Star Raids are time-limited events focused on a specific Pokémon Boss; Game Freak puts them in the game and then switches them out. The Raid Boss will have a specific Tera Type, Nature, Ability, and move set for players to strategize against. Currently, Greninja is the Seven-Star Event Raid Boss, although it won't come back to Scarlet and Violet until February 10th.

Seven-Star Tera Raids will be marked on a trainer's map by black icons, but unlike Six-Star raids, they will be surrounded by radiating circles and sparkles. These raids are extremely difficult, so much so that trainers are recommended to get their Pokémon to level 100 and focus their EV Training as an even split between HP and Attack or Special Attack EVs to maximize damage output in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

More: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Umbreon Tera Raid Builds

Source: YouTube.com/ConCon

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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