Trainers just setting out on their journey in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will sooner or later come across Tera Raid battles. These battles are dotted all around Paldea. They will be marked on the trainer’s maps and in the world by a line of colored light coming down on top of it.

Tera Raid battles in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet might be confusing at first as the game does not explain them super well from the get-go, but they become simpler once understood. Tera Raid Battles are represented by glowing crystals throughout the map and contain a wild Pokémon already infused with a Tera Type in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The Tera Raid battles are also a way to team up with a friend to battle together. If a trainer plans to play Pokémon Scarlet and Violet in co-op mode, this is an excellent way to battle together.

Related: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Where to Find Thunder Stone (& What It's For)

Strategies For Beating Tera Raid Battles in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

A Tera Raid Battle within Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

The first tip a trainer should know about a Tera Raid battle in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is that they are only allowed to bring one Pokémon into the fight. The trainers participating in any given Tera Raid will not have access to their entire team, and if one of them is knocked out, there is a way to get them back, but it must be done in a certain amount of time and only if the rest of the team is still fighting. Instead, trainers must choose one Pokémon to bring from their team. It will be easiest to put this Pokémon in the lead position, but it is also possible to choose which Pokémon to use after a trainer enters the Tera Raid screen, found just under the “Challenge” options.

Tera Raid Battle Options in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Secondly, a trainer should be aware that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will tell you which Tera type they are about to fight. The color of the crystal represents the typing, and if unsure, the trainer can look at the icon on their map. The icon is also colored but has a small symbol inside that matches the move-type icons found in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's menus. As trainers only get access to one Pokémon, pick a Pokémon on the team that is super effective against that type. For example, if the Tera Raid crystal is red with a flame icon, the Tera Raid Pokémon will be a Fire-type, and the trainer should bring a Water-type Pokémon if possible. It is worth remembering that a Pokémon's Tera Type will be different in Scarlet and Violet than its other types. The Pokémon's normal types are also in effect, although the Tera Type is the most important thing to pay attention to.

There will also be a shadow image of the Tera Raid Pokémon on the screen. That can help trainers identify the Pokémon they are about to fight and if they need to change their strategy. Simply doing that should be enough to finish the battle if the trainer is properly leveled for the area. However, if a trainer accidentally brings a less ideal Pokémon, they can choose to “Cheer” as opposed to battle, which will increase the stats and damage of the other team members. Pokémon can also inflict status effects on the Tera Pokémon, which might make it easier to defeat the Pokémon over time.

If a trainer wants to team up with others, it is easier to join a friend from the Poké Portal, where trainers can also link to trade Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet, than it necessarily is with someone roaming around the world. Trainers can be engaged in battles, completing story missions, or inside gyms or Team Star bases, all while working within the game’s co-op system. While involved in any of those things, the invitation to join a Tera Raid will not pop on that trainer’s screen. Even if it does pop, it can be an easily missed timed notification. The Poké Portal is the best place to join a Tera Raid, as trainers can see each other’s Tera Raids on the board from within the portal. If a trainer is roaming alone, don’t fret. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet automatically fill in empty slots with AI trainers to make the Tera Raids completable solo.

After the Tera Raid battle, the game will automatically give the trainer the option to catch the Pokémon when it is over, allowing for the trainer to add the Tera Type Pokémon to their collection. In addition, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s tera-type can give your Pokémon added strengths to shore up any weaknesses, so having a Pokémon with an unusual tera-type on your team can be an added benefit. In that way, trainers can take advantage of completing Tera Raid battles.

More: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: How to Get the Master Ball

  • Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Game Poster
    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