Unlock the Ultimate Challenge: A Comprehensive Guide to 7-Star Raids in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have taken the world by storm, offering a sprawling open-world adventure filled with exciting battles, challenging Gym Leaders, and the thrill of discovering new Pokémon. But for many seasoned trainers, the endgame content is where the real test begins. And at the pinnacle of that endgame lies the formidable 7-Star Tera Raids. These raids are not for the faint of heart, demanding strategic team compositions, well-trained Pokémon, and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step required to unlock 7-Star Raids, prepare for them, and ultimately conquer these challenging encounters.

Understanding Tera Raids and Their Importance

Before diving into the unlock process, let’s clarify what Tera Raids are and why they are so significant. Tera Raids are a cooperative gameplay mode where you team up with up to three other players (either online or locally) to battle a powerful Terastallized Pokémon. These Pokémon have unique Tera Types, granting them significant advantages and making them formidable opponents. The difficulty of Tera Raids is indicated by the number of stars associated with them, ranging from 1-Star (easiest) to 7-Star (most difficult).

7-Star Raids are special event raids that feature extremely strong Pokémon with unique Tera Types and movesets. They often feature Pokémon that are not normally available in the Paldea region, making them highly sought after by collectors. Participating in and completing these raids offers several significant rewards:

• Rare Pokémon: Each 7-Star Raid features a specific, powerful Pokémon with a unique Tera Type. These Pokémon are often event-exclusive and cannot be obtained through normal gameplay.
• Exceptional Rewards: 7-Star Raids offer the best rewards in the game, including:
  • Herba Mystica: Crucial ingredients for crafting sandwiches with powerful effects, like increased Shiny Pokémon encounter rates.
  • Ability Patches: Items that can change a Pokémon’s Ability to its Hidden Ability, significantly boosting its potential.
  • Rare Candies: Valuable items that instantly raise a Pokémon’s level by one.
  • Tera Shards: Necessary for changing a Pokémon’s Tera Type at the Treasure Eatery in Medali.
  • Exp. Candies: Items that grant significant experience points to Pokémon.
  • Large sums of LP (League Points): Used for crafting TMs and purchasing various items.
• Prestige: Conquering a 7-Star Raid is a testament to your skill and dedication as a Pokémon trainer.

Prerequisites: Setting the Stage for 7-Star Raids

Unlocking 7-Star Raids requires completing specific milestones in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the necessary prerequisites:

1. Complete the Main Story: You must finish all three main story paths: Victory Road (challenging the Gym Leaders), Path of Legends (defeating the Titan Pokémon), and Starfall Street (taking down Team Star). This includes defeating the final boss and watching the end credits.
2. Unlock the Academy Ace Tournament: After completing the main story, you’ll unlock the Academy Ace Tournament. This tournament pits you against the strongest trainers in the Paldea region. You must win the tournament to progress further.
3. Complete Post-Game Events: Following the Academy Ace Tournament, you’ll need to complete a series of post-game events triggered by visiting Professor Sada (in Scarlet) or Professor Turo (in Violet) at Area Zero. This involves re-battling and catching Paradox Pokémon throughout Area Zero. You will receive a call from them after completing the Academy Ace Tournament. Follow their instructions and investigate the anomalies occuring within Area Zero.
4. Complete All Post-Game Trainer Battles: After the Area Zero events, you will receive calls to re-battle all of the Gym Leaders and other key trainers in the game. Accept and defeat all of these challengers.
5. Attend Jacq’s Class: After all of the above steps, make sure you have attended all of Jacq’s classes at the Academy. This is important for unlocking the next step.
6. Participate in at Least One 5-Star Raid: You need to participate in at least one 5-Star Raid battle. You don’t necessarily have to win, but participating is crucial. This helps trigger the game to recognize your progress. You can find 5-Star Raids scattered throughout the Paldea region after completing the previous steps. Look for black Tera Raid crystals on your map.

The Key to Unlocking: Upgrading Your Tera Raid Dens

Once you’ve met all the prerequisites, the game needs to recognize your progress and upgrade the Tera Raid Dens on your map to include 6-Star and 7-Star Raids. This is where the following steps are critical:

1. Check for Black Tera Raid Crystals: After completing the above steps, regularly check your map for black Tera Raid crystals. These crystals signify higher-level raids, including 6-Star Raids, and potentially the event 7-Star Raids when they are active.
2. Beat a Few 6-Star Raids: Actively participate in and defeat several 6-Star Raids. This is a crucial step. The exact number of 6-Star Raids you need to beat isn’t definitively known, but it’s generally recommended to defeat at least 4-5.
3. Refresh Your Tera Raid Dens: Tera Raid Dens refresh automatically at midnight JST (Japan Standard Time), which translates to different times depending on your location. You can also manually refresh them by progressing the story, re-battling Gym Leaders, or by simply waiting for a new day in the game.
4. Online Connection is Essential: You *MUST* be connected to the internet to see the latest Tera Raid events, including 7-Star Raids. Go to the Poke Portal in the menu and select ‘Check News’ to ensure you have the latest event data. This updates your game with the current event raids. Without doing this, the 7-Star Raids won’t appear even if you meet all other requirements.

Troubleshooting: Why Aren’t 7-Star Raids Appearing?

If you’ve followed all the steps above and still aren’t seeing 7-Star Raids, here are some common troubleshooting tips:

• Double-Check Prerequisites: Carefully review all the prerequisites listed above to ensure you haven’t missed anything. The most common oversight is failing to complete all post-game trainer battles or neglecting to check the news in the Poké Portal.
• Ensure Online Connectivity: Verify that your Nintendo Switch is connected to the internet and that you have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
• Update Your Game: Make sure you have the latest version of Pokémon Scarlet or Violet installed. Game updates often include new events and features, including 7-Star Raids.
• Check the News in the Poké Portal: As mentioned previously, checking the news in the Poké Portal is crucial for downloading the latest event data.
• Restart Your Game: Sometimes, a simple restart of your game can resolve minor glitches or connectivity issues.
• Check Event Dates: 7-Star Raids are event-based, so they are not always available. Check online resources and Pokémon news outlets to confirm if a 7-Star Raid event is currently active.
• Patience is Key: It may take some time for the game to recognize your progress and spawn 7-Star Raids. Keep participating in other raids and refreshing your map.

Preparing for a 7-Star Raid: Team Composition and Strategy

Once you’ve unlocked 7-Star Raids, the real challenge begins. These raids are significantly more difficult than any other content in the game, requiring careful planning and execution. Here’s a guide to preparing your team:

Understanding the Raid Boss:

• Tera Type: The Raid Boss’s Tera Type is crucial. It determines their weaknesses and resistances. Use this information to choose a Pokémon with a type advantage.
• Moveset: Research the Raid Boss’s moveset. Knowing what attacks to expect allows you to prepare accordingly.
• Stats: 7-Star Raid Bosses have incredibly high stats. Don’t underestimate their offensive and defensive capabilities.
• Ability: The Raid Boss’s Ability can significantly impact the battle. Some Abilities might nullify certain strategies, while others might provide the Raid Boss with powerful buffs.

Building Your Team:

• Type Matchups: Choose Pokémon with type advantages against the Raid Boss’s Tera Type and moveset.
• Stats and EVs: Train your Pokémon to Level 100 and optimize their EVs (Effort Values) to maximize their relevant stats (Attack, Special Attack, HP, Defense, Special Defense, Speed).
• Held Items: Equip your Pokémon with held items that provide useful buffs, such as:
  • Shell Bell: Restores HP based on damage dealt.
  • Leftovers: Gradually restores HP each turn.
  • Choice Specs/Band: Boosts Special Attack/Attack, but limits you to using only one move.
  • Life Orb: Boosts damage, but slightly damages the user each turn.
  • Amulet Coin: Doubles prize money received after the raid.
• Movesets: Select movesets that are effective against the Raid Boss. Consider including moves for:
  • Damage Dealing: High-power moves with type advantages.
  • Buffing: Moves that increase your Pokémon’s Attack, Special Attack, Defense, or Special Defense.
  • Debuffing: Moves that decrease the Raid Boss’s Attack, Special Attack, Defense, or Special Defense.
  • Healing: Moves that restore your Pokémon’s HP or remove status conditions.
  • Support: Moves that provide utility, such as setting up screens (Reflect/Light Screen) or inflicting status conditions (Paralysis, Sleep, Burn).
• Team Synergy: Coordinate with your teammates to create a team with complementary strengths and weaknesses.

Popular Pokémon Choices for 7-Star Raids:

While the optimal Pokémon for a 7-Star Raid depends on the specific Raid Boss, some Pokémon are consistently effective due to their stats, Abilities, and movepools. Here are a few popular choices:

• Azumarill: Its Huge Power Ability doubles its Attack stat, making it a powerhouse with moves like Play Rough and Belly Drum.
• Annihilape: A strong Fighting/Ghost type with access to Rage Fist, a move that increases in power each time Annihilape is hit. Also can learn Screech to lower the target’s Defense by two stages.
• Iron Hands: A powerful Fighting/Electric type with high HP and Attack. Access to Belly Drum and strong STAB moves.
• Support Pokémon (Umbreon, Blissey, Grimmsnarl): These Pokémon focus on supporting the team with moves like Helping Hand, Light Screen, Reflect, and Heal Pulse.

In-Raid Strategies:

• Communication is Key: If playing with friends, use voice chat to coordinate your moves and strategies.
• Focus Fire: Concentrate your attacks on the Raid Boss to break its shield quickly.
• Buff and Debuff: Use buffing and debuffing moves to enhance your team’s damage output and reduce the Raid Boss’s offensive capabilities.
• Time Your Terastallization: Terastallizing at the right moment can significantly boost your damage output or provide crucial defensive advantages.
• Cheer Strategically: Use Cheers wisely to heal your team, boost your Attack/Special Attack, or increase your Defense/Special Defense.
• Be Prepared for Fainting: Fainting is inevitable in 7-Star Raids. Don’t get discouraged. Learn from your mistakes and adjust your strategy accordingly.
• Exploit Weaknesses: Target the Raid Boss’s weaknesses with super-effective moves.
• Adapt to the Raid Boss’s Moveset: Pay attention to the Raid Boss’s moves and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Unlocking and conquering 7-Star Raids in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a challenging but rewarding experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to unlocking the ultimate challenge and obtaining rare Pokémon and valuable rewards. Remember to prepare your team strategically, communicate with your teammates, and never give up. Good luck, trainers, and happy raiding!