Not all Pokémon are cut from the same cloth. Every trainer knows some are better than others at certain things, whether it’s single battles, double battles, competitive battles, inflicting statuses, and more.
The same can be said when it comes to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Tera Raids. The Pokémon encountered in them are extremely powerful, especially when they’re Five-Star, Six-Star, or Seven-Star Tera Raids. These monsters are souped up in just about every way, requiring a team of four players to take on. It also has to be done within a specific time limit that reduces each time a Pokémon faints.
Like everything in Pokémon, the best ones for the job depend on various things, including type and the all-new Tera-type mechanic. There are some clear-cut favorites for general use that have proven to be effective time and time again, especially when paired with certain builds incorporating abilities, effort values, held items, moves, nature, and Tera-type.
If you’re looking for a surefire way to steamroll through most Tera Raids, including some of the most difficult ones, look no further than these 10 imposing Pokémon and their respective builds.
Annihilape
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Defiant | 252 HP 252 Attack 4 Defense | Life Orb | Rage Fist Drain Punch Bulk Up Screech | Adamant | Ghost |
Annihilape is an excellent choice for most Tera Raids. Use the build above to get the most out of the burly Fighting and Ghost-type Pokémon. Start the battle with Bulk Up to increase Attack. Then use Rage Fist over and over again, as the damage it deals increases each time. You can also use Close Combat as an alternative. When in need of a top-up, use Drain Punch to heal. Screech also helps against Pokémon with a lot of defense.
Azumarill
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Huge Power | 252 Attack 252 HP 4 Defense | Sitrus Berry | Belly Drum Play Rough Liquidation Helping Hand | Adamant | Fairy |
Azumarill has been a staple pick among trainers from the very beginning. The build above works well in most Tera Raids. Start off using Belly Drum to max out Attack, then spam Play Rough or Liquidation depending on what’s more effective against the Pokémon you’re facing. Helping Hand also increases the damage output of allies, giving them an extra kick.
Gholdengo
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Good as Gold | 252 HP 252 Special Attack 4 Defense | Wise Glasses | Nasty Plot Shadow Ball Make It Rain Thunderbolt | Modest | Steel |
Gholdengo might look like a slacker, but don’t judge a book by its cover. This Steel and Ghost-type Pokémon packs a punch. Start off with Nasty Plot to boost Special Attack, then use either Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, or Make it Rain to wear the raid boss down. Make it Rain will deal double damage when Terastallized, so that’ll be the main tool from then on.
Iron Hands
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Quark Drive | 252 Attack 172 Speed 76 HP | Booster Energy | Belly Drum Close Combat Thunder Punch Drain Punch | Adamant | Fighting |
Like Azumarill, Iron Hands has been wreaking havoc in Tera Raids from the get-go. This mighty Paradox Pokémon works in a similar way, too. First, you’ll want to use Belly Drum to max out its Attack, then use Close Combat and Thunder Punch depending on what’s more effective, switching to Drain Punch when in need of a heal. It’s a simple but devastating formula.
Flutter Mane
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Protosynthesis | 252 HP 252 Special Attack 4 Special Defense | Booster Energy | Moonblast Shadow Ball Mystical Fire Fake Tears | Modest | Fairy |
Flutter Mane is yet another Paradox Pokémon that has proven to be effective in Tera Raids. Despite its docile look, this Ghost and Fairy-type Pokémon deals an absurd amount of Special Attack damage, especially when Terastallized. Moonblast will be the go-to move, but Shadow Ball and Mystical Fire can come in clutch against certain types, while Fake Tears can be used sparingly to deal even more damage.
Koraidon
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Orichalcum Pulse | 252 HP 252 Attack 4 Defense | Black Belt | Collision Course Drain Punch Screech Fire Fang | Adamant | Fighting |
The Legendary Paradox Pokémon from Scarlet is the perfect companion to take into a Tera Raid. It’s incredibly powerful and durable, and the build above plays into that strength. Start the battle with Screech to lower the raid boss’s defense, use Collision Course and Fire Fang as your main damage-dealing moves, and switch to Drain Punch when in need of a heal.
Miraidon
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Hadron Engine | 252 HP 252 Special Attack 4 Defense | Weakness Policy | Electro Drift Metal Sound Charge Parabolic Charge | Modest | Electric |
The Legendary Paradox Pokémon from Violet is also an excellent choice for Tera Raids. This build will help you get the most out of its Electric attacks, making it particularly good against Water and Flying-type Pokémon. Use Charge on the first turn to increase the power of Electro Drift, then follow up with Electro Drift. Parabolic Charge is a good alternative when needing to top-up your HP.
Perrserker
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Steely Spirit | 252 HP 252 Attack 4 Defense | Metal Coat | Iron Head Screech Taunt Helping Hand | Adamant | Steel |
A Perrserker with Steely Spirit deals 50 percent more damage when using Steel-type moves, making it an absolute machine in Tera Raids, especially against the right match-ups. Start with Taunt, then use Iron Head repeatedly to maximize your damage output. Screech and Helping Hand can also come in clutch to help your allies finish the job.
Slowbro
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Oblivious | 252 HP 252 Special Attack 4 Defense | Leftovers | Iron Defense Nasty Plot Stored Power Psychic Terrain | Modest | Psychic |
Slowbro isn’t the first name that springs to mind when thinking about tearing up Tera Raids, but the Gen I Pokémon is an absolute beast when paired with this build. The premise is simple: use Iron Defense three times to make Slowbro an immovable object, then Nasty Plot three times to max out its Special Attack. After that, spam Psychic Terrain to increase the damage of Stored Power, then use Stored Power to dish out a lethal blow.
Umbreon
| Ability | EVs | Held Item | Moves | Nature | Tera Type |
| Synchronize | 252 HP 252 Special Defense 4 Defense | Leftovers | Screech Helping Hand Yawn Fake Tears | Calm | Ghost |
Unlike the other Pokémon on this list who are all about dealing or absorbing tons of damage, Umbreon shines as a support in Tera Raids. Start off with Screech to drastically lower the raid boss’ defense, then use Helping Hand to increase your allies’ attack by 50 percent, followed by Yawn to put the raid boss to sleep, then repeatedly use Fake Tears to lower its Special Defense.
So there you have it. The ten best Pokémon for general use in Tera Raids. There are, of course, countless others that will be more effective against certain raid bosses, but these ones are a safe bet for most.
