Best Pokémon to counter the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid event in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

No sword? No shell? No problem.

Image via The Pokémon Company

Time to get back in the seven-star saddle as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet launches its latest Tera Raid event—featuring the Unrivaled Samurott.

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This is the first time players can catch Samurott and obtain its evolutionary line in Gen IX, but to do so they will need to conquer what is essentially Scarlet and Violet’s hardest post-game challenge. 

Seven-star Tera Raid events are designed to be the toughest raids, testing players’ abilities to train the right Pokémon and work together against mighty bosses. Whether you team up with friends, randomly match with strangers, or challenge the Unrivaled event solo, you will need to properly prepare yourself. 

How to beat the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

These seven-star Tera Raids all follow the same format, by bringing in a Pokémon previously unavailable in Scarlet and Violet as a level 100 super boss with some additional boosts. This means players will want to make sure they are only bringing a Pokémon that is also level 100 because going in with anything less than that could lead to early knockouts and ruined raid attempts. 

Just like with previous bosses, Samurott will only appear with a Bug Tera Type. This helps it hit harder and avoid some key weaknesses, but you also need to remember it will still have Water-type moves too, so bringing something like a Fire-type as a counter is not a good call.

Related: What moves does Samurott know in the Unrivaled Tera Raid event?

Thankfully, Samurott is notorious for being easy to counter because it has a limited move pool and is more of an all-rounder, making its attacks a bit less dangerous if it has a mixed spread.

This specific build has no Ice-type coverage and is focused on landing increased Critical Hits. Here are some of the best counters you can use to challenge the Unrivalved Samurott. which ends on April 9 and won’t return until a later date.

Best counters for the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Best Corviknight build for the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Even if Ice-moves were on the table, Corviknight is defensive enough to tank some hits thanks to its natural bulk. Now it is basically the ultimate answer to Unrivaled Samurott since it resists or is immune to every move outside of Aqua Cutter. 

Get yourself a bulky bird and go to work today.

  • Tera Type: Flying
  • Ability: Pressure
    • When this Pokémon is hit by a move, the opponent’s PP lowers by two rather than one.
  • Nature: Adamant (+ Attack, – Special Attack)
  • Held Item: Leftovers/Shell Bell
  • Both of these items heal Coriknight in their own ways, giving it additional time on the field without needing to use a move like Roost and waste a turn to heal.
  • EV spread
    • 252 Attack
      • The other 256 can be placed in whatever stat you want. For this raid event specifically, HP and Defense are recommended.
  • Moves
    • Drill Peck/Brave Bird
    • Screech
    • Reflect/Roost/Taunt

Best Salamence build for the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

As soon as it was shown that Unrivaled Samurott would have no access to Ice-type moves, legions of Dragon-types saw their usage rates skyrocket. Salamence most of all thanks to its access to Intimidate and a number of other fantastic moves.

  • Tera Type: Flying
  • Ability: Intimidate
    • Upon entering battle, the opponent’s Attack lowers one stage.
  • Nature: Adamant (+ Attack, – Special Attack)
  • Held Item: Leftovers/Shell Bell
    • Since you will likely be focusing on setting up and dealing damage, these items will let you skip out on Roost as a move if you want to while still having some residual healing. 
  • EV spread
    • 252 Attack
      • The other 256 can be placed in whatever stat you want. For this raid event specifically, HP and Defense are recommended. 
  • Moves
    • Fly/Dual Wingbeat/Fire Fang
    • Dragon Dance
    • Roost

Best Cloyster build for the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

If you are worried about Critical Hits, why not simply ignore them? Cloyster has access to plenty of good moves, a high Defense stat, and the ability Shell Armor—which completely negates the chance of a Critical Hit on moves it is hit by. 

Pack some decent moves for all situations and you should be good to go with this pick. 

Tera Type: Ice or Water

Ability: Shell Armor

  • The opponent’s moves cannot Critical Hit.

Nature: Bold (+ Defense, – Attack)

Held Item: Leftovers/Shell Bell/Ice Stone

  • If you want some extra HP every turn, pick your poison between Leftovers and Shell Bell. Ice Stone will keep your Snowscape up longer, giving you more turns with boosted Defense without needing to set it back up. 

EV spread

  • 252 HP
  • The other 256 can be placed in whatever stat you want. For this raid event specifically, Special Attack and Defense are recommended. 

Moves

  • Chilling Water/Ice Beam
  • Snowscape
    • Boosts the Defense of all Ice-types, so it can help you live longer
  • Helping Hand/Life Dew

Best Azumarill build for the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

The king of casual raids returns as a viable option against Unrivaled Samurott, mostly thanks to its duel typing. 

Azumarill is not the best option out of this list, but if you don’t want to build something new up and have old reliable sitting in your PC box, go ahead and break the glass for Belly Drum.

Tera Type: Water

Ability: Huge Power

  • The Pokémon’s Attack stat is doubled while it has this ability.

Nature: Adamant (+ Attack, – Special Attack)

Held Item: Shell Bell

  • When this item is held, the holder recovers 1/8th of the damage it inflicts on its opponents.

EV spread

  • 252 Attack
  • The other 256 can be placed in whatever stat you want. For this raid event specifically, HP and Defense are recommended. 

Moves

  • Belly Drum
  • Liquidation/Bounce/Play Rough
  • Helping Hand/Rain Dance

Best Tauros build for the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Do not bring Fire-types to this raid. But this single build from popular Pokémon YouTuber HoodlumCallum shared has been putting in work during this event as long as you play it smart—or have a reliable group to team up with for better communication. 

With this Paldean Tauros setup, you will bring the Blaze Breed and use Tail Whip on turn one. Even if you die on turn two, just set up Sunny Day when you get back in and start spamming Raging Bull from there. The rest should be history. 

Tera Type: Fire

Ability: Anger Point

  • Increases Attack to maximum level upon taking a critical hit.

Nature: Adamant (+ Attack, – Special Attack)

Held Item: Shell Bell

  • When this item is held, the holder recovers 1/8th of the damage it inflicts on its opponents.

EV spread

  • 252 Attack
  • The other 256 can be placed in whatever stat you want. For this raid event specifically, HP and Defense are recommended. 

Moves

  • Tail Whip
  • Sunny Day
  • Raging Bull
  • Flare Blitz

Best Walking Wake build for the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

This is one of the first seven-star events to roll out after Walking Wake was added to the game, making it the perfect time to roll out one of the weirdest Water-types in the game. Setting up the sun and throwing out Flamethrower is the play. 

Tera Type: Dragon or Water

Ability: Protosynthesis

  • Increases the user’s highest stat by 30% (or 50% for Speed) while Sunny Day is activated or if the Booster Energy is attached.

Nature: Modest (+ Special Attack, – Attack)

Held Item: Shell Bell

  • When this item is held, the holder recovers 1/8th of the damage it inflicts on its opponents.

EV spread

  • 252 Special Attack
  • The other 256 can be placed in whatever stat you want. For this raid event specifically, HP and Defense are recommended. 

Moves

  • Sunny Day
  • Flamethrower
  • Chilling Water
  • Noble Roar

Best Koraidon build for the Unrivaled Samurott Tera Raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

This is a bit of a push for Violet players since they likely don’t have access to a Koraidon, but this is a similar situation to Walking Wake where it can take advantage of the sun to put Samurott in a bad situation while getting boosts for itself—and teammates. 

Tera Type: Fire

Ability: Orichalcum Pulse

  • The user changes the weather to Harsh Sunlight for five turns, and boosts its Attack stat by 30% while said weather is active.

Nature: Adamant (+ Attack, – Special Attack)

Held Item: Heat Rock

  • When this item is held by a Pokémon, if the holder uses the move Sunny Day, the weather effect lasts eight turns as opposed to five.

EV spread

  • 252 Attack
  • The other 256 can be placed in whatever stat you want. For this raid event specifically, HP and Defense are recommended. 

Moves

  • Flare Blitz
  • Drain Punch
  • Sunny Day
  • Screech/Bulk Up/Helping Hand
Author
Image of Cale Michael
Cale Michael
Lead Staff Writer for Dota 2, the FGC, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and more who has been writing for Dot Esports since 2018. Graduated with a degree in Journalism from Oklahoma Christian University and also previously covered the NBA. You can usually find him writing, reading, or watching an FGC tournament.
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