Key Takeaways

1. The Shiny Rayquaza Tera Raid event in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is live from December 19, 2024, to January 5, 2025, featuring a five-star Dragon Tera Raid.
2. Shiny Rayquaza is guaranteed to appear during the raid, making this a rare opportunity to add this Legendary Pokémon to your collection.
3. Use Fairy-type Pokémon like Azumarill or Crowned Zacian for the best counters, as Rayquaza’s moveset includes Dragon and Ground attacks.

For Pokémon trainers eager to add a rare Shiny Legendary to their collection, the Shiny Rayquaza Tera Raid event in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a must-play. This five-star Tera Raid features the iconic black dragon with a Dragon Tera Type, making it both a challenging and rewarding encounter. Unlike the grueling seven-star raids, this event is more accessible to a wider range of players. Whether you’re new to Tera Raids or a seasoned trainer, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide to catching and defeating Shiny Rayquaza before the event ends on January 5, 2025.

What You Need to Know About the Shiny Rayquaza Event

Event Duration

The Shiny Rayquaza Tera Raid event is available from:

• Start Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 6:00 PM CT
• End Date: Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 5:59 PM CT

During this time, special five-star Blissey Tera Raids will also appear on the map, offering additional rewards to enhance your raid experience.

How to Access the Event

To participate in the Shiny Rayquaza Tera Raid, follow these steps:

1. Complete the main story to unlock five-star Tera Raids.
2. Connect your Nintendo Switch to the internet and update your Poké Portal News.
3. Look for a glowing Dragon Tera Raid icon on your map. If it doesn’t appear, restart your game.
4. Travel to the Tera Raid location and interact with the crystal to confirm it’s a five-star raid featuring Rayquaza.

Alternatively, use the Tera Raid Battle Search feature in the Poké Portal to join group raids online. Note that a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required for online participation.

Can You Catch More Than One Shiny Rayquaza?

No, you can only catch one Shiny Rayquaza during this event. However, you can participate in the raid multiple times to earn additional rewards such as Tera Shards, EXP Candies, and rare items.

Shiny Rayquaza’s Tera Raid Overview

Type and Tera Type

• Base Type: Dragon/Flying
• Tera Type: Dragon

This Tera Type strengthens Rayquaza’s Dragon-type moves, making Fairy and Ice moves especially effective against it. However, avoid using Dragon-type counters, as they are also vulnerable to Rayquaza’s Dragon attacks.

Moveset

Rayquaza’s arsenal includes both physical and special attacks, as well as setup moves:

Physical Attacks

• Dragon Ascent
• Earthquake
• Extreme Speed

Special Attacks

• Dragon Pulse
• Draco Meteor
• Hurricane

Setup Move

• Dragon Dance

This versatile moveset means Rayquaza can hit hard with a mix of physical and special damage, so bring Pokémon with strong defensive stats or type resistances.

Best Counters for Shiny Rayquaza

Solo Strategy: Crowned Zacian

Crowned Zacian is one of the most effective Pokémon for soloing this raid. Here’s the optimal build:

• Nature: Adamant
• EVs: 252 Attack, 252 HP
• Moves: Play Rough, Swords Dance
• Strategy:
  1. Start by spamming Play Rough until Zacian is KO’d.
  2. Once revived, Terastallize to shed your Ground weakness.
  3. Use Swords Dance to boost your Attack, then continue hitting with Play Rough.

This strategy can help you defeat Rayquaza relatively quickly, even without support from other players.

Best Team Pokémon

1. Azumarill (Fairy/Water)

Azumarill is a powerhouse in Tera Raids thanks to its Huge Power ability.

• Nature: Adamant
• EVs: 252 HP, 252 Attack
• Moves: Belly Drum, Play Rough
• Held Item: Shell Bell
• Tera Type: Fairy
• Strategy: Start with Belly Drum to maximize Attack, then spam Play Rough. Use Shell Bell to recover HP with each attack.

2. Bronzong (Psychic/Steel)

If you prefer a support role, Bronzong can help your team survive longer.

• Nature: Relaxed
• Moves: Light Screen, Reflect, Ice Spinner
• Held Item: Light Clay
• Strategy: Use Light Screen and Reflect to mitigate damage for the entire team.

3. Flutter Mane (Fairy/Ghost)

Flutter Mane’s excellent Special Attack makes it a solid choice.

• Nature: Modest
• EVs: 252 Special Attack, 252 HP
• Moves: Moonblast, Calm Mind
• Held Item: Wise Glasses
• Strategy: Use Calm Mind to boost stats, then spam Moonblast.

Additional Tips for Success

Playing with Friends

Team coordination can make this raid even easier. Combine offensive Pokémon like Azumarill with support Pokémon like Bronzong to control the battlefield.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

• Don’t bring Pokémon weak to Ground or Flying moves, as Rayquaza uses Earthquake and Dragon Ascent frequently.
• Keep an eye on your Pokémon’s health and use healing items or allies with healing moves to stay in the fight.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I catch a Shiny Rayquaza outside of the raid event?

No, Shiny Rayquaza is Shiny-locked in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet outside of this specific event.

2. What rewards can I earn from the Shiny Rayquaza raid?

In addition to catching Shiny Rayquaza, you can earn Tera Shards, EXP Candies, Bottle Caps, and other valuable items.

3. Is it possible to use NPC allies for this raid?

Yes, NPC allies can assist, but they may not always provide the most effective support. For solo runs, rely on strong counters like Zacian or Azumarill.