Best Pokemon for Decidueye Tera Raid: how to beat the 7-Star Decidueye event

Use these monsters in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Decidueye raids
Best Pokemon for Decidueye Tera Raid: how to beat the 7-Star Decidueye event
Best Pokemon for Decidueye Tera Raid: how to beat the 7-Star Decidueye event /

The Pokémon Company has now released a new 7-star raid event for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, featuring the Alolan Grass-type starter Decidueye. Like previous 7-star raids, Decidueye is quite difficult to take down, but through extensive testing we’ve come up with a few good ways to take it down.

This guide will give you everything you need to know about Decidueye’s move set and the best counters in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

When does the Decidueye raid start?

Like previous 7-star raids, the Decidueye raid is taking place over two weekends. Unlike previous starter Pokémon raids, the two phases of this event will take place just a week apart, rather than two weeks apart.

Here are the dates for the 7-star Decidueye raid:

  • March 17 to March 19
  • March 24 to March 26

7-Star Tera Raid Decidueye stats, moves – Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

We now have full details on the moves and stats of Decidueye as a 7-Star Tera Raid boss in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet:

The Mightiest Decidueye - Level 100

  • Nature - Brave
  • Ability - Long Reach
  • Item - None
  • Tera-type - Flying
  • Move set - Brave Bird, Feather Dance, Swords Dance, Low Kick, Air Cutter, Leaf Blade, Spirit Shackle

Decidueye has a fairly limited move pool compared to previous raid Pokémon like Greninja or Cinderace, with only a few types of offensive moves available to it. Grass-, Ghost-, Fighting-, and Flying-type attacks are the moves it has access to. The move pool might be limited, but you shouldn’t underestimate it, because Decidueye is a tough one.

Decidueye comes with a Flying Tera type, which means it gets a big damage boost for Brave Bird and Air Cutter, both of which can be devastating if you don’t prepare. It also has Feather Dance, meaning it’s much safer to go with special attackers rather than physical attackers.

It’s running a physical move set, so physical bulk is a must, and also comes with Long Reach, meaning that any moves, abilities, and items that rely on contact to take effect won’t be useful here.

Best counters for Decidueye - Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Decidueye.
The Pokémon Company / Nintendo

Now that we know exactly what Decidueye is running, we think a special attacker who resists most of Decidueye’s moves is the way to go. Having a bit of bulk in physical defense is crucial, as Decidueye’s physical attacks are no joke, especially after a Swords Dance, and using your first turn effectively is the key to success.

Here are our suggestions:

Rotom Heat

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Rotom Heat Forme.
The Pokémon Company / Nintendo

There’s a pretty good chance you already have a Rotom from previous 7-star raids, as it was a prime choice for Cinderace. Even if you don’t, it’s a fairly easy Pokémon to find and train, and once you’ve picked up the Rotom Catalog from the Porto Marinada market, switching it to its Heat form is quick and easy.

Rain Dance gives you 100% accuracy on Thunder, which when boosted by Nasty Plot should deal massive damage. Will-O-Wisp will also cut Decidueye’s attack in half, making Brave Bird much less of a threat.

Here’s what we recommend:

Rotom Heat - Level 100

  • Nature – Modest
  • Ability – Levitate
  • Item – Shell Bell
  • Tera-type – Electric
  • Move set – Nasty Plot, Rain Dance, Thunder, Will-O-Wisp

Miraidon

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Miraidon.
The Pokémon Company / Nintendo

Using a Legendary Pokémon might feel a little bit cheap, but Game Freak has let us use them so we may as well get the most out of it. Miraidon will set up Electric Terrain at the start of battle, immediately giving it and any other Electric-type Pokemon a big damage boost.

Electro Drift is also boosted against Flying-type Pokémon, making its already high base power even higher, while Parabolic Charge will help keep Miraidon healthy. Taunt and Calm Mind round out the move set to deny Decidueye’s setting up and push Miraidon’s attacking power to absurd heights, respectively.

Here’s what we think is the best set:

Miraidon - Level 100

  • Nature – Modest
  • Ability – Hadron Engine
  • Item – Big Root/ Terrain Extender
  • Tera-type – Electric
  • Move set – Electro Drift, Parabolic Charge, Taunt, Calm Mind

Corviknight

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Corviknight.
The Pokémon Company / Nintendo

It might not look like it at first glance, but Corviknight is one of the best supportive Pokémon in the game, with a fantastic defense stat and amazing moves like Taunt, Reflect, and Roost.

Starting off with a Reflect is your best bet, as Decidueye will clear any stat boosts you set up just after the first turn. After the stat clear, you’ll want to start using Bulk Up, bolstering Corviknight’s already strong defenses and setting up its Power Trip to do big damage.

The crow Pokémon’s most valuable trait here is that it’s almost impossible for it to be knocked out, with plenty of bulk and Roost to heal back up if your HP falls a little bit low. It might not be the quickest win, but you’ll certainly stay alive at least.

Here’s what we recommend for Corviknight:

Corviknight - Level 100

  • Nature – Impish
  • Ability – Mirror Armor
  • Item – Shell Bell
  • Tera-type – Flying
  • Move set – Reflect, Roost, Bulk Up, Power Trip

Bellibolt

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Bellibolt.
The Pokémon Company / Nintendo

We were a little surprised at just how effective Bellibolt is in this raid, though looking back it checked all the right boxes. It’s got a lot of bulk, keeping it alive well beyond what you’d expect for a silly little frog, an optimal typing, and a wide move pool that prepares it for just about anything that Decidueye can throw out.

Bellibolt’s biggest draw card is its ability, however, which doubles the power of its electric attacks after it gets hit. That, combined with Parabolic Charge and an Electric Tera type means that you’ll be able to deal huge damage and stay healthy for a long time.

We’ve rounded out the set with a few moves to both prevent Decidueye’s defenses from getting too high, and to prevent its attacks from hitting too hard. This really is the little frog that could.

Here’s our recommended set:

Bellibolt - Level 100

  • Nature – Lax
  • Ability – Electromorphosis
  • Item – Big Root
  • Tera-type – Electric
  • Move set – Acid Spray, Parabolic Charge, Reflect, Chilling Water

We have a few general Tera Raid tips for you in store as well, if you want to make some additional preparations.


Published
Oliver Brandt
OLIVER BRANDT

Oliver Brandt is a writer based in Tasmania, Australia. A marketing and journalism graduate, they have a love for puzzle games, JRPGs, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and any platformer with a double jump.