7 Pokémon to Train Up for the 7-Star Greninja Tera Raid

The next seven-star Tera Raid event in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has been announced: a battle against a high-leveled Greninja with the Poison Tera Type. Greninja, the final evolution of Generation 6 Water starter Froakie, is a Water/Dark type Pokémon. It is the first non Fire-type to appear in 7-star Tera Raids, as the first two events featured Charizard and Cinderace respectively. This Greninja will be available to battle between January 27 and January 30 and again between February 10 and February 12. Currently, this Tera Raid is the only way to obtain Greninja (or its pre-evolutions Froakie and Frogadier, via breeding) in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

This 7-star Tera Raid Battle promises to be a tricky one. The two types strong against the Poison type, Ground and Psychic, are weak to Greninja’s original types, Water and Dark, meaning that Greninja’s moves will likely do a lot of damage against them. Previous Tera Raids have also shown that the Pokémon can know and use unexpected moves, such as Cinderace’s Iron Head. While there is no way to know exactly what Pokémon will be best against Greninja until the event begins, here are a few that some theorize might be useful to build and train while waiting for Greninja’s debut.

Clodsire

GreninjaClodsire

This new evolution of Paldean Wooper is a Poison/Ground-type Pokémon that lives in ponds and wetlands throughout Paldea. It evolves at Level 20, making it fairly easy to obtain a Clodsire even if you catch it as a Wooper. To be most effective in this raid, your Clodsire should have Water Absorb as its ability and feature Ground over Poison as its Tera Type. Some good damaging move options for Clodsire include Acid Spray and Earth Power; it can also boost its Special Defense via Amnesia. Clodsire’s major downfall is its low Attack stat, so consider maximizing your Clodsire’s Special Attack as much as possible before challenging this Tera Raid.

Quagsire

GreninjaQuagsire

The “original form” of Wooper’s evolution could also potentially be a great option for the Greninja fight. Like Clodsire, it can learn Ground-type moves, but it also has a dual Water typing, meaning that Water-type moves will not be super effective against it. It can come with Water Absorb, though its Hidden Ability Unaware may be the better choice, as it will let Quagsire ignore any stat changes that Greninja inflicts on itself. You can only obtain one Johtonian Wooper by trading a Paldean Wooper to an NPC in Cascarrafa, although it can be bred to get more.

Vaporeon

GreninjaVaporeon

Another Pokémon that can heal itself using the ability Water Absorb! Vaporeon’s balanced stat spread and solid movepool mean that it can likely go paw-to-webbed-toe with Greninja. While it doesn’t naturally learn any Psychic-type moves, you can teach it Stored Power and Calm Mind via TMs – especially helpful if you manage to find a Vaporeon with Psychic as its Tera Type. Vaporeon can be caught in the wild in North Province Area Two, and evolve from Eevee using a Water Stone. You can purchase Water Stones at the Delibird Presents store or earn them randomly as a reward for completing Tera Raid Battles.

Garchomp

GreninjaGarchomp

Garchomp is a Dragon/Ground-type Pokémon that evolves from Gabite, which evolves from Gible. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Gible and Gabite can be found in caves and underground areas in Paldea’s South and West Provinces, and evolve via leveling. Using Garchomp in this Tera Raid Battle will likely be a “high risk, high reward” strategy – it can do tons of damage using Physical Ground-type moves like Dig or Stomping Tantrum, but it could be taken out by Greninja’s Water-type moves if you aren’t careful. A non-Ground Tera Type may be preferable if your Garchomp is getting hit hard by the opposing Greninja.

Gastrodon

GreninjaGastrodon

A somewhat bulky Water/Ground-type, Gastrodon evolves from Shellos at Level 30. In Paldea, both Shellos and Gastrodon hang around Casseroya Lake and various parts of the North Province. Gastrodon can have the ability Storm Drain, which can render it fully immune to Water-type attacks. (Do keep in mind, however, that Storm Drain’s ability to redirect Water attacks towards the user does not work in Tera Raid Battles.) Gastrodon comes in two types, East Sea and West Sea, but the differences between the two are fully cosmetic. Feel free to choose your preferred Gastrodon style to face down Greninja!

Toxapex

GreninjaToxapex

To succeed in a 7-star Tera Raid Battle, you don’t just need attackers. In fact, without a supporting Pokémon throwing out defensive and healing moves, you’ll probably wind up getting knocked out too many times and failing the raid. The Water/Poison-type Toxapex, the evolved form of Mareanie, is a solid choice for a supporter in the battle against Greninja. It is not likely to be weak to any of Greninja’s attacks, and it can use moves like Acid Spray to lower Greninja’s Special Defense. In Paldea, Mareanie and the occasional Toxapex swim in the oceans of Paldea’s East Province.

Toxicroak

GreninjaToxicroak

Although Toxicroak is not as bulky as some others on this list, it has one benefit that may prove invaluable in the fight against Greninja. This is the Ability Dry Skin, which allows this Poison/Fighting-type to restore its HP when hit with Water-type moves, of which Greninja will likely be packing at least one. Its attacks are not amazing against Greninja, but it can learn some Ground-type moves via TM that can do a decent amount of damage. Toxicroak is the evolved form of Croagunk, which can typically be found along the western shore of Casseroya Lake in Paldea. Toxicroak itself has a rare chance of spawning in the swamps and marshy areas just south of the lake in West Province Area Two.

Unfortunately, until Greninja’s moveset is officially revealed, it is impossible to truly know what the best Pokémon to use against it in Tera Raid Battles will be. Some possible factors that could dramatically affect battle strategy include whether Greninja has Ice-type moves to deal with Dragons or if it has the Ability Battle Bond, which lets it transform into a more powerful form in combat. However, if you want to get a head start on planning for this Tera Raid, the above seven Pokémon are a decent place to start.

What Pokémon are you planning to train and use for the 7-Star Greninja Tera Raid Battle? What powerful Pokémon are you hoping to see during future Tera Raid events? Comment below and let us know!

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Pokemon Trainer N
1 year ago

Quagsire is water/ground not pure water

Tim
Tim
1 year ago

Increasing Clodsire’s attack does nothing when you’re suggesting that he’s built with special focused moves such as Acid Spray and Earth Power. Which you shouldn’t anyways as his special attack is abysmal and not worth investing into. Clodsire would be a support, similar to Toxapex at most.

Last edited 1 year ago by Tim