Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: How to beat 7-star Incineroar Tera Raid guide

Master the 7-star Incineroar Tera Raid with expert strategies, counter picks, and timing tactics for maximum rewards

Event Schedule and Key Details

The formidable Alolan Fire Starter, Incineroar, has emerged as the latest 7-star Tera Raid challenge in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, presenting trainers with an intense battle experience. This powerful combatant follows previous raid bosses like Chest Form Gimmighoul and Dragonite, bringing its signature Dark Tera Type to the forefront.

Unlike earlier raid events, Incineroar doesn’t coincide with Mass Outbreaks but features a unique two-phase appearance schedule. The initial wave runs from Friday, September 6, 2024, at 00:00 UTC until Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 23:59 UTC, giving trainers their first opportunity to challenge this powerful opponent.

The strategic second phase occurs from Friday, September 13, 2024, at 00:00 UTC until Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 23:59 UTC, where Incineroar returns accompanied by Blissey featuring various Tera Types in 5-star raids. This dual-event structure provides both challenge opportunities and farming potential for valuable resources.

Critical limitation alert: trainers can only capture one Incineroar with the Mightiest Mark per save file. However, you can repeatedly challenge the raid to collect abundant rewards and farm Herba Mystica, making multiple attempts highly valuable for resource accumulation.

Incineroar’s Battle Arsenal and Weaknesses

During this exclusive event, Incineroar with the Mightiest Mark features a Dark Tera Type, complementing its natural Fire/Dark typing. As a 7-star Tera Raid boss, it possesses maximized stats and a diverse movepool designed to challenge even experienced trainers.

Incineroar’s offensive arsenal includes devastating attacks like:

  • Darkest Lariat (Dark)
  • While the raid boss primarily utilizes STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) moves, it maintains dangerous coverage options including Fighting, Steel, Normal, and Ground-type attacks. As a dominant physical attacker, trainers should particularly fear Iron Head for coverage, along with high-damage nukes like Flare Blitz and Earthquake, with special attention required for its signature Darkest Lariat.

    The Dark Tera Type creates interesting type interactions since regular Incineroar already possesses Dark typing. Upon Terastallization, this boss becomes vulnerable to Fighting, Bug, and Fairy-type moves while gaining complete immunity to Psychic attacks. This maintains its original weaknesses while removing one potential counter option.

    Incineroar’s Intimidate ability presents a significant challenge by automatically lowering your Pokémon’s Attack stat upon entering battle. To counter this mechanic, prioritize special attackers or Pokémon utilizing Body Press (which scales with Defense) and Belly Drum strategies that can overcome the stat reduction.

    Advanced tip: Incineroar typically uses Bulk Up to boost its Attack and Defense stats, making stat-resetting moves or abilities that reverse stat changes particularly valuable for maintaining control of the battle tempo.

    Top Counter Strategies and Team Builds

    Success against this powerful raid boss requires carefully crafted strategies. Here are the most effective counter approaches for both solo and team play:

    For solo enthusiasts, Malamar provides an unconventional but highly effective solution. Despite its Dark/Psychic typing making it seem counterintuitive (given Incineroar’s Psychic immunity when Terastallized), the key lies in utilizing a Fighting Tera Type Malamar with the game-changing Contrary ability.

    Begin by using Skill Swap to exchange abilities with Incineroar, causing its Bulk Up attempts to lower its Attack stat instead of raising it. After your first faint, you’ll regain Contrary, allowing you to spam Superpower without stat penalties. Deploy Reflect for damage reduction and use Tera Blast after Terastallizing for maximum Fighting-type damage output.

    The massive Water-type Dondozo offers another reliable solo option by exploiting Incineroar’s pre-Terastallization Fire weakness. The strategy focuses on rapid Terastallization through spamming Chilling Water (which simultaneously lowers Incineroar’s Attack). After transforming, use Protect to avoid damage while setting up with Curse to boost Attack and Defense, then unleash devastating Body Press attacks that scale with your heightened Defense.

    The pseudo-legendary Kommo-o brings excellent type synergy as a Dragon/Fighting-type resistant to both Fire and Dark moves. Equip it with a Shell Bell for sustained recovery and utilize its Soundproof ability to neutralize sound-based moves like Parting Shot. Initiate with Rain Dance to weaken Fire attacks, then boost your Defense with Iron Defense while lowering Incineroar’s with Screech before finishing with powerful Body Press strikes.

    For Fairy-type specialists, Dachsbun provides excellent coverage with its pure Fairy typing that resists Dark moves while targeting Incineroar’s Fairy weakness. Its Well-Baked Body ability makes it immune to Fire damage while boosting Defense from such attacks. Use Body Press for damage scaling with Defense, while supporting with Protect, Misty Terrain to prevent status conditions, and Charm to reduce Incineroar’s Attack stat.

    Team coordination tip: When raiding with others, ensure diverse type coverage and include support Pokémon that can handle stat resets, healing, and terrain control to maximize your collective survival and damage output.

    Rewards and Shiny Hunting Possibilities

    Victorious trainers who conquer this 7-star challenge earn the opportunity to capture the Tera Raid boss with its exclusive Mightiest Mark, though remember the one-per-save-file limitation. Repeated victories yield valuable rewards including:

  • Herba Mystica (Bitter, Salty, Spice, Sour, or Sweet)
  • Regarding shiny hunters’ expectations: Incineroar with the Mightiest Mark cannot be encountered as a Shiny variant in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Tera Raids. This follows the established pattern for all previous 7-star raid bosses, maintaining consistency across high-level raid events.

    However, dedicated breeders can pursue shiny Incineroar through traditional methods. Capturing this raid boss provides excellent breeding stock, and employing the Masuda Method (breeding with a Pokémon from a different language game) significantly enhances your odds of obtaining the coveted shiny variant.

    Resource farming strategy: Since you can only catch one Incineroar, focus subsequent raids on accumulating Herba Mystica for shiny hunting other Pokémon or creating powerful meal powers to enhance your overall gameplay experience.

    No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: How to beat 7-star Incineroar Tera Raid guide Master the 7-star Incineroar Tera Raid with expert strategies, counter picks, and timing tactics for maximum rewards