Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: The five best support ‘mons for high-level raids

TERA-RAIDS are one of the best parts of Scarlet & Violet, but the difficult five- and six-star raids require quite a bit of strategy.

While we’ve outlined some of the best Pokémon to use in these raids, not everyone has the candy, mints, and bottle caps to create the ultimate attacker.

The Pokemon Company

Perrserker isn’t in the Pokedex but it is in the game.[/caption]

This is where support Pokémon come in, and they can actually be the difference between winning and losing online raids.

As these Pokémon don’t attack, you can more easily get away with using them at a lower level.

Here are our favourite support Pokémon to use in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Perrserker

This Pokémon isn’t even in the Pokédex, but you can get one by evolving the Meowth you get from the languages teacher for completing all of his lessons.

Perrserker has a good defensive type in Steel, and great physical defence to go with it, alongside its ability Battle Armour that prevents critical hits.

It also learns both Metal Sound, and Screech to cut through the opponents’ defences, and Helping Hand to help boost your partner’s attack.

Amnesia helps make up for its poor special defence stat, and Taunt is great to stop the enemy from setting up and one-shotting you.

Perrserker

• Nature – Careful, Special Defence and HP invested
• Ability – Battle Armour
• Item – Ability Shield
• Tera-type – Flying (to avoid Ground-type attacks)
• Moves – Metal Sound (paired with Special Attacker) / Screech (paired with Physical Attacker), Taunt, Amnesia, Helping Hand

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Murkrow

While using an unevolved Pokémon may feel like a meme, Murkrow has a number of advantages over Honchkrow, due to the held item Eviolite.

The hidden ability Prankster also allows Murkrow’s moves to always go first.

Murkrow also uses Taunt, or can use Haze to eliminate stat changes after the raid boss has nullified yours.

It also has Screech if paired with a Physical Attacker, and Snarl or Feather Dance to lower opponents’ attack stats.

Other moves such as Thunder Wave and Mud Slap can work to prevent the opponent from attacking.

Murkrow

• Nature – Careful, Defence and HP invested
• Ability – Prankster
• Item – Eviolite
• Tera-type – Steel
• Moves – Screech (paired with Physical Attacker), Snarl (against special ‘mon) / Feather Dance (against physical ‘mon), Taunt / Haze, Thunder Wave / Mud Slap

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Tinkaton

Tinkaton is one of the best Pokémon of this generation, and not just because of Gigaton Hammer.

It has the best defensive typing, and Mold Breaker is the ability to use here, as it will nullify the opponent’s ability.

Tinkaton learns both Light Screen and Reflect to protect your team from attacks, and Baby-Doll Eyes, which lowers attack and has priority.

Helping Hand is also good to boost your partner’s attack, while Fake Tears works well if paired with a special attacker.

Encore is another great move that can keep the opponent using ineffective moves, while Thunder Wave can also help with disruption.

Tinkaton

• Nature – Bold, Defence and HP invested
• Ability – Mold Breaker
• Item – Light Clay
• Tera-type – Steel (or Fairy)
• Moves – Encore, Thunder Wave, Light Screen (against special ‘mons) / Reflect (against physical ‘mons), Baby-Doll Eyes (against physical ‘mons) / Fake Tears (paired with special ‘mons)

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Dachsbun

Dachsbun has a great typing, amazing ability, great defensive stats and varied moveset that makes it one of the best Pokémon to use in raids.

Well-Baked Body means that not only does it receive no damage from Fire-type moves, but they also raise its defence by two stages.

It also learns Howl which raises the attack of all of its allies. Charm can also be used again physical ‘mons, and Snarl against special ones.

Of course it also learns Helping Hand, and Wish to restore health is the icing on the bun.

Dachsbun

• Nature – Careful, Special Defence and HP invested
• Ability – Well-Baked Body
• Item – Ability Shield
• Tera-type – Steel
• Moves – Howl, Helping Hand, Wish, Charm (against physical ‘mons) / Snarl (against special ‘mons)

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Azumarill

Inside everyone is two Azumarill. One has Huge Power, and the other has Thick Fat.

For support you’ll want the thicc ‘mon, with both screens to boost your team’s defences.

Amnesia will further boost its special defence, and Helping Hand will boost your partner’s attack.

Tail Whip will help if your partner attacks physically, and Fake Tears if it attacks specially.

Finally, Aqua Ring will restore health every turn to keep you in the game.

Azumarill

• Nature – Bold, Special Defence and HP invested
• Ability – Thick Fat
• Item – Light Clay
• Tera-type – Steel
• Moves – Amnesia / Aqua Ring, Helping Hand, Light Screen (against special ‘mons) / Reflect (against physical ‘mons), Tail Whip (with physical ‘mons) / Fake Tears (with special ‘mons)

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.