Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Decidueye seven-star raid guide

POKÉMON has just announced that the next seven-star raid will feature the Gen 7 starter Decidueye.

Each of these raids is very difficult, and often hard to take down without the right Pokémon.

Decidueye will be available in raids from March 17 to March 19 and again from March 24 to March 26.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Decidueye raid in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.

Pokémon SV: Decidueye raids

Luckily, Decidueye has quite a limited move pool, which means it only has Grass-, Ghost-, Fighting- and Flying-type attacks.

This means it’s easier to pick a Pokémon that will resist its attacks and be able to counter it.

It can learn one Dark-type attack, Knock Off, which is very scary as it removes your held item.

As a Flying-tera type, we think it will come with the most devastating Flying-type moves such as the deadly Brave Bird.

Decidueye will likely come equipped with Feather Dance, meaning that special attackers will be more valuable here.

It is a mixed attacker, and will likely have both kinds of moves, so it’s best to have both types of bulk.

The archer also comes with the ability Long Reach, meaning that all contact-based items and abilities will not work here.

Here’s Decidueye’s likely set.

The Mightiest Decidueye – Level 100

• Potential Nature – Brave
• Ability –  Long Reach
• Item – None
• Tera-type – Flying
• Potential Move set – Brave Bird, Feather Dance, Swords Dance, Knock Off, Phantom Force, Sunny Day, Solar Beam, Acrobatics, Low Kick

Pokémon SV: Decidueye raid counters

With all this in mind, we are looking for a special attacking counter who resists the majority of Decidueye’s attacks.

Once it sets up, this could become a difficult fight, so something that can deny its setup moves is also particularly powerful.

Miraidon

Game Freak has allowed the legendaries to enter seven-star raids since Pikachu, and we intend to take full advantage of that.

Setting up Electric Terrain at the start of battle will boost its powerful Electric-type attacks, and Electro Drift is boosted against Flying-types.

Parabolic Charge will help Miraidon stay healthy, while Taunt will deny any type of setup.

Here’s our recommended 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

Rotom Heat

If you’ve already built a good Rotom Fan for the Cinderace raid, then one check of the manual and you have a great ‘mon for this one.

Rain Dance will give you 100% accurate Thunders, which can be boosted by Nasty Plot.

Will-O-Wisp will also half Decidueye’s attack, drastically reducing the damage of those Brave Birds.

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

Iron Hands

Iron Hands is a classic raid ‘mon that is also strong here, particularly if it is paired with Miraidon’s Hadron Engine.

Despite being Fighting-type, the Electric-type protects its Flying-type weakness, and Clear Amulet will protect against Feather Dance.

The only issue here is if Decidueye has both Knock Off and Feather Dance, which would make Iron Hands unusable.

Here’s our recommended set.

Iron Hands – Level 100

• Nature – Careful
• Ability –  Quark Drive
• Item – Clear Amulet
• Tera-type – Electric
• Move set – Belly Drum, Thunder Punch, Electric Terrain, Charge

Frosmoth

Frosmoth is one of the most underappreciated Pokémon. It’s surprisingly bulky, and has great special attack.

Flying-type attacks will be an issue until it can terastylize, but it has a number of defense measures to negate this.

Setting up snow now only leads to accurate Blizzards, but also boosts defense.

Here’s our recommended set.

Frosmoth – Level 100

• Nature – Bold
• Ability –  Ice Scales
• Item – Shell Bell
• Tera-type – Flying
• Move set – Snowscape, Aurora Veil, Quiver Dance/ Feather Dance, Blizzard

Iron Bundle

Iron Bundle is weak to Grass-type attacks, but has a similar defensive arsenal to Frosmoth.

Blizzard will do the damage while Taunt will prevent Decidueye from setting up.

Avalanche is an interesting move if Iron Bundle is paired with a faster Pokémon.

Here’s our recommendations.

Iron Bundle – Level 100

• Nature – Quiet
• Ability –  Quark Drive
• Item – Shell Bell
• Tera-type – Flying
• Move set – Snowscape, Aurora Veil, Blizzard, Avalanche

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.