Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: How to change the date and time

POKÉMON Scarlet & Violet have a number of ways to catch rare Pokémon that are dependent on your date and time.

However, when you change the date on your Switch, usually the game knows that you’re cheating.


Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: How to change the date and time
How the map should look when you quit.

We’ve found a method that lets you change the date and update all the outbreak and Tera-raid spawns.

Here’s how to catch rare Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Why do you need to change the date and time?

There are two time systems in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. One that changes the games’ world to day or night, and one that changes the rare spawns.

This trick doesn’t let you change to day or night, but you can do this by resting at the academy.

Changing your Switch’s date gives you a new set of outbreak spawns, which is good for those filling out the Pokédex, or for Shiny Hunters.

It also changes the Tera-raids, allowing you to catch different Pokémon with rare Tera-types, which is good for battling.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: How to change the date and time?

Changing the date and time is easy in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and works even in the updated version of the games.

All you need to do is open your map, and move to the Switch’s home screen before all the icons load on the map screen.

Make sure that Pokémon Scarlet or Violet is still running. Do not close the game on this screen.

Then go to settings -> system -> date and time, and move your clock one day forward.

You may need to be running your Switch in Flight Mode for this, as it may automatically sync to local time via the internet.

When you return to the game, you should see some pop-ups that say all the outbreaks have changed, as well as the Tera-raids.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.