Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Best builds for 7-Star Charizard Tera Raids

The 7-Star Charizard Tera Raid is one of the hardest fights available in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Here’s everything trainers need to know about which Pokemon to bring along for the battle.

The first 7-Star Tera Raid featuring Dragon Tera-type Charizard is back once again for players to challenge from Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 4:00 PM PST until Sunday, December 18, 2022, at 3:59 PM PST.

7-Star Tera Raids are only available to trainers who’ve beaten the main game. As such, these battles are going to be extremely difficult fights even with three other trainers to help out.

Players looking to take on the raid for themselves are going to want to bring along a strong Fairy-type Pokemon to counter Charizard’s new Dragon typing. Here are the best Pokemon and builds that players should consider when tackling the 7-Star Charizard Tera Raid.

Best Pokemon for 7-Star Charizard Tera Raids

Azumarill

*Please note there is currently a bug with Tera Raids that sometimes prevents this build from working properly! After a Pokemon is knocked out by Play Rough, it will regain a portion of its health.

For the purposes of this guide, we’ll keep Azumarill’s section fairly brief, but those who want to read a more in-depth guide for using Azumarill in these 7-Star Charizard Raids can check out our full guide linked here.

As a Water/Fairy-type, Azumarill is an excellent option to take on 7-Star Charizard as it mitigates its new Dragon typing and its Fire-type moves.

This particular Tera Raid build utilizes Azumarill’s Huge Power ability – which doubles its attack stat – as well as the moves Belly Drum and Play Rough. With this combo, trainers should be able to one-shot Tera Raid Charizard. However, it’s important to remember that Azumarill has fairly frail Defenses, meaning this is sort of an ‘all-or-nothing’ type build.

Here is a build for Azumarill that should help trainers during the 7-Star Charizard Tera Raid:

• Nature – Adamant (+Atk, -Sp Atk.)
• Ability – Huge Power
• Held Item – Ability Shield
• Moveset – Belly Drum, Play Rough, Tail Whip/Helping Hand, and Liquidation

Though Belly Drum is considered an Egg Move for Azumarill, there is a quicker way to have one learn the move, which trainers can read through our Azumarill Tera Raid build guide.

Sylveon

Sylveon is a strong Fairy-type that is relatively easy to obtain in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Players simply need to find an Eevee in the wild and level it up with high friendship.

Some of Sylveon’s best natures would probably be Calm (+Sp. Def, -Atk) or Modest (+Sp. Atk, -Atk) as Special Attack and Special Defense are two of Sylveon’s highest stats.

Additionally, Sylveon learns strong Fairy-type moves to attack as well as excellent utility moves to both heal and aid its teammates.

Sylveon is a solid Fairy-type Pokemon that’s relatively easy to obtain.

Here is a build for Sylveon that should help trainers during the 7-Star Charizard Tera Raid:

• Nature – Calm or Modest
• Ability – Cute Charm or Pixelate
• Held Item – Choice Specs, Expert Belt, Focus Band, Wise Glasses
• Moveset – Moonblast, Hyper Voice, Light Screen/Reflect, and Calm Mind

If trainers can get Sylveon’s Pixelate ability through the Ability Patch items, any Normal-type moves it uses will become Fairy-type moves. This means powerful Normal Special Attack moves like Hyper Beam could do very high damage to Charizard.

Gardevoir

Gardevoir is another strong Special Attacker who should do quite well against Charizard, especially since it’s slightly faster than Sylveon. Of course, each Pokemon has its strengths and weaknesses, and using one over the other may just be a matter of preference.

In Ralts’ case, it can be found a bit earlier than Eevee but is a rare spawn. However, lucky players might have caught one at the start of their journey making Gardevoir an easy pick.

Gardevoir is a strong Fairy-type Special Attacker who has the added benefit of Psychic typing.

Here is a build for Gardevior that should help trainers during the 7-Star Charizard Tera Raid:

• Nature – Calm, Modest, or Timid
• Ability – Synchronize or Telepathy
• Held Item – Choice Specs, Expert Belt, Focus Band, Wise Glasses
• Moveset – Moonblast, Icy Wind, Light Screen/Reflect, and Calm Mind

Gardevoir’s Held Items and Moveset is similar to Sylveon, but Gardevoir has the added benefit of learning a handful of Ice-type moves. As Charizard will be Dragon-type for this fight it may prove useful to have additional options.

Grimmsnarl

Finally, Grimmsnarl differs a bit from Sylveon and Gardevoir in that it functions as a mixed attacker with a slightly higher Attack stat.

Players likely won’t find Impidimp or its evolution Morgrem until the latter half of their adventure, as they’re located in Tagtree Thicket. However, they’re very powerful Dark/Fairy-type Pokemon that will prove to be a welcome addition to any team.

Grimmsnarl is a hard-hitting Fairy-type with an added Dark typing.

Here is a build for Grimmsnarl that should help trainers during the 7-Star Charizard Tera Raid:

• Nature – Brave or Adamant
• Ability – Prankster
• Held Item – Choice Band, Expert Belt, Focus Band, Muscle Band
• Moveset – Play Rough, Spirit Break, Light Screen/Reflect, and Bulk Up

While Play Rough has slightly more power than Spirit Break, lowering Charizard’s Special Attack stat with Spirit Break could prove useful. However, if players are confident their Grmmsnarl can one-hit KO Charizard, simply opt for Play Rough.

Honorable Mentions

While the three Pokemon above are excellent picks for taking on the 7-Star Charizard Tera Raid, some honorable mentions go to Flutter Mane for Pokemon Scarlet players and Iron Valiant for Pokemon Violet players.

These two are very strong late-game Pokemon that are Fairy-types that pack quite the punch. Those who haven’t trained up one of the three Pokemon listed above can find these Pokemon at a high level in the Great Crater of Paldea (Area Zero).

And that’s everything players need to know about which Pokemon to take into the 7-Star Charizard Tera Raid in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Those looking to find out more about Pokemon Scarlet & Violet can check out our other guides below:

Where to find Noibat & Noivern in Scarlet & Violet | Where to find Spiritomb in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet | Where to find Igglybuff, Jigglypuff, Wigglytuff & Paradox Form in Scarlet & Violet | How to get Delibird & Iron Bundle | How to get Makuhita, Hariyama & Iron Hands | How to get Basculin & Basculegion | Where to find Swablu & Altaria in Scarlet & Violet | Where to find Sneasel, Weavile & Sneasler | Where to find Orthworm | Where to find Mimikyu in Scarlet & Violet | Where to find Ditto in Scarlet & Violet | How to get Eevee & Eeveelutions in Scarlet & Violet | Where to find Fidough & Dachsbun | How to get all starters in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet