The Pokemon Scarlet & Violet community is buzzing with excitement as the Mighty Hydreigon Tera Raid event makes its triumphant return. This challenging 7-star raid features a Poison Tera-type Hydreigon with the prestigious Mightiest Mark, presenting trainers with one of the toughest challenges in recent Tera Raid history. Whether you’re a seasoned raider or new to high-level Tera battles, this comprehensive guide will equip you with everything needed to claim victory and add this formidable pseudo-legendary to your collection.
Understanding the Mighty Hydreigon Tera Raid Challenge
Before diving into strategies, it’s crucial to understand what makes this particular raid so demanding. Mighty Hydreigon isn’t just another boss battle—it’s a meticulously crafted encounter designed to test your knowledge of game mechanics, team building, and battle tactics. The raid runs during two specific windows: November 7-9 and November 14-16, 2025, giving trainers limited opportunities to secure this exclusive Pokemon.
Hydreigon’s Raid Specifications
Mighty Hydreigon comes equipped with impressive stats and a carefully selected moveset that can decimate unprepared teams:
- Tera Type: Poison
- Ability: Levitate (making it immune to Ground-type attacks)
- Nature: Modest (+Special Attack, -Attack)
- IVs: Perfect 31s across all stats
- Mark: Exclusive Mightiest Mark (only available through this event)
Moveset and Attack Patterns
Hydreigon’s movepool is diverse and dangerous, featuring:
- Tera Blast (Poison-type): A devastating STAB move after Terastallization
- Dark Pulse: A powerful Dark-type attack with a chance to flinch
- Dragon Pulse: Reliable Dragon-type STAB damage
- Earth Power: Ground-type coverage that can catch counters off guard
- Snarl: Lowers your Special Attack while potentially buffing Contrary users
- Nasty Plot: Sharply raises Special Attack (twice during the battle)
- Dragon Dance: Raises Attack and Speed (used at 40% HP)
Raid Behavior Timeline
Understanding Hydreigon’s behavior pattern is key to victory:
- Start of Raid: Opens with Snarl
- 85% Time/HP Remaining: Activates Tera Energy Shield
- 82% Time Remaining: Resets its own stats and status conditions
- 70% Time Remaining: Uses first Nasty Plot
- 55% Time Remaining: Uses second Nasty Plot
- 55% HP Remaining: Resets all player stats and status conditions
- 40% HP Remaining: Uses Dragon Dance
This predictable yet dangerous pattern means your strategy must account for both stat resets and shield phases.
Best Counters for Mighty Hydreigon Tera Raid
After analyzing countless successful raids and community strategies, we’ve identified the most reliable counters for this challenging encounter. Each Pokemon offers a unique approach to overcoming Hydreigon’s strengths while exploiting its weaknesses.
#1 Malamar: The Ultimate Counter
Malamar stands head and shoulders above other options thanks to its unique ability and typing that perfectly counters Hydreigon’s strategy.
Optimal Build:
- Tera Type: Psychic or Stellar
- Ability: Contrary
- Held Item: Shell Bell
- Nature: Modest (+Sp. Atk, -Atk)
- EV Spread: 252 HP / 252 Sp. Def / 4 Sp. Atk
- Moveset: Skill Swap, Calm Mind, Rest, Stored Power
Battle Strategy:
- Turn 1: Use Skill Swap to give Hydreigon Contrary instead of Levitate
- Turn 2: Begin setting up with Calm Mind
- Subsequent Turns: Alternate between Calm Mind and Stored Power
- When Low on Health: Use Rest and recover while continuing to set up
- Shield Phase: Terastallize and unleash boosted Stored Power
The beauty of this strategy lies in how it turns Hydreigon’s strength against itself. With Contrary, every Nasty Plot and Dragon Dance actually lowers Hydreigon’s stats, making it progressively weaker throughout the battle. Malamar’s Dark/Psychic typing also provides natural resistance to Hydreigon’s Dark Pulse and Dragon Pulse.
#2 Blissey: The Unbreakable Wall
For trainers who prefer a more defensive approach, Blissey offers incredible survivability and consistent damage output.
Optimal Build:
- Tera Type: Psychic or Stellar
- Ability: Natural Cure
- Held Item: Covert Cloak or Shell Bell
- Nature: Calm (+Sp. Def, -Atk)
- EV Spread: 252 HP / 252 Sp. Def / 4 Sp. Atk
- Moveset: Calm Mind, Soft Boiled, Light Screen, Stored Power
Battle Strategy:
- Early Game: Stack Calm Mind boosts (aim for 4-6 stacks)
- Mid Game: Maintain health with Soft Boiled while continuing to boost
- Shield Phase: Use Light Screen before breaking the shield
- Late Game: Terastallize and unleash Stored Power for massive damage
Blissey’s massive HP pool allows it to survive even Hydreigon’s strongest attacks, while its Special Defense investment minimizes damage from special moves. The key is patience—don’t rush to attack before setting up sufficient Calm Mind boosts.
#3 Gallade: The Physical Powerhouse
For trainers who prefer physical attackers, Gallade provides an excellent balance of offense and support capabilities.
Optimal Build:
- Tera Type: Stellar
- Ability: Sharpness
- Held Item: Shell Bell
- Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -Sp. Atk)
- EV Spread: 252 Atk / 252 Sp. Def / 4 HP
- Moveset: Psycho Cut, Swords Dance, Life Dew, Light Screen
Battle Strategy:
- Turn 1: Set up Light Screen to protect the team
- Turn 2: Begin stacking Swords Dance boosts
- Mid Game: Use Life Dew to heal when necessary
- Shield Phase: Terastallize and unleash boosted Psycho Cut
Gallade’s Sharpness ability significantly boosts Psycho Cut’s power, making it a formidable threat even against Hydreigon’s bulk. The Stellar Tera type ensures maximum damage during the shield phase while maintaining type flexibility.
Alternative Counters and Team Options
While the above three Pokemon represent the most consistent solo options, several other Pokemon can excel in team settings or for trainers seeking variety:
Espathra:
- Ability: Opportunist (copies Hydreigon’s stat boosts)
- Key Moves: Lumina Crash, Calm Mind, Roost
- Strategy: Use Opportunist to turn Hydreigon’s Nasty Plot against it
Magearna:
- Ability: Soul-Heart (boosts Special Attack when allies faint)
- Key Moves: Stored Power, Shift Gear, Calm Mind
- Strategy: Immune to Poison, can set up multiple stat boosts
Excadrill:
- Ability: Mold Breaker (ignores Levitate)
- Key Moves: Earthquake, Swords Dance, Protect
- Strategy: Use Mold Breaker to hit with super-effective Ground moves
Advanced Strategies and Battle Tips
Success in the Mighty Hydreigon Tera Raid requires more than just the right Pokemon—it demands smart battle tactics and timing. Here are advanced strategies used by top raiders:
Understanding the Shield Phase
The Tera shield activates at 85% HP and is the most critical phase of the battle. During this time:
- Hydreigon takes reduced damage from all attacks
- Only certain moves can effectively chip away at the shield
- This is the ideal time to Terastallize and unleash your strongest attacks
Shield Breaking Tips:
- Save your Tera Orb for the shield phase
- Use multi-hit moves if available (though not common in recommended builds)
- Coordinate with teammates if in a group raid
- Consider using cheer abilities to boost damage output
Managing Stat Resets
Hydreigon’s ability to reset both its own stats and your Pokemon’s stats can derail even the best-laid plans. Here’s how to handle these moments:
When Hydreigon Resets Its Stats (82% Time):
- Continue your setup routine
- This reset actually benefits Malamar users as it removes any potential stat drops
- Use this opportunity to heal or reposition
When Your Stats Are Reset (55% HP):
- Don’t panic—immediately begin rebuilding your boosts
- This is often a good time to use healing items or moves
- Prioritize essential stat boosts over damage
Cheer Strategy
Proper use of cheer abilities can make the difference between victory and defeat:
- Attack Cheer: Use when you’re ready to break the shield or finish the battle
- Defense Cheer: Helpful if you’re struggling to survive Hydreigon’s attacks
- Heal Cheer: Save for emergencies when your Pokemon is critically low on health
- Tera Charge Cheer: Only use if you desperately need your Tera Orb charged
Team Coordination (For Group Raids)
If you’re tackling this raid with friends or random trainers online, coordination is essential:
- Communicate Roles: Designate one player as the primary setup Pokemon (usually Malamar)
- Synchronize Tera Usage: Don’t all Terastallize at once—stagger for maximum effect
- Support Focus: Some players should focus on healing and status support
- Patience is Key: Don’t rush attacks—proper setup wins raids
Preparation and Training Guide
Having the right Pokemon is only half the battle. Proper preparation ensures your counter is ready for the challenge.
EV Training and IV Optimization
For the best results, your counter Pokemon should have:
- Perfect IVs: Use Hyper Training if necessary
- Optimal EV Spread: Follow the recommendations in each counter section
- Correct Nature: Use Nature Mints if needed
- Level 100: Essential for 7-star raid success
Move Preparation and PP Management
Ensure your Pokemon has the required moves with sufficient PP:
- PP Max: Use on essential moves like Stored Power and recovery options
- Move Variety: Have backup options in case of unexpected situations
- Tera Move Consideration: Plan when you’ll use your Tera-type move
Item Optimization
The right held item can significantly impact your success:
- Shell Bell: Excellent for sustained recovery through damage dealt
- Covert Cloak: Protects against secondary effects like Snarl’s stat drop
- Leftovers: Alternative recovery option for bulkier builds
- Ability Shield: Prevents ability changes (useful if not running Skill Swap strategies)
Rewards and Event Benefits
Defeating Mighty Hydreigon offers substantial rewards beyond just capturing this powerful Pokemon.
Guaranteed Rewards
Every successful raid completion provides:
- Exp. Candy L x6: Excellent for leveling Pokemon quickly
- Exp. Candy XL x4: Highest tier experience candies
- Calcium x5: Special Attack EV training items
- Poison Tera Shard x40: For changing Tera types (+20 for raid hosts)
- TM140: One-time use Technical Machine
- Ability Patch x1: Extremely valuable item for changing abilities
Possible Random Drops
Additional rewards with varying drop rates include:
- Herba Mystica: All five varieties (3% chance each)
- Bottle Cap: For Hyper Training (4% chance)
- Ability Patch: Additional chance (1% chance)
- Rare Candy: Direct level-up items (8% chance)
- Star Piece: For selling or crafting (8% chance)
The Mightiest Mark Hydreigon
The crown jewel of this event is the Hydreigon itself:
- Exclusive Mark: Only available through this event
- Poison Tera Type: Unique typing combination
- Perfect IVs: Ready for competitive battle
- Event-Only Moves: May have special moves not normally available
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can I catch Mighty Hydreigon?
You can only catch one Mightiest Mark Hydreigon per save file during the entire event period. However, you can participate in additional raids to farm rewards even after capturing your Hydreigon.
What level should my Pokemon be for this raid?
All Pokemon should be level 100 for 7-star raids. Lower-level Pokemon will struggle significantly and likely fail to contribute effectively.
Can I complete this raid solo?
Yes, with the right build and strategy, solo completion is possible. Malamar, Blissey, and Gallade all have proven solo strategies. However, group raids can be more forgiving for less optimized teams.
Why isn’t Ground-type effective against Hydreigon?
Hydreigon has the Levitate ability, which makes it immune to Ground-type moves. This is why Psychic-type attacks are generally more reliable for this raid.
What happens if I fail the raid?
You can retry the raid as many times as needed during the event period. There’s no penalty for failure beyond the time invested.
Can I use AI trainers in this raid?
Yes, AI trainers will join if you don’t have a full human team. However, their AI is limited, and success is much more likely with human coordination.
Conclusion: Mastering the Mighty Hydreigon Tera Raid
The Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Mighty Hydreigon Tera Raid represents one of the most challenging and rewarding encounters in the game’s current content cycle. With its Poison Tera type, devastating movepool, and strategic behavior patterns, this raid tests every aspect of your Pokemon battling knowledge.
Success comes down to preparation, patience, and the right strategy. Whether you choose the game-breaking Malamar approach, the unbreakable Blissey wall, or the physical power of Gallade, understanding the raid mechanics and Hydreigon’s behavior patterns is essential. Remember to optimize your Pokemon’s EVs, IVs, and moveset, and don’t be afraid to try different approaches if your first attempt fails.
The rewards—especially the exclusive Mightiest Mark Hydreigon—make this challenge worthwhile for dedicated trainers. Beyond the immediate benefits, mastering this raid will improve your overall Tera Raid skills and prepare you for future high-level content.
As you venture into this challenging encounter, remember that even the most experienced trainers sometimes fail. Learn from each attempt, adjust your strategy, and persevere. The feeling of triumph when you finally defeat Mighty Hydreigon and add this powerful pseudo-legendary to your collection is well worth the effort.
Good luck, trainers, and may your Tera Raid adventures be victorious!