Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: How to Beat the Elite Four

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Perhaps the most traditional quest in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has players follow a familiar road: defeating Gym leaders in the Paldea Region and becoming strong enough to challenge the Elite Four, the most challenging Pokémon trainers available in the game. However, unlike previous titles, players can swap out their team of pocket monsters in between each of the four battles that take place during this event. While the Elite Four still present a considerable balance within their highly leveled, type-themed teams that can be difficult to predict without some degree of consideration due to the inclusion of ace Pokémon Terastallization, a new feature to this Generation.

Once players successfully pass the interview given by the first member of the Elite Four, Rika, they will start the sequence of battles with her team of Ground-type Pokémon. Beating Rika leads to the next trainer, Poppy, and their defensive group of Steel-types. A familiar face follows up that battle as Larry returns to face off against the player, utilizing a squadron of Flying-type Pokémonwhile the final opponent, Hassel, finishes off the Elite Four with powerful Dragon-types. While each of these typings presented have clear weaknesses players have learned to exploit throughout the game, transformations into Tera forms in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet add another layer to these battles that change up expected outcomes.

Combine Grass and Water to Take Down Rika

Every Elite Four member varies their team with interesting dual-typing Pokémon to cover ordinary disadvantages. Rika exemplifies this by having two direct counters to Grass-type Pokémon, who ordinarily manage well against her Ground-types. Camerupt and her ace, Clodsire, respectfully possess the Fire and Poision-type as their second trait, both of which resist Grass-type attacks. Players do not have to worry about Clodsire using offensive Poison-type moves, though, as Toxic is that Pokémon’s only relation to the alternate type. When looking to defeat Rika, players should consider bringing both Water-type and Grass-type creatures from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet to have the best chance of defeating this member of the Elite Four.

Players need to also note how Electric-type attacks do not affect Ground-type Pokémon. Instead, they are only a detriment against Rika since her Pokémon automatically deal super-effective damage against that type. Similarly, Poison-/Rock-type moves will have minimal effect on any member of Rika’s team except Camerupt, whose Fire-type will only make it take normal damage. Steel-, Fairy-, and Bug-type Pokémon can also be dealt heavy damage by specific foes; Rika wields through the abnormally high Attack power of most Ground-types.

Fire Away Against Poppy’s Steel-Types

The Elite Four member with the most dual typings, Poppy has Steel-types that dabble into the Psychic, Flying, Electric, and even Fairy-type, giving her a team with wide coverage. Players looking to progress through this gantlet of trainers should keep in mind the consistent weaknesses of the high Defense Steel-type, Fire-type Pokémon. High Special Attack moves on pocket monsters, such as Skeledirge in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, are highly effective against Poppy. Despite the Steel-type’s immunity to Poison-type attacks, players have more chances to bring a broader spread of Pokémon types than the previous battle, including Electric, Dark, Ground, Fighting, and Ghost-types.

Freeze the Flying-types of Larry’s Team

Ice-types are the best choice to shut down the intense Speed of Larry’s five Flying-type Pokémon, except for dual typings with bad matchups such as Snom in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Not a singular Pokémon on Larry’s team in the Elite Four are of pure typing, instead having many creatures with variations into other categories. While ambitious trainers may be tempted to use Electric-types to provide an additional counter, Larry’s Altaria and Tropius both mitigate much of the damage that would generally drop pure Flying-type Pokémon to zero HP.

Players must also go into this battle with appropriate caution, as several of Larry’s Pokémon have access to Fighting-/Fire-type moves that would deal super-effective damage to Ice-types brought into battle. In addition, close Combat and Flamethrower are huge threats from Larry’s Staraptor, Flamigo, and Altaria, so players are recommended to have Pokémon with high defensive stats to survive these brutal attacks or even greater Speed to move first during battle.

Fight Dragon with Dragon Against Hassel

The final member of the Elite Four carries powerful Dragon-types, including a couple of Pokémon that could be considered pseudo-Legendaries, such as Haxorus and Baxcalibur in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. The riskiest battle among the Elite Four; players have the best opportunity to beat Hassel when wielding the same weapons he uses through Pokémon with Dragon-type moves. While Fairy-/Ice-types are also acceptable to give players an advantage, several of Hassel’s Pokémon cover these weaknesses with Steel and Poison-type moves. This final battle before the League Chairwoman tests players more than ever when trying to beat Pokémon Scarlet and Violet‘s Elite Four, but a persevering team of strong counters at the right level can ensure victory.