Ultimate Guide to Defeating Ghost Gengar in 5-Star Tera Raids in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

From October 28 to 31, 2024, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will host exclusive Halloween-themed Gengar raids for players who have finished the main storyline and are connected to the internet. Mirroring the Mismagius raids from the previous year, this limited-time event allows players a few days to gather essential resources for leveling up.

For those aiming to take down this raid boss with a single hit, there are strategies to enhance your efficiency. Given that these raids boast a 5-star difficulty and feature a relatively weak Ghost-type Pokémon, defeating Gengar in one blow is indeed feasible, provided you prepare adequately. It may require several turns to set up your team.

Strategies for One-Hitting Gengar in Halloween Raids of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Gengar can be easily defeated with an overcharged super-effective move (Image via The Pokemon Company)

When selecting a Pokémon to take down Gengar in one attack, Annihilape and Kingambit stand out as the top contenders, thanks to their Defiant ability and advantageous typing. Each option comes with its strategies.

For those interested in utilizing Annihilape, consider the following build:

Tera Type: Dark
Nature: Adamant
Effort Values: 252 HP, 252 Attack, 4 Special Defense
Held Item: Shell Bell
Moves: Screech, Assurance, Rage Fist, Drain Punch

This strategy focuses on using Screech to reduce Gengar’s defense, while waiting for Gengar to inadvertently boost Annihilape’s attack stat by debuffing its other stats (activating Defiant). Once Gengar’s defense is sufficiently lowered and Annihilape’s attack is ramped up, using Assurance becomes viable. Note that Assurance’s damage doubles if Gengar has previously lowered Annihilape’s stats.

If you prefer Kingambit, here’s a suggested build:

Tera Type: Dark
Nature: Adamant
Effort Values: 252 HP, 252 Attack, 4 Special Defense
Held Item: Shell Bell
Moves: Leer, Swords Dance, Kowtow Cleave, Rain Dance

Kingambit’s typing before Terastallization provides it immunity to Gengar’s Poison-type moves and resistance against its Ghost-type attacks. However, it is vulnerable to significant damage from Mystical Fire, which is why incorporating Rain Dance into this setup is vital. Swords Dance will enhance Kingambit’s attack, while Leer will lower Gengar’s defense, making it more manageable.

How to Join the Halloween Gengar Tera Raids in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

To take part in these raids, players must first unlock the Five-Star Tera Raids in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This step is achieved by completing the main storyline of the base game. After doing so, players can access the Gengar raids during the special event simply by going online.

Upon connecting to the internet, there will be a brief wait while the game updates. Once completed, Gengar raids will begin appearing in the overworld until the event concludes.

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