Best Pokémon to Use Against Tera Raid Hydreigon in Scarlet and Violet

The Hydreigon Tera Raid Event is here. Starting January 6th- January 8th, 2023 with limited time access into fighting the 5-Star Hydreigon. Following on from the 7-Star Cinderace Raid sees the release of the LTE Scarlet exclusive Pokémon being available to fight in Tera form. For Violet players, the Dragapult Tera Raid is running at the same time. Players on either version are not able to fight the exclusive Pokémon on the other version. Your only means of doing so is by joining a Scarlet or Violet player’s game. What we know since its start is that its Tera Typing is randomised, however its Level 75 5-Star Hydreigon is a Steel-Type, therefore we have options for viable counters to defeat this Pokémon.

These are our recommendations of the best Pokémon to use against the 5-Star Tera Raid Hydreigon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Best Pokémon to Defeat Hydreigon: Iron Hands, Koraidon, Azumarill and Iron Valiant

As these Tera Raids have the highest Star of 5, beating Hydreigon will be much simpler than going after the 7-Star Cinderace. For beating Hydreigon, you want to use something strong against its Steel Typing should you face the 75 Level 5-Star Raid. Therefore, you need to use Fire, Fighting and Ground against Hydreigon.

Related: Best Pokémon to Use Against the Black Tera Raid Charizard in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Iron Hands (Violet exclusive)

Iron Hands is still deemed the Raid meta in Scarlet and Violet and is the perfect choice for going up against Hydreigon, regardless of its Tera-Typing. This Pokémon is a Violet exclusive however, therefore those just getting started in the post-game of Scarlet will likely not have this Pokémon. If this is the case, you will need to online trade in order to get your hands on this Pokémon. Unless you are invited into a friend’s game where you can obtain Iron Hands via Area Zero (Research Station 1), your only means of getting this Pokémon is through online trading.

Through using the primary Typing of Fighting Moves, Iron Hands is likely to bring down both 4- and 5-Star Hydreigon with ease. This is the perfect build to use for this limited time event. For those who already have this Pokémon, you should find this Raid much easier to complete in contrast to the 7-Star Cinderace and Charizard Events we have previously seen. Iron Hand needs to learn Drain Punch via TM 073. The location of this TM is on top of the Watchtower in South Province (Area Five).

For those who are looking for Iron Hands on Violet, this Paradox Pokémon can only be picked up upon completing the base game of Violet. This means you need to complete the three main questlines: Path of Legends, Starfall Street and Victory Road. Upon completion, you need to defeat the Final Boss, found inside Area Zero. This will give you access to return to this area, to pick up the Paradox Pokémon of Area Zero. Iron Hands is located inside Research Station 1 inside the Great Crater. You can either take the fast-travel route into Area Zero Gate so you can select the Research Station. Or you can jump into the Crater itself using Miraidon.

Iron Hands is one of the best Pokémon to use in 6- and 7-Star Raids, therefore we highly recommend that those who do not have this Pokémon trade with Violet users.

Build:

• Force Palm
• Belly Drum
• Drain Punch (TM 073)
• Close Combat
• Held Item: Life Orb

Koraidon

Now this is a Pokémon we should all be able to use and utilize with ease for Scarlet players. The requirement to use Koraidon in Tera Raids is for players to first complete the base-game. You have to do this in order to gain access to 5- and 6-Star Raids anyway so you will have likely hit this criterion. But for those getting started with the Hydreigon Tera Raid Limited Time Event as their first Raid, this is what you need to do. Complete the three main questlines of Scarlet: Path of Legends, Starfall Street and Victory Road. Then beat the Final Boss inside Area Zero. When re-visiting this area, you can catch the Paradox Pokémon of Scarlet.

Once this is done, you will gain access to 5- and 6-Star Raids. You will be able to use Koraidon in battle from now on. To do so, find Koraidon underneath your active party. Hover over the Legendary and press A. Change Koraidon into battle form by pressing A once again. If your party is full, replace Koraidon with a member of your party, this will move them to the Boxes. Koraidon is ready to use in battle. Similar to Iron Hands, this Pokémon is perfect against Hydreigon, no matter its Tera-Typing as its Fighting Moveset will destroy the 5-Star Pokémon. To give Koraidon Swords Dance, you need to locate TM 088. This can be found in West Province (Area One) near the Windmill.

Build:

• Drain Punch
• Collison Course
• Brick Break
• Swords Dance (TM 088)
• Held Item: Life Orb

Azumarill

Another big hitting Raid Build Pokémon is Azumarill. Another one classed as the current Raid meta. Azumarill is a great pick in almost every Raid Battle. However, keep in mind that as of January 2023, do not use Play Rough as this move is currently bugged in Tera Raids. Instead, opt for Moves such as Superpower and Double-Edge, these will work well against the 5-Star Hydreigon for the Limited Time Event. For those who have not set up this build yet, you need to give this Pokémon Belly Drum. This is an Egg Move, passed down through breeding. However, there is a fast-track method to giving Azumarill Belly Drum. This is through Mirror Herbs.

To give Azumarill Belly Drum, there are two methods using Mirror Herbs. You can either catch yourself a Makuhita or use Iron Hands (if you have got this Pokémon through trade). For those who do not have Iron Hands, this guide will show you how to use the Mirror Herb with Makuhita. This Pokémon can be found and caught in West Province (Area One) and South Province (Area Two). You will need to level this Pokémon up to Level 24, evolving into Hariyama where it will learn Belly Drum at Level 25. Next, head to Cascarrafa and buy the Mirror Herb (you only need to buy one).

With Hariyama and the Mirror Herb, place this Pokémon and Azumarill into your active party (only these two in the party for this process). You will need to remove a move if Azumarill has a full Moveset. Open the Picnic function, the move will automatically be copied into Azumarill Moveset. Having mirrored the move Belly Drum, this Pokémon is now ready for Raid Battles. You will also need Misty Terrain, unless you have thought of another move to use that is better to take on Hydreigon. Do not go into this Raid with a Fairy-Type Azumarill as Hydreigon can Steel Terastallize. To learn Misty Terrain, you can pick up TM 139 near Cortondo on a cliffside.

Build:

• Belly Drum (Egg Move)
• Superpower
• Misty Terrain (TM 139)
• Double-Edge
• Held Item: Shell Bell

Iron Valiant (Violet exclusive)

The final choice for fighting Hydreigon is Iron Valiant. This is another Violet exclusive Paradox Pokémon. Therefore, just like getting yourself an Iron Hands, you will need to online trade for this Pokémon. If you already have this Pokémon in your Boxes after playing the Scarlet post-game and building great Raid Builds, you will need to move some things around. Its Fairy-Typing will not be of particular use here in its Steel Terastallized form of the 5-Star Hydreigon. However, this Pokémon will be strong against the random forms of the 4- and 5-Star Hydreigon in the Limited Time Event.

Iron Valiant should be taught predominately Fighting moves as it is a duel-typing of Fairy and Fighting. The moves for this Build are all taught through the TM Machine meaning you will have to do a bit of searching to find the appropriate TMs to add to its Moveset. However, it is definitely worth your while. If you have not found these TMs, this is the list to where to find all TMs for Iron Valiant Hydreigon Moveset. Swords Dance, TM 088 is located in West Province (Area One) near the Windmill. Drain Punch, TM 073 is located in the Watchtower of South Province (Area Five). Misty Terrain, TM 139 can be found on a cliffside beside Cortondo. Focus Blast, TM 158 is located on the circular building beside Alfornada Gym.

Build:

• Swords Dance (TM 088)
• Drain Punch (TM 073)
• Focus Blast (TM 158)
• Misty Terrain (TM 139)
• Held Item: Life Orb

What do you think about our recommendations? Who are you taking in to verse the Tera Raid Hydreigon? We would love to know. Let us know via the discussion on Gamer Journalist’s Facebook. Here you can stay up to date on all of the latest Pokémon Scarlet and Violet content. With a lot more gaming content available to read. From How to Triple Masuda Breed in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and Best Items to Sell For Money in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.