Summary
The most recent Tera Raid boss inPokemon Scarlet and Violethighlights an unfortunate trend that has followed returning Pokemon from Generation 8.Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s pattern of rereleasing old Pokemon in the form of limited time events is still going strong, with yet another raid passing recently. Yet while the Pokemon in question was one that a lot of fans would likely be happy to see again, it’s clear that they have been defanged to some degree since the last game. While players got access to a solid Pokemon once again, it is missing a few tools.
Almost a year after release,Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Tera Raid eventsare one of the game’s more powerful perks. Many powerful Pokemon, including fully-evolved starters, have been the subject of 7-Star Tera Raids thus far. While players need to be strong to beat them, the reward is the Pokemon itself, which is several cases is unavailable elsewhere in the game. While it does have an admittedly high bar for entry with the Pokemon involved being so strong, the reward is well worth it. Players should expect these Tera Raid events to continue for some time due to their popularity, but hopefully they start to address this disappointing trend.
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Rillaboom is Back in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, But Not at Full Power
Another past starter was brought into the latest generation recently withPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Mighty Rillaboom Raid. A lot of the Tera Raid events fromPokemon Scarlet and Violethave shown off starters from past regions, with Rillaboom being the latest in line. A bulky Grass-type powerhouse, Rillaboom was one ofSword and Shield’s best Grass-type physical attackers, able to hit hard and absorb hits in return. A lot of its utility came from its hidden ability, Grassy Surge, which spread Grassy Terrain to power up its own Grass-type attacks. Rillaboom’s return should have given players access to a potentially fantastic Pokemon choice.
Unfortunately, Rillaboom’s return inPokemon Scarlet and Violetis not without downsides. While a solid battler inPokemon Sword and Shield’s competitive scene, its return sees it without a fair amount of its utility. One big loss is Grassy Glide, which combined with Grassy Surge gave Rillaboom a strong first-strike option in battle. It also lost Solar Blade, robbing it of a powerful one-use combo with the Power Herb to skip its charging turn. Other strong moves lost in the generation transfer are the stat change-ignoring Darkest Lariat and the risky yet powerful Superpower, both of which helped Rillaboom’s overall coverage.
Rillaboom is not the only Generation 8 Pokemon to lose some footing upon entering Paldea. As a refresher, shortly after the game’s release, aCinderace Raid inPokemon Scarlet and Violetsaw the Fire-type lose all of its Ground-type damage-dealing moves. Meanwhile, Inteleon was hurt by the loss of Scald, one of the best Water-type moves in the game, as well as every Dragon-type move in its arsenal. While the Galar Pokemon still have good moves at their disposal, each one has had their movesets shrink upon enteringScarlet and Violet, which has managed to set a disappointing precedent for them.
InPokemon Scarlet and Violet, RIllaboom and its Galarian comrades are by no means unusable, but they have lost a fair amount of options. While they may have been strong before, against thePokemon dominatingScarlet and Violet’s competitive scene, they don’t have the same firepower. Their signature moves may have made it through intact, but Rillaboom’s lost combo potential is a painful reminder that the game’s power level keeps increasing, and unfortunately, not every Pokemon could keep up with it. Fans of Rillaboom will be happy to see it inPokemon Scarlet and Violet, but they should be aware of its missing luster.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetare available now for the Nintendo Switch.
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