Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Rare Tera Raids and Massive Outbreaks Hit Paldea This Summer

A Summer of Rare Encounters in Paldea

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are heating up this season with a series of limited-time events designed to challenge trainers and help them complete their Pokédex. From legendary-tier Tera Raids to wide-scale Pokémon outbreaks, the summer schedule is packed with opportunities to capture some of the rarest creatures in the game. To ensure you don't miss out, make sure your game is fully updated and check the Poké Portal under 'Mystery Gift' to receive the latest news.

The Return of Hisuian Samurott

Starting immediately and running through July 16, 2026, trainers can face off against the formidable Hisuian Samurott in 7-star Tera Raids. As the final evolution of Oshawott from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, this Water/Dark-type powerhouse is known for its immense strength and strategic versatility. Given the difficulty of 7-star raids, teaming up with other players via online play is highly recommended.

Strategy Guide: How to Defeat Hisuian Samurott

To take down this behemoth, you should prioritize Pokémon with the following type advantages:

• Effective Types: Fighting, Fairy, Bug, Electric, and Grass.
• Types to Avoid: Psychic, Fire, Ghost, Rock, and Ground.

Trainers are advised to use fast attackers or those with strong defensive capabilities to weather Samurott's heavy hits. Note that this Pokémon can only be captured once per save file.

A Unique Dragon-Type Magikarp Event

Following the Samurott raid, a truly unconventional event begins on July 17, 2026 (2:00 AM) and lasts until August 6, 2026 (1:59 AM). Players will have the chance to battle a special Magikarp featuring a Dragon Tera Type. While Magikarp is traditionally seen as weak, this specific specimen carries a Mighty Mark, making it a prized trophy for collectors.

The true value of this encounter lies in evolution; transforming this Magikarp into a Gyarados allows you to retain the strategic advantage of the Dragon Tera Type, significantly boosting the power and utility of your team. Like the Samurott event, this special Magikarp is limited to one capture per player.

Tactical Tips for the Magikarp Raid

While Magikarp isn't typically threatening, the Tera Dragon type adds a layer of resistance. Use Electric or Grass types against its base form, but switch to Ice, Fairy, or Dragon moves to effectively counter its Tera transformation.

Water-Type Massive Outbreaks: The Shiny Hunter's Paradise

From July 17 to August 6, 2026, Paldea and its DLC regions will be flooded with Water-type Pokémon in Massive Outbreaks. These events are the gold standard for players hunting Shiny (chromatic) Pokémon. The outbreaks will appear in various locations, including the Lake Asrol area and the Blueberry Academy (DLC). Featured Pokémon include:

• Paldea Region: Psyduck, Slowbro, and various forms of the local fauna.
• DLC Regions: Basculin (White Striped), Slowbro, and Lapras.

Pro Tips for Shiny Hunting During Outbreaks

Capturing a Shiny Pokémon is rare (1 in 4,096), but Massive Outbreaks provide the best odds in the game. Here is how to maximize your efficiency:

1. Use the Shiny Charm: This essential item reduces the odds to 1 in 512.
2. Chain Defeats: Defeat the outbreak Pokémon in succession. This refreshes the horde and increases the probability of a Shiny appearing.
3. The Refresh Method: If a Shiny doesn't appear, move far away from the outbreak area and return to force the game to respawn a new group.
4. Avoid Direct Attacks: Instead of sending out your Pokémon immediately, use Poké Balls to avoid accidentally knocking out a Shiny before you can catch it.