As we gear up to celebrate Pokémon Day this year, the world’s favorite Pokémon is making waves in a new event in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This time, Pikachu takes center stage, coming in stronger than ever before.
Until February 27, players can challenge a special Pikachu in seven-star Tera Raid Battles. This Pikachu boasts a Water Tera Type, making it a tough opponent for anyone using Ground-types. To join these high-level raids, you must finish the main story first.
Fans were curious about what made this Pikachu so unique when the event was first announced. After all, Scarlet and Violet have previously featured rare Pokémon in seven-star Tera Raids, like Charizard and Cinderace. Unlike these Pokémon, Pikachu is not rare and is easy to find in Paldea. It seems the choice to feature Pikachu was to honor the franchise’s anniversary.
Players have seen Pikachu in other Tera Raid Battle levels too. This led to speculation about this event’s Pikachu possibly being Shiny, trading its iconic yellow for a golden hue.
Can This Pikachu Be Shiny?
In regular Tera Raids, including four-star and lower, Pikachu does have a small chance of being Shiny. If you find a Shiny Pikachu, you can catch it if you win the battle. However, the seven-star Tera Raid Battle with Pikachu is different—it’s Shiny-locked. This means no matter how hard you try, the Pikachu in this event won’t turn Shiny. This is consistent with Scarlet and Violet‘s approach to all seven-star Tera Raids.
So, while this special Pikachu might not be Shiny, battling and capturing it is still an exciting challenge. Make sure you don’t miss out on the fun before February 27!