As the final month of 2025 arrives, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are closing out a year‑long celebration of powerful raid encounters with one last challenge. December introduces the final pseudo‑legendary boss in the rotation: Dragapult the Unrivaled, a blisteringly fast and unpredictable opponent that pushes players to refine their raid‑ready strategies one more time. After months of battles featuring iconic powerhouses from across the franchise, Dragapult’s arrival signals the end of one of the most ambitious raid campaigns Paldea has seen so far.
For players who closely follow event schedules, the timing offers two separate opportunities. Dragapult appears first on December 4 at 7 PM Eastern, remaining available until December 7 at 6:59 PM Eastern. Trainers who miss that window can rejoin the fight from December 11 to December 14. Like all Seven‑Star bosses, Dragapult carries the title “the Unrivaled”, signaling that this is no ordinary encounter. It will feature a Dragon Tera Type, and defeating it rewards the coveted Mightiest Mark, a badge of honor for competitive and casual players alike.
This last step in the lineup follows the recent Goodra raid, ending what has effectively been a parade of the franchise’s pseudo‑legendary Pokémon. Since early 2025, trainers have faced iterations of Dragonite, Metagross, Salamence, Hydreigon, and several more. Each one pushed different parts of the battle system to new extremes. Tyranitar demanded careful defensive planning, while Garchomp put pressure on preparation and timing, often punishing players who underestimated its speed or coverage tools.
The pseudo‑legendary theme traces back to Pokemon Day 2025, when developers announced that Scarlet and Violet would spotlight these heavy hitters throughout the year. With such a clear lineup, players enjoyed a steady stream of structured battles that allowed for experimentation, team refinement, and a growing sense of progression as they overcame each high‑level boss.
Interestingly, the campaign paused midway through the year. July 2025 marked the beginning of a four‑month break while other in‑game events took center stage. Shiny‑focused celebrations, seasonal raids, and a controversial distribution event involving Koraidon and Miraidon temporarily replaced the pseudo‑legendary cycle. In November, Hydreigon reignited the sequence, setting the stage for Dragapult to close the story.
Even though Dragapult represents the end of this particular theme, that doesn’t mean Seven‑Star Raids are disappearing. Historically, The Pokémon Company has introduced surprise bosses when least expected, and Scarlet and Violet remain active titles with a consistent event pipeline. Dragapult simply wraps up this specific year‑long saga.
Understanding Dragapult the Unrivaled
Dragapult’s greatest strength has always been speed. In the main series, it ranks among the fastest pseudo‑legendaries ever introduced. The raid version is expected to capitalize on this identity, striking quickly and frequently, which naturally challenges players trying to maintain buffs or stability.
Adding to the difficulty are Dragapult’s potential abilities. The boss may carry any of three:
- Clear Body – Prevents stat drops, limiting how much debuff‑focused strategies can do.
- Infiltrator – Ignores barriers like Reflect and Light Screen, enabling Dragapult to punch through defensive setups that normally help in raids.
- Cursed Body (Hidden Ability) – Can disable attacking moves, potentially ruining carefully planned rotations or delaying damage output.
These options mean trainers must prepare for unpredictable momentum shifts. Moves designed to suppress or overwrite abilities—Skill Swap or Gastro Acid—are commonly recommended tools for controlling the fight’s tempo.
Choosing the Right Counters
While Dragapult is a Dragon Tera Type, its overall movepool typically supports both Dragon and Ghost attacks, giving it coverage that punishes many offensive builds. Dragon‑weak Pokémon must tread carefully. Ice types and other dragons often melt under Dragapult’s relentless multi‑hit damage.
Fairy types, however, enjoy a natural advantage. They resist or nullify a large portion of Dragapult’s options:
- Fairy Pokémon are immune to Dragon‑type attacks such as Dragon Darts.
- They hit back with super‑effective moves like Moonblast, Play Rough, or Dazzling Gleam.
As a result, several Fairy‑aligned partners stand out as strong choices:
- Sylveon – With Pixilate‑boosted Normal‑to‑Fairy moves and strong special defense, Sylveon remains one of the safest picks.
- Primarina – Its natural bulk combined with Fairy STAB makes it reliable in prolonged fights.
- Galarian Weezing – Its unique typing and neutral coverage allow it to absorb hits while applying supportive debuffs.
Smart players will combine these attackers with supportive roles. A dedicated healer or buffer drastically improves survivability during Dragapult’s burst phases.
Why This Raid Matters
Beyond the difficulty itself, the Dragapult encounter symbolizes a full circle moment for Scarlet and Violet’s raid ecosystem. A year of pseudo‑legendary battles has helped players strengthen their rosters, refine team strategies, and keep multiplayer dynamics lively. Dragapult’s presence as the concluding boss feels intentional—fast, intimidating, and thematically appropriate as a finale.
Still, the future remains open. Even as this campaign ends, Scarlet and Violet have consistently emphasized post‑launch activity. New raids, themed events, and experimental boss structures could arrive at any point. For now, Dragapult stands as both a challenge and a celebration of how far players have come in Paldea.
