Do You Need Nintendo Switch Online to Do a Tera Raid? The Complete Guide
The question of whether a Nintendo Switch Online membership is necessary for participating in Tera Raid Battles in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a common one, and the answer is nuanced. The short answer is: it depends on how you want to participate. You absolutely do not need Nintendo Switch Online to participate in Tera Raid Battles on your own, or to host them locally with friends. However, a subscription is required if you wish to join raids online with other trainers across the world.
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown to clarify exactly what’s required for your Tera Raid experience.
Understanding Tera Raids and Online Requirements
Offline Tera Raid Battles
You can absolutely engage in Tera Raid Battles offline, meaning without an internet connection and without a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Here’s how:
- Solo Raids: You can initiate Tera Raid Battles from the Poké Portal menu, even if you are playing offline. This will trigger an AI-controlled partner to join the battle with you.
- Local Multiplayer: If you want to play with friends nearby, you can form a local group by interacting with a Tera Raid den and selecting the “form a group” option. To ensure you are playing locally, make sure your Nintendo Switch is not connected to the internet. This means no online membership is required for local play. You can still connect with your friends using the “Link Code” function.
Online Tera Raid Battles
To join Tera Raid Battles with other players online, a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required. This allows you to connect to the internet and participate in raids hosted by other trainers globally.
- Joining Random Raids: If you want to participate in public raids hosted by other players, you’ll need to be online. This is where a Nintendo Switch Online membership comes into play.
- Hosting Online Raids: If you want to host your own raid and have other players join online, an active Nintendo Switch Online membership is necessary.
Accessing Event Tera Raids
It’s important to note that while participating in online raids requires Nintendo Switch Online, accessing event raids does not.
- Downloading Poké Portal News: To access Pokémon featured in Tera Raid Battle events, you need to download the latest Poké Portal News. This can be done by using the Mystery Gift feature or the News function within the game.
- Event Updates Without Online: You can update your game with event data and encounters without a Nintendo Switch Online membership. This means you can fight event-specific Pokémon offline even if you don’t have the subscription. You just won’t be able to team up with others online.
Why Join Online Tera Raids?
While you can do offline raids, many players opt for the online experience due to:
- Access to Variety: Online raids often provide access to a wider variety of Pokémon and raid events compared to the offline options that appear on your map.
- Increased Difficulty and Rewards: Online raids, especially higher-star ones, tend to offer more challenging battles and better rewards.
- Teamwork: Playing with other trainers allows for teamwork and strategic battle approaches that may be difficult to achieve with the game’s AI.
- Faster Completion: If you are playing with experienced trainers, online raids can be faster to complete.
Other Considerations
Beyond the online and offline divide, there are other factors to consider with Tera Raids:
- Unlocking Higher-Star Raids: To unlock the more challenging 5-Star Tera Raid battles, you must complete the main storyline, including Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends. After beating all three, you will then be contacted by Professor Jacq.
- Special Event Raids (e.g., 7-Star Raids): These raids, which feature powerful and often rare Pokémon like Mewtwo, are unlocked after completing the main story, rematching the Gym Leaders, and completing a set number of 5-Star Tera Raids. Again, you can download these events without the online, but will require the Nintendo Online membership to participate with others online.
- Raid Difficulty: Tera Raids can be quite challenging, especially the higher-star versions. It’s helpful to use Level 100 Pokémon, strategically choose your Pokémon type, and to understand when and how to cheer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions that provide further clarity about Tera Raids and the associated online requirements:
1. Can I do Tera Raids completely offline?
Yes, you can absolutely do Tera Raids offline. You can engage in solo raids or play locally with friends without an internet connection.
2. Do I need Nintendo Online to host a Tera Raid for my friends locally?
No, you do not need Nintendo Switch Online to host a Tera Raid with your friends in local multiplayer. Just make sure your Switch is not connected to the internet, and select the “form a group” option after interacting with the raid den.
3. Can I participate in 7-Star Tera Raids without Nintendo Online?
You can download event data for 7-Star Tera Raids without Nintendo Online. However, you will need a Nintendo Online membership to join a 7-star raid online with others.
4. How do I unlock 5-Star Tera Raids?
You must beat the main story (all three storylines: Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends) to unlock 5-Star Tera Raids.
5. Can I get event Pokémon without Nintendo Online?
Yes, you can access event Pokémon by downloading the latest Poké Portal News. You can obtain this through the Mystery Gift menu or the News option, and you do not need a Nintendo Online membership to download this information.
6. Are there any benefits to doing Tera Raids online?
Yes, online Tera Raids offer more variety of Pokémon, increased difficulty, better rewards, and the opportunity to team up with other players.
7. How often do 5 and 6-Star Tera Raids spawn?
You can only get one 6-Star Raid per day on your map. While 5-Star Raids can spawn more frequently. Once you have hit 15 completed 5-Star raids, only one will spawn per day on your game. You can find additional raids by playing online.
8. What are the rewards from doing Tera Raids?
Tera Raids reward you with rare Pokémon, Tera Shards, money, LP, Ability Patches, and special ingredients for Meal Powers.
9. Can I catch any Pokémon I want in a Tera Raid?
Not every Pokémon is available in Tera Raids. Many rare and powerful Pokémon are featured in event raids or only appear in higher-star raids.
10. Do all Tera Raids have a 100% catch rate?
Yes, all successful Tera Raids guarantee a 100% catch rate for the Pokémon you are battling.
11. What are some tips for succeeding in Tera Raids?
Use Level 100 Pokémon, choose Pokémon with type advantages, pay attention to the Tera type of the Raid Pokémon, and understand when and how to cheer to bolster your allies.
12. Can I trade Pokémon without Nintendo Online?
No, a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to trade Pokémon with other players online.
13. Do I need Nintendo Online to play the Pokémon Violet DLC?
No, a Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required to play the Pokémon Violet DLC.
14. How much does a Nintendo Switch Online membership cost?
A Nintendo Switch Online individual membership starts at $3.99 per 30 days.
15. What is the best way to find the most difficult and rare raids?
To find the most difficult and rare raids, you should complete all main storylines and win all the post-game Gym Leader rematches. After completing those, you will gain access to 6 and 7-star raids. These can only be accessed through downloading the latest events through the Poké Portal News and fighting the dens as they spawn on the map, or by joining other people online who have access to these raids. You will need Nintendo Online to participate in the raids with other players online.
Conclusion
In summary, while you can enjoy a significant portion of the Tera Raid experience offline, a Nintendo Switch Online membership opens up a wider range of possibilities. If you’re serious about engaging in online multiplayer raids, battling stronger event Pokémon with other trainers worldwide, and accessing all the game has to offer, the subscription is a worthwhile investment. Understanding the nuances between online and offline gameplay will ultimately help you get the most out of your Pokémon Scarlet and Violet experience.