The official way to catch Shiny Rayquaza in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet was a limited-time 5-star Tera Raid. It ran from December 20, 2024, through January 5, 2025, and has ended. No current replacement method or date for another opportunity is confirmed in the official notice.
Can you still get Shiny Rayquaza in Scarlet and Violet?
Not through the documented event: the Shiny Rayquaza raid is no longer active. Pokémon’s notice says Shiny Rayquaza cannot normally be encountered during regular gameplay. It adds that Rayquaza may appear in future events or become obtainable through other methods, but does not confirm when or how.
That means there is no currently documented standard-game shiny hunt to substitute for the expired raid. A Mystery Gift code was not the event method, either; the event was a Tera Raid.
How the event worked
The event, titled “Shiny Rayquaza Is Approaching!”, featured a Shiny Rayquaza in a 5-star Tera Raid Battle in both games. Its Tera Type was Dragon. The event ran from December 20, 2024, at 00:00 UTC to January 5, 2025, at 23:59 UTC, according to the official Pokémon announcement and Nintendo’s event announcement.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- New Pokémon to Discover - Learn new details about Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—the three Pokémon from which you’ll choose your first partner—along with other wonderful new Pokémon, including the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon!
- The World of Pokémon Has Evolved - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet offer an open-world experience that only the Pokémon series can deliver—one welcoming even to newcomers to the series.
- You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you’re free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story. You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you. Meet a variety of people and Pokémon, and adventure in the world of Pokémon the way you want to.
- A Deeper Experience with Multiplayer* Gameplay - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet allow multiplayer gameplay with up to four players. Along with series staples, such as trading and battling Pokémon, you will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players. You can discover new Pokémon and explore unfamiliar areas with your friends and family, opening the door to an adventure more precious and fun than ever!
- Meet the characters - As one of the main characters, you’ll set off on your adventure. Your outfit will vary depending on whether you play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Who knows what kind of story awaits you? For the first time in the series, one of two different professors will appear in your game depending on the version you choose to play.
- Catch limit: You could catch the event Rayquaza once per save data.
- After catching it: You could still challenge the raid while the event was active to earn rewards, but could not catch another event Rayquaza on that save.
- Game: The event was for Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet on Nintendo Switch.
What players needed to do during the event
These steps describe how players accessed the raid while it was available; following them now will not bring back the expired event.
- Complete the main story. The official preparation guide says 5-star Tera Raids become available after completing the main story.
- Check for event raid data. In the game, open Poké Portal → Mystery Gift → Check Poké Portal News. The event preparation instructions are in Pokémon’s event preparation guide.
- Find the event raid. Event encounters could be accessed through Tera Raid crystals. During the event, players could challenge the 5-star Dragon Tera Raid and catch Rayquaza if they had not already caught it on that save.
A paid Nintendo Switch Online membership was not required to download the latest Poké Portal News, according to the preparation guide. That requirement detail does not change the fact that the event itself has ended.
Rank #2
- If you purchase either the physical or digital double pack, you will receive a 200 Poké Ball bonus via download codes* that can be entered in the Mystery Gift** feature in your game!
- The packaged version of the double pack includes 1 physical Pokémon Scarlet game and 1 physical Pokémon Violet game
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea
What is known about another opportunity?
Pokémon’s event notice leaves open the possibility of a future event or another way to obtain Shiny Rayquaza, but it names no method or date. The official material cited here establishes the 2024–25 raid and its rules; it does not establish a current alternative. Check official Pokémon announcements for any confirmed future availability rather than relying on an assumed return schedule.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Included is the following: Pokémon Violet for Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, 8 pack of PremGear 4 different Colors Thumb Grips (Joystick Cap Covers Compatible with Nintendo Switch/Lite/OLED), PremGear 24 Slot Game card Case/Holder with 2 Slot MicroSD Memory Card Adapter and PremGear Quality Cleaning Cloth
- As the main character, you can explore the wide-open world of Pokémon Violet at your own pace
- In these games, you’ll be able to enjoy the iconic adventures of the Pokémon series, like battling against wild Pokémon and trying to catch them!
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities
- Choose either Sprigatito, the Grass Cat Pokémon, Fuecoco, the Fire Croc Pokémon, or Quaxly, the Duckling Pokémon to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through this new region
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
