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The latest officially announced Iron Leaves 5-star raid ended on January 4, 2026, so check Poké Portal News for a later return before planning a run. When it is available, Unaware Skeledirge is the recommended solo counter: build Special Attack with Torch Song, hit Psychic-Tera Iron Leaves with Shadow Ball, and use Slack Off to recover. In multiplayer, Prankster Grimmsnarl can blunt the boss’s physical offense with Reflect and disrupt Swords Dance with Taunt.
Is the Iron Leaves raid available now?
The latest official return announced Iron Leaves as a 5-star Tera Raid in Pokémon Violet with Psychic Tera Type, running December 19, 2025, 00:00 UTC through January 4, 2026, 23:59 UTC. That event has ended. The notice says Iron Leaves may appear in future events or become obtainable through other methods, but gives no future date; check current Poké Portal News rather than assuming the raid is live. Official event notice
That event paired Iron Leaves in Violet with Walking Wake in Scarlet. If your game version does not host the featured Pokémon, you can join a raid hosted by someone playing the opposite version.
What makes Iron Leaves difficult?
The strategy guide lists Psyblade, Leaf Blade, Megahorn, and Swords Dance as Iron Leaves’s moves. Its opening Electric Terrain activates Quark Drive and increases Psyblade’s power, so the boss can put pressure on a team with physical attacks before it has built momentum. Swords Dance can further raise its attack; countering that setup and surviving physical damage are central to the fight. GameWith’s Iron Leaves strategy guide
#1 Best Overall
- 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
Best solo counter: Unaware Skeledirge
GameWith recommends a Modest Skeledirge with Unaware, a Metronome, and Fire Tera Type. This is published strategy advice, not a guarantee of a win; no controlled comparison establishes a universally best build.
Suggested build
- Ability: Unaware
- Nature: Modest
- Held item: Metronome
- Tera Type: Fire; Ghost is an optional alternative, not a requirement
- Moves: Torch Song, Shadow Ball, Slack Off, and an optional fourth move such as Fire Blast
How to use it
- Use Torch Song to deal damage while raising Skeledirge’s Special Attack.
- Use Shadow Ball for super-effective damage against Psychic-Tera Iron Leaves.
- Use Slack Off when Skeledirge’s HP gets low instead of risking a knockout.
- Unaware helps reduce the threat from Iron Leaves’s Swords Dance boosts, making the setup less punishing for Skeledirge.
Best multiplayer support: Prankster Grimmsnarl
Grimmsnarl is a support choice for a group, not the guide’s recommended solo damage dealer. Its value is helping teammates manage Iron Leaves’s setup and physical attacks.
Rank #2
- 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.
- Taunt can prevent Iron Leaves from using Swords Dance.
- Reflect reduces damage from physical moves.
- Sucker Punch and Bulk Up are flexible move options in the guide’s suggested set.
Pair Grimmsnarl with teammates able to deal damage safely while it disrupts the boss and protects the group. GameWith’s Iron Leaves strategy guide
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to access the event raid and catch Iron Leaves
- Update event news: In the game, open Poké Portal → Mystery Gift → Check Poké Portal News to download the latest event information.
- Meet the raid access condition: 5-star raids become available after completing the main story. Players who have not finished it can join through multiplayer.
- Choose solo or online play: Solo play is not described as requiring an online membership. To join other Trainers online, a Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online membership are required. Membership is sold separately, auto-renews after its initial term at the then-current price unless canceled, and is not available in every country; check current terms.
- Check your save’s catch history: The featured event Pokémon can be caught once per save data. If you already caught Iron Leaves in an earlier Tera Raid event, you cannot catch it again on that save, but you can still battle it for other rewards.
Event details and participation terms are described in the official event notice.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Action meets RPG in this new take on the Pokémon series
- Study Pokémon behaviors, sneak up on them, and toss a well-aimed Poké Ball to catch them
- Unleash moves in the speedy agile style or the powerful strong style in battles
- Travel to the Hisui region—the Sinnoh of old—and build the region’s first Pokédex
- Learn about the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, the key to this mysterious tale
Rank #3
![Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet Expansion Pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Retail Version) Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n-a8y2QXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
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