You’ve spent dozens of hours wandering through the massive, open fields of Paldea, picking up every shiny object and accidentally running into Lechonks. But then you hit it. The building. The Pokemon League. If you're heading into the Elite Four Pokemon Scarlet challenge, you’re probably expecting the usual gauntlet of four rooms and a champion. Honestly, it’s a bit weirder than that this time around.
The Elite Four in this generation isn't just a test of strength; it’s a job interview. Literally. You have to sit through a "Champion Assessment" with Rika before you even get to throw a Poke Ball. It’s a strange shift from previous games where you just kicked the door down and started blasting.
The Interview: Where Most Trainers Actually Fail
Before you see a single Ground-type move, Rika sits you down for a quiz. It seems simple, but if you haven't been paying attention to your own journey, she will kick you out. You’ve got to remember which gym gave you the most trouble and the specific name of the gym leader. Most people breeze through the game and forget names like Katy or Kofu, but Rika doesn't care about your excuses.
She's looking for consistency. If you tell her you chose Fuecoco at the start but then claim you're there to beat the league with a "Water" style, she’ll flag the discrepancy. It’s a personality test that doubles as a lore check. If you fail, you’re escorted out. No battle. No glory. Just a walk of shame back to the front desk.
Rika and the Ground-Type Problem
Once you pass the talking phase, Rika is your first actual wall. She specializes in Ground types, which sounds easy until you realize her Clodsire is a tanky nightmare.
Most players walk in with a Mid-60s level team. That’s the sweet spot. Rika’s lineup includes Whiscash, Camerupt, Donphan, Dugtrio, and that infamous Clodsire. The trick here isn't just "bring a Water type." It’s managing the sub-types. Camerupt will eat your Grass types for breakfast with Fire moves, and Whiscash is basically immune to Electric.
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Honestly, the most annoying part of this fight is the Clodsire’s "Water Absorb" ability if you aren't careful. You think you’re about to one-shot it with a Surf? Nope. You just healed it. You’ve gotta use Ice or Psychic. Or just brute force it with a strong physical attacker that doesn't care about special defense.
Poppy: Don't Let the Toddler Fool You
Next up is Poppy. Yes, she’s a literal child. In a heavy metal suit of armor (metaphorically). She uses Steel types, which are notoriously difficult because they resist almost everything.
Her team:
- Copperajah
- Magnezone
- Bronzong
- Corviknight
- Tinkaton
Tinkaton is the star here. It’s a Fairy/Steel type, meaning your traditional Fighting-type counters might struggle if they aren't fast enough to outspeed her Gigaton Hammer. You’ll want Fire or Ground moves. If you kept your Skeledirge or have a solid Arcanine, this is their time to shine. But watch out for Bronzong; if it has Levitate, your Earthquake is useless. You’ve gotta pay attention to those ability pop-ups in the corner of the screen.
Larry is Back and He’s Exhausted
Larry is the internet’s favorite character for a reason. He’s just a guy. He’s tired. He’s overworked. After you beat him at the Medali Gym, Geeta forced him to work overtime as a member of the Elite Four Pokemon Scarlet roster.
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This time, he isn't using Normal types. He’s switched to Flying.
It’s a bit of a curveball. He leads with Tropius, which is a 4x weakness to Ice. Easy. But then he brings out Oricorio (Pom-Pom Style), Altaria, and Staraptor. His ace is Flamigo. Larry’s strategy is simple: high speed and Brave Bird. If you don't have a fast Electric or Rock type, Larry will sweep your team while looking like he’d rather be eating a ham sandwich at the office.
The jump from Poppy to Larry feels different. It’s more about speed than raw defense. If you can’t outpace a Staraptor, you’re going to burn through your Revives faster than you think.
Hassel and the Dragon Curve
Hassel is the final hurdle before the Champion. He’s the art teacher from the Academy, and he’s incredibly emotional. He will literally cry while trying to destroy your team with Dragons.
Dragons are traditionally the hardest type to deal with because they resist the "starter" types (Fire, Water, Grass). Hassel brings:
- Noivern
- Haxorus
- Dragalge
- Flapple
- Baxcalibur
Baxcalibur is the real threat. It’s a Dragon/Ice type with a signature move called Glaive Rush. It hits like a freight train. If you don't have a Fairy type like Sylveon or Gardevoir, or maybe a very fast Ice-type of your own, Hassel will dismantle you. Interestingly, his Dragalge is Poison/Dragon, which baits you into using a Fairy move only to hit you with a super-effective Sludge Bomb. It’s a clever trap.
The Geeta Controversy
After the four, you face Top Champion Geeta. In the community, Geeta is a polarizing figure. Many veteran players found her team composition... questionable.
She leads with Espathra, which is fine, but she finishes with Glimmora. The problem? Glimmora’s "Toxic Debris" ability works best when it's sent out first to set spikes. By sending it out last and Terastallizing it into a Rock type, she actually makes it easier to beat with a simple Ground or Water move.
Despite the tactical flaws, her Kingambit and Veluza can still catch you off guard if your team is weakened from Hassel. Kingambit, specifically, gets stronger for every fallen teammate. If you save it for last, it becomes a monster.
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Strategic Prep You Actually Need
Don't just walk in with six level 60 Pokemon and hope for the best. Paldea’s league is about coverage.
- The Tinkaton Carry: If you caught a Tinkatink early on, use it. Its typing is incredible for this gauntlet. It resists Poppy’s Steel, Larry’s Flying (mostly), and can hit Hassel’s Dragons with Fairy moves.
- Item Check: Buy 30 Hyper Potions and 20 Revives. It sounds like overkill, but the lack of a heal between the four means you're doing it yourself.
- The Terastal Timing: Don't waste your Tera transformation early. Save it for the "Ace" Pokemon of each trainer. If you Tera too soon, you might lose your defensive resistances right when you need them.
The Elite Four Pokemon Scarlet experience is unique because it feels like a culmination of your school life. It’s less about a shadowy organization and more about proving you’ve actually learned how types interact.
How to Handle the Post-Game Spike
Once the credits roll, the League isn't "done." You’ll eventually have to do the Ace Academy Tournament, where the levels jump into the 70s. The best way to prepare for the League and what comes after is to hit the North Province (Area Three) and grind against Chanseys.
If you use an Encounter Power: Normal sandwich, Chanseys will spawn everywhere. They give massive EXP. Spending 20 minutes here can boost your team from level 55 to level 65, making the Elite Four a much smoother ride.
Most trainers get stuck on Hassel because they rely too heavily on their starter. By the time you reach the Dragon-user, your Meowscarada or Quaquaval might be struggling with type matchups. Diversity is your only real friend in the Great Crater of Paldea.
Next Steps for Your Journey
- Check your Bag: Ensure you have at least 15 Full Heals; Hassel’s Dragalge and Rika’s Clodsire love to spam status effects like Poison and Toxic.
- Visit the Move Reminder: Go into your Pokemon's summary and remember any high-damage moves you might have skipped. You’ll need the raw power for Poppy’s defenses.
- Fly to Medali: Grab a meal at the Treasure Eatery for a "Great Peanut Butter Sandwich" or something that boosts Catching or Experience for your specific team type before heading to the League.