You’ve finally made it. After hours of chasing down Titan Pokémon and crashing Team Star bases, you're standing in front of that sterile, intimidating building at the Pokémon League. It’s a vibe shift, for sure. One minute you're riding a giant mechanical lizard through a field, and the next, you're being interviewed by Rika like you're applying for a mid-level accounting job. But don't let the corporate aesthetic fool you. The Scarlet Violet Elite Four is a legitimate gauntlet that catches people off guard because the difficulty spike is real.
Paldea does things differently. In previous games, you usually just walked in and started swinging. Here, there's a literal entrance exam. If you fail Rika’s questions, she kicks you out. Honestly? It's kind of iconic. But once the talking is over, you’re facing four of the most specialized trainers in the series, followed by a Champion fight that... well, let's just say it's polarizing.
The Interview: Don't Mess This Up
Before you even see a Poké Ball, you have to sit across from Rika. She’s looking for consistency. If you tell her you chose the Gym Challenge because you want to be strong, don't change your answer three questions later. She’ll ask which Gym gave you the most trouble. Pick one—it doesn't actually matter which—but remember the name of the Gym Leader. If you say Levincia but can't remember Iono, you're walking back out the front door. It’s a simple check to see if you were actually paying attention to your journey through Paldea.
Rika: The Ground-Type Specialist with a Twist
Rika is the gatekeeper. She’s cool, calm, and she loves Ground types. Most players think "Ground equals Water," and they're partially right. But Rika isn't a pushover.
She starts with Whiscash. This thing is a nuisance because of its Water/Ground typing, meaning your Electric moves are useless and your Grass moves are the only thing that’ll really hurt it. Then there’s Camerupt, Donphan, and Dugtrio. Standard stuff. The real problem is her ace: Clodsire. It looks like a giant, squishy loaf of bread, but it’s a tank. And here’s the kicker—it has the Water Absorb ability. If you’ve been relying on your Quaquaval or a powerful Surf move to sweep her team, Clodsire will literally eat that hit and heal itself. Use Psychic or Ice. Seriously. Don't be the person who tries to drown a Water Absorb Pokémon.
Poppy: Steel Yourself
Next up is Poppy. She’s about six years old and carries a massive hammer. It’s absurd. It’s also terrifying because she’s a Steel-type specialist. Steel is arguably the best defensive typing in the history of the franchise, and Poppy knows how to use it.
Her team—Copperajah, Magnezone, Bronzong, and Corviknight—is designed to resist almost everything you throw at it. If you chose Fuecoco as your starter, Skeledirge is going to have a field day here. Fire is your best friend. However, watch out for her Bronzong. It has Levitate, so your Ground-type moves (like Earthquake) will just whiff completely. You need a diverse kit. Her ace is Tinkaton, and while it’s not the hardest-hitting Pokémon in the world, its typing (Fairy/Steel) is incredible. It’s only weak to Fire and Ground. Hit it fast, or it’ll start chipping away at you with Gigaton Hammer.
Larry: The Man, The Myth, The Normal... Wait
Larry is back. Everyone’s favorite overworked salaryman from the Medali Gym is actually a member of the Scarlet Violet Elite Four. But he’s switched things up. Instead of Normal types, Larry is now a Flying-type specialist. Why? Because his boss told him to. That’s literally the lore. Larry is a mood.
He leads with Tropius. It’s not great, but it sets the stage. Then comes Staraptor, Altaria, and Oricorio (Pom-Pom style). Staraptor is the one to watch out for because Close Combat will wreck your Rock or Steel types if you aren't careful. His ace is Flamigo. It’s a goofy-looking bird, but it hits like a truck when it Terastallizes into a pure Flying type. Bring an Electric type or a fast Ice type. Baxcalibur or Kilowattrel can usually clean house here. Just don't expect Larry to be happy about the battle; he just wants to go to dinner.
Hassel: The Dragon Tamer's Tears
Finally, you have Hassel. He’s the art teacher from the academy, and he’s incredibly emotional. He will cry during this fight. He will also try to annihilate you with Dragons.
Hassel’s team is heavy. Noivern, Dragalge, Haxorus, and Flapple. Haxorus is a genuine threat because of its high Attack stat; if it gets a Dragon Dance off, it’s game over for your team. You need to outspeed it. The curveball is Dragalge, which is Poison/Dragon. If you bring a Fairy type to slay the dragons, Dragalge will hit it with a Poison-type move and take it out. His ace is Baxcalibur. It’s the pseudo-legendary of the region, and it’s a beast. It has the Thermal Exchange ability, so don't try to burn it—it actually gets stronger if you hit it with Fire. Stick to Fairy, Dragon, or Fighting moves to bring the big guy down.
Geeta: The "Top Champion" Problem
Once the Scarlet Violet Elite Four are down, you face Geeta. Now, there’s a lot of discourse online about Geeta. Some people find her easy. Others think her team composition is a mess. Both can be true.
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Geeta starts with Espathra, which is a weird choice because its ability, Opportunist, is great, but it’s frail. Then she has Gogoat, Veluza, Kingambit, and Avalugg. Kingambit is her most dangerous Pokémon, but she usually sends it out in the middle of the fight rather than saving it for the end. Her ace is Glimmora.
Here is the tactical error most people point out: Glimmora’s ability, Toxic Debris, scatters Poison Spikes on your side of the field whenever it's hit by a physical move. Because she uses it last and Terastallizes it into a Rock type, the Poison Spikes usually don't matter because the battle is almost over. If she led with Glimmora, she’d be much harder to beat. Take advantage of this. Use a Ground type for Glimmora and Kingambit, and you’ll be the new Champion in no time.
Preparing Your Roster
You don't need a team of level 100 legendaries. Aim for level 60-65. That’s the sweet spot where the fight feels earned but not impossible.
Make sure you have a "Core Three" coverage. You need a strong Fire type (Skeledirge, Arcanine, or Armarouge/Ceruledge), a reliable Fairy or Ice type (Tinkaton or Baxcalibur), and a versatile Ground or Water type. Filling the other three slots with your favorites is fine as long as they aren't all weak to the same thing.
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Also, buy items. Don't be stingy. This isn't the time to save your Poké Dollars. Max Potions and Full Heals are mandatory because Hassel and Rika love to inflict status conditions.
Actionable Strategy for Victory
If you're struggling, stop throwing yourself at the wall and tweak your setup.
- Change your Tera Types: Go to the treasure eatery in Medali. If your favorite Pokémon is weak to Larry’s Flying moves, change its Tera type to Electric or Rock. It's a grind to get the shards, but it changes the math of the fight entirely.
- Check your Held Items: Stop using "Shell Bell" on everything. Give your fastest attacker a Choice Band or Choice Scarf. Give your tanky Pokémon Leftovers. These small percentages matter when you're facing Hassel's Haxorus.
- Utilize "Set" vs "Switch": If you want a real challenge, play on "Set" mode (though SV technically removed the toggle, you can mimic it by not switching when prompted). If you're struggling, use the "Switch" prompt to your advantage to counter-pick every time they send out a new Pokémon.
- Mochi and Vitamins: If you're being outsped, use Carbos. If you're dying in one hit, use HP Up. In the 2026 meta, even for casual playthroughs, basic EV training (Effort Values) makes a world of difference.
The Paldea League is a test of endurance more than anything else. Once you've cleared the Scarlet Violet Elite Four, the post-game opens up, leading into the Area Zero depths and the actual emotional climax of the game. Get through the office building, beat the art teacher, and claim your title. You've earned it.