You’ve spent hours roaming the hills of Paldea, catching weird little guys and probably falling off a few cliffs with Koraidon. Now you’re at the gates of the Pokemon League. It’s intimidating. But honestly, the hardest part isn't the Level 60 dragons—it’s the lady with the clipboard. Before you even throw a Poke Ball, you have to pass an interview. If you mess up even one of the Pokemon Scarlet Elite Four answers, you get kicked out. Immediate fail. No second chances until you walk back through those front doors and try again.
It’s a vibe check. Rika, the Ground-type specialist who looks like she hasn't slept in three days, wants to know if you're actually ready to be a Champion or if you just stumbled in here by accident. Most players get tripped up because they try to be too clever or they simply forget which gym leader they fought third. It’s a test of memory as much as it is a test of spirit.
The Interview: Every Pokemon Scarlet Elite Four Answer You Need
Let's get straight to it. Rika is going to ask you ten questions. Some are easy, like your name, but others are designed to catch you in a lie. Specifically, she asks which Gym was your favorite and who the leader was. If you lie here, she’ll know. The game tracks your progress, obviously, so if you say Larry was your favorite but then describe his gym as "Electric," Rika will show you the door.
Question 1: How did you get here today?
You want to say "I walked," but the answer she's looking for is I walked, rode, or flew. Actually, any of the three options work here as long as you're honest about your journey. Most people just pick "I walked" and move on.
Question 2: Please tell me your school’s name.
Look at your uniform. If you’re playing Scarlet, it’s Naranja Academy. If you’re on Violet, it’s Uva Academy. Don’t mix these up. It’s the easiest way to fail before you even start.
Question 3: So, what brings you to the Pokemon League today?
Don't be humble. The correct answer is I came to become a Champion. Rika isn't interested in "I just wanted to see what it was like" or "I'm looking for treasure." She wants ambition.
Question 4: Now, tell me, what do you intend to do once you become a Champion?
This is a "free" choice in the sense that you can pick whatever you want, but you must remember your answer. She’s going to ask you this again at the very end to see if you're consistent. Common choices are "I want to get even stronger" or "I want to find treasure." Just pick one and burn it into your brain.
Question 5: Which of the eight Gyms gave you the most difficulty?
This is the trap. Pick any gym you want. Seriously. Brassius, Iono, Grusha—it doesn't matter. But you have to remember who the leader was and what their type was for the next few questions.
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Question 6: And what was the name of the Gym Leader you faced there?
If you picked Levincia, the answer is Iono. If you picked Cascarrafa, it’s Kofu. If you're blanking on the names, just look at your map or your badges before you walk into the building.
Question 7: And do you remember which type of Pokemon that Gym Leader used?
Match the leader to the type.
- Katy: Bug
- Brassius: Grass
- Iono: Electric
- Kofu: Water
- Larry: Normal
- Ryme: Ghost
- Tulip: Psychic
- Grusha: Ice
Question 8: What was the category of the first Pokemon you chose to be your partner?
She’s asking about your starter.
- Sprigatito: The Grass Cat Pokemon.
- Fuecoco: The Fire Croc Pokemon.
- Quaxly: The Duckling Pokemon.
Question 9: Remind me—what do you intend to do once you become a Champion?
Repeat exactly what you said for Question 4. If you said you wanted to get stronger, say it again. If you change your mind now, Rika thinks you're a flake and kicks you out.
Question 10: Do you like Pokemon?
Yes. Obviously, Yes.
Why Rika's Interview Actually Matters for the Lore
It feels like a waste of time, right? It isn't. This interview is a brilliant piece of character writing that differentiates Paldea from previous regions like Kanto or Sinnoh. In older games, the Elite Four were just bosses standing in rooms. In Scarlet and Violet, the Pokemon League is a bureaucratic institution. It's a job.
Rika acts as the HR department. By forcing you to provide the correct Pokemon Scarlet Elite Four answers, the game is checking if you’ve actually paid attention to the world Geeta has built. It’s also a subtle hint about Rika’s personality. She’s the "cool big sister" of the group, but she’s also incredibly sharp. She uses Ground types—solid, unmoving, grounded. She wants to see if your resolve is as firm as a Clodsire.
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The stakes are actually quite high from a narrative perspective. You aren't just some kid who got lucky with a high-level Meowscarada. You're a student representing your Academy. If you don't know the name of your own school, you’re an embarrassment to Director Clavell.
After the Interview: Preparing for the Actual Fights
Passing the interview is just the beginning. Once you’re through, the real pain starts. The Elite Four in Paldea are surprisingly varied, and if you aren't prepared for the level jump, you’re going to be burning through Revives like crazy.
Rika (Ground Specialist)
She just interviewed you, and now she’s going to try to bury you. Her team is mostly Ground-type, but she has a nasty surprise: Clodsire.
- Whiscash (Water/Ground) - Don't use Electric. Use Grass.
- Camerupt (Fire/Ground) - 4x weak to Water.
- Donphan (Ground) - Sturdy might keep it alive for one hit.
- Dugtrio (Ground) - Fast, but fragile.
- Clodsire (Poison/Ground) - It will Terastallize into a Ground-type. Watch out for Toxic.
Poppy (Steel Specialist)
She’s a literal child. Don't let that fool you. Steel is one of the best defensive types in the game. You need Fire, Fighting, or Ground moves.
- Copperajah (Steel) - High HP, hits like a truck.
- Magnezone (Steel/Electric) - 4x weak to Ground.
- Bronzong (Steel/Psychic) - Usually has Levitate, so Ground won't work. Use Fire.
- Corviknight (Steel/Flying) - Use Fire or Electric.
- Tinkaton (Steel/Fairy) - This is her ace. It’s terrifying. Use Fire or Ground and hit it fast.
Larry (Flying Specialist)
The man, the myth, the legend. You fought him as a Normal-type leader, but he’s moonlighting for the Elite Four as a Flying specialist. He’s tired. He wants to go home. But he will still wreck you with Staraptor.
- Tropius (Grass/Flying) - 4x weak to Ice.
- Staraptor (Normal/Flying) - It has Intimidate. Swap out your physical attackers.
- Altaria (Dragon/Flying) - Weak to Ice, Rock, and Fairy.
- Oricorio (Electric/Flying) - Watch out for its dance moves.
- Flamigo (Flying/Fighting) - It Terastallizes into a Flying-type. It hits incredibly hard.
Hassel (Dragon Specialist)
The art teacher from the Academy. He’s emotional, he cries a lot, and he uses the most powerful type in Pokemon history. You need Ice, Fairy, or your own Dragon moves.
- Noivern (Flying/Dragon) - 4x weak to Ice.
- Haxorus (Dragon) - Pure power. Do not let it set up Dragon Dance.
- Dragalge (Poison/Dragon) - Don't use Fairy here; Poison will hurt. Use Ground or Psychic.
- Flapple (Grass/Dragon) - 4x weak to Ice.
- Baxcalibur (Ice/Dragon) - The pseudo-legendary of the region. It Terastallizes into a Dragon-type. Glaive Rush will hurt.
Common Mistakes People Make
Most people fail the interview because they rush. They mash the A button and accidentally click "Uva Academy" when they’re wearing a bright orange Scarlet uniform.
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Another huge mistake is overthinking the "Favorite Gym" question. People think there is a "right" answer that makes the fights easier. There isn't. The game doesn't care if you say Iono was your favorite or Larry was. It only cares that you don't lie. If you say Larry was your favorite, make sure you know he runs the Medali Gym and uses Normal types.
Also, don't forget about the Terastal mechanic. In the Elite Four fights, every member will Terastallize their final Pokemon. This changes their type to a single, pure type. For example, Hassel's Baxcalibur becomes a pure Dragon-type. This actually makes it easier to hit with certain moves, but it boosts their STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) damage significantly.
How to Guarantee a Win
If you're nervous about the interview or the fights, here is the secret: The Map.
Before you talk to the man at the desk, open your map. Hover over the cities. Write down the names of the leaders. You don't get bonus points for doing it from memory. The game is checking for "Pokemon Scarlet Elite Four answers," not "your ability to memorize 40 different nouns."
For the battles themselves, bring a diverse team. If you go in with six Fire-types, Rika is going to sweep you in five minutes. You need a "Core" of Water, Grass, and Fire, and then some coverage like Fairy or Steel.
- Level up to at least 60. The Elite Four starts in the high 50s and ends with Geeta in the low 60s.
- Buy Max Potions. You can't leave the building once you start. If you run out of items, you have to lose the battle to get out.
- Check your held items. Give your starter a Mystic Water/Miracle Seed/Charcoal. Give your fastest Pokemon a Choice Band or Life Orb if you have them.
Final Steps for Your Championship Run
You’re almost a Champion. Once you clear Rika's interrogation and beat the four trainers, you still have to face Top Champion Geeta. And after that? The real final boss: your rival, Nemona.
If you want to breeze through this, take five minutes right now to check your bag. Make sure you have the Amulet Coin equipped on your lead Pokemon to double your prize money—the Elite Four pay out a massive amount of Pokedollars. Also, verify your starter's category one last time in the Pokedex so you don't look silly in front of Rika. Once you pass that interview, the rest is just a matter of type advantages and a little bit of luck. Go get that title.