Annihilape Builds For Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (Abilities, Items, & Raids)

Annihilape’s Tera Raid build in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a fairly easy one to be constructed and can prove itself extremely beneficial in striking down strong opponents in the group activity. Annihilape is, of course, Primeape’s new evolution, introduced with the Generation 9 games set in Paldea. The Pokémon retains many of the characteristics from its evolutionary line, but the main change is that it gains a secondary Ghost-type, which completely alters the way it is played on the field when compared to its previous form.

The creature boasts high offensive stats and an acceptable HP stat. With it, players can take a gamble to make it even stronger, at the risk of having it faint mid-battle. Nonetheless, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Annihilape is a supreme choice for Tera Raids, especially with a proper build, that focuses on increasing its strengths and covering its weaknesses. It is important to point out, however, that using it is always a high-risk / high-reward situation, so players who are not accustomed to damage mitigation or dealing with low HP bars may not find themselves comfortable with it.

Related: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Clodsire Build for Tera Raids

Best Stats & Nature For Annihilape In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Annihilape is a physical striker, so its Tera Raid build should reflect that. Its highest base stats, as seen on Bulbapedia, are Attack and HP. As such, those are the ones that should be maxed out to 252 points each in EV (Effort Value) Training, according to Game8. The four remaining points should be set into its Defense stat.

After that, players will want to head to Montenevera to utilize Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Hyper Training function. By paying the NPC near the Pokémon Center with Bottle Caps, players can max out each stat in the IV (Individual Value) Training, further increasing the Pokémon’s potential. For a more straightforward approach, here’s a list of Annihilape’s Tera Raid build in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet:

Players must prioritize maxing out Attack, HP, and Defense, but should also consider IV Training the Speed and Special Defense stats. Because Annihilape’s moves are all physical in this Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Tera Raid build, Special Attack can be disregarded. In fact, this is reflected in its Nature. For this build, Annihilape’s Nature should be set to Adamant. This will increase its Attack stat at the cost of its Special Attack. One of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Adamant Mints should be used to change its Nature if it is not already set to the required one.

Best Ability For Annihilape In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Annihilape has three different Abilities, but only one is truly useful for its Tera Raid build in Scarlet and Violet. Its ordinary Abilities, Vital Spirit, and Inner Focus, are not recommended and should be exchanged for its Hidden Ability, Defiant. This will boost Annihilape’s Attack stat by two stages every time its stats are lowered.

Considering how often that happens in high leveled Tera Raids, this is the perfect choice to boost its power. In case it is not set to Defiant, players will need to use Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Ability Patch items to trigger the change.

Best Items For Annihilape In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

When it comes to Held Items, Game8 recommends a risky tactic for Annihilape’s Tera Raid build: Life Orb. The item boosts the overall damage output by 30%, but at the cost of 10% of their HP with every offensive attack they use. While this may seem too risky for a Pokémon without defensive attributes, the fact is that the creature’s build-up during the initial stages of a fight will see it stat-boosting. As such, it is expected to lose very little HP, in the later stages of the battle. Players can always give it Leftovers as an alternative, to deal with the damage it will take during the Tera Raid.

Related: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Best Gastrodon Build for Tera Raids

Best Tera Type For Annihilape In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

The next step is changing Annihilape’s Tera type in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet to Ghost-type. If it is not already set to that, players will need to get 50 Ghost Tera Shards, obtained by completing Ghost-type Tera Raids, and take them over to the chef in the Treasure Eatery restaurant in Medali Town. Unlike a few other Pokémon, Annihilape’s Tera Raid build requires it to have a Ghost Tera type due to its main STAB (Same-type attack bonus) move, which is a Ghost-type move that gets significantly more powerful with every hit it takes from the opponent. With a Ghost-type Terrastilization, that move gets even stronger.

Best Moveset For Annihilape In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

The STAB move mentioned in Annihilape’s Tera Raid build is Rage Fist. This is the same move Primeape needs to use 20 times when evolving into Annihilape in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Its base attack power is 50, which is low, but it gets an additional 50 with every strike the user takes, up to a total of 350 attack power. It is important to note that the hit counter on Rage Fist does not reset after Annihilape faints, so players do not need to restart their pounding session every time their Pokémon faints, but just keep track of how many times it got hit.

Before using Rage Fist in the later stages of the fight, however, Annihilape’s Tera Raid build requires it to boost its own stats, and there are a few Status moves that need to be played before attacking. Game8 recommends opening the fight with two uses of Bulk Up to increase its Attack and Defense stats, then two uses of Screech, to lower the opponent’s Defense. This is ideal in most of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Tera Raids, but indispensable with Annihilape as the player’s ally. They should also consider using the Heal Up function in between their Status moves, whenever necessary, to avoid losing stat-boosting progress.

The final move in Annihilape’s Tera Raid build in Scarlet and Violet is open for customization. While Game8 suggests it learns Close Combat for a powerful Fighting-type STAB move, players can teach it another Ghost-type move, like Shadow Punch or Phantom Force. The only necessity is that the move is physical, to take advantage of Annihilape’s high Attack stat and all the stat-boosting it did at the beginning of the fight. While it is one of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s strongest Fighting-types, it excels marvelously as a Ghost-type specialist, too, so players should take that into consideration before making a final decision.

Related: The Best Ghost-Type Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet

With the proper build, the Fighting- and Ghost-type Pokémon from Scarlet and Violet can completely destroy its opponents, most of them with one single Rage Fist usage – after building up stats and stacks of additional damage, of course. There is a high risk involved in using Primeape’s ghastly evolution, but the rewards may compensate for it. Players who are used to taking damage and powering through it in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet should definitely consider Annihilape’s Tera Raid build for future activities.

More: Best Ground-Type Pokémon For Tera Raids in Scarlet & Violet

Source: Bulbapedia, Game8