The Mightiest Mark: a badge you earn, not a title you're given.
For one week starting April 3, 2026, a particular serpent is holding court in the Paldea region — and it knows it.
Serperior, the so-called Regal Pokémon, has returned to the 7-star Tera Raid Battles of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and it arrives carrying the Mightiest Mark, a distinction reserved for the most fearsome raid opponents the games have to offer. The event runs from Friday, April 3 at midnight UTC through Thursday, April 9 at 23:59 UTC — a tight window for trainers who want a shot at it.
This version of Serperior carries Grass as its Tera Type, which shapes both the challenge it presents and the rewards it yields. Players who manage to bring it down will walk away with more than bragging rights: the haul includes substantial quantities of Exp. Candy for leveling Pokémon, sellable treasures, stat-boosting items, and Grass Tera Shards — the currency used to change a Pokémon's Tera Type.
Finding the raid itself requires a small bit of housekeeping. Players need to download the latest Poké Portal News through the in-game menu — navigating to the X menu, selecting Poké Portal, then Mystery Gift, then Check Poké Portal News. Once that's done, the black Tera Raid crystals that mark Serperior's presence will begin appearing across the map, each one sending up a sparkling column of light visible from a distance.
Not every trainer can walk straight into the fight. Challenging this Serperior directly requires having completed the postgame events that follow Scarlet and Violet's main story — a significant time investment for anyone who hasn't already been there. Those who haven't finished that content aren't entirely locked out, though: they can join a 7-star raid hosted by a trainer who has cleared the postgame, which opens the door to the battle without requiring the same progress.
One rule applies universally: Serperior can only be caught once per save file. That single catch is the ceiling. But the event doesn't end there for players who've already secured theirs — returning to fight Serperior again is still worthwhile, since subsequent victories continue to pay out the full slate of rewards even without the option to catch.
The Mightiest Mark is the detail that sets this apart from ordinary raid fare. It signals that this isn't a Pokémon to walk into casually. Coordinating with friends — or finding capable partners online — is the intended approach, and likely the practical one.
With the window closing on April 9, trainers who want a piece of this have a narrow stretch of days to organize, prepare, and make their run at one of Paldea's most imperious residents.
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does the Mightiest Mark matter so much to players?
It's essentially a badge of difficulty — only Pokémon that appear in the hardest raid tier carry it, so it signals both a serious challenge and a prestige catch.
Is Grass Tera Type on Serperior unusual?
Serperior is already a Grass-type Pokémon, so keeping that Tera Type means it can lean into same-type attack bonuses — it's not a curveball, it's a reinforcement of what it already does well.
What's the real cost of missing this event?
These raids do return occasionally, as this one already has, but there's no schedule. Miss it and you could be waiting months for another window.
Why limit the catch to once per save file?
It preserves the sense that this Serperior is genuinely rare — something you earned, not farmed. The rewards keep flowing after that, but the Pokémon itself stays singular.
What does the postgame requirement actually gate?
It keeps the hardest content behind a meaningful progression wall. The workaround — joining a hosted raid — is a concession to players who are close but not quite there.
What should a trainer prioritize if they only have one shot at the event?
Preparation and coordination. Going in with friends who know the fight is worth more than any single item advantage.