Will the Charizard Raid Return in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?
As a longtime Pokémon fan and gaming enthusiast, this is a question I‘ve seen many trainers asking lately. And with good reason – the chance to catch the mighty Charizard in a rare Black Crystal Tera Raid is an exciting opportunity that many players want to experience again.
An Overwhelming Initial Response
When the 7-star Charizard raid first debuted in early December 2022, it‘s safe to say the fan response was immense. Over the event‘s short 3-day window, queues to battle the fiery Pokémon stretched into the thousands as excited trainers flooded into the Paldean region.
Official player counts weren‘t released, but based on queue times, demand vastly exceeding supply would be an understatement. Many dedicated fans unfortunately missed out on adding this specially marked Charizard, dubbed "The Unrivaled," to their Pokedex due to limited raid availability.
Precedents Point to a Likely Return
However, looking at other limited-time raids from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet provides clues that another shot at Charizard could arrive. Take the rare 5-star Dragonite raid that appeared for just one weekend. After disappearing for over a month, it has now returned for a short encore event due to its initial popularity.
Dragonite‘s reappearance sets a precedent that overwhelmingly sought-after raid events will likely cycle back after an absence to give more battlers a chance. And as one of the most beloved Kanto starters, interest in catching Charizard arguably eclipses all other raid bosses.
A Tailwind for Further Events
Examining raid events for other flagship Pokémon games also suggests recurring Charizard could be in the cards. In the past year, Pokémon GO hosted not one but two separate raid events focused on its shiny black Charizard form.
Despite some fans capturing this variant already, the repeats allowed more players to get in on the action. Given the more limited access of Scarlet and Violet‘s 7-star raids, an encore seems almost inevitable to give everyone clamoring for the mighty dragon-type starter an even playing field.
By the Numbers: Measurable Hype
Beyond precedent, raw data demonstrates that demand for a rerun stands strong. A cursory glance at Twitter shows fans inquiring about its return in droves. Pokémon luminary Serebii‘s initial raid recap has amassed over 1.4K likes and 100 retweets as users seek updates.
And YouTube analysis videos covering the event from popular community figures like Anthomnia, Blaines, and BirdKeeperToby have collected view counts ranging from 60K to 225K apiece. That much attention confirms players are still holding out hope to add Charizard to their ranks.
Room for Future Tweaks
If Game Freak does opt to bring back this raid, some adjustments could make the event even more accessible. For one, they could expand the timing beyond 72 hours so more trainers can balance real life commitments with their Paldean conquest. Additionally, increasing spawn rates to cut down long wait times may allow more battlers to walk away with their own Unrivaled prize.
Of course, keeping some level of exclusivity through limited-time availability also rewards early adopters. But for an iconic monster like Charizard that many fans have a deep affection for, a brief special event can feel painfully short. Even two or three runs lasting 5 days each would give working trainers and students better odds without eliminating all sense of urgency.
Confident, but Waiting for Confirmation
Given Charizard‘s immense popularity paired with the initial supply and demand imbalance, I‘m confident the fiery fiend will light up 7-star raids again soon. Perhaps they will even take some cues from the constructive feedback on the first go-around to improve access.
But until Game Freak confirms a repeat, the only option is to stay tuned for hints on social media and official channels. Then once those black crystals crackle again, be ready to hop online with your best ice, rock, and ground type counters raring to go!
