Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Walking Wake & Iron Leaves Return After 10-Month Absence
Walking Wake and Iron Leaves return to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s 5-Star Tera Raids December 18-January 4. Get event details, best counters, and rewards for these rare Paradox Pokemon.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet trainers are getting one final event to close out 2025, and it’s a big one. The rare Paradox Pokemon Walking Wake and Iron Leaves are returning as Five-Star Tera Raid bosses for the first time since February—ending a 10-month absence that left many Pokedexes incomplete.
With over two weeks to battle these elusive creatures, this might be your last chance to add them to your collection before Pokemon moves on to Generation 10.
Walking Wake & Iron Leaves Event Details
Event dates:
- Starts: Thursday, December 18 at 7:00 PM ET
- Ends: Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 6:59 PM ET
- Duration: Over two weeks (17 days)
The version exclusives:
- Walking Wake – Pokemon Scarlet exclusive (Tera-Water type)
- Iron Leaves – Pokemon Violet exclusive (Tera-Psychic type)
This marks the sixth run of this particular Tera Raid event, but the first since the Switch 2 update significantly improved Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s performance.
About These Rare Paradox Pokemon
Walking Wake (Pokemon Scarlet)
Type: Water/Dragon Inspiration: Prehistoric version of the legendary Suicune Tera Raid Type: Tera-Water Level: 75
Walking Wake represents what Suicune might have looked like in ancient times, combining the grace of the legendary beast with a more primal, ferocious appearance. Its Water/Dragon typing makes it one of the more versatile Paradox Pokemon.
Iron Leaves (Pokemon Violet)
Type: Grass/Psychic Inspiration: Robotic future version of Virizion Tera Raid Type: Tera-Psychic Level: 75
Iron Leaves is a mechanized counterpart to Virizion, featuring sleek metallic design and advanced technology. Its Grass/Psychic typing paired with its futuristic aesthetic makes it a standout among Paradox Pokemon.
Important Restrictions to Know
The one-catch limit: Even though you can battle Walking Wake and Iron Leaves repeatedly, you can only catch one per save file. If you already have one from a previous event, you won’t be able to catch another—but you can still farm them for rewards.
Trading is required for both: Since these are version exclusives, trainers who want both Paradox Pokemon in their Pokedex must:
- Catch the one available in their version
- Trade with someone playing the opposite version
- Coordinate with friends or online communities
Best Counters and Battle Strategies
Both raid bosses are set to level 75, so bringing a full team of level 100 Pokemon with type advantages is strongly recommended.
Counters for Walking Wake (Tera-Water)
Effective types:
- Electric – Super effective against Water
- Grass – Super effective against Water
- Dragon – Neutral damage but resists Water attacks
- Fairy – Resists Dragon moves
Recommended Pokemon:
- Miraidon – Electric type with high Special Attack
- Iron Hands – Electric/Fighting with excellent bulk
- Flutter Mane – Ghost/Fairy with exceptional Speed and Special Attack
- Tapu Koko – Electric/Fairy with strong offensive presence
Strategy tips:
- Watch out for Dragon-type moves if using Grass types
- Electric types provide the safest advantage
- Bring Pokemon with Thunderbolt, Thunder, or Electric Terrain
Counters for Iron Leaves (Tera-Psychic)
Effective types:
- Dark – Super effective and immune to Psychic
- Ghost – Super effective against Psychic
- Bug – Super effective (but weak to Psychic)
- Fire – Super effective against Grass
Recommended Pokemon:
- Kingambit – Dark/Steel with excellent Attack and bulk
- Meowscarada – Grass/Dark with great Speed
- Roaring Moon – Dragon/Dark with powerful offense
- Chi-Yu – Dark/Fire with devastating Special Attack
Strategy tips:
- Dark types are ideal since they’re immune to Psychic moves
- Fire types work well but watch for Grass attacks
- Ghost types are effective but vulnerable to Psychic moves
Rewards Worth Farming
Even if you’ve already caught Walking Wake or Iron Leaves, these raids are worth repeating for valuable items:
Premium rewards:
- Herba Mystica – Used to craft four-star sandwiches (rare drops)
- Bottle Caps – For Hyper Training to maximize IVs
- EXP Candies – XL and L sizes for quick leveling
- Tera Shards – Water shards from Walking Wake, Psychic from Iron Leaves
Why farm these raids:
- Herba Mystica is particularly valuable for shiny hunting sandwiches
- Bottle Caps are essential for competitive team building
- Multiple runs can stock up your training items
Why This Event Matters More Than Ever
The 10-Month Gap
Walking Wake and Iron Leaves last appeared in February 2025, just before Pokemon Day. That’s a full 10 months without access to these Paradox Pokemon, making this one of the longest gaps between availability windows.
The pattern suggests:
- These aren’t regular rotation bosses like other Tera Raids
- Future appearances may be even more infrequent
- This could be one of the last chances to catch them
Switch 2 Performance Improvements
This is the first Walking Wake and Iron Leaves event since the Switch 2 update dramatically improved Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s performance.
What changed:
- Smoother frame rates during raids
- Reduced lag in online multiplayer
- Better stability during intense battles
- Improved loading times
Why it matters: If you avoided Tera Raids before due to performance issues, this is the ideal time to jump in. The experience is significantly better on Switch 2.
Generation 10 Rumors and Event Sunset
With rumors circulating about Pokemon’s tenth generation games potentially being revealed in early 2026, there’s growing speculation that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet events may be discontinued soon.
Timeline concerns:
- Gen 10 announcement rumored for early 2026
- Pokemon typically winds down previous generation events after new game reveals
- This could be the final year of active Scarlet/Violet support
The urgency: If you’re a completionist trying to finish your Paldea Pokedex, don’t skip this event. There’s no guarantee Walking Wake and Iron Leaves will return again before support ends.
How to Maximize Your Event Experience
Solo vs. Multiplayer
Solo raiding:
- Requires stronger, well-prepared teams
- AI partners can be unreliable
- More challenging but doable at level 100
Multiplayer advantages:
- Coordinate type coverage with other trainers
- Faster clear times
- More fun and social
- Better success rate
Shiny Hunting Note
Unfortunately, Walking Wake and Iron Leaves cannot be shiny during this event. Don’t waste time soft-resetting—the game prevents shiny appearances for these specific Paradox Pokemon in Tera Raids.
Trading Tips
Finding trading partners:
- Use Pokemon Scarlet/Violet subreddits
- Join Discord communities focused on trading
- Coordinate with friends who own the opposite version
- Check online forums and trading groups
Fair trades: Since both are equally rare and version-exclusive, a 1:1 trade (Walking Wake for Iron Leaves) is standard and fair.
Completing Your Paradox Collection
Walking Wake and Iron Leaves represent just two of the many Paradox Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet. If you’re working toward a complete collection:
Other Paradox Pokemon to catch:
- Great Tusk / Iron Treads
- Scream Tail / Iron Bundle
- Brute Bonnet / Iron Hands
- Flutter Mane / Iron Jugulis
- Slither Wing / Iron Moth
- Sandy Shocks / Iron Thorns
- Roaring Moon / Iron Valiant
Most of these are available in-game through normal progression, but special event Paradox Pokemon like Walking Wake and Iron Leaves require participation in limited-time raids.
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Event Checklist
Before December 18, make sure you:
Essential prep:
- Level your counter Pokemon to 100
- Stock up on healing items and raid essentials
- Join online communities for multiplayer coordination
- Check which version exclusive you need
During the event:
- Catch your version exclusive (Walking Wake or Iron Leaves)
- Farm raids for Herba Mystica and Bottle Caps
- Arrange trades for the opposite version exclusive
- Complete Pokedex entries for both Pokemon
Post-event:
- Complete any outstanding trades
- Use collected items to power up competitive teams
- Enjoy having two of the rarest Paradox Pokemon in your collection
The Bottom Line
This Walking Wake and Iron Leaves event represents a critical opportunity for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet trainers. After a 10-month absence, these rare Paradox Pokemon are returning for what could be one of their final appearances before the game transitions to legacy status.
Key takeaways:
- Event runs December 18 – January 4 (17 days)
- Version exclusives require trading for both
- Only one catch per save file, but infinite farming for rewards
- Switch 2 performance improvements make raids smoother than ever
- Potentially the last chance before Gen 10 transition
Whether you’re a competitive player needing these Pokemon for battles, a completionist filling out your Pokedex, or just a fan of unique Paradox designs, don’t miss this event.
Mark your calendar for December 18 at 7 PM ET, prepare your counters, and get ready to add these legendary-inspired Paradox Pokemon to your collection. Your Paldea Pokedex won’t complete itself! 🐉⚡
