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Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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How to Beat Saguaro (Academy Ace Tournament)

By
Vincent Lau

This is a guide for defeating Saguaro the Instructor during the Academy Ace Tournament in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.

Saguaro is another faculty member who you’ve never fought before.

Saguaro, the home economics teacher, is one of the trainers you can fight in the Academy Ace Tournament. He’s a random participant during the second tournament onwards. He can appear during the first, second and third rounds.

What is the Academy Ace Tournament?

The Academy Ace Tournament is a single elimination tournament, consisting of 4 rounds, that you can participate in during the postgame. Your opponents will be trainers and faculty members from Naranja/Uva Academy.

To unlock the Academy Ace Tournament, you must complete the Area Zero story, perform the Gym Inspection for Geeta and report the results to her back at Naranja/Uva Academy.

Recommended Pokémon for Saguaro (Academy Ace Tournament)

Saguaro has a varied team, so you’ll want some variety in yours too.

His Pokémon are between Level 65 to 66, so you should be fine with Level 66+ Pokémon.

Here are some recommendations, if you need help:

  • The Level 75 Tera "Lucario" IconLucario at Dalizapa Passage, in the underground tunnel. High level and a good all-rounder.
  • If playing Scarlet, Great Tusk, a Ground and Fighting Paradox found in Area Zero.
  • If playing Violet, Iron Treads, a Ground and Steel Paradox found in Area Zero.
  • Chi-Yu, a powerful Dark and Fire Legendary, found in a sealed shrine.
  • If playing Scarlet, Flutter Mane, a Ghost and Fairy Paradox, found in Area Zero.
  • Tinkaton, a Fairy and Steel type with a powerful Gigaton Hammer. You can catch a Tinkatuff from North Province Area One and evolve it.

What Pokémon Does Tyme (Academy Ace Tournament) Use?

Pokémon Level Type
"Pachirisu" IconPachirisu 65 Electric Electric
"Froslass" IconFroslass 65 Ice Ice Ghost Ghost
"Alomomola" IconAlomomola 65 Water Water
"Vespiquen" IconVespiquen 65 Bug Bug Flying Flying
"Goodra" IconGoodra 65 Dragon Dragon
"Hatterene" IconHatterene 66 Psychic Psychic Fairy Fairy (Tera Type: Fairy Fairy)

Pachirisu

Pachirisu has a mean Nuzzle.

This one isn’t quite a World Champion Pokémon. Pachi can use "Thunder" iconThunder for STAB, Nuzzle to inflict paralyze, "Super Fang" iconSuper Fang to halve your HP, and Quick Attack to try and attack first.

Ground types are ideal, since they’re super-effective, while being immune to Electric.

Froslass

Chilly "Froslass" IconFroslass can use "Blizzard" iconBlizzard and "Hex" iconHex for STAB, Ice Shard to try and attack first, and "Will-O-Wisp" iconWill-O-Wisp to inflict Burn.

Fire types are highly recommended, since they’re super-effective and can’t be burned. Dark, Rock and Steel types are also good.

Alomomola

Saguaro’s Alomomola isn’t carrying anything too fancy.

"Luvdisc" IconLuvdisc wishes it could evolve into this. It can use "Liquidation" iconLiquidation for STAB, Aqua Jet to try and attack first, "Body Slam" iconBody Slam for good measure, and "Light Screen" iconLight Screen to weaken your physical moves.

Go with Grass types if possible. Electric types are also good.

Vespiquen

There’s few feelings worse than getting a shiny male "Combee" IconCombee that can’t evolve. "Vespiquen" IconVespiquen can use Attack Order and "Air Slash" iconAir Slash for STAB, "Power Gem" iconPower Gem to smite Fire, Flying and Ice types, and "Sludge Bomb" iconSludge Bomb for additional coverage.

Rock types will make it wince, with their quadruple damage. Electric types are good too.

Goodra

"Goodra" IconGoodra can use Dragon Breath for STAB, Sludge Bomb to punish Fairy types, plus Power Whip and "Muddy Water" iconMuddy Water to general coverage. You’d have to be silly to do it, but don’t use Grass moves or Goodra will restore HP via Sap Sipper.

Definitely go with Ice types. Fairy types are great if they’re not weak to Sludge Bomb; Tinkaton comes to mind.

Terastallized Hatterene

Hatterene will Terastallize into a Fairy type.

It can be tough figuring out what type Saguaro’s "Hatterene" IconHatterene will Terastallize into. To save you the hassle: it’s Fairy.

For attacks, it has "Dazzling Gleam" iconDazzling Gleam for STAB and Tera-boosted damage, "Psychic" iconPsychic for regular STAB, "Shadow Ball" iconShadow Ball for extra coverage, and Magic Powder to change your Pokémon into a Psychic type (making it weak to Shadow Ball).

Steel types should ensure a smooth victory.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Nintendo, Pokemon Company International
  • Platforms,
    Switch
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    17 November 2022
  • Last Updated
    3 January 2024
    Version History
  • Guide Author

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