Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV)

Raikou Movesets and Best Builds

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Raikou in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Raikou, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

Raikou - Related Guides
Pokemon SV - Raikou Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SV - Raikou MovesetMoveset for Ranked Battle

Raikou Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Nat. Dex #243 Type
Raikou ImageRaikou
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Electric Icon
Abilities
Pressure
Inner Focus (Hidden)
Weak to:
(2x)
Pokemon Ground Type Icon
Damaged Normally
By:
(1x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon Pokemon Bug Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Resists: (0.5x)
Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon

What is Type Effectiveness?

Ability Name Description
Pressure When the user is hit with an opponent's move, that move loses 2 PP instead of 1.
Inner Focus
(Hidden)
The user is deeply focused and protects itself from flinching.

Base Stats

Base Stats
Lv. 50 Stats
Stat Value Rank
HP
90
168
Atk
85
316
Def
75
339
SpAtk
115
92
SpDef
100
111
Speed
115
52
Total
580
83
Explanation of Pokemon Stats
Stat Max 0Nat 0EV -Nat Min
HP 197 197 165 165 150
Atk 150 137 105 94 81
Def 139 127 95 85 72
SpAtk 183 167 135 121 108
SpDef 167 152 120 108 94
Spd 183 167 135 121 108
  • Max: Max IVs & EVs and a stat-boosting Nature
  • 0Nat: Max IVs & EVs and a neutral Nature
  • 0EV: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a neutral Nature
  • -Nat: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature
  • Min: 0 IVs & EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature
Introduction to EVs, IVs, and Natures

Best Nature for Raikou

Best Natures
Modest
(+Sp. Atk, -Atk)
Timid
(+Spe, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Raikou

Build Name Recommendation
Choice Scarf ★★★★

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

Nature Timid (+Spe, - Atk)
EV Spread Def 4 / Sp. Atk 252 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values HP 165 / Def 96 / Sp. Atk 167 / Sp. Def 120 / Spe 183
Ability Inner Focus
Tera Type Pokemon Stellar Type Icon
Held Item Choice Scarf
Moveset Thunderbolt
Scald
Shadow Ball
Volt Switch

Summary

Pokeball Icon Has a good offensive movepool.

Pokeball Icon Outspeeds some of the other notable Choice Scarf users.

Pokeball Icon Pretty frail on the physical side.

Ability and Held Item

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Raikou Image
Ability Held Item
Inner Focus Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Choice Scarf ImageChoice Scarf

The Ability chosen for this build is Inner Focus. Its other ability Pressure is not that great and Inner Focus is useful in case Raikou runs into a Fake Out Sneasler.

The item chosen for this build is a Choice Scarf. This helps Raikou outspeeds Pokemon it normally couldn't, especially Paradox Pokemon with Booster Energies.

Moves Breakdown

Thunderbolt Scald
Shadow Ball Volt Switch

Thunderbolt is its best Electric-type STAB move that has a 10% chance to paralyze the target.

Scald is its main coverage move to help with Ground-types that are immune to its Electric moves.

Shadow Ball is its other coverage move to help it deal with Grass and Dragon-types that resist its other two moves.

Volt Switch is used to get Raikou out of any bad matchups it may encounter.

Best Tera Type: Stellar

Stellar Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
(2x)
Pokemon Ground Type Icon
Damaged Normally
By:
(1x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon Pokemon Bug Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Resists: (0.5x)
Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon

Stellar is the best Tera Type for this build because it will boost the damage of whatever move Raikou uses when Terastallized.

Note that even if it's a Stellar Type, it will still keep the defensive properties of its Electric typing.

Stellar Tera Type Match-Ups Explained

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 EVs are placed in Raikou's Sp. Atk and Speed to make it hit as hard and fast as possible. The extra 4 EVs are put into its Defense to help round out its bulk.

A Timid nature is preferred to help Raikou outspeed as many Pokemon as possible.

Other Viable Moves

Discharge Does slightly less damage than Thunderbolt, but has a higher chance to paralyze the target.
Tera Blast A good coverage move once Raikou Terastallizes and also punishes opposing Terastallized Pokemon with a super-effective hit.

Key Damage Calculations

Attack Icon Pokemon SVDamage Dealt by Raikou
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style Image 100 HP|60 Sp. Def
Defensive EV Investment:
4 HP (Jolly)
Item: Punching Glove
Thunderbolt
212 ~ 252 (120.4 ~ 143.1%)
Guaranteed OHKO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Ogerpon (Cornerstone Mask) Image 80 HP|96 Sp. Def
Defensive EV Investment:
4 HP (Jolly)
Item: Cornerstone Mask
Aura Sphere
88-104 (56.4 - 66.6%)
Guaranteed 2HKO
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Gholdengo Image 87 HP|91 Sp. Def
Defensive EV Investment:
4 HP (Timid)
Item: Choice Scarf
Shadow Ball
90-108 (55.2 - 66.2%)
Guaranteed 2HKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

How to Use Raikou Effectively

Avoid Physical Attackers

While Raikou may have good HP and Sp. Def, it's Defense stat isn't great. Try to avoid opposing Physical Attackers, especially Ground-types like Landorus Therian, so that Raikou doesn't get OHKO'd before it can do any meaningful damage.

How to Build a Team with Raikou

Raikou is best suited on more offensive teams so that it can better utilize its great Sp. Atk and Speed stats.

Sample Singles Team

Offensive Lead Special Attacker Physical Attacker
Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style ImageUrshifu Rapid-Strike Style Raikou ImageRaikou Chien-Pao ImageChien-Pao

Urshifu is a great lead for Raikou since it can easily deal with Ground-types that heavily counter it. This also applies to Chien-Pao since it can deal with Ground, Grass, and Dragon-types that resist Raikou's Thunderbolt and Volt Switch.

Build Sample 2

Role 1 Role 2 Role 3
- - -

Counters for Raikou

Use Ground-types That are Immune to Its Electric STAB Attacks

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Bloodmoon Ursaluna ImageBloodmoon Ursaluna Ranking: ★★★★★
・Is immune to both Electric and Ghost moves.
・Commonly runs an Assault Vest, which helps it easily tank Raikou's attacks.
▶️ Bloodmoon Ursaluna Best Movesets
Landorus (Therian Forme) ImageLandorus (Therian Forme) Ranking: ★★★★
・Can survive one Scald from Raikou.
・Forces Raikou to defensively Terastallize or it will get OHKO'd by Earthquake.
▶️ Landorus Therian Best Movesets
Ting-Lu ImageTing-Lu Ranking: ★★★★
・Vessel of Ruin reduces Raikou's Sp. Atk.
・Can still OHKO with Earthquake even with no Attack investment.
▶️ Ting-Lu Best Movesets

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Related Guides

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Movesets.png

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Banned/Restricted Builds

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:Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Koraidon :Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Miraidon Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Walking Wake Pokemon Scarlet and Violet SV - Iron Leaves

Ranked Battle Regulation E: Rules and Banned Pokemon

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