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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 | |
|---|---|
List of Contents
| Nat. Dex #243 | Type | |
|---|---|---|
Raikou
|
||
| Abilities | ||
|
Pressure Inner Focus (Hidden) |
||
| Weak to: | ||
| (2x) | ||
| Damaged Normally By: |
(1x) | |
| Resists: | (0.5x) | |
| 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. | |
| Stat | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| HP | 90 | 168 |
| Atk | 85 | 316 |
| Def | 75 | 339 |
| SpAtk | 115 | 92 |
| SpDef | 100 | 111 |
| Speed | 115 | 52 |
| Total | 580 | 83 |
| 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 |
| Best Natures | ||
|---|---|---|
| Modest (+Sp. Atk, -Atk) |
Timid (+Spe, -Atk) |
|
| Build Name | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Choice Scarf | ★★★★ |
| 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 |
|
| Held Item | Choice Scarf |
| Moveset | ・
Thunderbolt
・ Scald ・ Shadow Ball ・ Volt Switch |
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Ability | Held Item | |
| Inner Focus |
|
|
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.
| 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.
| Stellar Tera Type Matchup | ||
|---|---|---|
| Weak to: | ||
| (2x) | ||
| Damaged Normally By: |
(1x) | |
| Resists: | (0.5x) | |
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
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.
| 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. |
| Item: Punching Glove | Thunderbolt 212 ~ 252 (120.4 ~ 143.1%) Guaranteed OHKO |
| Item: Cornerstone Mask | Aura Sphere 88-104 (56.4 - 66.6%) Guaranteed 2HKO |
| Item: Choice Scarf | Shadow Ball 90-108 (55.2 - 66.2%) Guaranteed 2HKO |
Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator
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.
Raikou is best suited on more offensive teams so that it can better utilize its great Sp. Atk and Speed stats.
| Offensive Lead | Special Attacker | Physical Attacker |
|---|---|---|
Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style
|
Raikou
|
Chien-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.
| Role 1 | Role 2 | Role 3 |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
| Pokemon | Description |
|---|---|
Bloodmoon 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)
|
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
|
Ranking: ★★★★
・Vessel of Ruin reduces Raikou's Sp. Atk. ・Can still OHKO with Earthquake even with no Attack investment. ▶️ Ting-Lu Best Movesets |

Movesets & Best Builds for Ranked Battle
| Mythical/Restricted Builds |
|---|
Ranked Battle Regulation J: Rules and Banned Pokemon
| New Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds |
|---|
| New Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds |
|---|
| Returning Indigo Disk Pokemon Builds |
|---|
Blueberry Pokedex: List of All Indigo Disk Pokemon
| All Teal Mask DLC Builds |
|---|
Kitakami Pokedex: List of All Teal Mask DLC Pokemon
| All Pokemon HOME Builds |
|---|
All Pokemon HOME Transferable Pokemon
| All Treasures of Ruin Builds |
|---|
Best Treasures of Ruin Builds for Ranked Battle and Raids
| All Paradox Pokemon Builds |
|---|
Paradox Pokemon Builds for Competitive Battles and Tera Raids
| All Other Gen 9 Meta Pokemon Builds |
|---|
Gen 9 Pokemon: All New Pokemon
| All Gen 1~8 Meta Pokemon Builds |
|---|
| All Off-Meta Pokemon Builds |
|---|
Raikou Movesets and Best Builds



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