This is a strategy guide for using Raikou in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Raikou, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Raikou - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Raikou

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Raikou
Abilities
Pressure	The Pokemon raises the foe's PP usage.
Inner Focus (Hidden)	The Pokemon is protected from flinching.

Raikou Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Raikou

Singles Movesets for Raikou

Attacker Moveset & Best Build

An offensive build for Raikou that capitalizes on its high Special Attack stat. Extrasensory and Scald gives you coverage against numerous Pokemon types. Thunderbolt provides a great STAB move while Volt Switch is a utility move that will get you out of sticky situations.

Other Viable Moves

Calm Mind Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Raikou's great speed and special attack, as well as good coverage moves, make it an effective and speedy setup sweeper with Calm Mind.

About Raikou's Moves

Calm Mind boosts Raikou's Special Attack and Special Defense by one stage. Thunderbolt is its main STAB move, while Aura Sphere gives it great neutral coverage - hitting Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark, and Normal-type Pokemon for super effective damage.

Scald is its last move, and while not particularly powerful, allows Raikou to hit Ground-types that are immune to Raikou's Electric-type STAB.

About Raikou's EV Spread

We're using a basic special attacking EV spread for this Raikou. Full investment in Speed and Special attack ensures it hits as hard as possible, especially after a few Calm Mind boosts. The remaining EVs are placed in Defense since we're already boosting Raikou's Special Defense with Calm Mind.

About Raikou's Ability

Raikou can use either of its abilities for this build. With Pressure, the opposing Pokemon loses 2 PP instead of 1 when facing off against Raikou.

With Inner Focus, Raikou is immune to getting flinched by moves such as Fake Out. This is ability is more useful if using Raikou as a lead, ensuring it can set up Calm Mind even if the opposing lead decides to use a flinching move.

About Raikou's Held Item

We're giving Raikou Leftovers for this build. Calm Mind users in general are easily whittled down by residual damage, such as poison or with Hail or Sandstorm, so residual healing helps boost its survivability.

Other Viable Moves

Doubles Movesets for Raikou

Rising Voltage Doubles Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Raikou is an effective lead in Doubles, especially if it gets Electric Terrain support from the likes of Tapu Koko or Pincurchin.

About Raikou's Moves

Rising Voltage is Raikou's strongest move. When Electric Terrain is present, it becomes a 140 Base Power Electric-type attack that hits both targets in Doubles. Volt Switch is secondary STAB move, and allows Raikou to quickly pivot from the battle and to its teammates.

It's last two moves are for coverage. Aura Sphere gives it great neutral coverage, while Scald allows Raikou to threaten Ground-types that are immune to Rising Voltage. The latter also has a nice 30% chance to inflict a burn.

About Raikou's EV Spread

We're using a basic special attacking EV spread for this Raikou. Full investment in Speed and Special attack ensures it hits as hard as possible. The remaining EVs are placed in Defense to round off its bulk.

About Raikou's Ability

We're using Inner Focus for this build. This protects Raikou from Fake Out, which is very common in Doubles, and allows it to function as an effective lead.

About Raikou's Held Item

Choice Specs boosts the power of Raikou's special moves by 50%, but restricts it to using only the initial move it used for the turn.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Raikou Effectively

A Fast Setup Sweeper

Raikou faces stiff competition from faster and stronger Electric-types, so it's important to use it in a different role so that it isn't outclassed.

As one of the fastest Calm Mind setup sweepers in the metagame, it has a niche as a lead setup sweeper. Unlike other leads, you can send it out agains in the late stages of the battle - essentially using it as a late-game cleaner.

How to Build a Team with Raikou

Raikou has a small niche in singles as a lead setup sweeper. It truly shines in Doubles where it can fire off Specs boosted Rising Voltage to threaten the opposing team.

Lead Doubles Sweeper

Raikou is an effective lead sweeper in doubles. Thanks to Volt Switch, it can also function as an offensive pivot. The Thunder Pokemon, however, is reliant on Electric Terrain support. and is best used in a dedicated Electric Terrain team or partnered with a fellow lead that can Dynamax and setup the terrain with Max Lightning.

Counters for Raikou

Weakness

Counter it With a Special Wall

Even with several Calm Mind boosts, Raikou can't hope to knock out certain Special Walls. These walls will often force Raikou to switch or risk getting inflicted by debilitating status moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Blissey	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Takes little damage from Raikou's attacks thanks to its massive HP and Special Defense ・Can whittle down Raikou's HP with Seismic Toss, forcing it to switch Moveset & Best Build for Blissey
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Raikou's STAB moves and can survive an Aura Sphere ・Can outstall Raikou with Leech Seed and Protect, forcing it to switch Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothron
Clefable	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Specially Defensive variants can withstand Raikou's attacks ・Ignores Raikou's Calm Mind boosts with Unaware, forcing it to switch Moveset & Best Build for Clefable

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Galarian Articuno	Galarian Zapdos	Galarian Moltres
Raikou	Entei	Suicune
Articuno	Zapdos	Moltres
Tornadus	Thundurus	Landorus
Tapu Koko	Tapu Lele	Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
Latios	Latias	Heatran
Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
Nidoking	Swampert	Dragonite
Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
Galarian Slowking	Nihilego	Naganadel
Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon	Regirock
Palkia	Regigigas	Registeel
Regice	Giratina	Solgaleo
Lunala	Kyurem	Necrozma
Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf
Calyrex