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Raichu Movesets in Other Games | |
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SV | SWSH |
This is a strategy guide for using Raichu 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 Raichu, as well as its strengths and weak points.
Raichu - Related Guides | |
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Evolution and Learnset | Build for Ranked Battle |
List of Contents
Pokemon | Type 1 | Type 2 |
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Abilities | ||
Static | Contact with the Pokemon may cause paralysis. | |
Lightning Rod (Hidden) | Draws in all Electric-type moves to up Special Attack. |
Type | |
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Takes 4x damage |
|
Takes 2x damage | |
Takes 0.5x damage | |
Takes 1/4x damage |
|
Takes 0x damage |
|
HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
60 | 90 | 55 | 90 | 80 | 110 |
Best Natures | |
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Timid (+Spd, -Atk) |
Nature | Timid (+Spd, -Atk) |
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EV Spread | HP 4 / Sp.Atk 252 / Spd 252 |
Final Stat Values | HP 136 / Def 75 / Sp.Atk 142 / Sp.Def 101 / Spd 178 |
Ability | Lightning Rod |
Held Item | Focus Sash Life Orb |
Moveset | ・Nasty Plot
・Thunderbolt ・Surf ・Grass Knot |
Raichu has a niche in the current metagame as a fast Nasty Plot sweeper for teams that are in need of Electric-type coverage. It's Lightning Rod Ability also lets it fill the role of a pseudo-offensive pivot for offensive rain teams that need an Electric-type immunity.
Nasty Plot is Raichu's boosting move, increasing its Special Attack by 2 stages. Since Raichu is very frail, it's best used when you predict a switch such facing an opposing Electric-type Pokemon.
Thunderbolt is its main STAB move and is a strong, reliable Electric-type STAB that still hits reasonably well even without a Nasty Plot boost.
It's last two moves are for coverage. Surf hits Ground-types that are immune to Thunderbolt, as well as Fire-types like Heat Rotom.
Grass Knot allows Raichu to hit dual Water/Ground types, and is very effective against heavier defensive Pokemon such as Quagsire, Swampert, and Gastrodon.
We're using a simple special attacking EV spread for this Raichu, with full investment in Special Attack and Speed and 4 HP EVs to round off its meager bulk.
Lightning Rod is Raichu's best Ability, giving it immunity to Electric-type moves and boosting its Special Attack by 1 stage.
This move also draws all Electric-type moves to Raichu in Doubles.
Raichu has two options for held item.
Focus Sash ensures it can get at least one Nasty Plot and allows it to function as a lead.
Life Orb boosts the power of Raichu's moves by 30% at the cost of some recoil damage.
Thunder | A stronger alternative to Thunderbolt but has less accuracy. It's best used in Rain Dance teams. |
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Volt Switch | Can replace Surf or Grass Knot and allows Raichu to pivot from the battle. |
Thunder Wave | Can replace Surf or Grass Knot and allows Raichu to support its team by spreading Paralysis. |
Nature | Timid (+Spd, -Atk) |
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EV Spread | Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252 |
Final Stat Values | HP 135 / Def 75 / Sp.Atk 142 / Sp.Def 101 / Spd 178 |
Ability | Lightning Rod |
Held Item | Focus Sash |
Moveset | ・Fake Out
・Helping Hand ・Electroweb ・Flail |
Raichu's great Speed stat and access to very useful support moves make it a great lead support that can still hit reasonably hard in the Doubles Metagame.
Fake Out is Raichu's scouting move and provides great early match utility, allowing you to interrupt opposing Pokemon and potentially break their Focus Sash or Sturdy.
Helping Hand is Raichu's main way of supporting its teammate, boosting the power of their next move by 50%.
Electroweb is this build's main STAB move, hitting both opposing Pokemon and lowering their Speed stat by one stage.
It's last move is Flail and works well with Focus Sash. With 1 HP remaining, this move has a Base Power of 200 and hits very hard even with an Attack hindering nature.
We're using a simple special attacking EV spread for this Raichu, with full investment in Special Attack and Speed and 4 Sp.Def EVs to round off its meager bulk.
Focus Sash ensures that Raichu can use Helping Hand or Electroweb at least one during the second turn of the battle.
Thunderbolt | A stronger Electric-type STAB but only hits one target in Doubles. |
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Rising Voltage | A stronger Electric-type STAB move that's best used when Raichu is partnered with a Pokemon like Tapu Koko. |
Reversal | Has the same effect as Flail but is resisted by more types, such as Psychic, Fairy, and Flying. |
Volt Switch | Can replace Flail and allows Raichu to pivot from the battle. |
Raichu has a niche in the Doubles Metagame as a fast lead support Pokemon. Access to Fake Out and Helping Hand allow it to interrupt and scout opposing teams and support its teammate by boosting its moves.
Raichu's great Speed stat and access to Nasty Plot make it a great setup sweeper, but often requires effective team support due to its fraility. It's a glass cannon at best, but when given the chance, can provide the team with powerful Electric-type coverage.
Raichu is a relatively difficult Pokemon to fit into a team due to its rather limited utility outside of its immunity to Electric-type moves. Despite this, it can provide great coverage with the right support and team building.
Raichu faces some competition as a lead Pokemon in Doubles from true support Pokemon that boasts greater bulk and redirection support, such as Amoonguss and Indeedee (Female).
To differentiate Raichu from other support Pokemon, it's best used as a jack-of-all-trades type of support Pokemon - scouting with Fake Out, boosting with Helping Hand, and providing speed control with Electroweb.
Lead Support | Setup Sweeper |
---|---|
Raichu | Galarian Zapdos |
Redirection Support | Special Sweeper |
Indeedee (Female) | Alakazam |
Setup sweepers like Galarian Zapdos appreciate Pokemon like Raichu that can provide Fake Out support. With an interrupt from Fake Out, Galarian Zapdos can safely set up with Bulk Up and then Dynamax on the next turn.
Raichu also redirects Electric-type moves directed at Galarian Zapdos, preventing it from getting KO'd in the early game.
The rest of the team provides backup support and coverage. Indeedee (Female) and Alakazam synergize well with each other as the former sets up Psychic Terrain that will boost the latter's Expanding Force.
Raichu has a place in offensive-oriented teams as a pseudo-pivot - essentially functioning as a switch in to cover its team's Electric-type weakness.
Lead Belly Drum/Dynamax | Offensive Pivot | Special Sweeper |
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Azumarill | Raichu | Galarian Moltres |
Raichu serves as this team's offensive pivot, supporting both Azumarill and Galarian Moltres by switching into Electric-type moves they're weak to. By switching into an Electric-type move, Raichu can then boost its Special Attack with Nasty Plot.
Galarian Moltres synergizes well with Raichu as it provides the Mouse Pokemon with a key immunity to Ground-type moves.
How to Build an Offensive Team
Weakness |
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Despite its great Speed stat, there are many Pokemon that easily outspeeds Raichu and can take advantage of its low defenses. When faced with these attackers, Raichu needs to switch out or risk getting KO'd.
Pokemon | Description |
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Dragapult | Ranking: ★★★★★
・Outspeeds Raichu and easily KO's with Outrage or Draco Meteor ・Easily KO's Focus Sash variants with Dragon Darts Moveset & Best Build for Dragapult |
Cinderace | Ranking: ★★★★★
・Outspeeds Raichu and easily KO's with Pyro Ball ・Even if Raichu hangs on with Focus Sash, CInderace can simply use Quick Attack on the next turn Moveset & Best Build for Cinderace |
Pheromosa | Ranking: ★★★★
・Outspeeds Raichu and easily KO's with Close Combat ・Can beat Focus Sash variants if Triple Axel hits three times Moveset & Best Build for Pheromosa |
In the Doubles Battle Format, where Raichu's movepool is more limited, it struggles against Ground-type Pokemon and will always need to switch out or risk getting KO'd. It has an especially difficult time facing Ground-type support Pokemon that can shrug off a Fake Out and retaliate on the next turn.
Pokemon | Description |
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Palossand | Ranking: ★★★★★
・Completely walls Raichu as it's immune to Fake Out, Electroweb, and Flail ・Can burn Raichu with Scorching Sands or KO it with Earth Power Moveset & Best Build for Palossand |
Landorus (Therian Forme) | Ranking: ★★★★★
・Lowers Fake Out's damage with its Intimidate Ability ・Easily KOs Raichu with Earthquake if it decides to stay in Moveset & Best Build for Landorus (Therian Forme) |
Swampert | Ranking: ★★★★
・Takes little damage from Fake Out and Immune to Electroweb ・Can use Raichu as setup fodder with Stealth Rock and phase it with Yawn Moveset & Best Build for Swampert |
All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle
Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides | |||||
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Tier List | Best Builds | Series 10 List of Contenders | |||
Doubles Tier List | Team Building | Rental Teams |
Raichu - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
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