Vid
Our life is what our thoughts make it
[OVERVIEW]
Electric
========
Alolan Raichu's high Speed stat and ability Surge Surfer allow it to outspeed the entire boosted metagame under Electric Terrain, making it a deadly revenge killer and an excellent late-game sweeper. Its Psychic typing enables it to effectively check Mega Venusaur with its powerful STAB Psychic-type attacks. Alolan Raichu also has plethora of coverage moves such as Grass Knot, Surf, Focus Blast, and Hidden Power Ice, which allow it to get past some of its checks and counters such as Ferrothorn and Hippowdon. However, Alolan Raichu doesn't have the best bulk, which means it can easily be revenge killed outside of Electric Terrain. It also has a mediocre Special Attack stat, meaning it heavily relies on Electric Terrain to boost its Electric-type attacks. Lastly, Alolan Raichu's Psychic typing leaves it vulnerable to Pursuit users such as Weavile and Alolan Muk, while its Electric typing leaves it susceptible to Dugtrio.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Grass Knot / Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Surge Surfer
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is Alolan Raichu's powerful STAB Electric-type attack and is boosted by Electric Terrain. Psychic allows Alolan Raichu to hit Poison-types, most notably Mega Venusaur. Focus Blast enables Alolan Raichu to hit Steel- and Normal-types such as Ferrothorn and Diggersby. Grass Knot can be used to hit Water- and Ground-types such as Swampert and Hippowdon, while Hidden Power Ice is an option to hit certain Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Gliscor. Surf can be used over Grass Knot or Hidden Power Ice as another means to reliably hit Alolan Marowak and Excadrill.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment allows Alolan Raichu to be as fast as possible. A Modest nature along with maximum Special Attack investment is used to allow Alolan Raichu to hit as hard as possible. Life Orb is used to slightly boost Alolan Raichu's attacks at the cost of some of its HP. Surge Surfer allows Alolan Raichu to outspeed the entire metagame under Electric Terrain.
Usage Tips
========
Set up Electric Terrain before switching in Alolan Raichu so it can outspeed the entire metagame and receive a significant boost to its Electric-type attacks, allowing it to easily spam Thunderbolt. Preserve Electric Terrain from Tapu Koko, as without its Speed boost, Alolan Raichu is easily revenge killed. Use Alolan Raichu to revenge kill fast threats such as Choice Scarf Terrakion and Choice Scarf Victini. Alolan Raichu should also be used to clean late-game because of its high Speed stat and powerful Electric-type attacks in Electric Terrain. Avoid taking unnecessary damage because it lowers the number of hits Alolan Raichu can take from Life Orb. Be careful against trappers such as Dugtrio and Alolan Muk, as they can easily trap and KO Alolan Raichu. Use pivots such as Volt Switch Zapdos and U-turn Tapu Koko to bring in Alolan Raichu safely.
Team Options
========
Tapu Koko can use its Electric Surge ability to set up Electric Terrain for Alolan Raichu, enabling it to outspeed the entire boosted metagame while also boosting the power Alolan Raichu's Electric-type attacks. Zapdos can remove entry hazards with Defog, allowing Alolan Raichu to take more rounds of Life Orb recoil. Zapdos can also cripple special walls such as Chansey and opposing Zapdos that give Alolan Raichu trouble with Toxic. Rotom-W checks physical attackers and can cripple them with Will-O-Wisp. Magnezone can trap and KO Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Magearna that wall Alolan Raichu. Xurkitree can serve as a secondary revenge killer while also giving Alolan Raichu freedom to run Hidden Power Ice over Grass Knot. Xurkitree can also run Tail Glow to get past special walls such as Chansey and Jirachi. Alolan Golem can set up Stealth Rock to make it much easier for Alolan Raichu to sweep late-game while also being able to eliminate special walls with its powerful physical attacks. Mega Manectric is a great pivot that can also allow Alolan Raichu to take certain physical attacks with Intimidate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electric
--------
Nasty Plot can be used to turn Alolan Raichu into a wallbreaker, but it doesn't have many opportunities to use Nasty Plot. Volt Switch can be used to pivot, but without Hidden Power Ice or Grass Knot, Alolan Raichu is easily walled by Ground-types such Garchomp and Hippowdon. Choice Specs can be used for the extra power it provides, but without the ability to freely switch moves, Alolan Raichu is easily walled.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
--------
**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk can take multiple hits from Alolan Raichu and trap it with Pursuit.
**Trappers**: Trappers such as Dugtrio and Pursuit Weavile can trap and KO Alolan Raichu outside of Electric Terrain, but they cannot switch into Alolan Raichu.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Chansey and Jirachi can easily take all of Alolan Raichu's attacks and slowly wear it down with Toxic.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Victini and Choice Scarf Terrakion can outspeed Alolan Raichu and KO it outside of Electric Terrain. Priority users such as Sucker Punch Bisharp and Extreme Speed Dragonite can pick off Alolan Raichu regardless of if Electric Terrain is up or not.
**Electric-immune Pokemon**: Electric-immune Pokemon such as Lanturn, Swampert, and Gliscor can take Alolan Raichu's powerful Electric-type attacks. However, Swampert and Gliscor must be wary of Grass Knot and Hidden Power Ice, respectively.
**Electric-resistant Pokemon**: Electric-resistant Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Latios, and Cradily can take Alolan Raichu's Electric-type attacks, forcing it to rely on its weaker coverage moves.
Electric
========
Alolan Raichu's high Speed stat and ability Surge Surfer allow it to outspeed the entire boosted metagame under Electric Terrain, making it a deadly revenge killer and an excellent late-game sweeper. Its Psychic typing enables it to effectively check Mega Venusaur with its powerful STAB Psychic-type attacks. Alolan Raichu also has plethora of coverage moves such as Grass Knot, Surf, Focus Blast, and Hidden Power Ice, which allow it to get past some of its checks and counters such as Ferrothorn and Hippowdon. However, Alolan Raichu doesn't have the best bulk, which means it can easily be revenge killed outside of Electric Terrain. It also has a mediocre Special Attack stat, meaning it heavily relies on Electric Terrain to boost its Electric-type attacks. Lastly, Alolan Raichu's Psychic typing leaves it vulnerable to Pursuit users such as Weavile and Alolan Muk, while its Electric typing leaves it susceptible to Dugtrio.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Grass Knot / Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Surge Surfer
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is Alolan Raichu's powerful STAB Electric-type attack and is boosted by Electric Terrain. Psychic allows Alolan Raichu to hit Poison-types, most notably Mega Venusaur. Focus Blast enables Alolan Raichu to hit Steel- and Normal-types such as Ferrothorn and Diggersby. Grass Knot can be used to hit Water- and Ground-types such as Swampert and Hippowdon, while Hidden Power Ice is an option to hit certain Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Gliscor. Surf can be used over Grass Knot or Hidden Power Ice as another means to reliably hit Alolan Marowak and Excadrill.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment allows Alolan Raichu to be as fast as possible. A Modest nature along with maximum Special Attack investment is used to allow Alolan Raichu to hit as hard as possible. Life Orb is used to slightly boost Alolan Raichu's attacks at the cost of some of its HP. Surge Surfer allows Alolan Raichu to outspeed the entire metagame under Electric Terrain.
Usage Tips
========
Set up Electric Terrain before switching in Alolan Raichu so it can outspeed the entire metagame and receive a significant boost to its Electric-type attacks, allowing it to easily spam Thunderbolt. Preserve Electric Terrain from Tapu Koko, as without its Speed boost, Alolan Raichu is easily revenge killed. Use Alolan Raichu to revenge kill fast threats such as Choice Scarf Terrakion and Choice Scarf Victini. Alolan Raichu should also be used to clean late-game because of its high Speed stat and powerful Electric-type attacks in Electric Terrain. Avoid taking unnecessary damage because it lowers the number of hits Alolan Raichu can take from Life Orb. Be careful against trappers such as Dugtrio and Alolan Muk, as they can easily trap and KO Alolan Raichu. Use pivots such as Volt Switch Zapdos and U-turn Tapu Koko to bring in Alolan Raichu safely.
Team Options
========
Tapu Koko can use its Electric Surge ability to set up Electric Terrain for Alolan Raichu, enabling it to outspeed the entire boosted metagame while also boosting the power Alolan Raichu's Electric-type attacks. Zapdos can remove entry hazards with Defog, allowing Alolan Raichu to take more rounds of Life Orb recoil. Zapdos can also cripple special walls such as Chansey and opposing Zapdos that give Alolan Raichu trouble with Toxic. Rotom-W checks physical attackers and can cripple them with Will-O-Wisp. Magnezone can trap and KO Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Magearna that wall Alolan Raichu. Xurkitree can serve as a secondary revenge killer while also giving Alolan Raichu freedom to run Hidden Power Ice over Grass Knot. Xurkitree can also run Tail Glow to get past special walls such as Chansey and Jirachi. Alolan Golem can set up Stealth Rock to make it much easier for Alolan Raichu to sweep late-game while also being able to eliminate special walls with its powerful physical attacks. Mega Manectric is a great pivot that can also allow Alolan Raichu to take certain physical attacks with Intimidate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electric
--------
Nasty Plot can be used to turn Alolan Raichu into a wallbreaker, but it doesn't have many opportunities to use Nasty Plot. Volt Switch can be used to pivot, but without Hidden Power Ice or Grass Knot, Alolan Raichu is easily walled by Ground-types such Garchomp and Hippowdon. Choice Specs can be used for the extra power it provides, but without the ability to freely switch moves, Alolan Raichu is easily walled.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
--------
**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk can take multiple hits from Alolan Raichu and trap it with Pursuit.
**Trappers**: Trappers such as Dugtrio and Pursuit Weavile can trap and KO Alolan Raichu outside of Electric Terrain, but they cannot switch into Alolan Raichu.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Chansey and Jirachi can easily take all of Alolan Raichu's attacks and slowly wear it down with Toxic.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Victini and Choice Scarf Terrakion can outspeed Alolan Raichu and KO it outside of Electric Terrain. Priority users such as Sucker Punch Bisharp and Extreme Speed Dragonite can pick off Alolan Raichu regardless of if Electric Terrain is up or not.
**Electric-immune Pokemon**: Electric-immune Pokemon such as Lanturn, Swampert, and Gliscor can take Alolan Raichu's powerful Electric-type attacks. However, Swampert and Gliscor must be wary of Grass Knot and Hidden Power Ice, respectively.
**Electric-resistant Pokemon**: Electric-resistant Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Latios, and Cradily can take Alolan Raichu's Electric-type attacks, forcing it to rely on its weaker coverage moves.
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