Dharma
komorebi
[OVERVIEW]
Electric
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* Alolan Raichu greatly makes use of Electric Terrain, which gives its Electric-type moves increased power, and thanks to its ability Surge Surfer, it is the most efficient sweeper on an Electric team and is able to outspeed nearly every Pokemon in the metagame, including notable fast threats like Sand Rush Excadrill and Swift Swim Kingdra.
* Its unique secondary Psychic-typing allows it to hit key threats, most notably Mega Venusaur, which Electric-type teams usually have trouble with. It also helps in the matchup against Fighting and Poison.
* It has good coverage options in Focus Blast, Hidden Power Ice, Surf, and Grass Knot, allowing it to hit Ground-types like Excadrill, Hippowdon, Gliscor, Landorus, and Gastrodon, making it an effective way for Electric-type teams to handle Ground-type teams.
* However, Alolan Raichu's bulk is very underwhelming, and it is susceptible to priority moves.
* Its typing does not help defensively with an Electric team's weakness to Ground-types, and its Psychic-typing only adds to its weaknesses as well as making it vulnerable to Pursuit.
* Its Special Attack is not something to write home about and is predominantly useful only under Electric Terrain.
* Its reliance on Electric Terrain being active puts its sweep on a timer.
[SET]
name: All Out Attacker (Electric)
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Grass Knot / Hidden Power Ice / Surf
item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
ability: Surge Surfer
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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* Thunderbolt is Alolan Raichu's main STAB move and hits pretty hard under the effect of Electric Terrain.
* Psychic is its secondary STAB move and has good coverage alongside Thunderbolt. It hits Kommo-o, Nidoking, Lanturn, and especially Mega Venusaur that can't be hit for much by Thunderbolt.
* Focus Blast lets Alolan Raichu hit Steel- and Rock-types likes Excadrill, Magnezone, Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, and Cradily for super effective damage.
* Grass Knot is a coverage move that lets it hit Ground-types for super effective damage, namely Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and Hippowdon, being able to 2HKO all of them aside from Seismitoad, which is OHKOed.
* Hidden Power Ice is an optional coverage move to use over Grass Knot; it lets Alolan Raichu hit Ground-types that are hit neutrally by Grass Knot like Gliscor, Landorus, and Garchomp for super effective damage, hitting them much harder than Grass Knot would.
* Surf can be used, as it allows Alolan Raichu to hit Ground-types more consistently and Alolan Marowak for super effective damage. It has a chance to OHKO Alolan Marowak when using a Choice Specs and will always OHKO it after Stealth Rock damage when using a Life Orb.
Set Details
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* Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed lets it be as fast and powerful as possible.
* A Modest nature is used to maximize Alolan Raichu's Special Attack.
* Surge Surfer doubles Alolan Raichu's Speed under Electric Terrain, letting it outspeed nearly the entire metagame, including notable weather sweepers and Choice Scarf users such as Excadrill, Kingdra, and Victini.
* A Life Orb is used to slightly increase its damage output, making up for its lackluster Special Attack. It allows Alolan Raichu to KO Tyranitar with Thunderbolt followed by Focus Blast, as otherwise, it is easily Pursuit trapped. It also lets Alolan Raichu KO offensive Heatran with Focus Blast after Stealth Rock damage.
* A Choice Specs may be used in order to further increase its Special Attack. Although this may leave Alolan Raichu locked into a move, it grants a significant boost in power; for example, it lets Alolan Raichu almost always 2HKO Assault Vest Magearna in Electric Terrain. It is worth noting that being locked into a move can affect Alolan Raichu's sweep.
* When using a Life Orb, 29 IVs in HP minimize Life Orb recoil.
Usage Tips
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* Alolan Raichu's sole purpose is to sweep with the help of Electric Terrain.
* Because it's usefulness is highly dependent on Electric Terrain, it is worth noting that sending it out while Electric Terrain is absent should be avoided, as its offensive presence in the absence of Electric Terrain is nothing to write home about.
* Outside of Electric Terrain, Alolan Raichu is also prone to being outsped by the many Choice Scarf users, weather sweepers, and naturally fast Pokemon present in the metagame.
* It handles many of Electric-type teams' threats, namely Mega Venusaur, Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T and Mold Breaker Excadrill, and weather sweepers like Sand Rush Excadrill and Swift Swim Kingdra.
* Avoid sending Alolan Raichu in against entry hazards as well as keeping it in against a Pokemon with a priority move like Mamoswine and Diggersby, as it becomes very easy to revenge kill with priority after repeated chip damage from Life Orb or Stealth Rock.
* Thunderbolt should be spammed as much as possible unless the target resists it, is immune to it, or is hit harder by Psychic. A neutral Thunderbolt in Electric Terrain does more than a super effective coverage move.
* Psychic should be used against Grass- and Electric-types that don't resist it, notably Mega Venusaur. It should also be used against Pokemon that are immune to Electric-type moves, such as Lanturn, Thundurus-T, and Alolan Marowak.
* Avoid direct confrontations with Pursuit trappers like Tyranitar at full health and Alolan Muk, which always win in a face off against Alolan Raichu. Also, avoid attempting to get a KO with Alolan Raichu if a Pursuit trappers still exists on the opponent's team; if Alolan Raichu gets a KO, there is a good chance of it being trapped and KOed by Pursuit.
* As Alolan Raichu is essential against Ground-type teams due to its coverage and ability to outspeed Sand Rush Excadrill, it should be used late-game against Ground-type teams. In order to guarantee a sweep, previous damage on Garchomp, Hippowdon, and Gastrodon is needed before sending in Alolan Raichu because of its lackluster power without being able to spam Thunderbolt.
Team Options
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* Tapu Koko is an essential teammate for Alolan Raichu. Tapu Koko sets Electric Terrain upon switchin thanks to its ability Electric Surge, and its access to Dazzling Gleam lets it check Dragon- and Dark-types like Latios and Hydreigon, while its access to Taunt discourages stall and prevents the opponent from spamming a recovery move against Alolan Raichu.
* Zapdos acts as a Ground-immunity and a special tank, switching into the likes of Latios and Latias, which Alolan Raichu cannot handle. It also clears away entry hazards with Defog and threatens Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn with Heat Wave.
* Alolan Golem is able to set up Stealth Rock, negating Focus Sash and Sturdy as well as breaking Dragonite's Multiscale. It is also able to threaten specially defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Alolan Muk on its own, making it easier for Alolan Raichu to sweep.
* Xurkitree is another sweeper that makes use of its coverage options; with access to Energy Ball, it is able to wear down checks that it shares with Alolan Raichu, and with Tail Glow, it is able to break special walls like Chansey that give Alolan Raichu trouble.
* Magnezone is able to trap and take out Steel-types like Ferrothorn and also helps a lot against Grass-type teams, as they usually lack switch-ins to Magnezone. Magnezone is able to wear down the defensive core on Grass teams, paving the way for Alolan Raichu to later sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Electric
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* Psyshock may be used to hit specially defensive Pokemon like Dragalge on their weaker defensive side; however, Psychic is usually the better option, as it helps against defensive Mega Venusaur.
* Volt Switch may be used on the set as well, allowing it to pivot out on the last turn of Electric Terrain, but this comes at the cost of a coverage move and is generally not worth using.
* A Timid nature may be used to utilize Alolan Raichu's high Speed even outside of Electric Terrain; however, Alolan Raichu is rarely used outside of Electric Terrain, and the small increase in Speed with a Timid nature does not justify using it over the additional power from a Modest nature.
Checks and Counters
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Electric
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**Alolan Muk**: Assault Vest Alolan Muk is a huge threat to Alolan Raichu and can consistently counter it, as it takes minimal damage from Alolan Raichu's attacks and threatens to KO in return with Knock Off. It also prevents Alolan Raichu from switching out with Pursuit and prevents Alolan Raichu from doing its job of beating Mega Venusaur.
**Trappers**: Due to Alolan Raichu's bad bulk, it is prone to being Pursuit trapped by a plethora Pursuit trappers. Mega Aerodactyl and Tyranitar can Pursuit trap Alolan Raichu given a safe chance to switch in, while Dugtrio prevents it from switching out and can KO it with Sucker Punch or Earthquake.
**Chansey**: Chansey completely walls any Alolan Raichu thanks to its monstrous Special Defense and access to reliable recovery in Soft Boiled or Wish.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Mew and Jirachi are able to survive any of Alolan Raichu's attacks and may retaliate by slowly wearing it down.
**Revenge Killers**: Alolan Raichu is heavily prone to being revenge killed by priority moves. Its typing only grants it a resistance to Vacuum Wave and Mach Punch, and it is easily KOed by common priority moves such as Azumarill's Aqua Jet, Dragonite's Extreme Speed, Mimikyu's Shadow Sneak, and Bisharp's Sucker Punch. It is also threatened by faster Pokemon in the absence of Electric Terrain, such as Weavile and Choice Scarf Excadrill.
**Electric-immune Pokemon**: Alolan Raichu relies heavily on Thunderbolt and Electric Terrain in order to deal significant damage. Due to this, Pokemon like Alolan Marowak and Lanturn are able to check it, as they force Alolan Raichu to rely on its weaker coverage moves in order to hit them.
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