Albacore
sludge bomb is better than sludge wave
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Volt Switch / Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind not only increases Raikou's firepower, enabling it to break through Pokemon that would otherwise check it such as Heatran, Mew, Jirachi, and Celebi, as well as clean weakened teams, but also its special bulk, preventing Pokemon like Thundurus, Mega Venusaur, and Mega Alakazam from dealing much damage to it. Thunderbolt is a powerful, reliable Electric STAB move with no drawbacks. Hidden Power Ice gives Raikou almost perfect coverage alongside Thunderbolt; specifically, it deals a huge amount of damage to Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Gliscor, as well as Dragon-types such as Latios and Altaria and certain Grass-types such as Serperior. Volt Switch enables Raikou to keep offensive momentum going, which makes it far more useful early on in the battle and enables its teammates to come in for free. Volt Switch also helps Raikou wear down its checks so that it can more easily sweep late-game, as well as bluff an Assault Vest set more convincingly, especially when carrying a Zap Plate. Substitute has multiple uses, such as enabling Raikou to evade status moves from Pokemon such as Heatran, Slowbro, Ferrothorn, Rotom , and Jirachi and safely set up Calm Mind on them, helping it scout for switches (particularly from opposing Volt Switch users), and letting it evade Bisharp's Sucker Punch.
Set Details
========
Running maximum Speed with a Timid nature enables Raikou to fully take advantage of its great Speed tier, letting it outspeed Serperior and Speed tie with Starmie and opposing Raikou. The remaining EVs are put into Special Attack for as much firepower as possible. A bulkier EV spread can be used on the Substitute set in order for Raikou to set up more easily on certain Pokemon at the expense of power; for instance, a spread of 112 HP / 144 SpA / 252 Spe guarantees that uninvested Heatran's Lava Plume will never break Raikou's Substitute after one Calm Mind boost. Leftovers gives Raikou more longevity, helps it set up Calm Mind more reliably, and enables it to set up Substitute more often (particularly against low-accuracy moves such as Rotom-W's Hydro Pump and Thundurus's Focus Blast) provided that it's running the move. However, a Zap Plate can be used when running Volt Switch in order to bluff a Choice Specs or Assault Vest set. It also gives Raikou the ability to 2HKO standard Clefable after a Calm Mind boost. Pressure is Raikou's only ability, helping it against Pokemon that rely on attacking moves with low PP such as Serperior and Overheat Mega Manectric.
Usage Tips
========
Raikou should be sent in against Pokemon it can easily set up on, such as Thundurus, Rotom-W, Mega Manectric, Jirachi, and opposing Raikou. However, don't let Raikou take too much damage for it to properly set up later on. Volt Switch should be used frequently in the early- and mid- game in order to maintain offensive momentum and wear down Raikou's checks, both of which are invaluable during these stages of the battle. However, if your opponent has Hippowdon, avoid using Volt Switch because that will give it a free turn to enter the battlefield, and double switch if you feel the need to. Substitute should be used against predicted uses of Volt Switch, Sucker Punch, and status moves. After one or two Calm Mind boosts, Raikou can also use it on predicted uses of Scald and Lava Plume in order to avoid a potential burn. Against offensive teams, do not attempt to set up Calm Mind; instead, rely on either Volt Switch for generating momentum or Substitute for scouting, depending on which one Raikou carries. However, when facing more defensive teams, don't reveal Calm Mind or Substitute too early, and only use them when you are ready to sweep with Raikou and have determined your opponent's response to it. That way, you can take advantage of the opponent sending in a Pokemon like Heatran, Venusaur, Jirachi, or his own Raikou to switch into yours. In the specific cases of Heatran and Venusaur, Raikou should try to set up Calm Mind immediately as they switch in; otherwise, it may not be able to beat them. If Raikou carries Substitute, your opponent will rely less on status moves and more on offensive moves to pressure Raikou once they know it does, so you can play around that by setting up Calm Mind instead. Before setting up, make sure that slower checks such as Hippowdon and Latias have been weakened to a range where they can be KOed by +1 Hidden Power Ice. Don't set up unless faster, physically offensive revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Sand Rush Excadrill, and Mega Lopunny have been removed, as they can easily prevent a sweep.
Team Options
========
Calm Mind Raikou fits very well on teams that want a boosting wincon as well as an answer to Electric-types such as Thundurus, Mega Manectric, Rotom-W, and opposing Raikou. Make sure that Raikou is paired up with answers to fast, powerful physical attackers that can easily dispose of it, particularly Mega Charizard X, which easily sets up on it. This can be a bulky Ground-type such as Landorus-T or Hippowdon, as well as a Water-type such as Manaphy or Slowbro. Garchomp is particularly good in this role because it can easily wear them down; however, it does not beat Mega Charizard X and therefore needs to be paired up with a check to it. Raikou also needs to be paired up with an answer to Ground-types such as Excadrill and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. Skarmory is particularly good because it can switch into Dragon- and Fairy-types, both of which can be difficult for Raikou to handle, and provide Spikes support to help Raikou break past its checks. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Grass-types such as Serperior can also handle Ground-types and benefit from Raikou's ability to break past Venusaur. Raikou appreciates support from Pokemon that can either weaken or surprise Ground-types. For instance, Jolly Mega Charizard X can weaken Hippowdon and Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and in return, Raikou handles Water-types and can bait in Heatran. Mega Metagross is also a solid partner for its ability to wear down Ground-types and check Dragon- and Grass-types, while Raikou handles Steel- and Water-types in return. Because most Pokemon that can check or counter Calm Mind Raikou, such as Chansey, Clefable and Choice Scarf Ground-types, rely on their items to do so, a Knock Off user that some of these Pokemon tend to switch into, such as Alakazam, Mega Gallade, or mixed Thundurus, can serve as a good teammate to Raikou. Talonflame is an excellent partner as well because it is immune to Ground, checks Fairies, can revenge kill physical attackers, and can also weaken bulky Water-types. In return, Raikou handles Electric- and Water-types, which are very threatening for Talonflame. Both Raikou and its usual partners are vulnerable to Weavile, so make sure your team is adequately prepared to face it by carrying a check to it such as Keldeo, Mega Scizor, Azumarill, which also checks other huge threats to Raikou such as Mega Charizard X and Sand Rush Excadrill, or Klefki, which can help Raikou wear down its checks with Spikes support. If running Volt Switch, U-turn users such as Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Scizor also act as good partners.
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Volt Switch / Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind not only increases Raikou's firepower, enabling it to break through Pokemon that would otherwise check it such as Heatran, Mew, Jirachi, and Celebi, as well as clean weakened teams, but also its special bulk, preventing Pokemon like Thundurus, Mega Venusaur, and Mega Alakazam from dealing much damage to it. Thunderbolt is a powerful, reliable Electric STAB move with no drawbacks. Hidden Power Ice gives Raikou almost perfect coverage alongside Thunderbolt; specifically, it deals a huge amount of damage to Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Gliscor, as well as Dragon-types such as Latios and Altaria and certain Grass-types such as Serperior. Volt Switch enables Raikou to keep offensive momentum going, which makes it far more useful early on in the battle and enables its teammates to come in for free. Volt Switch also helps Raikou wear down its checks so that it can more easily sweep late-game, as well as bluff an Assault Vest set more convincingly, especially when carrying a Zap Plate. Substitute has multiple uses, such as enabling Raikou to evade status moves from Pokemon such as Heatran, Slowbro, Ferrothorn, Rotom , and Jirachi and safely set up Calm Mind on them, helping it scout for switches (particularly from opposing Volt Switch users), and letting it evade Bisharp's Sucker Punch.
Set Details
========
Running maximum Speed with a Timid nature enables Raikou to fully take advantage of its great Speed tier, letting it outspeed Serperior and Speed tie with Starmie and opposing Raikou. The remaining EVs are put into Special Attack for as much firepower as possible. A bulkier EV spread can be used on the Substitute set in order for Raikou to set up more easily on certain Pokemon at the expense of power; for instance, a spread of 112 HP / 144 SpA / 252 Spe guarantees that uninvested Heatran's Lava Plume will never break Raikou's Substitute after one Calm Mind boost. Leftovers gives Raikou more longevity, helps it set up Calm Mind more reliably, and enables it to set up Substitute more often (particularly against low-accuracy moves such as Rotom-W's Hydro Pump and Thundurus's Focus Blast) provided that it's running the move. However, a Zap Plate can be used when running Volt Switch in order to bluff a Choice Specs or Assault Vest set. It also gives Raikou the ability to 2HKO standard Clefable after a Calm Mind boost. Pressure is Raikou's only ability, helping it against Pokemon that rely on attacking moves with low PP such as Serperior and Overheat Mega Manectric.
Usage Tips
========
Raikou should be sent in against Pokemon it can easily set up on, such as Thundurus, Rotom-W, Mega Manectric, Jirachi, and opposing Raikou. However, don't let Raikou take too much damage for it to properly set up later on. Volt Switch should be used frequently in the early- and mid- game in order to maintain offensive momentum and wear down Raikou's checks, both of which are invaluable during these stages of the battle. However, if your opponent has Hippowdon, avoid using Volt Switch because that will give it a free turn to enter the battlefield, and double switch if you feel the need to. Substitute should be used against predicted uses of Volt Switch, Sucker Punch, and status moves. After one or two Calm Mind boosts, Raikou can also use it on predicted uses of Scald and Lava Plume in order to avoid a potential burn. Against offensive teams, do not attempt to set up Calm Mind; instead, rely on either Volt Switch for generating momentum or Substitute for scouting, depending on which one Raikou carries. However, when facing more defensive teams, don't reveal Calm Mind or Substitute too early, and only use them when you are ready to sweep with Raikou and have determined your opponent's response to it. That way, you can take advantage of the opponent sending in a Pokemon like Heatran, Venusaur, Jirachi, or his own Raikou to switch into yours. In the specific cases of Heatran and Venusaur, Raikou should try to set up Calm Mind immediately as they switch in; otherwise, it may not be able to beat them. If Raikou carries Substitute, your opponent will rely less on status moves and more on offensive moves to pressure Raikou once they know it does, so you can play around that by setting up Calm Mind instead. Before setting up, make sure that slower checks such as Hippowdon and Latias have been weakened to a range where they can be KOed by +1 Hidden Power Ice. Don't set up unless faster, physically offensive revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Sand Rush Excadrill, and Mega Lopunny have been removed, as they can easily prevent a sweep.
Team Options
========
Calm Mind Raikou fits very well on teams that want a boosting wincon as well as an answer to Electric-types such as Thundurus, Mega Manectric, Rotom-W, and opposing Raikou. Make sure that Raikou is paired up with answers to fast, powerful physical attackers that can easily dispose of it, particularly Mega Charizard X, which easily sets up on it. This can be a bulky Ground-type such as Landorus-T or Hippowdon, as well as a Water-type such as Manaphy or Slowbro. Garchomp is particularly good in this role because it can easily wear them down; however, it does not beat Mega Charizard X and therefore needs to be paired up with a check to it. Raikou also needs to be paired up with an answer to Ground-types such as Excadrill and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. Skarmory is particularly good because it can switch into Dragon- and Fairy-types, both of which can be difficult for Raikou to handle, and provide Spikes support to help Raikou break past its checks. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Grass-types such as Serperior can also handle Ground-types and benefit from Raikou's ability to break past Venusaur. Raikou appreciates support from Pokemon that can either weaken or surprise Ground-types. For instance, Jolly Mega Charizard X can weaken Hippowdon and Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and in return, Raikou handles Water-types and can bait in Heatran. Mega Metagross is also a solid partner for its ability to wear down Ground-types and check Dragon- and Grass-types, while Raikou handles Steel- and Water-types in return. Because most Pokemon that can check or counter Calm Mind Raikou, such as Chansey, Clefable and Choice Scarf Ground-types, rely on their items to do so, a Knock Off user that some of these Pokemon tend to switch into, such as Alakazam, Mega Gallade, or mixed Thundurus, can serve as a good teammate to Raikou. Talonflame is an excellent partner as well because it is immune to Ground, checks Fairies, can revenge kill physical attackers, and can also weaken bulky Water-types. In return, Raikou handles Electric- and Water-types, which are very threatening for Talonflame. Both Raikou and its usual partners are vulnerable to Weavile, so make sure your team is adequately prepared to face it by carrying a check to it such as Keldeo, Mega Scizor, Azumarill, which also checks other huge threats to Raikou such as Mega Charizard X and Sand Rush Excadrill, or Klefki, which can help Raikou wear down its checks with Spikes support. If running Volt Switch, U-turn users such as Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, and Scizor also act as good partners.
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