Electric
========
Alolan Raichu is able to become a potent sweeper when using Aloraichium Z along with Nasty Plot, although it lacks the immediate power and beneficial coverage of the Life Orb set.
[SET]
name: Stoked Sparksurfer (Electric)
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Nasty Plot
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Aloraichium Z
ability: Surge Surfer
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is Alolan Raichu's primary STAB move and most spammable attack, dishing out high damage when under Electric Terrain. Psychic is Alolan Raichu's other STAB attack, which is great for targeting Pokemon immune to Thunderbolt such as Landorus and Nidoking as well as troublesome Poison-types, most importantly Mega Venusaur. Nasty Plot turns Alolan Raichu into a threatening sweeper by enhancing its otherwise mediocre Special Attack. Focus Blast is important coverage for Raichu, ensuring it can hit Pokemon that resist its STAB attacks such as Excadrill and Ferrothorn as well as letting it target troublesome Pokemon like Tyranitar and Kyurem-B.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment with a Modest nature ensures Alolan Raichu can hit as hard as possible while outspeeding the entire metagame with its ability, Surge Surfer, while under Electric Terrain. A Modest nature is necessary to ensure Alolan Raichu can OHKO Assault Vest Alolan Muk with boosted Stoked Sparksurfer while under Electric Terrain. Aloraichium Z enables Alolan Raichu to use Stoked Sparksurfer, an unique Z-Move that provides Alolan Raichu a one-time burst of damage to get past defensive Pokemon after prior chip damage that can otherwise wall it. Additionally, its 100% chance to paralyze can also come in handy against foes that it cannot OHKO.
Usage Tips
========
As a mid- to late-game sweeper, Alolan Raichu should be preserved as much as possible until it's able to finish off the opposing team. With that in mind, focus on chipping down Alolan Raichu's defensive checks like Chansey and eliminating its offensive checks like Bisharp to best put it into a position to sweep. Due to Alolan Raichu's low Special Attack, look for opportunities to freely use Nasty Plot. Some opportunities like this include against weak, defensive Pokemon like Toxapex that cannot do much to threaten it or on predicted switches. Additionally, due to its low Special Attack and middling Speed with Modest, be sure to maintain Electric Terrain at all times if possible to give it the boost it needs to sweep. Alolan Raichu is Electric's best tool to take on the troublesome Poison matchup. As such, play with it carefully and look for openings to bring in Alolan Raichu and freely use Nasty Plot so that it can effectively take down Alolan Muk with Stoked Sparksurfer and then sweep the remainder of the team with Psychic. Be sure to utilize Alolan Raichu's one-time Z-Move to overwhelm an opposing Pokemon that would otherwise survive one of its attacks. Even if Alolan Raichu doesn't have the chance to use its Z-Move to finish off a foe, it can be used for the 100% paralyze chance as a last-ditch effort to neutralize a threat to its team.
Team Options
========
Tapu Koko is an essential partner for Alolan Raichu, as it requires Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain up in order to function at all as a sweeper. Tapu Koko also benefits Alolan Raichu by dealing with Dark- and Dragon-types that are threatening to Alolan Raichu like Hydreigon and Latios. Alolan Golem provides massive support in the form of Stealth Rock that helps chip down foes throughout the battle to enable Alolan Raichu to sweep late-game. Alolan Golem and Magnezone are able to trap and remove Steel-types such as Excadrill and Ferrothorn, removing the pressure from Alolan Raichu to take them down with Focus Blast. Zapdos and Rotom-W form an effective defensive pair for Electric that benefit Alolan Raichu by checking Ground-types, removing entry hazards, and acting as slow pivots to safely bring in Alolan Raichu throughout the battle. Zapdos notably can take on Tapu Bulu for Alolan Raichu, which is often a hard stop to it thanks to Grassy Surge overwriting the Electric Terrain Alolan Raichu requires to function. Zeraora is an effective physical attacker that can take on specially defensive Pokemon that Alolan Raichu is unable to deal with such as Chansey, and its high Speed helps other fast offensive foes that Alolan Raichu has trouble dealing with like Latios.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electric
--------
Grass Knot can be used over Focus Blast on the Aloraichium Z set to more easily take on Ground-types, notably Swampert and Gastrodon, if it has ample team support in taking down Steel-types. However, this makes Alolan Raichu unable to check several Pokemon beyond just Steel-types such as Kyurem-B and Hydreigon.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
--------
**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk can take multiple hits from Alolan Raichu and trap it with Pursuit. However, it does need to be wary of an OHKO from Alolan Raichu's powerful boosted Z-Move.
========
Alolan Raichu is able to become a potent sweeper when using Aloraichium Z along with Nasty Plot, although it lacks the immediate power and beneficial coverage of the Life Orb set.
[SET]
name: Stoked Sparksurfer (Electric)
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Nasty Plot
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Aloraichium Z
ability: Surge Surfer
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is Alolan Raichu's primary STAB move and most spammable attack, dishing out high damage when under Electric Terrain. Psychic is Alolan Raichu's other STAB attack, which is great for targeting Pokemon immune to Thunderbolt such as Landorus and Nidoking as well as troublesome Poison-types, most importantly Mega Venusaur. Nasty Plot turns Alolan Raichu into a threatening sweeper by enhancing its otherwise mediocre Special Attack. Focus Blast is important coverage for Raichu, ensuring it can hit Pokemon that resist its STAB attacks such as Excadrill and Ferrothorn as well as letting it target troublesome Pokemon like Tyranitar and Kyurem-B.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment with a Modest nature ensures Alolan Raichu can hit as hard as possible while outspeeding the entire metagame with its ability, Surge Surfer, while under Electric Terrain. A Modest nature is necessary to ensure Alolan Raichu can OHKO Assault Vest Alolan Muk with boosted Stoked Sparksurfer while under Electric Terrain. Aloraichium Z enables Alolan Raichu to use Stoked Sparksurfer, an unique Z-Move that provides Alolan Raichu a one-time burst of damage to get past defensive Pokemon after prior chip damage that can otherwise wall it. Additionally, its 100% chance to paralyze can also come in handy against foes that it cannot OHKO.
Usage Tips
========
As a mid- to late-game sweeper, Alolan Raichu should be preserved as much as possible until it's able to finish off the opposing team. With that in mind, focus on chipping down Alolan Raichu's defensive checks like Chansey and eliminating its offensive checks like Bisharp to best put it into a position to sweep. Due to Alolan Raichu's low Special Attack, look for opportunities to freely use Nasty Plot. Some opportunities like this include against weak, defensive Pokemon like Toxapex that cannot do much to threaten it or on predicted switches. Additionally, due to its low Special Attack and middling Speed with Modest, be sure to maintain Electric Terrain at all times if possible to give it the boost it needs to sweep. Alolan Raichu is Electric's best tool to take on the troublesome Poison matchup. As such, play with it carefully and look for openings to bring in Alolan Raichu and freely use Nasty Plot so that it can effectively take down Alolan Muk with Stoked Sparksurfer and then sweep the remainder of the team with Psychic. Be sure to utilize Alolan Raichu's one-time Z-Move to overwhelm an opposing Pokemon that would otherwise survive one of its attacks. Even if Alolan Raichu doesn't have the chance to use its Z-Move to finish off a foe, it can be used for the 100% paralyze chance as a last-ditch effort to neutralize a threat to its team.
Team Options
========
Tapu Koko is an essential partner for Alolan Raichu, as it requires Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain up in order to function at all as a sweeper. Tapu Koko also benefits Alolan Raichu by dealing with Dark- and Dragon-types that are threatening to Alolan Raichu like Hydreigon and Latios. Alolan Golem provides massive support in the form of Stealth Rock that helps chip down foes throughout the battle to enable Alolan Raichu to sweep late-game. Alolan Golem and Magnezone are able to trap and remove Steel-types such as Excadrill and Ferrothorn, removing the pressure from Alolan Raichu to take them down with Focus Blast. Zapdos and Rotom-W form an effective defensive pair for Electric that benefit Alolan Raichu by checking Ground-types, removing entry hazards, and acting as slow pivots to safely bring in Alolan Raichu throughout the battle. Zapdos notably can take on Tapu Bulu for Alolan Raichu, which is often a hard stop to it thanks to Grassy Surge overwriting the Electric Terrain Alolan Raichu requires to function. Zeraora is an effective physical attacker that can take on specially defensive Pokemon that Alolan Raichu is unable to deal with such as Chansey, and its high Speed helps other fast offensive foes that Alolan Raichu has trouble dealing with like Latios.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electric
--------
Grass Knot can be used over Focus Blast on the Aloraichium Z set to more easily take on Ground-types, notably Swampert and Gastrodon, if it has ample team support in taking down Steel-types. However, this makes Alolan Raichu unable to check several Pokemon beyond just Steel-types such as Kyurem-B and Hydreigon.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
--------
**Alolan Muk**: Alolan Muk can take multiple hits from Alolan Raichu and trap it with Pursuit. However, it does need to be wary of an OHKO from Alolan Raichu's powerful boosted Z-Move.
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