[OVERVIEW]
Raikou is one of the metagame's most consistent Pokemon with its phenomenal Speed tier, notable Special Attack, and nice access to strong coverage and supportive options with which it can enable its teammates. Its base 115 Speed is higher than the rest of the unboosted metagame, so Raikou commonly finds itself as a lead, as it is difficult to stop it from setting up dual screens or Rain Dance while also making it a respectable special attacker against threats like Latios. Raikou can also choose to hide in the back and boost its offensive capabilities with Calm Mind. Raikou has decent innate defensive stats but rarely runs investment so it can maximize its attacking prowess instead. As such, while Raikou is only weak to Ground-type attacks, it is often worn down by powerful neutral hits.
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Light Clay
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 SpD / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=======================
Raikou utilizes its immense base 115 Speed as a lead that can outspeed, threaten, and set up a screen of its choosing against the common lead metagame. Raikou will set up Reflect against physical leads such as Tyranitar and Metagross or Light Screen against special attackers like Latios and Rotom-H. Dual screens allow Raikou's offensively oriented teammates to switch in more comfortably and threaten significant damage in return while also enabling the likes of Dragon Dance Tyranitar and Calm Mind Latias to use their setup moves easier. Light Clay extends screens to last for 8 turns, which often accounts for the majority of turns in this fast-paced metagame. Raikou isn't a great beneficiary of its own dual screens, so it prefers making way for its teammates by switching out or being KOed at an opportune moment.
Thunderbolt does solid neutral damage against a majority of the metagame, needing only minimal chip to 2HKO 252 HP Metagross, 252 HP Hitmontop, and uninvested Heracross. Shadow Ball notably almost always 2HKOes Latios while also being better against Mew, as Thunderbolt risks paralyzing itself through Mew's Synchronize.
[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Protect / Thunder Wave / Light Screen
item: Life Orb / Damp Rock
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 SpD / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=======================
Raikou is an excellent Rain Dance user because its innately high Speed makes it difficult to stop from setting up, and its offensive capabilities means it benefits from rain's conditions with Thunder. Thunder's increased accuracy in rain makes for a significant powerup, as Raikou becomes able to 2HKO nearly all of the unresisted metagame with Life Orb. A Life Orb-boosted Shadow Ball also 2HKOes Latios and comes close to 2HKOing Latias, both of which resist Thunder.
Raikou can forgo Life Orb's power boost to use Damp Rock instead, which better benefits its Swift Swim teammates. While this item is generally less powerful given Tyranitar's omnipresence, it still has merits once Tyranitar is eliminated. The more offensive Life Orb set prefers Protect in its last slot so it can stay on the field to maximize its Thunder use, while the Damp Rock set intends on supporting its teammates with weather control and speed control through Thunder Wave or defense with Light Screen.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers / Sitrus Berry / Lum Berry
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 SpD / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=======================
Unlike other Raikou sets, Calm Mind prefers coming in mid- or late-game to set up a timely Calm Mind and sweep its foes once its common checks are eliminated. Raikou is faster than all of the unboosted metagame and has good special bulk, so it can set up a Calm Mind to reduce incoming damage from common special attackers like Mew, Rotom-A, and Latios after it has used Draco Meteor while threatening a 2HKO back. This set prefers to use Leftovers, as it intends to stay on the field with its Calm Mind boosts for extended periods; however, it can also use Sitrus Berry for immediate recovery, or Lum Berry for a one-time insurance against Thunder Wave.
[TEAM OPTIONS]
The biggest beneficiaries of dual screens are bulky attackers such as Metagross, Gyarados, and Rotom-A, as they can stay on the field for longer and trade more favorably as incoming damage is reduced. Pokemon with many weaknesses, like Tyranitar and Heatran, and ones prone to being worn down to heavy neutral damage hits, like Kingdra, maneuver more comfortably behind dual screens as well. Lastly, setup attackers such as Dragon Dance Tyranitar, Swords Dance Mew, and Calm Mind Latias get more opportunities to use their setup moves behind screens.
Rain Dance is appreciated most by Swift Swim users such as Kingdra and Ludicolo, which are both capable of dealing heavy damage to the Ground-types that would otherwise beat Raikou.
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
**Ground-types:** Common Ground-types such as Swampert and Gliscor can switch into Electric-type attacks and threaten significant damage back with their own Earth Power and Earthquake, respectively. Raikou is also prone to other common Ground-type coverage such as Metagross's or Tyranitar's Earthquake and Mew's Earth Power.
**Tyranitar:** Tyranitar comfortably switches into Raikou's attacks and threatens to either return major damage or set up a Dragon Dance. Whenever it switches in, it will also remove the ongoing effects of rain with Sand Stream.
**Powerful physical attackers:** Raikou's mediocre physical defense leaves it vulnerable to common powerful physical attackers such as Tyranitar, Hitmontop, and Heracross. Many of the metagame's physical attackers run Ground-type coverage as well.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bunnyy.192134/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zee.501951/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/smudgerox.550367/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Raikou is one of the metagame's most consistent Pokemon with its phenomenal Speed tier, notable Special Attack, and nice access to strong coverage and supportive options with which it can enable its teammates. Its base 115 Speed is higher than the rest of the unboosted metagame, so Raikou commonly finds itself as a lead, as it is difficult to stop it from setting up dual screens or Rain Dance while also making it a respectable special attacker against threats like Latios. Raikou can also choose to hide in the back and boost its offensive capabilities with Calm Mind. Raikou has decent innate defensive stats but rarely runs investment so it can maximize its attacking prowess instead. As such, while Raikou is only weak to Ground-type attacks, it is often worn down by powerful neutral hits.
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Light Clay
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 SpD / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=======================
Raikou utilizes its immense base 115 Speed as a lead that can outspeed, threaten, and set up a screen of its choosing against the common lead metagame. Raikou will set up Reflect against physical leads such as Tyranitar and Metagross or Light Screen against special attackers like Latios and Rotom-H. Dual screens allow Raikou's offensively oriented teammates to switch in more comfortably and threaten significant damage in return while also enabling the likes of Dragon Dance Tyranitar and Calm Mind Latias to use their setup moves easier. Light Clay extends screens to last for 8 turns, which often accounts for the majority of turns in this fast-paced metagame. Raikou isn't a great beneficiary of its own dual screens, so it prefers making way for its teammates by switching out or being KOed at an opportune moment.
Thunderbolt does solid neutral damage against a majority of the metagame, needing only minimal chip to 2HKO 252 HP Metagross, 252 HP Hitmontop, and uninvested Heracross. Shadow Ball notably almost always 2HKOes Latios while also being better against Mew, as Thunderbolt risks paralyzing itself through Mew's Synchronize.
[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Protect / Thunder Wave / Light Screen
item: Life Orb / Damp Rock
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 SpD / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=======================
Raikou is an excellent Rain Dance user because its innately high Speed makes it difficult to stop from setting up, and its offensive capabilities means it benefits from rain's conditions with Thunder. Thunder's increased accuracy in rain makes for a significant powerup, as Raikou becomes able to 2HKO nearly all of the unresisted metagame with Life Orb. A Life Orb-boosted Shadow Ball also 2HKOes Latios and comes close to 2HKOing Latias, both of which resist Thunder.
Raikou can forgo Life Orb's power boost to use Damp Rock instead, which better benefits its Swift Swim teammates. While this item is generally less powerful given Tyranitar's omnipresence, it still has merits once Tyranitar is eliminated. The more offensive Life Orb set prefers Protect in its last slot so it can stay on the field to maximize its Thunder use, while the Damp Rock set intends on supporting its teammates with weather control and speed control through Thunder Wave or defense with Light Screen.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers / Sitrus Berry / Lum Berry
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 SpD / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=======================
Unlike other Raikou sets, Calm Mind prefers coming in mid- or late-game to set up a timely Calm Mind and sweep its foes once its common checks are eliminated. Raikou is faster than all of the unboosted metagame and has good special bulk, so it can set up a Calm Mind to reduce incoming damage from common special attackers like Mew, Rotom-A, and Latios after it has used Draco Meteor while threatening a 2HKO back. This set prefers to use Leftovers, as it intends to stay on the field with its Calm Mind boosts for extended periods; however, it can also use Sitrus Berry for immediate recovery, or Lum Berry for a one-time insurance against Thunder Wave.
[TEAM OPTIONS]
The biggest beneficiaries of dual screens are bulky attackers such as Metagross, Gyarados, and Rotom-A, as they can stay on the field for longer and trade more favorably as incoming damage is reduced. Pokemon with many weaknesses, like Tyranitar and Heatran, and ones prone to being worn down to heavy neutral damage hits, like Kingdra, maneuver more comfortably behind dual screens as well. Lastly, setup attackers such as Dragon Dance Tyranitar, Swords Dance Mew, and Calm Mind Latias get more opportunities to use their setup moves behind screens.
Rain Dance is appreciated most by Swift Swim users such as Kingdra and Ludicolo, which are both capable of dealing heavy damage to the Ground-types that would otherwise beat Raikou.
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
**Ground-types:** Common Ground-types such as Swampert and Gliscor can switch into Electric-type attacks and threaten significant damage back with their own Earth Power and Earthquake, respectively. Raikou is also prone to other common Ground-type coverage such as Metagross's or Tyranitar's Earthquake and Mew's Earth Power.
**Tyranitar:** Tyranitar comfortably switches into Raikou's attacks and threatens to either return major damage or set up a Dragon Dance. Whenever it switches in, it will also remove the ongoing effects of rain with Sand Stream.
**Powerful physical attackers:** Raikou's mediocre physical defense leaves it vulnerable to common powerful physical attackers such as Tyranitar, Hitmontop, and Heracross. Many of the metagame's physical attackers run Ground-type coverage as well.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bunnyy.192134/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zee.501951/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/smudgerox.550367/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited:
