[SET]
name: Encore Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Encore
move 3: Surf
move 4: Thunderbolt / Nasty Plot / Tera Blast / Grass Knot
item: Heavy-Duty-Boots
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
tera type: Water / Ice / Ground / Grass
[SET COMMENTS]
Raichu's good coverage, blazing Speed tier, and access to Encore make it one of the best offensive pivots available in the tier; it is able to outspeed common Pokemon like Pyroar and Basculin and hit them with powerful super effective moves. Encore can halt setup attempts from the likes of Bulk Up Gogoat, Nasty Plot Misdreavus, and opposing Nasty Plot Raichu while also potentially giving Raichu setup opportunities with Nasty Plot against Pokemon locked into recovery moves, such as Gogoat, Dachsbun, Chansey, and Articuno. Surf threatens Rock- and Ground-types like Carbink, Gabite, and Camerupt. Thunderbolt gives Raichu an Electric-type STAB move that doesn't force it to switch out. Tera Blast with either Tera Ice or Tera Ground gives Raichu crucial coverage against the likes of Gogoat, Flapple, and Dartrix or Electrode and opposing Raichu, respectively. Tera Water boosts Raichu's Surf, letting it 2HKO physically defensive Carbink while also improving Raichu's ability to check the likes of Rotom-F, Basculin, Tera Ice Electrode, and opposing Raichu. Tera Grass gives Raichu resistances to Ground and Grass, greatly improving its matchup against Alolan Dugtrio and Whiscash. Additionally, it boosts the power of Grass Knot, letting it do more chip damage to Whiscash, potentially 2HKOing it. Lightning Rod lets Raichu more easily take advantage of Electric-types such as Rotom-F, Electrode, Rotom-S, and opposing Raichu.
Raichu's Electric immunity means that Water- and Flying-type Pokemon like Basculin, Golduck, Charizard, and Honchkrow make for good partners. The former two can more capably take out Pokemon like Carbink, Dugtrio, and Gabite while the latter two can deal with Grass-types like Gogoat, Flapple, and Dartrix, which Raichu would otherwise be forced to Terastallize against. Other offensive pivots such as Alolan Persian, Perrseker, Squawkabilly, and Drakloak can create powerful VoltTurn cores with Raichu, wearing down foes until they are weakened to the point where Raichu can efficiently clean them up. Additionally, these offensive pivots are able to compensate for Raichu's fragility thanks their ability to pivot it in. Setup Pokemon like Bulk Up Gogoat, Nasty Plot Haunter, Quiver Dance Masquerain, and Swords Dance Sawsbuck appreciate Raichu being able to lock Pokemon like Gogoat, Dachsbun, and Articuno into recovery moves and being able to chip down Pokemon with Volt Switch.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bt89.487308/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/uhbella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
Last edited:
