[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 1 onwards
**Price Range**: 13-14 points
**Tera Price Range**: 18-19 points
**Overview**: Boasting a monstrously high Special Attack stat with physical and special bulk, Raging Bolt is able to hit hard while taking hits just as well. Thunderclap lets it clean up games and force opponents to make difficult decisions, and Draco Meteor can nuke foes that are slower than it. With the ability to Terastallize, it can check and break through just about any foe it needs to while giving it more opportunities to set up with Calm Mind if needed. Very little can threaten Raging Bolt, though it often struggles against faster physical wallbreakers, especially ones that can survive a Thunderclap or disrupt it with Substitute or Encore.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Raging Bolt is able to use Calm Mind to break through most teams' defensive cores, firing off STAB moves for slower threats and Thunderclap for faster ones. Booster Energy can give it additional wallbreaking power, while Leftovers gives it more longevity, especially when combined with Substitute. It often utilizes Terastallization to gain valuable coverage as well as a better defensive typing to set up against specific foes.
**Bulky Offense**: Raging Bolt can focus on checking specific foes while threatening the team with powerful attacks in return. It can set up with Calm Mind for further wallbreaking power, pivot with Volt Switch to maintain momentum while still dealing large amounts of damage, or even run Choice Specs to nuke whatever switches into it.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunderclap, Thunderbolt, Discharge, Volt Switch, Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind
**Utility Moves**: Taunt, Dragon Tail, Thunder Wave, Substitute, Roar
**Coverage**: Ancient Power, Body Press, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Sunny Day**: Sunny Day allows Raging Bolt to activate Protosynthesis without having to rely on Booster Energy or a teammate with Drought. It gives it flexibility with its item slot and allows it to use Solar Beam and Weather Ball while giving a similar damage buff to Calm Mind.
**Solar Beam**: Raging Bolt can use Solar Beam either under sun or with a Power Herb to break through Ground-types that might wall it otherwise.
**Weather Ball**: On sun teams or with Sunny Day, Weather Ball gives Raging Bolt additional Fire-type coverage to hit bulky Grass- and Steel-types. It can also work as a surprise Ice-type move with snow from either Snow Warning or Chilly Reception.
Common Items
========
**Booster Energy**: Booster Energy allows Raging Bolt to begin wallbreaking immediately rather than having to spend a turn setting up. This works best as an early- or late-game wallbreaker due to it being single-use.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers provides valuable healing to Raging Bolt, especially when the opponent has poor entry hazard setters or is unable to reliably answer Calm Mind Raging Bolt. This works especially well with Substitute in order to keep it as healthy as possible.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Raging Bolt to remain at full health upon switching in so that it can set up much easier. This item also works well when it wants to switch in frequently in order to check or revenge kill certain foes.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs's increased power can be valuable for immediate wallbreaking if Raging Bolt wants to switch in multiple times a game.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry is a solid choice compared to Leftovers or Heavy-Duty Boots if Raging Bolt expects to take one strong hit and needs to remain relatively healthy.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest allows Raging Bolt to utilize its strong defensive typing to check certain specially offensive foes in matchups where it may not need setup to be effective.
**Resistance Berry**: A resistance Berry can help Raging Bolt set up easier or allow it to pick off a faster threat that it otherwise couldn't.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb prevents Raging Bolt from being susceptible to Encore when trying to set up against faster foes.
**Other Damage-boosting Items**: If Raging Bolt needs more than a one-time damage boost, Items like Life Orb and Magnet let it hit damage benchmarks while not being Choice-locked from Choice Specs.
**Eject Pack**: Raging Bolt can use Eject Pack in combination with Draco Meteor to damage opposing switch-ins that could otherwise tank its attacks and pivot out.
**Power Herb**: Power Herb is ran with Solar Beam to break through specific Ground-types that would otherwise wall Raging Bolt.
Tera
========
Raging Bolt is one of the best Tera Captains in the format, so it should always be drafted with the intent of being one. It benefits massively from both offensive and defensive Tera types. Offensively, it's able to strengthen its already-strong Thunderclap and Draco Meteor with STAB Tera types, and it can choose types such as Tera Water and Grass to gain needed coverage against Ground-types. Defensively, it's able to utilize Tera Fairy, Steel, Water, and Poison to give it better defensive matchups, allowing it to set up in front of foes that would otherwise beat it one-on-one.
Draft Strategy
========
Raging Bolt's lack of support options as well as its struggle against bulkier specially defensive walls means that it often requires a lot of team support. As a round-one pick, it often looks for teammates such as physical wallbreakers, entry hazard setters and removers, and Pokemon with higher Speed to help it out.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Raging Bolt can struggle with breaking through specially defensive walls by itself, especially Ground-types. Pairing it with the likes of Landorus-T, Cinderace, and Weavile can help with this, as they can break through each other's checks, creating a powerful wallbreaking duo.
**Entry Hazard Control**: A lot of the time, Raging Bolt wants the opposing team to be weakened so that it can easily clean with Thunderclap. Entry hazards are one of the easiest ways to achieve this; some good hazard setters that pair well with it include Ting-Lu, Glimmora, and Gliscor. Raging Bolt also appreciates being able to run items other than Heavy-Duty Boots, so reliable spinners, such as Iron Treads, Terapagos, and Tentacruel, make for strong pairings.
**Fast Teammates**: Raging Bolt is plagued with a very mediocre Speed tier, meaning it often struggles against faster foes that do not get KOed by Thunderclap. It appreciates having partners with top-tier Speed such as Greninja, Meowscarada, and Darkrai, but it also appreciates base 95 through 110 Speed Pokemon such as Iron Crown, Urshifu-R, and Ogerpon-W to deny the opponent the ability to run damage-boosting Natures rather than Speed-boosting ones.
**Healing Wish**: Raging Bolt struggles with longevity, so it benefits heavily from teammates that can give it a second chance with Healing Wish. Alomomola is an extremely common pairing due to its ability to slow pivot as well, but teammates like Mesprit and Jirachi also work well.
**Dual Screens Support**: Since Raging Bolt is reliant on being able to safely use Calm Mind a lot of the time, it appreciates additional opportunities from dual screens, whether that be from Prankster Klefki or teammates like Deoxys-S and Corviknight.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Grass- and Ground-types**: While Draco Meteor can break through Grass- and Ground-types, Raging Bolt does not like being forced out afterwards, since it's a massive momentum sink to do so and provides the opponent a safe turn of setup. The likes of Iron Treads, Ting-Lu and Rillaboom can be particularly annoying, as they can survive a hit and force it out or pivot to teammates that can capitalize on its lowered Special Attack after a Draco Meteor.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Many common foes, especially ones that resist Thunderclap like Great Tusk, Meowscarada, and Garchomp, can reliably break through Raging Bolt with a Choice Band or super effective attacks, forcing it to pick specific Tera types to survive hits. Many foes can also chip Raging Bolt down enough so that it can be reliably KOed by a revenge killer afterwards.
**Fast Encore / Substitute**: Given the mass distribution of Encore, Raging Bolt can often find itself being locked into moves and forced out because of this. Foes like Iron Valiant, Ogerpon-W, and Scream Tail can switch in on it and threaten it after it uses Calm Mind or force it into repeatedly using Thunderclap. Substitute, on the other hand, forces Raging Bolt to make difficult decisions if the foe would not survive a Thunderclap.
**Chip Damage**: Raging Bolt can get weakened by entry hazards, status effects, and weaker attacks, allowing strong wallbreakers to OHKO it more reliably later on in the match.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
**Draft Order**: Round 1 onwards
**Price Range**: 13-14 points
**Tera Price Range**: 18-19 points
**Overview**: Boasting a monstrously high Special Attack stat with physical and special bulk, Raging Bolt is able to hit hard while taking hits just as well. Thunderclap lets it clean up games and force opponents to make difficult decisions, and Draco Meteor can nuke foes that are slower than it. With the ability to Terastallize, it can check and break through just about any foe it needs to while giving it more opportunities to set up with Calm Mind if needed. Very little can threaten Raging Bolt, though it often struggles against faster physical wallbreakers, especially ones that can survive a Thunderclap or disrupt it with Substitute or Encore.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Raging Bolt is able to use Calm Mind to break through most teams' defensive cores, firing off STAB moves for slower threats and Thunderclap for faster ones. Booster Energy can give it additional wallbreaking power, while Leftovers gives it more longevity, especially when combined with Substitute. It often utilizes Terastallization to gain valuable coverage as well as a better defensive typing to set up against specific foes.
**Bulky Offense**: Raging Bolt can focus on checking specific foes while threatening the team with powerful attacks in return. It can set up with Calm Mind for further wallbreaking power, pivot with Volt Switch to maintain momentum while still dealing large amounts of damage, or even run Choice Specs to nuke whatever switches into it.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunderclap, Thunderbolt, Discharge, Volt Switch, Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind
**Utility Moves**: Taunt, Dragon Tail, Thunder Wave, Substitute, Roar
**Coverage**: Ancient Power, Body Press, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Sunny Day**: Sunny Day allows Raging Bolt to activate Protosynthesis without having to rely on Booster Energy or a teammate with Drought. It gives it flexibility with its item slot and allows it to use Solar Beam and Weather Ball while giving a similar damage buff to Calm Mind.
**Solar Beam**: Raging Bolt can use Solar Beam either under sun or with a Power Herb to break through Ground-types that might wall it otherwise.
**Weather Ball**: On sun teams or with Sunny Day, Weather Ball gives Raging Bolt additional Fire-type coverage to hit bulky Grass- and Steel-types. It can also work as a surprise Ice-type move with snow from either Snow Warning or Chilly Reception.
Common Items
========
**Booster Energy**: Booster Energy allows Raging Bolt to begin wallbreaking immediately rather than having to spend a turn setting up. This works best as an early- or late-game wallbreaker due to it being single-use.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers provides valuable healing to Raging Bolt, especially when the opponent has poor entry hazard setters or is unable to reliably answer Calm Mind Raging Bolt. This works especially well with Substitute in order to keep it as healthy as possible.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots allows Raging Bolt to remain at full health upon switching in so that it can set up much easier. This item also works well when it wants to switch in frequently in order to check or revenge kill certain foes.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs's increased power can be valuable for immediate wallbreaking if Raging Bolt wants to switch in multiple times a game.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry is a solid choice compared to Leftovers or Heavy-Duty Boots if Raging Bolt expects to take one strong hit and needs to remain relatively healthy.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest allows Raging Bolt to utilize its strong defensive typing to check certain specially offensive foes in matchups where it may not need setup to be effective.
**Resistance Berry**: A resistance Berry can help Raging Bolt set up easier or allow it to pick off a faster threat that it otherwise couldn't.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb prevents Raging Bolt from being susceptible to Encore when trying to set up against faster foes.
**Other Damage-boosting Items**: If Raging Bolt needs more than a one-time damage boost, Items like Life Orb and Magnet let it hit damage benchmarks while not being Choice-locked from Choice Specs.
**Eject Pack**: Raging Bolt can use Eject Pack in combination with Draco Meteor to damage opposing switch-ins that could otherwise tank its attacks and pivot out.
**Power Herb**: Power Herb is ran with Solar Beam to break through specific Ground-types that would otherwise wall Raging Bolt.
Tera
========
Raging Bolt is one of the best Tera Captains in the format, so it should always be drafted with the intent of being one. It benefits massively from both offensive and defensive Tera types. Offensively, it's able to strengthen its already-strong Thunderclap and Draco Meteor with STAB Tera types, and it can choose types such as Tera Water and Grass to gain needed coverage against Ground-types. Defensively, it's able to utilize Tera Fairy, Steel, Water, and Poison to give it better defensive matchups, allowing it to set up in front of foes that would otherwise beat it one-on-one.
Draft Strategy
========
Raging Bolt's lack of support options as well as its struggle against bulkier specially defensive walls means that it often requires a lot of team support. As a round-one pick, it often looks for teammates such as physical wallbreakers, entry hazard setters and removers, and Pokemon with higher Speed to help it out.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Raging Bolt can struggle with breaking through specially defensive walls by itself, especially Ground-types. Pairing it with the likes of Landorus-T, Cinderace, and Weavile can help with this, as they can break through each other's checks, creating a powerful wallbreaking duo.
**Entry Hazard Control**: A lot of the time, Raging Bolt wants the opposing team to be weakened so that it can easily clean with Thunderclap. Entry hazards are one of the easiest ways to achieve this; some good hazard setters that pair well with it include Ting-Lu, Glimmora, and Gliscor. Raging Bolt also appreciates being able to run items other than Heavy-Duty Boots, so reliable spinners, such as Iron Treads, Terapagos, and Tentacruel, make for strong pairings.
**Fast Teammates**: Raging Bolt is plagued with a very mediocre Speed tier, meaning it often struggles against faster foes that do not get KOed by Thunderclap. It appreciates having partners with top-tier Speed such as Greninja, Meowscarada, and Darkrai, but it also appreciates base 95 through 110 Speed Pokemon such as Iron Crown, Urshifu-R, and Ogerpon-W to deny the opponent the ability to run damage-boosting Natures rather than Speed-boosting ones.
**Healing Wish**: Raging Bolt struggles with longevity, so it benefits heavily from teammates that can give it a second chance with Healing Wish. Alomomola is an extremely common pairing due to its ability to slow pivot as well, but teammates like Mesprit and Jirachi also work well.
**Dual Screens Support**: Since Raging Bolt is reliant on being able to safely use Calm Mind a lot of the time, it appreciates additional opportunities from dual screens, whether that be from Prankster Klefki or teammates like Deoxys-S and Corviknight.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Grass- and Ground-types**: While Draco Meteor can break through Grass- and Ground-types, Raging Bolt does not like being forced out afterwards, since it's a massive momentum sink to do so and provides the opponent a safe turn of setup. The likes of Iron Treads, Ting-Lu and Rillaboom can be particularly annoying, as they can survive a hit and force it out or pivot to teammates that can capitalize on its lowered Special Attack after a Draco Meteor.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Many common foes, especially ones that resist Thunderclap like Great Tusk, Meowscarada, and Garchomp, can reliably break through Raging Bolt with a Choice Band or super effective attacks, forcing it to pick specific Tera types to survive hits. Many foes can also chip Raging Bolt down enough so that it can be reliably KOed by a revenge killer afterwards.
**Fast Encore / Substitute**: Given the mass distribution of Encore, Raging Bolt can often find itself being locked into moves and forced out because of this. Foes like Iron Valiant, Ogerpon-W, and Scream Tail can switch in on it and threaten it after it uses Calm Mind or force it into repeatedly using Thunderclap. Substitute, on the other hand, forces Raging Bolt to make difficult decisions if the foe would not survive a Thunderclap.
**Chip Damage**: Raging Bolt can get weakened by entry hazards, status effects, and weaker attacks, allowing strong wallbreakers to OHKO it more reliably later on in the match.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/