ZU Raichu [Done]

[Toto]

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Surf
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Raichu's great Speed and Nasty Plot, it is a niche wallbreaker and cleaner in ZU. Raichu can set up with Nasty Plot against foes like Articuno, Qwilfish, and Miltank to sweep cores such as Tangela + Rapidash + Rhydon. Focus Blast is Raichu's strongest coverage move, hitting Pokemon like Miltank, Appletun, and Tangela. Surf threatens Ground-types such as Rhydon, Piloswine, and Stunfisk. Life Orb allows +2 Raichu to secure OHKOs on Tangela, Articuno, and Piloswine. Lightning Rod gives it setup opportunities against Choice-locked Rotom and Manectric.

Raichu fits best on offense and balance teams, providing revenge killing and cleaning capabilities. Raichu is also able to function on teams that lack a Ground-type, as it can absorb Volt Switch. Pokemon that struggle to break through Ground-types such as Skunktank, Rapidash, and Rotom appreciate Raichu's presence, and they apply pressure Grass-types, which trouble Raichu, in return. Raichu is vulnerable to faster threats and require switch-ins to Thwackey's Grassy Glide and Choice Scarf Sawk and Rotom. Tangela and Altaria work well to cover Sawk and Thwackey, while bulky Ground-types such as Stunfisk and Rhydon help with Rotom.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Heavy-Duty Boots can be used over Life Orb, trading damage output for increased longevity. This is often not worth it, however, due to Raichu being reliant on Life Orb to deal any significant damage. Air Balloon also increases longevity somewhat and gives Raichu a Ground immunity. Volt Switch can be used to retain momentum, and Rising Voltage can be used on Electric Terrain teams.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Ground-types**: Stunfisk, Piloswine, and Rhydon can switch into Thunderbolt and prevent Raichu from sweeping when healthy. However, Piloswine drops to +2 Surf, and Rhydon is OHKOed after minimal chip damage. Alolan Dugtrio Speed ties with Raichu and can OHKO it.

**Grass-types**: Gourgeist formes, Thwackey, and Exeggutor resist Raichu's attacks, taking little damage from it and OHKOing back in return.

**Faster Threats**: Choice Scarf users such as Sawk, Rotom, and Silvally can survive hits from Raichu and revenge kill it.

**Priority Users**: Although somewhat uncommon, Sucker Punch from Shiftry, Skuntank, and Kangaskhan can revenge kill Raichu after chip damage. In addition, Thwackey can OHKO Raichu with Grassy Glide and tank its boosted attacks.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Toto, 485135]]
- Quality checked by: [[S1nn0hc0nfirm3d, 231074], [Tuthur, 369076]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990]]

 

[S1nn0hC0nfirm3d]

Comments in Bold and Strikethrough

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Surf
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Raichu great Speed and access to Nasty Plot, it performs as a niche wallbreaker and cleaner in ZU. Thunderbolt is the STAB move of choice thanks to its solid power and no drawbacks. (Fluff; do not write descriptions for standard STAB attacks) Focus Blast is Raichu's strongest coverage move, hitting Pokemon like Miltank, Appletun, and Tangela. Surf is usage to hit Ground-types such as Rhydon, Piloswine, and Stunfisk which are immune to its STAB attack. (fluff; the reader knows that Ground-types are immune to Electric) The EVs maximize Raichu's good Speed and Special Attack, with a Timid nature allowing Raichu to Speed tie with Alolan Dugrio and Froslass. (You also don't need a sentence for a very standard 252 / 252 Timid nature spread this is what we'd all expect from a cleaner.) (Instead, we should see two points missing here: replace the Thunderbolt sentence with one that more accurately overviews its role as a cleaner, like what it sets up on or the slower cores and offensive Pokemon it sweeps past, and another sentence at the end where you show how Life Orb is integral to sweeping in comparison to other items; use an important calc or two)

Raichu fits best on offensive and balance teams, providing Speed control and cleaning capabilities. Pokemon that struggle to break through Ground-types such as Skunktank, Rapidash, and Rotom appreciate Raichu's presence, applying pressure to Grass-types which trouble Raichu in return. Raichu is vulnerable to faster threats due to its fragile nature so switch-ins to the likes of Thwackey's Grassy Glide and Choice Scarf Sawk and Rotom are needed. Tangela and Altaria work well for covering Sawk and Thwackey, while bulky Ground-types such as Stunfisk and Rhydon help with Rotom. (this is fine, but the last bit I'd include is Raichu's utility as a Volt Switch absorber and how that can work well on defensive cores that lack a Ground-type like with x, y, and z... Altaria / Rapidash / Tangela? Use your discretion)

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Heavy-Duty Boots can be used over Life Orb, trading its damage output for increased longevity. This is not often worth it however due to Raichu's being reliant on Life Orb to deal any significant damage.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Ground-types**: Stunfisk, Piloswine, and Rhydon are immune to Raichu's STAB attack and can OHKO in return with their own switch into Thunderbolt and prevent Raichu from sweeping when healthy (Fluff; I edited this to show the matchups more clearly here. You do a good job in the following to show when these Ground-types may fail). Piloswine drops to +2 Surf however and Rhydon get OHKO'd after minimal chip. Alolan Dugtrio Speed tie's with Raichu, both OHKOing each other.

**Grass-types**: Gourgeist formes, Trevenant, and Exeggutor resist or are immune to all Raichu's attacks, taking little damage and OHKO back in return.

**Faster threats*: Choice Scarf users such as Sawk, Rotom, and Jynx can all survive hits from Raichu and then revenge kill it.

**Priority*: Allthough somewhat uncommon, Sucker Punch from Shiftry, Skuntank, and Kangaskan can revenge kill Raichu after chip damage. In addition, Thwackey can OHKO Raichu with Grassy Glide and tank its boosted attacks (referencing its role as a Grass-type here as well).

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Toto, 485135]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]

QC 1/2. I trust you can fill in the blanks well enough for the final QCer to do the last check. Remember to avoid fluff and assume that the reader is already an experienced competitive Pokemon player, and they're just new to ZU. That's why its better to include nuances of the metagame and specific matchups that a new player wouldn't automatically assume rather than reminding the reader that Ground-types are immune to Thunderbolt or that sweepers are going to run 252 Speed and a Timid nature.

 

[Tuthur]

Hide

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Surf
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Raichu great Speed and access to Nasty Plot, it performs as a niche wallbreaker and cleaner in ZU. Nasty Plot enables this, with Raichu setting up on the likes of Articuno, Qwilfish, and Miltank before sweeping past cores such as Tangela, Rapidash, and Rhydon. Focus Blast is Raichu's strongest coverage move, hitting Pokemon like Miltank, Appletun, and Tangela. Surf is usage to hit Ground-types such as Rhydon, Piloswine, and Stunfisk. Life Orb is integral to sweeping as without it, Raichu cannot secure the OHKO on Tangela, Articuno, and Piloswine after a Nasty Plot. Lightning Rod?

Raichu fits best on offensive and balance teams, providing Speed control and cleaning capabilities. Pokemon that struggle to break through Ground-types such as Skunktank, Rapidash, and Rotom appreciate Raichu's presence, applying pressure to Grass-types which trouble Raichu in return. Raichu is vulnerable to faster threats due to its fragile nature so switch-ins to the likes of Thwackey's Grassy Glide and Choice Scarf Sawk and Rotom are needed. Tangela and Altaria work well for covering Sawk and Thwackey, while bulky Ground-types such as Stunfisk and Rhydon help with Rotom. However thanks to Raichu's utility as a Volt Switch absorber, defensive cores that lack a Ground-types can function.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Heavy-Duty Boots can be used over Life Orb, trading its damage output for increased longevity. This is not often worth it however due to Raichu's being reliant on Life Orb to deal any significant damage. Rising Voltage, Volt Switch, and Air Balloon deserve mentions.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Ground-types**: Stunfisk, Piloswine, and Rhydon switch into Thunderbolt and prevent Raichu from sweeping when healthy. Piloswine drops to +2 Surf however and Rhydon get OHKO'd after minimal chip. Alolan Dugtrio Speed tie's with Raichu, both OHKOing each other.

**Grass-types**: Gourgeist formes, Trevenant, and Exeggutor resist or are immune to all Raichu's attacks, taking little damage and OHKO back in return. Rewrite this with Thwackey over Trev as the former is much more relevant.

**Faster threats*: Choice Scarf users such as Sawk, Rotom, and Jynx scarf jynx is irrelevant, replace with something like silvally can all survive hits from Raichu and then revenge kill it.

**Priority*: Allthough somewhat uncommon, Sucker Punch from Shiftry, Skuntank, and Kangaskan can revenge kill Raichu after chip damage. In addition, Thwackey can OHKO Raichu with Grassy Glide and tank its boosted attacks.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Toto, 485135]]
- Quality checked by: [[S1nn0hc0nfirm3d, 231074], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]

2/2

 

[DC]

Remove Add Comments
AC = Add Comma, RC = Remove Comma, AH = Add Hyphen, RH = Remove Hyphen

Rat

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Surf
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Raichu's(add apostrophe) great Speed and access to Nasty Plot, it performs as is a niche wallbreaker and cleaner in ZU. Nasty Plot enables this, with Raichu setting up on the likes of Articuno, Qwilfish, and Miltank before sweeping past cores such as Tangela, Rapidash, and Rhydon. Raichu can set up with Nasty Plot against foes like Articuno, Qwilfish, and Miltank to sweep cores such as Tangela + Rapidash + Rhydon. Focus Blast is Raichu's strongest coverage move, hitting Pokemon like Miltank, Appletun, and Tangela. Surf is usage to hit threatens Ground-types such as Rhydon, Piloswine, and Stunfisk. Life Orb is integral to sweeping as without it, Raichu cannot secure the OHKO on Tangela, Articuno, and Piloswine after a Nasty Plot. Lightning Rod can further boosting its special attack, while allowing Raichu to setup on choice locked Pokemon such as Rotom and Manectric. Life Orb allows +2 Raichu to secure OHKOs on Tangela, Articuno, and Piloswine. Lightning Rod gives it setup opportunities against Choice-locked Rotom and Manectric.

Raichu fits best on offensive offense and balance teams, providing Speed control revenge killing and cleaning capabilities. Pokemon that struggle to break through Ground-types such as Skunktank, Rapidash, and Rotom appreciate Raichu's presence, applying pressure to Grass-types which trouble Raichu in return and they apply pressure Grass-types, which trouble Raichu, in return. Raichu is vulnerable to faster threats due to its fragile nature so and require switch-ins to the likes of Thwackey's Grassy Glide and Choice Scarf Sawk and Rotom are needed. Tangela and Altaria work well for covering to cover Sawk and Thwackey, while bulky Ground-types such as Stunfisk and Rhydon help with Rotom. However thanks to Raichu's utility as a Volt Switch absorber, defensive cores that lack a Ground-types can function. Raichu is also able to function on teams that lack a Ground-type, as it can absorb Volt Switch. (I would move this sentence as the 2nd sentence; seems out of place here)

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Heavy-Duty Boots can be used over Life Orb, trading its damage output for increased longevity. This is not often not worth it,(AC) however,(AC) due to Raichu's(remove apostrophe) being reliant on Life Orb to deal any significant damage. Air Balloon also increases longevity somewhat,(RC) in addition to granting Raichu the ability to switch into Ground-type attacks and gives Raichu a Ground immunity. Volt Switch can be used to retain momentum,(AC) and Rising Voltage can be used on Electric Terrain(capitalize) teams for that massive power increase.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Ground-types**: Stunfisk, Piloswine, and Rhydon can switch into Thunderbolt and prevent Raichu from sweeping when healthy. Piloswine drops to +2 Surf however and Rhydon get OHKO'd after minimal chip. Alolan Dugtrio Speed tie's with Raichu, both OHKOing each other. However, Piloswine drops to +2 Surf, and Rhydon is OHKOed after minimal chip damage. Alolan Dugtrio Speed ties with Raichu and can OHKO it.

**Grass-types**: Gourgeist formes, Thwackey, and Exeggutor resist or are immune to Raichu's attacks, taking little damage from it and OHKOing back in return. (None of them are immune to Tbolt tho)

**Faster Threats(capitalize)**(add star): Choice Scarf users such as Sawk, Rotom, and Silvally can all survive hits from Raichu and then revenge kill it.

**Priority Users**(add star): Although somewhat uncommon, Sucker Punch from Shiftry, Skuntank, and Kangaskan Kangaskhan can revenge kill Raichu after chip damage. In addition, Thwackey can OHKO Raichu with Grassy Glide and tank its boosted attacks.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Toto, 485135]]
- Quality checked by: [[S1nn0hc0nfirm3d, 231074], [Tuthur, 369076]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]

GP 1/1. [DC, 449990]

 

[Tuthur]

https://www.smogon.com/dex/ss/pokemon/raichu/