[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its access to Nasty Plot, a wide array of coverage options, and an exceptional Speed tier, Raichu proves itself to be a unique Electric-type that is as underprepared for as it is dangerous. With its excellent ability in Lightningrod, Raichu makes for a unique stop to opposing Electric-types; combine this with the fact that Raichu offensively checks most U-turn users, such as Scyther and Liepard, and it proves to be a unique offensive check to VoltTurn teams. Additionally, Raichu's access to Nasty Plot allows it to boost its Special Attack to formidable levels, letting it potentially break past common checks to Electric-types, such as Rhydon and Lanturn. However, Raichu does suffer from its flaws, chief among them being its atrocious frailty. As such, Raichu finds few opportunities to set up Nasty Plot, and its damage output will be hindered accordingly. Furthermore, Raichu faces steep competition from other Electric-types, such as Rotom and Rotom-S, which boast secondary STAB attacks, have defensive typings that actually let them check certain Pokemon, and have more raw power. It should also be noted that, while its Speed is commendable, Raichu falls prey to many priority attackers and revenge killers, such as Kangaskhan and Swellow, respectively. Raichu also has difficulty breaking past specially defensive walls, such as Roselia and Lanturn.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightningrod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Thunderbolt is Raichu's primary STAB attack, being reliable and powerful and having decent neutral coverage against most of the tier. Nasty Plot is used to boost Raichu's Special Attack to terrifying levels, allowing it to break holes in the opposing team more easily. Focus Blast provides excellent coverage alongside Thunderbolt, most notably hitting Rhydon, Ferroseed, and Piloswine. Hidden Power Ice is the preferred option to take up the last moveslot, hitting the Grass-types such as Roselia, Torterra, and Vileplume that otherwise give Raichu a hard time; however, Hidden Power Grass is an option to hit Lanturn and Quagsire harder. Before using Hidden Power Grass, it should be noted that +2 Focus Blast 2HKOes both Lanturn and Quagsire, so Hidden Power Grass should only be used if you favor reliability over the additional coverage that Hidden Power Ice would have. Encore can be used instead, locking a foe into a status move such as Stealth Rock or Will-O-Wisp and thereby giving free turns for Raichu to set up a Nasty Plot; however, Raichu typically prefers the extra coverage.
Set Details
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Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed allows Raichu to hit as hard and as fast as possible, letting it Speed tie with Tauros and Archeops. Life Orb grants Raichu a much better damage output, most notably giving it the ability to OHKO Klinklang and 2HKO Mega Audino after Stealth Rock with Focus Blast and +2 Thunderbolt, respectively. Lightningrod increases Raichu's defensive utility by boosting its Special Attack if it is hit with an Electric-type attack, letting it check opposing Electric-types.
Usage Tips
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Ideally, Raichu should be sent out mid- or late-game once its checks have been sufficiently weakened, potentially set up a Nasty Plot, and clean up the opposing team. Be sure to recognize when to set up Nasty Plot and when to hold off on it, as a misprediction can often spell the end for Raichu due to its frailty; accordingly, Raichu should set up either against Pokemon that can't hurt it, such as Rotom-S, or against foes it threatens out, such as Pelipper. Raichu can be played early-game as a pivot to punish users of Electric-type attacks, taking advantage of foes that utilize common attacks such as Volt Switch and Thunder Wave. It should be noted that this strategy is risky, as most Pokemon that use these attacks can still beat Raichu with alternative attacks, such as Shadow Ball Rotom. Using coverage moves as needed is recommended; for example, if you are predicting Rhydon to come in on Raichu to take the predicted Thunderbolt, Raichu should use Focus Blast.
Team Options
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Raichu appreciates being paired with strong wallbreakers such as Shiftry, Magmortar, and Sawk, as they can pave the way for Raichu to sweep late-game. Shiftry in particular makes for an outstanding offensive partner to Raichu, removing most of its checks, such as Lanturn, beating most opposing Grass-types, and generally breaking walls so that Raichu can clean up late-game, while Raichu beats the Flying-types that trouble Shiftry, such as Scyther. If Shiftry is chosen as a partner, it should run Extrasensory as to lure in and KO Vileplume, which is a solid check to Raichu. Magmortar can defeat Grass-types, wear down Lanturn, and bust holes in defensive teams so that Raichu can have an easier time cleaning them up; in return, Raichu beats the Water-types that trouble Magmortar. Flying-types such as Archeops and Vivillion can help wear down Lanturn, pressure Grass-types, and appreciate Raichu discouraging the use of Electric-type attacks with Lightningrod. In general, Pokemon that appreciate Raichu deterring the use of Electric-type attacks make for solid partners, as Raichu provides them with a safety net of sorts. Raichu greatly appreciates entry hazard support from the likes of Mesprit and Garbodor, getting chip damage on the foe as it switches in. Mesprit in particular can set up Stealth Rock, is immune to the Ground-type attacks that comprise Raichu's sole weakness, and provides Healing Wish support to bring back a weakened Raichu so that it can play more recklessly. Alternatively, Garbodor can set up Spikes and punishes users of priority moves, which Raichu is susceptible to.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Raichu can choose to use an all-out attacking set utilizing either Life Orb or Choice Specs to take advantage of its excellent coverage; however, this set is underwhelming in power because it provides much less of a boost to Raichu's Special Attack than Nasty Plot. Grass Knot is an alternative to Hidden Power Grass, hitting foes like Golurk and Rhydon for incredible amounts of damage, but both are hit hard as it is by Hidden Power Ice and Focus Blast, respectively, and Grass Knot hits for less damage than Hidden Power Grass does against most everything else, most notably Lanturn. Raichu has a unique physical movepool, so Choice Band with Volt Tackle, Return, Knock Off, and Iron Tail can be used as a strong physical wallbreaker; however, this set is generally not worth it and is done better by other physical attackers such as Sawk. Finally, Raichu can utilize an array of support moves, such as Knock Off and Nuzzle, but it is far too frail to effectively fulfill a purely supportive role.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types, such as Roselia, Vileplume, and Gourgeist-XL, make for effective checks to Raichu, resisting all of the moves it typically carries and fearing only +2 Hidden Power Ice. Roselia in particular makes for an excellent counter to Raichu due to its naturally high Special Defense, so it can easily survive any attack Raichu might use and can either use it as fodder to set up Spikes or 2HKO it with Sludge Bomb after either one round of Life Orb recoil or Stealth Rock.
**Lanturn**: Being both one of the most common and solid Raichu checks, Lanturn can handle any attack that Raichu can go for, as it can only 4HKO Lanturn with Focus Blast or Hidden Power Grass, and this assumes that the former connects on all fouruses. However, Lanturn cannot entirely counter Raichu, as it can 2HKO Lanturn with these moves at +2 after Stealth Rock. Nonetheless, this is not a likely scenario, so Lanturn is often the best defensive check that most teams have for Raichu.
**Revenge Killers*: Due to its frailty and susceptibility to being worn down from Life Orb recoil, Raichu is very vulnerable to revenge killing from both priority users and faster attackers; however, they cannot switch into Raichu safely. Strong priority attacks, such as Sucker Punch from Cacturne or Shiftry, can revenge kill Raichu once it has suffered some prior damage. On the other hand, faster attackers, such as Swellow and Floatzel, can pick off a weakened Raichu with Boomburst or Hydro Pump, respectively.
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