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[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Surf / Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Raichu's vast movepool, high Speed, ability, and respectable Special Attack allow it to force out many threats like Lapras, Pincurchin, and Choice-locked Manectric, giving it multiple setup opportunities. It can also use more passive Pokemon such as Mareanie as setup fodder. Focus Blast lets Raichu break through special walls like Type: Null and Munchlax and targets Silvally-Grass and Vibrava, which take little damage from its other moves. Surf is usually preferred to Grass Knot, as it hits Stunfisk harder than any other move, but Grass Knot eases the matchup against Palpitoad. Lightning Rod is Raichu's best ability, as it lets Raichu provide its team with an Electric-type immunity and take advantage of Choice-locked Manectric and Silvally-Electric to gain setup opportunities. Volt Switch can be used to give Raichu a more prominent role early-game, Protect can be used to prevent priority users like Falinks and Fraxure from revenge killing it, and Knock Off can be used to cripple Eviolite users like Type: Null and Vibrava and make them easier to revenge kill, but it struggles to fit any of these moves over important coverage.
Raichu fits well on entry hazard-stacking teams, as the chip damage lets it break through targets like Throh and different Silvally formes more easily. Roselia can handle Grass-types that Raichu struggles against such as Gourgeist-XL and Shiinotic, and other hazard setters such as Mareanie, Palpitoad, and Hippopotas can effectively answer priority users like Falinks. Due to its poor bulk, Raichu appreciates partners that can bring it in safely. Silvally-Bug and Silvally-Psychic are both notable for handling Grass- and Fighting-types like Roselia, Gourgeist-XL, and Throh and can potentially bring Raichu in safely with U-turn or Parting Shot against targets like Mareanie and Musharna. Type: Null is also notable, as it can switch into and cripple Grass-types like Gourgeist-XL easily. Due to its tendency to get worn down quickly, Raichu highly appreciates entry hazard removal from Mr. Rime, Galarian Mr. Mime, and Hitmontop; the former two can check Roselia and Gloom and provide Raichu with another chance at sweeping with Healing Wish, and the latter can pressure physical attackers like Falinks and Persian and work with Raichu to overwhelm Gourgeist-XL. All of them appreciate Raichu pressuring Ghost-types like Dusclops, and Hitmontop also appreciates Raichu handling Mareanie and Flying-types like Vespiquen and Togetic.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Surf / Grass Knot
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Choice Specs
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Raichu stands out from Manectric as a Choice-locked Electric-type thanks to its expansive coverage options, which allow it to hit Ground-types like Stunfisk and Palpitoad that would otherwise easily block its Volt Switch, thus giving it the upper hand in generating momentum. Its excellent Speed also makes it one of the naturally fastest Pokemon in the metagame, letting it check targets like Basculin, Silvally-Rock, and non-Choice Scarf Manectric. Choice Specs-boosted Thunderbolt makes Raichu very difficult to switch into, with even Electric-resistant Pokemon like Gourgeist and Leafeon struggling to take two hits when entry hazards are up. Focus Blast lets Raichu offensively check Type: Null and Dubwool and is its best option for hitting Seaking and Vibrava, which otherwise easily block its Volt Switch. Surf notably prevents Raichu from getting blocked by Stunfisk and deals more damage than Grass Knot to Hippopotas. Alternatively, Grass Knot eases the matchup against Palpitoad, but it leaves Raichu unable to deal with Stunfisk. Lightning Rod lets Raichu take advantage of Silvally-Electric and Choice-locked Manectric, potentially boosting its Special Attack and making it even more difficult to switch into. Raichu can also run a similar set with Choice Scarf; however, the drop in power is fairly noticeable, and it is generally outclassed by other Choice Scarf users such as Manectric and Mr. Mime that can provide additional utility with Switcheroo and Trick, respectively.
Roselia stands out as a great partner; not only can it provide entry hazards such as Spikes and Toxic Spikes, which can help Raichu break through foes like Gourgeist and Type: Null more easily, but it also takes advantage of Raichu bringing in foes like Shiinotic and Gourgeist-XL, which it can pressure offensively or use as setup fodder, respectively. It also greatly appreciates Raichu dealing with Vespiquen and Mareanie, which can easily remove its hazards, as well as Steel-types like Mawile and Klang. Galarian Mr. Mime appreciates Raichu bringing it in safely with Volt Switch, and it can pressure foes that Raichu struggles to break through such as Roselia and Gloom, as well as give it a better chance at cleaning late-game with Healing Wish. Fire-types like Heatmor and Raboot similarly benefit from Volt Switch and can pressure targets that Raichu invites in like Shiinotic and Silvally-Grass; the former can even take advantage of Manectric trying to check Choice-locked Raichu with Fire-type coverage. In return, Raichu pressures Water-types like Mareanie and Lapras. Palpitoad and Throh can provide a solid defensive backbone, being able to switch into potential revenge killers such as Falinks, Choice Band Fraxure, and Pikachu; the former can also easily switch into Manectric, which can otherwise take advantage of Raichu if it's Choice locked, and the latter also fits well on entry hazard-stacking teams, as it can use Circle Throw to further wear down the opposing team and make it easier for Raichu to perform its job. Silvally-Bug forms an effective VoltTurn core with Raichu, as they effectively deal with each other's checks.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royesk, 474994]]
- Quality checked by: [[gum, 434150], [asa, 400292]]
- Grammar checked by: [[royesk, 336073]]
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Surf / Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Raichu's vast movepool, high Speed, ability, and respectable Special Attack allow it to force out many threats like Lapras, Pincurchin, and Choice-locked Manectric, giving it multiple setup opportunities. It can also use more passive Pokemon such as Mareanie as setup fodder. Focus Blast lets Raichu break through special walls like Type: Null and Munchlax and targets Silvally-Grass and Vibrava, which take little damage from its other moves. Surf is usually preferred to Grass Knot, as it hits Stunfisk harder than any other move, but Grass Knot eases the matchup against Palpitoad. Lightning Rod is Raichu's best ability, as it lets Raichu provide its team with an Electric-type immunity and take advantage of Choice-locked Manectric and Silvally-Electric to gain setup opportunities. Volt Switch can be used to give Raichu a more prominent role early-game, Protect can be used to prevent priority users like Falinks and Fraxure from revenge killing it, and Knock Off can be used to cripple Eviolite users like Type: Null and Vibrava and make them easier to revenge kill, but it struggles to fit any of these moves over important coverage.
Raichu fits well on entry hazard-stacking teams, as the chip damage lets it break through targets like Throh and different Silvally formes more easily. Roselia can handle Grass-types that Raichu struggles against such as Gourgeist-XL and Shiinotic, and other hazard setters such as Mareanie, Palpitoad, and Hippopotas can effectively answer priority users like Falinks. Due to its poor bulk, Raichu appreciates partners that can bring it in safely. Silvally-Bug and Silvally-Psychic are both notable for handling Grass- and Fighting-types like Roselia, Gourgeist-XL, and Throh and can potentially bring Raichu in safely with U-turn or Parting Shot against targets like Mareanie and Musharna. Type: Null is also notable, as it can switch into and cripple Grass-types like Gourgeist-XL easily. Due to its tendency to get worn down quickly, Raichu highly appreciates entry hazard removal from Mr. Rime, Galarian Mr. Mime, and Hitmontop; the former two can check Roselia and Gloom and provide Raichu with another chance at sweeping with Healing Wish, and the latter can pressure physical attackers like Falinks and Persian and work with Raichu to overwhelm Gourgeist-XL. All of them appreciate Raichu pressuring Ghost-types like Dusclops, and Hitmontop also appreciates Raichu handling Mareanie and Flying-types like Vespiquen and Togetic.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Surf / Grass Knot
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Choice Specs
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Raichu stands out from Manectric as a Choice-locked Electric-type thanks to its expansive coverage options, which allow it to hit Ground-types like Stunfisk and Palpitoad that would otherwise easily block its Volt Switch, thus giving it the upper hand in generating momentum. Its excellent Speed also makes it one of the naturally fastest Pokemon in the metagame, letting it check targets like Basculin, Silvally-Rock, and non-Choice Scarf Manectric. Choice Specs-boosted Thunderbolt makes Raichu very difficult to switch into, with even Electric-resistant Pokemon like Gourgeist and Leafeon struggling to take two hits when entry hazards are up. Focus Blast lets Raichu offensively check Type: Null and Dubwool and is its best option for hitting Seaking and Vibrava, which otherwise easily block its Volt Switch. Surf notably prevents Raichu from getting blocked by Stunfisk and deals more damage than Grass Knot to Hippopotas. Alternatively, Grass Knot eases the matchup against Palpitoad, but it leaves Raichu unable to deal with Stunfisk. Lightning Rod lets Raichu take advantage of Silvally-Electric and Choice-locked Manectric, potentially boosting its Special Attack and making it even more difficult to switch into. Raichu can also run a similar set with Choice Scarf; however, the drop in power is fairly noticeable, and it is generally outclassed by other Choice Scarf users such as Manectric and Mr. Mime that can provide additional utility with Switcheroo and Trick, respectively.
Roselia stands out as a great partner; not only can it provide entry hazards such as Spikes and Toxic Spikes, which can help Raichu break through foes like Gourgeist and Type: Null more easily, but it also takes advantage of Raichu bringing in foes like Shiinotic and Gourgeist-XL, which it can pressure offensively or use as setup fodder, respectively. It also greatly appreciates Raichu dealing with Vespiquen and Mareanie, which can easily remove its hazards, as well as Steel-types like Mawile and Klang. Galarian Mr. Mime appreciates Raichu bringing it in safely with Volt Switch, and it can pressure foes that Raichu struggles to break through such as Roselia and Gloom, as well as give it a better chance at cleaning late-game with Healing Wish. Fire-types like Heatmor and Raboot similarly benefit from Volt Switch and can pressure targets that Raichu invites in like Shiinotic and Silvally-Grass; the former can even take advantage of Manectric trying to check Choice-locked Raichu with Fire-type coverage. In return, Raichu pressures Water-types like Mareanie and Lapras. Palpitoad and Throh can provide a solid defensive backbone, being able to switch into potential revenge killers such as Falinks, Choice Band Fraxure, and Pikachu; the former can also easily switch into Manectric, which can otherwise take advantage of Raichu if it's Choice locked, and the latter also fits well on entry hazard-stacking teams, as it can use Circle Throw to further wear down the opposing team and make it easier for Raichu to perform its job. Silvally-Bug forms an effective VoltTurn core with Raichu, as they effectively deal with each other's checks.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royesk, 474994]]
- Quality checked by: [[gum, 434150], [asa, 400292]]
- Grammar checked by: [[royesk, 336073]]
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