[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Scald
move 3: Aura Sphere
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Choice Specs
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Scald is an excellent coverage move on Raikou, melting Ground-types like Hippowdon, Krookodile, and Mamoswine while also threatening to burn common checks like Cyclizar and Umbreon. Aura Sphere allows Raikou to hit Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types like Bisharp, Cyclizar, and Hisuian Goodra for considerable damage. Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Raikou from taking entry hazard chip damage, helping to form robust VoltTurn cores with teammates like Barraskewda and Slither Wing; Choice Specs is an alternative to threaten 2HKOs on walls like Cyclizar and offensive Hisuian Goodra. Tera Water removes Raikou's Ground weakness and boosts the damage output of Scald, helping take on threats like Mamoswine and Rhyperior.
Raikou is an excellent choice for balance and bulky offense teams that want a fast, powerful Volt Switch user to pair with other staples like Galarian Zapdos and Slither Wing. Stealth Rock setters like Jirachi and Rhyperior make for great teammates, ensuring that the opposition gets worn down more effectively by the VoltTurn core Raikou forms with partners like Barraskewda and Cyclizar. Similarly, Chesnaught is a great teammate for its ability to sponge the Ground-type attacks thrown at Raikou from foes like Hippowdon and Rhyperior, which it can use to set up Spikes to further rack up hazard chip damage. Slither Wing is a notable VoltTurn partner, taking on Raikou checks like Choice Scarf Krookodile and Gastrodon with ease while Raikou threatens foes like Galarian Weezing and Talonflame in return. Choice Specs Raikou appreciates teammates like Cyclizar and Noivern that help with entry hazard removal, allowing it to become a bit more threatening offensively without sacrificing its longevity. Galarian Weezing also offers hazard removal support and can handle foes like Krookodile and Umbreon for Raikou, while Raikou can take on the Steel-types like Empoleon and Jirachi in return.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/machjacob.555741/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sneakyplanner.598717/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Scald
move 4: Aura Sphere / Substitute
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Water / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Calm Mind, in conjunction with Pressure, allows Raikou to become an excellent setup sweeper that can hit hard immediately while also handling opposing Calm Mind threats like Reuniclus and Suicune. Scald lets Raikou take on Ground-types like Krookodile, Mamoswine, and Rhyperior, as well as punish walls like Cyclizar and Umbreon with the chance to burn. Aura Sphere can be used to hit Normal- and Steel-types like Cyclizar and Hisuian Goodra; Substitute is an alternative that grants Raikou safety from status while setting up, protection from moves like Knock Off and Dragon Tail, and allows it to PP stall foes like Suicune with Pressure and Calm Mind. Leftovers allows Raikou to maintain health while attempting to setup and sweep, while Heavy-Duty Boots can be used instead to mitigate entry hazard chip damage. Tera Water removes the weakness to Ground and boosts the damage of Scald, which helps Raikou OHKO foes like Krookodile and Mamoswine, as well as OHKO Hippowdon at +1. Tera Dark can be used on Substitute sets to prevent Psychic Noise Reuniclus and Slowbro from disrupting Raikou while it sets up.
Calm Mind Raikou fits well on balance and bulky offense teams, using its great Speed and coverage moves to rack up boosts and threaten to sweep late-game. Status spreaders like Galarian Weezing and Umbreon are excellent teammates for Raikou; Galarian Weezing can establish Toxic Spikes to spread poison or use Will-O-Wisp to burn physical attackers like Bisharp and Slither Wing, as well as check foes like Krookodile and Galarian Zapdos, while Umbreon can use Toxic to wear down foes like Cresselia and opposing Umbreon. Stealth Rock setters like Krookodile and Rhyperior can help break through Raikou's checks, like Alolan Muk and Hisuian Goodra, as can wallbreaker teammates like Basculegion-F and Hisuian Zoroark, which also offer pivot support. Gastrodon is a notable Raikou counter, being immune to Thunderbolt and using Storm Drain to absorb Raikou's Scald, so teammates like Amoonguss and Breloom that can threaten it are much appreciated. Cresselia and Gardevoir are great teammates as well, offering to restore its HP with Lunar Dance and Healing Wish, respectively, to give Raikou a second chance at a setup sweep.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/machjacob.555741/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sneakyplanner.598717/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Scald
move 3: Aura Sphere
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Choice Specs
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Scald is an excellent coverage move on Raikou, melting Ground-types like Hippowdon, Krookodile, and Mamoswine while also threatening to burn common checks like Cyclizar and Umbreon. Aura Sphere allows Raikou to hit Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types like Bisharp, Cyclizar, and Hisuian Goodra for considerable damage. Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Raikou from taking entry hazard chip damage, helping to form robust VoltTurn cores with teammates like Barraskewda and Slither Wing; Choice Specs is an alternative to threaten 2HKOs on walls like Cyclizar and offensive Hisuian Goodra. Tera Water removes Raikou's Ground weakness and boosts the damage output of Scald, helping take on threats like Mamoswine and Rhyperior.
Raikou is an excellent choice for balance and bulky offense teams that want a fast, powerful Volt Switch user to pair with other staples like Galarian Zapdos and Slither Wing. Stealth Rock setters like Jirachi and Rhyperior make for great teammates, ensuring that the opposition gets worn down more effectively by the VoltTurn core Raikou forms with partners like Barraskewda and Cyclizar. Similarly, Chesnaught is a great teammate for its ability to sponge the Ground-type attacks thrown at Raikou from foes like Hippowdon and Rhyperior, which it can use to set up Spikes to further rack up hazard chip damage. Slither Wing is a notable VoltTurn partner, taking on Raikou checks like Choice Scarf Krookodile and Gastrodon with ease while Raikou threatens foes like Galarian Weezing and Talonflame in return. Choice Specs Raikou appreciates teammates like Cyclizar and Noivern that help with entry hazard removal, allowing it to become a bit more threatening offensively without sacrificing its longevity. Galarian Weezing also offers hazard removal support and can handle foes like Krookodile and Umbreon for Raikou, while Raikou can take on the Steel-types like Empoleon and Jirachi in return.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/machjacob.555741/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sneakyplanner.598717/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Scald
move 4: Aura Sphere / Substitute
item: Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Water / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Calm Mind, in conjunction with Pressure, allows Raikou to become an excellent setup sweeper that can hit hard immediately while also handling opposing Calm Mind threats like Reuniclus and Suicune. Scald lets Raikou take on Ground-types like Krookodile, Mamoswine, and Rhyperior, as well as punish walls like Cyclizar and Umbreon with the chance to burn. Aura Sphere can be used to hit Normal- and Steel-types like Cyclizar and Hisuian Goodra; Substitute is an alternative that grants Raikou safety from status while setting up, protection from moves like Knock Off and Dragon Tail, and allows it to PP stall foes like Suicune with Pressure and Calm Mind. Leftovers allows Raikou to maintain health while attempting to setup and sweep, while Heavy-Duty Boots can be used instead to mitigate entry hazard chip damage. Tera Water removes the weakness to Ground and boosts the damage of Scald, which helps Raikou OHKO foes like Krookodile and Mamoswine, as well as OHKO Hippowdon at +1. Tera Dark can be used on Substitute sets to prevent Psychic Noise Reuniclus and Slowbro from disrupting Raikou while it sets up.
Calm Mind Raikou fits well on balance and bulky offense teams, using its great Speed and coverage moves to rack up boosts and threaten to sweep late-game. Status spreaders like Galarian Weezing and Umbreon are excellent teammates for Raikou; Galarian Weezing can establish Toxic Spikes to spread poison or use Will-O-Wisp to burn physical attackers like Bisharp and Slither Wing, as well as check foes like Krookodile and Galarian Zapdos, while Umbreon can use Toxic to wear down foes like Cresselia and opposing Umbreon. Stealth Rock setters like Krookodile and Rhyperior can help break through Raikou's checks, like Alolan Muk and Hisuian Goodra, as can wallbreaker teammates like Basculegion-F and Hisuian Zoroark, which also offer pivot support. Gastrodon is a notable Raikou counter, being immune to Thunderbolt and using Storm Drain to absorb Raikou's Scald, so teammates like Amoonguss and Breloom that can threaten it are much appreciated. Cresselia and Gardevoir are great teammates as well, offering to restore its HP with Lunar Dance and Healing Wish, respectively, to give Raikou a second chance at a setup sweep.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/machjacob.555741/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sneakyplanner.598717/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
Last edited:
