[OVERVIEW]
The ability to function as a setup sweeper, pivot, and screen supporter makes Raikou an easy fit on many team styles. In addition to its versatility, thanks to its pseudo-BoltBeam coverage and excellent Speed, Raikou can also check some of the top threats seen in the metagame such as Garchomp, Talonflame, and Mega Salamence. With Pressure and a reliable setup move in Calm Mind, Raikou beats defensive threats such as Rotom-W and Cresselia. Raikou not only has advantages over its fellow Electric-types, such as better defenses and not requiring a Mega slot, but also is a great check to other Electric-types, such as Thundurus and Zapdos. However, despite having a decent Special Attack, it lacks the firepower to OHKO Garchomp and Mega Salamence without the aid of Life Orb or Choice Specs, limiting its options. In a more physically oriented metagame such as Battle Spot Singles, Raikou's inferior physical bulk is also a problem, as Ground-type moves are so common even as coverage moves.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 220 HP / 36 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind increases Raikou's damage output, securing OHKOs on Garchomp and Mega Salamence after one boost. The Special Defense boost also lets Raikou muscle past threats that would otherwise wall it, such as defensive Zapdos, Cresselia, and Porygon2. Thunderbolt is Raikou's most powerful STAB move that has perfect accuracy under normal conditions. Hidden Power Ice completes Raikou's pseudo-BoltBeam coverage and hits most Ground-types that are immune to Thunderbolt. Substitute lets Raikou set up on defensive threats such as Cresselia and Porygon2 more effectively, avoiding nasty status such as Toxic, which would severely cripple it.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature should always be run with maximum investment in Speed, allowing Raikou to outspeed as many threats as possible. 236 Speed EVs is an option if you want to outspeed everything up to Mega Lucario, and 228 Speed EVs may be used if you only wish to outspeed Thundurus. Running 220 EVs in HP maximize Leftovers recovery, allowing Raikou to make more Substitutes. The rest of the EVs are allocated to Special Attack, letting Raikou have a chance to OHKO both Mega Salamence and Garchomp at +1. Running maximum Special Attack is also an option, having a chance to OHKO Landorus-T prior to boosting, but you lose the chance to potentially set up Substitute against Suicune's Scald. Leftovers is the best item on the set, offering crucial passive recovery as Raikou sets up Calm Mind behind Substitute. Pressure works in great in conjunction with Substitute, allowing Raikou to effectively stall out PP against more defensive threats such as Rotom-W and Ferrothorn.
Usage Tips
========
Calm Mind Raikou struggles with bulky offense teams, as they give very few to no opportunities for it to set up. Therefore, if you see teams with Mega Kangaskhan, Mamoswine, or Mega Mawile, it's better to leave out Raikou entirely. The best time to send out Raikou is mid- or late-game, as without any Calm Mind boosts, Hidden Power Ice and even Thunderbolt lack any real firepower. With that said, never stay in on any Ground-types, even Landorus-T, as the chance of a Choice Scarf, Assault Vest, or Focus Sash set is extremely high. As far as defensive threats go, don't try to set up Calm Mind or Substitute on Mega Sableye before it Mega Evolves, as priority Will-O-Wisp can badly hinder Raikou's chance of sweeping late-game. Substitute should always take priority over Calm Mind when you predict a switch, as it not only avoids taking a potential Toxic but also makes Raikou harder to revenge kill. While Choice Scarf Rotom-W is relatively uncommon, when dealing with Rotom-W, be wary of Trick; otherwise, using Substitute is the best option to try to fish for a miss from Hydro Pump before proceeding to set up.
Team Options
========
Raikou can set up on a lot of defensive threats that Mega Kangaskhan struggles with, such as Cresselia, Mega Sableye, and Porygon2. Raikou can also deal with the bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W, Suicune, and Slowbro, while Mega Kangaskhan can help Raikou eliminate bulky Fairy-types like Sylveon. In a similar fashion, Mega Salamence, being immune to Ground-types and having Intimidate to soften physical attacks while eliminating Fighting-types such as Assault Vest Conkeldurr, also forms a nice core with Raikou. In turn, Raikou can help Mega Salamence check Thundurus. Coincidently, Suicune and Raikou set up on each other's checks, with Suicune dealing with Ground-types such as Hippowdon and Mamoswine while Raikou can check Thundurus and Zapdos in return. Landorus-T helps Raikou check Mega Charizard X and Garchomp, both Pokemon that Raikou struggles to set up on, and can easily switch into Earthquakes aimed at Raikou. On more offensive teams, Greninja's superior coverage options to hit all Ground-types and even eliminate Dragonite through Multiscale are much appreciated, which will allow Raikou more chances to set up. Serperior can provide Glare support, which helps Raikou set up Substitute or Calm Mind, and also easily eliminate Hippowdon in the process. In turn, Raikou can help Serperior check Talonflame.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Shadow Ball / Extrasensory
item: Choice Specs
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch lets Raikou pivot out at will while doing decent damage thanks to Choice Specs. Thunderbolt is a powerful and reliable STAB move, 2HKOing specially defensive Thundurus and physically defensive Zapdos. Hidden Power Ice is by far the best coverage option Raikou has, which can OHKO threats such as Garchomp, Mega Salamence, and Landorus-T. Shadow Ball is the best move in the last slot, hitting Gengar, Aegislash, and Cresselia for more damage than any other move. Extrasensory can be used if 2HKOing Mega Venusaur is more important for your team while also having a slight, but unreliable, chance to flinch.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Speed with a Timid nature allows Raikou to take full advantage of its base 115 Speed, outspeeding crucial threats such as Thundurus, Serperior, and Mega Lucario and getting a Choice Specs-boosted attack in before they can retaliate. Special Attack is also maximized to hit as hard as possible, taking full advantage of Choice Specs. Though not important, the remaining EVs should be allocated to Special Defense, as due to the mechanics of Hidden Power, it's the only viable place where they'll increase Raikou stat by one. Choice Specs allows Raikou to outright OHKO Garchomp and Mega Salamence, both of which cannot be KOed without the item, while offering immediate firepower without the recoil damage from Life Orb.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Specs Raikou is immensely powerful, as Hidden Power Ice will OHKO most threats that are 4x weak to it, and Shadow Ball outright OHKOes Mega Gengar if you choose to use it. Unlike the Calm Mind set, Choice Specs Raikou struggles with defensive threats such as Cresselia and Porygon2, both of which can Toxic Raikou and outstall it with their reliable recovery. Try to avoid spamming Volt Switch early-game if there are opposing Ground-types present in Team Preview. When dealing with Gengar, Volt Switch is the safer option to avoid the Protect + Destiny Bond combination from Mega Gengar while also scouting for Focus Sash from non-Mega Gengar. Shadow Ball is the safer option in general, which can be used to 2HKO offensive variants of Mamoswine, a common switch-in for Raikou. If your team needs a solid switch-in to SwagPlay threats such as Klefki and Thundurus, Raikou is your best bet, as it's immune to Thunder Wave and its Thunderbolt is guaranteed to 2HKO both of them. Thunderbolt is great for late-game, once Ground-types have been removed or scouted for, 2HKOing Mega Kangaskhan. This Raikou may also directly switch into Suicune on a Calm Mind and still comfortably 2HKO it with Thunderbolt.
Team Options
========
Due to the nature of the set being locked into one move, Choice Band Scizor and Choice Specs Raikou form a very nice VoltTurn core. Scizor deals with all Fairy-types Raikou may have trouble with, like Sylveon, and Raikou can check the bulky Water-types, including Rotom-W and Suicune. To further complement this core, Choice Scarf Landorus-T checks Mega Charizard X, something that walls Raikou; provides a general, safe Earthquake switch-in; appreciates the aforementioned Water-types weakened and removed in return; and lastly is a nice part of the VoltTurn core with its own U-turn. Fighting-types such as Blaziken and Mega Heracross both enjoy the removal of bulky Water-types and Talonflame, and they also deal with Mamoswine for Raikou. Cloyster can pressure and set up on Ground-types such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon so that Raikou may freely spam Choice Specs-boosted Thunderbolt late-game, and in return, Raikou can check fast special attackers such as Thundurus, Mega Charizard Y, and Serperior for Cloyster. Finally, Azumarill checks both Mamoswine and Blaziken, while Raikou can check Slowbro, Thundurus, and Zapdos for Azumarill. Both Talonflame and Mega Salamence make great teammates due to Raikou's ability to take on troublesome Electric-types such as Thundurus and Zapdos.
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Light Clay
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Reflect softens the damage dealt by physical attacks, while Light Screen does the same to special attacks. When these screens are used together, they halve all incoming damage, allowing Raikou to set up even on Earthquake while making your entire team much harder to take down. Volt Switch lets Raikou pivot out once the screens are set up, dealing chip damage and breaking potential Focus Sashes for the next teammate. Hidden Power Ice is an important move in the last slot so that Raikou doesn't get walled by Ground-types that would otherwise potentially have free turns.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature with full investment in Speed allows Raikou to set up screens on as many threats as possible while also making it an effective scout for Choice Scarf users. Maximum HP allows Raikou to be bulky behind screens, gives it more chances to set up both screens before going down, and notably avoids a potential OHKO from Choice Band Garchomp while Raikou is behind Reflect. The remaining 4 EVs have little use and can be allocated to either Special Attack or Special Defense, since they won't have any value if allocated to Defense due to Hidden Power Ice mechanics. Light Clay boosts the duration of both screens from five turns to eight, letting your team benefit from them for potentially the whole match. Pressure is a great ability on a defensive Raikou set, effectively stalling out more of the foes' PP complemented by the extra bulk offered by the screens.
Usage Tips
========
Dual screens Raikou is typically used as a lead to get up screens as soon as possible. Raikou should be used against more offensive teams, as the pressure provided by screens can be a nightmare for opposing teams that rely on OHKOs, which turn to 2HKOs. Although they're uncommon, benching Raikou against stall-oriented teams is the best option, as most of these teams don't mind screens anyway, with Seismic Toss to break Substitute and Unaware users that won't mind your setup sweeper's boosts. Reflect holds priority over Light Screen when faced against Charizard, as Raikou struggles with Mega Charizard X more. Once the screens are up, Volt Switch should be used to preserve Raikou for another chance to set them up at a later point in the game and to get your setup sweepers in immediately.
Team Options
========
Setup sweepers with Intimidate such as Mega Salamence and Mega Gyarados are fantastic teammates for Raikou, being able to set up behind screens along with the reduced damage from Intimidate. Mega Salamence easily beats Fighting-types such as Breloom and Mega Heracross and appreciates Raikou's Volt Switch to break Focus Sash. Mega Gyarados can easily set up on Mamoswine, Hippowdon, and Mega Swampert, especially behind screens. Due to its bulk along with plenty of resistances and immunities, Aegislash can benefit from the screens greatly as a common user of Weakness Policy. A lot of these setup sweepers struggle with Thundurus due to Prankster and its great coverage, and Raikou can check it reliably. Mega Charizard X can use Raikou as a setup fodder; for this reason Landorus-T and Garchomp are great teammates that can both check it, while Garchomp can make use of the screens to set up itself. Frail sweepers such as Blaziken, which can easily beat Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, and opposing Raikou that take advantage of this Raikou's passiveness, also appreciate the reduced damage. While Raikou struggles to do anything to defensive threats, including Cresselia, Porygon2, and Mega Sableye, Suicune can easily set up Calm Mind on these threats while appreciating Raikou's ability to freely switch into Electric-types and set up screens.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb is a viable option over Choice Specs that allows the freedom to switch between moves while still netting key OHKOs against threats such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Mega Salamence. Focus Sash allows Raikou to scout for Choice Scarf Ground-types such as Garchomp and Landorus-T without sacrificing Raikou while being able to 2HKO these threats with Hidden Power Ice. Thunder Wave can be used on non-Choice sets to cripple bulky attackers like Mega Kangaskhan and neuter faster threats such as Mega Gengar and Blaziken, which is especially useful when paired with Focus Sash. Toxic alongside Protect can be run, which allows Raikou to beat defensive threats such as Cresselia, Porygon2, and Zapdos. However, a Pressure stall set is mostly outclassed by the Calm Mind set, as Raikou is forced to run mono-Electric as its only attacking option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Both Mamoswine and Hippowdon take very little from Raikou's coverage moves, due to Thick Fat and phenomenal bulk, respectively, while threatening to OHKO back with STAB Earthquake.
**Dragon-types**: Jolly Mega Salamence outspeeds Raikou and can OHKO it with Earthquake. Thanks to its ability Multiscale, Dragonite can set up a Dragon Dance on Raikou and proceed to OHKO it. Similarly, Mega Charizard and Mega Altaria survive Choice Specs Raikou's Hidden Power Ice and can OHKO in return at +1.
**Revenge Killers**: Although Garchomp and Landorus-T take 4x damage from Hidden Power Ice, both can easily revenge kill Raikou with Choice Scarf equipped. Blaziken outspeeds Raikou after one turn of Speed Boost and OHKOes it with Flare Blitz or High Jump Kick.
**Weather Sweepers**: Both Excadrill and Mega Swampert can outspeed Raikou in their respective weather conditions and easily OHKO it with STAB Earthquake. Even without weather, the two make solid answers due to Hidden Power Ice dealing only neutral damage.
**Special Walls**: Both Sylveon and Chansey sponge anything Raikou has due to their fantastic special bulk. While Sylveon's Hyper Voice hits through Substitute, Chansey can muscle past Calm Mind variants prior to setup.
**Bulky Attackers**: Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Mawile, and Mega Heracross can take a Thunderbolt even from Choice Specs Raikou while being able to OHKO in return with their STAB move of choice. Mega Kangaskhan and Mega Heracross are particularly dangerous, being able to break through Substitutes with their multi-hit attacks. Tyranitar comfortably takes Raikou's attacks in sand while being able to retaliate with a STAB move or Earthquake. Ferrothorn resists Raikou's STAB attacks while taking little from its coverage moves and can break Substitute with a Grass-type STAB move or can wear Raikou down with the combination of Leech Seed and Protect. Assault Vest Conkeldurr can eat up Raikou's attacks while using STAB Drain Punch to gain recovery.
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