Gen 5 Raikou [QC 0/2]

dingbat

snek
is a Top Tiering Contributor Alumnus
[OVERVIEW]

Raikou is a dangerous threat that separates itself from its main Electric-type counterpart in Zapdos through its own important qualities. Its fantastic base 115 Speed and Special Attack, good move coverage, and access to Calm Mind allow it to effectively perform various roles as a fast attacker that outspeeds a wide swath of the unboosted metagame. However, its mediocre physical defense leaves it vulnerable to strong Physical attackers, most of which can capably tank an attack and fire back. Additionally, one of its great coverage options in Aura Sphere is an event move that forces it to run Rash Nature, compromising its special defense and its ability to outspeed anything faster than base 100 Speed.

[SET]
name: Calm Mind Sweeper
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Substitute / Protect
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
Nature: Timid
Evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
-Calm Mind powers up Raikou’s own attacks while rendering it difficult to KO with Special moves.
-Thunderbolt is Raikou’s most reliable STAB attack.
-Hidden Power Ice provides fantastic coverage alongside Thunderbolt, allowing Raikou to effectively damage Roserade and Ground-Types.
-Hidden Power Grass can be used to KO Rhyperior and Swampert after a Calm Mind boost, but this leaves Raikou more vulnerable to threats like Druddigon and Nidoqueen.
-Substitute ensures that status spreaders like Togekiss don’t disrupt Raikou’s path to a sweep, while Protect allows it to scout out moves from revenge killers, as well as the aforementioned status spreaders.

Set Details
========
-This set is aimed at sweeping the opposing team with Calm Mind boosts.
-Leftovers racks up recovery alongside Substitute or Protect, boosting Raikou's longevity.
-A bulkier spread of 64 HP / 192 SpA / 252 Spe allows Raikou's Substitute to stay intact through a Sludge Bomb from support Roserade after a Calm Mind boost, at the cost of some power.
-Making Raikou shiny allows it to bluff Aura Sphere; not doing so immediately eliminates the possibility of it being run.


Team Options
========
-This operates best on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate a fast, dangerous sweeper.
-Flying-types and Pokemon with Levitate like Bronzong, Gligar, Zapdos, and Flygon help cover Raikou's sole typing weakness, with the former two also providing Stealth Rock support.
-Fighting-types like Mienshao and Heracross help wear down or eliminate Raikou’s strongest checks.
-Other entry hazard setters like Druddigon, Nidoqueen, and Roserade aid in a potential Calm Mind sweep; Roserade in particular is an exceptional Spike setter as it effectively threatens Raikou’s prominent Ground-type checks in Rhyperior and Swampert.

[SET]
name: Calm Mind Wallbreaker
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Extrasensory / Aura Sphere
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
Nature: Timid / Rash
Evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
-Calm Mind gives Raikou considerable wallbreaking power alongside Life Orb, allowing Thunderbolt to 2HKO specially defensive walls after a single boost.
-Hidden Power Grass allows Raikou to OHKO Swampert and Rhyperior after a single Calm Mind boost, while Hidden Power Ice nails Gligar and Flygon.
-Extrasensory deals strong damage to Roserade and Nidoqueen and pairs well with Hidden Power Grass, while Aura Sphere does considerable damage to Snorlax and pairs better with Hidden Power Ice.

Set Details
========
-This set takes advantage of Raikou’s good coverage moves to break through opposing teams.
-Life Orb boosts all of Raikou’s attacks at the cost of longevity, allowing Raikou to deal hefty chunks of damage even to specially defensive stalwarts like Snorlax, Umbreon, and Mew.
-Fighting Gem can be used to give Aura Sphere a one-time boost, severely damaging Snorlax after a Calm Mind boost.
-Reminder to always set Raikou to Shiny, regardless of if Aura Sphere is used.

Team Options
========
-This operates best on offense teams that appreciate Raikou blasting holes into opposing defensive cores.
-Flygon and Gligar are solid partners that offer Ground-type immunity and U-turn support.
-Other U-turn and Volt Switch users like Victini, Mienshao, and allow Raikou to come in more safely and wreak havoc.

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Extrasensory
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Volt Switch
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
Nature: Timid
Evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
-Thunderbolt heavily damages targets that fail to resist it.
-Extrasensory deals strong damage to Roserade, Nidoqueen, and Nidoking, 2HKOing the former’s Specially Defensive set.
-Hidden Power Ice KOs Gligar and Flygon and doubles as a valuable midground move against Roserade and the Nidos, while Hidden Power Grass OHKOs Defensive Swampert at full HP and KOs Rhyperior after minimal chip damage.
-Volt Switch creates offensive momentum while dealing respectable damage.

Set Details
========
-This set showcases Raikou’s raw power, with Choice Specs allowing Raikou to immediately power through its targets and 2HKO a vast swath of the tier.
-Keep Raikou shiny!!

Team Options
========
-Choice Specs Raikou works best on teams that appreciate its combination of power and ability to generate momentum.
-Teammates that can help eliminate Ground-types like Weavile, Roserade, and Kingdra allow Raikou to spam its Electric attacks more freely.
-Other U-turn and Volt Switch users like Mienshao, Flygon, and Cobalion create an effective VoltTurn core with Raikou.

[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Extrasensory
move 4: Volt Switch
Item: Magnet / Expert Belt
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
Nature: Timid
Evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
-Thunderbolt packs a surprising punch alongside either of its power boosting items.
-Hidden Power Grass nails Swampert and Rhyperior, while Hidden Power Ice nails Gligar and Flygon.
-Extrasensory deals significant damage to Poison-types, including Roserade and Nidoqueen.
-Volt Switch deals considerable chip damage and allows Raikou to pivot into its teammates.

Set Details
========
-This set allows Raikou to be a momentum generator, while taking advantage of its coverage to pick off weakened targets.
-Magnet bolsters Raikou's Electric-type attacks, while Expert Belt takes advantage of its good super-effective coverage, allowing Raikou to KO targets like Rhyperior and Roserade more easily.
-Reminder to set Raikou to Shiny.

Team Options
========
-Hazard setters like Rhyperior, Bronzong, Gligar, and Roserade help Raikou to maintain offensive pressure and chip through specially defensive walls like Snorlax, Mew, and Umbreon.
-Wallbreakers like Weavile, Heracross, and Kingdra appreciate having additional opportunities to come in and blast holes through foes.
-Blastoise is a solid partner, alleviating hazard damage for Raikou to switch in more often while directly threatening Ground-types.
-Other U-turn and Volt Switch users like Flygon and Victini are also solid options to create an effective VoltTurn core with Raikou.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
-Roar can also be used alongside its Calm Mind set or a RestTalk set to force extra hazard damage on its checks and invalidate opposing Calm Mind users.
-A Choice Scarf set allows Raikou to revenge kill all the other common Choice Scarf users, as well as Rain-boosted threats as fast as Modest Nature Kingdra. However it lacks in immediate power compared to the other Choice Scarf users.
-A Rain Dance set with Thunder, Hidden Power Ice/Weather Ball, and Roar can be utilized on Rain teams, although Weather Ball will force it to run Rash Nature.

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

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Rhyperior, Swampert, and Flygon neuter Raikou’s Electric-type attacks and can KO with their Ground-type moves, but all of them must be wary of Raikou’s coverage options.

**Snorlax**: Snorlax can stomach repeated Thunderbolts or unboosted Aura Spheres and heavily damage it back with Earthquake.

**Faster Physical attackers**: Weavile and Powerful Choice Scarf users like Heracross and Mienshao can easily revenge kill Raikou with their STAB attacks after minimal chip damage.

**Various forms of chip damage**: Raikou is susceptible to all forms of hazards, and status will cut Raikou’s sweep short.

[CREDITS]
- Previous analysis by: [[Santuga, id], [Demoness, id], [Calm Pokemaster, id]]
- Written by: [[dingbat, id]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
 
Last edited:

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

Top