Competitive Information for Raichu [Sword/Shield]
Electric
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Raichu? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
IncineroarTogekissGyaradosMiloticConkeldurrDusclopsPrimarinaBlastoiseShiinoticJellicent
Raichu is pretty popular Electric-typed Pokemon. It's common to see Raichu show up as a Sword/Shield opponent. Raichu's only type-related weakness is Ground.
Item: Focus Sash / Assault Vest
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Tackle
- Volt Switch / Eerie Impulse
- Fake Out
- Helping Hand
Special Sweeper Raichu (Popular/Trending)
Raichu is an astounding Special Sweeper. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Lightning Rod, Raichu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. atk by 1; electric immunity.
♦ Volt Switch is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Electric-type move (Raichu switches out after damaging the target).
♦ Eerie Impulse is a status move (lowers the target's special attack by 2 stages).
♦ Fake Out is a physical priority-increased 40-base power Normal-type move (hits first. first turn out only. 100% flinch chance).
♦ Helping Hand is a status move (one adjacent ally's move power is 1.5x this turn).
Item: Focus Sash / Assault Vest
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Brick Break
- Fake Out
- Nuzzle / Volt Tackle
- Helping Hand
Physical Sweeper Raichu (Popular/Trending)
Raichu is a remarkable Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Lightning Rod, Raichu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. atk by 1; electric immunity.
♦ Fake Out is a physical priority-increased 40-base power Normal-type move (hits first. first turn out only. 100% flinch chance).
♦ Nuzzle is a physical STAB-boosted 20-base power Electric-type move (100% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Volt Tackle is a physical STAB-boosted 120-base power Electric-type move (has 33% recoil. 10% chance to paralyze target).
♦ Helping Hand is a status move (one adjacent ally's move power is 1.5x this turn).
Item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Tackle / Wild Charge
- Body Slam
- Play Rough
- Brick Break
Physical Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is an awesome Physical Sweeper. It's designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Raichu's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Lightning Rod, Raichu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. atk by 1; electric immunity.
♦ Wild Charge is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (has 1/4 recoil).
♦ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Play Rough is a physical 90-base power Fairy-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
Item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Surf
- Hyper Beam / Round
- Draining Kiss
Special Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is pretty popular Special Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Raichu's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Lightning Rod, Raichu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. atk by 1; electric immunity.
♦ Discharge is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze adjacent pokemon).
♦ Surf is a special 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. double damage on dive).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Raichu cannot move next turn).
♦ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
♦ Draining Kiss is a special 50-base power Fairy-type move (Raichu recovers 75% of the damage dealt).
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Switch
- Grass Knot
- Focus Blast
- Thunderbolt
Raichu Special Sweeper (Love Song)
Raichu is popular Special Sweeper. It is designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Choice Scarf will increase Raichu's speed by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Lightning Rod, Raichu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. atk by 1; electric immunity.
♦ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
♦ Focus Blast is a special 120-base power Fighting-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
Item: Zap Plate
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Serious
EVs: 80 Hp / 96 Atk / 76 Def / 92 SpA / 72 SpD / 92 Spe
Moveset:
- Brick Break
- Iron Tail
- Sleep Talk / Facade
- Thunderbolt / Thunder Punch
Raichu Mixed Tank (Surge)
Raichu is an awesome Mixed Tank. With Lightning Rod, Raichu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. atk by 1; electric immunity. Facade's damage doubles when the user has a status affliction.
♦ Iron Tail is a physical 100-base power Steel-type move (30% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Sleep Talk is a status move (Raichu must be asleep. uses another known move).
♦ Facade is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if Raichu is burn/poison/paralyzed).
♦ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Thunder Punch is a physical STAB-boosted 75-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Raichu? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
IncineroarTogekissGyaradosMiloticConkeldurrDusclopsPrimarinaBlastoiseShiinoticJellicent
Item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Tackle / Wild Charge
- Brutal Swing
- Body Slam
- Play Rough
Doubles Physical Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is a spectacular Physical Sweeper. It's meant to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Raichu's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Lightning Rod, Raichu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. atk by 1; electric immunity.
♦ Wild Charge is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (has 1/4 recoil).
♦ Brutal Swing is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (no additional effect. hits adjacent pokemon).
♦ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
♦ Play Rough is a physical 90-base power Fairy-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
Item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Discharge / Electroweb
- Surf
- Hyper Beam / Round
- Draining Kiss
Doubles Special Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is an astounding Special Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Life Orb boosts the power of Raichu's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Lightning Rod, Raichu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. atk by 1; electric immunity.
♦ Electroweb is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Electric-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
♦ Surf is a special 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. double damage on dive).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Raichu cannot move next turn).
♦ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
♦ Draining Kiss is a special 50-base power Fairy-type move (Raichu recovers 75% of the damage dealt).
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Raichu learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Raichu can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Raichu
- Moves: Rain dance + Thunder
- Moves: Endure + Flail
- Moves: Endure + Reversal
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Quick Attack, Endure, Protect, Fake Out, Helping Hand, Feint
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
Create a build
Have an idea in mind for Raichu that you'd like to test? Customize the IVs, EVs and their Sword/Shield moveset. This area allows you to examine the typing coverages of selected moves and stat variances.
This feature is currently in the final stages of development.