Competitive Information for Raichu [Sword/Shield]
Electric
Abilities:
This Pokemon draws Electric moves to itself to raise Sp. Atk by 1; Electric immunity.
30% chance a Pokemon making contact with this Pokemon will be paralyzed.
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Note: Pokemon with the Lightning Rod ability are immune to Electric attacks.
Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Raichu? These builds are optimized for Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the Sword/Shield metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Tapu FiniCelesteelaIncineroarUrshifuMoltres-GalarRillaboomKartanaTornadusStakatakaWhimsicott
Say hello to Raichu, an awesome Pokémon that excels with Electric typing! It's to see Raichu show up as a Sword/Shield opponent. Its only type-related weakness is Ground. Explore the movesets below to see how Raichu performs in battles.
Item: Focus Sash / Air Balloon
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Volt Switch / Electroweb
- Charm
- Eerie Impulse
- Speed Swap
When it comes to single battles, Raichu shines as a first-rate Special Sweeper. It is designed to take down the opponent's team with intense special power. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Air Balloon makes the holder ungrounded, which means Raichu is immune to Ground-type moves until the balloon pops when hit by a damaging move. 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).
◆ Charm is a status move (lowers the target's attack by 2 stages).
◆ Eerie Impulse is a status move (lowers the target's special attack by 2 stages).
◆ Speed Swap is a status move (swaps speed stat with target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/maa1a
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 64 Hp / 252 Atk / 28 Def / 164 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Tackle / Wild Charge
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Knock Off / Thief
- Play Rough
Raichu is a renowned Physical Sweeper to use for single battles. This build is crafted to crush rivals using destructive physical moves. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Raichu's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. 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).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Knock Off is a physical 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Thief is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Raichu has no item, it steals the target's).
◆ Play Rough is a physical 90-base power Fairy-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mba1a
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 64 Hp / 28 Def / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Surf
- Grass Knot
- Hyper Beam / Round
For those intense single battles, Raichu is a phenomenal Special Sweeper. It attempts to take down the opponent's team with powerful special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Raichu's special moves 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.
◆ 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).
◆ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
◆ 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mca1a
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Volt Switch
- Grass Knot
- Focus Blast
- Thunderbolt
Taking on single battles? Raichu is a stupendous Special Sweeper. It attempts to take down the opponent's team with overwhelming special moves. 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mda1a
Item: Magnet
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 is an exquisite Mixed Tank to use for single battles. 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. With a Magnet equipped to it, Raichu's electric-type attacks have 1.2x power.
◆ 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mea1a
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Raichu? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive Sword/Shield Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the Sword/Shield metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Tapu FiniCelesteelaIncineroarUrshifuMoltres-GalarRillaboomKartanaTornadusStakatakaWhimsicott
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Nuzzle
- Electroweb
- Helping Hand
- Fake Out
Raichu proves to be an outstanding Special Sweeper for double battles. In former tournaments, this build was a go-to choice. This build is crafted to take down the opponent's team with heavy-hitting 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.
◆ Electroweb is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Electric-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Helping Hand is a status move (one adjacent ally's move power is 1.5x this turn).
◆ Fake Out is a physical priority-increased 40-base power Normal-type move (hits first. First turn out only. 100% flinch chance).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/naa1a
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 64 Hp / 252 Atk / 28 Def / 164 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Tackle / Wild Charge
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Knock Off / Brutal Swing
- Play Rough
Prepare for double battles with Raichu as a decent Physical Sweeper. This moveset is formulated to overwhelm foes with devastating physical moves. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Raichu's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. 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).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Knock Off is a physical 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Brutal Swing is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent pokemon).
◆ Play Rough is a physical 90-base power Fairy-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/nba1a
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 64 Hp / 28 Def / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Discharge / Electroweb
- Surf
- Grass Knot
- Hyper Beam / Round
For double battles, Raichu is a magnificent Special Sweeper. This moveset focuses to take down the opponent's team with forceful special moves. Focus Sash helps protect Raichu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Raichu's special moves 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.
◆ 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).
◆ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
◆ 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/nca1a
Movepool
Want to know what moves Raichu can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon Sword/Shield generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Raichu.
Damage Modifiers:
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: Defense curl + Rollout
- Moves: Rain dance + Thunder
- Moves: Endure + Flail
- Moves: Endure + Reversal
- Moves: Endure + Endeavor
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Substitute + Reversal
- Moves: Yawn + Protect
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Endeavor + Item: Focus Sash
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Dynamic Punch
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Zap Cannon
- Moves with Priority: Detect, Endure, Follow Me, Helping Hand, Protect, Extreme Speed, Fake Out, Feint, Quick Attack
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Yawn, Thunder Wave, Toxic
Moves that boost Raichu's stats
- Agility
- Calm Mind
- Charge
- Charge Beam
- Curse
- Defense Curl
- Nasty Plot
- Skull Bash
Most notable and possible best moves for Raichu
- Brutal Swing
- Charm
- Eerie Impulse
- Electroweb
- Fake Out
- Feint
- Helping Hand
- Knock Off
- Light Screen
- Nuzzle
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Speed Swap
- Thunderbolt
- Toxic
- Volt Switch
- Volt Tackle
Common Effort Values for Raichu in Sword and Shield
- Timid Nature ( 252/0/4/0/0/252 )
- Timid Nature ( 4/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Raichu's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.
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Here are the best movesets for Raichu. Top rated Raichu Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Raichu builds Sword/Shield. Raichu movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Raichu Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Raichu in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution