Competitive Information for Raichu [Sword/Shield]
Electric
Abilities:
Note: Pokemon with the Lightning Rod ability are immune to Electric attacks.
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.
Tapu FiniCelesteelaIncineroarUrshifuMoltres-GalarRillaboomKartanaTornadusStakatakaWhimsicott
Raichu is an interesting Electric-typed Pokemon. It's not-uncommon to find yourself dealing with Raichu when battling in the 8th generation meta. Raichu's only type-related weakness is Ground.
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
Special Sweeper Raichu (Popular/Trending)
Raichu is a stupendous Special Sweeper. It is meant 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. 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).
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
Physical Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is an interesting 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. 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).
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
- Hyper Beam / Round
- Draining Kiss
Special Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is a remarkable 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. 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).
♦ 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
IVs: 0 Atk |
Moveset:
- Volt Switch
- Grass Knot
- Focus Blast
- Thunderbolt
Raichu Special Sweeper (Love Song)
Raichu is popular Special Sweeper. It's 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: 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 Mixed Tank (Surge)
Raichu is an astounding 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.
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
Doubles Special Sweeper Raichu (Popular VGC)
Raichu is a sensational Special Sweeper. This particular build was popular during earlier competitions. It was designed 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.
♦ 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).
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
Doubles Physical Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is a stupendous Physical Sweeper. It tries 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. 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).
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
- Hyper Beam / Round
- Draining Kiss
Doubles Special Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is pretty popular Special Sweeper. It attempts 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. 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).
♦ 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.
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
- 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: Zap Cannon
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Dynamic Punch
- Moves with Priority: Quick Attack, Detect, Endure, Protect, Extreme Speed, Fake Out, Follow Me, Helping Hand, Feint
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
Most notable and possible best moves for Raichu
- Brutal Swing
- Charm
- Eerie Impulse
- Electroweb
- Fake Out
- Feint
- Helping Hand
- Nuzzle
- Protect
- Reflect
- Speed Swap
- Thunderbolt
- 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 EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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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