Competitive Information for Raikou [Sword/Shield]
Electric
Abilities:
This Pokemon cannot be made to flinch. Immune to Intimidate.
If this Pokemon is the target of a foe's move, that move loses one additional PP.
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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Raikou? 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!
IncineroarRillaboomLandorus-TherianCelesteelaMiloticUrshifuTapu FiniMetagrossDusclopsGlastrier
Meet Raikou, a sensational Pokémon ready to dominate with its Electric typing! It's to see Raikou show up as a Sword/Shield opponent. Its only type-related weakness is Ground. Explore the movesets below to see how Raikou performs in battles.
Item: Sitrus Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 44 Hp / 252 SpA / 212 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Rising Voltage
- Scald
- Snarl
- Protect / Weather Ball
Ready for single battles? Raikou is a legendary Special Sweeper. It attempts to overwhelm foes with forceful special attacks. The Sitrus Berry will restore 1/4th of Raikou's max HP when it reaches below half health and gets consumed. Life Orb boosts the power of Raikou's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Inner Focus, Raikou cannot be made to flinch. Immune to intimidate.
◆ Rising Voltage is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Electric-type move (2x power if target is grounded in electric terrain).
◆ Scald is a special 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
◆ Snarl is a special 55-base power Dark-type move (100% chance to lower the foes special attack by 1 stage).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Raikou this turn).
◆ Weather Ball is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (power doubles and type varies in each weather).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/maaf3
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 116 Hp / 16 Def / 252 SpA / 124 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Extrasensory
- Scald
- Shadow Ball
Raikou excels as a heroic Special Sweeper during single battles. The purpose of this moveset is to crush rivals using destructive special power. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Raikou's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Raikou's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Pressure, if Raikou is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp.
◆ Discharge is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze adjacent pokemon).
◆ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Scald is a special 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
◆ Shadow Ball is a special 80-base power Ghost-type move (20% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mbaf3
Item: Expert Belt
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Volt Switch
- Extrasensory
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
In single battles, Raikou's Special Sweeper role is a celebrated. The main aim of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with potent special attacks. Expert Belt boosts the damage of Raikou's super effective moves by 20%. With Pressure, if Raikou is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp.
◆ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Shadow Ball is a special 80-base power Ghost-type move (20% 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).
◆ Discharge is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze adjacent pokemon).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mcaf3
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Raikou? 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!
IncineroarRillaboomLandorus-TherianCelesteelaMiloticUrshifuTapu FiniMetagrossDusclopsGlastrier
Item: Throat Spray / Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 116 Hp / 16 Def / 252 SpA / 124 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Discharge / Thunderbolt
- Snarl
- Extrasensory
- Scald
Prepare for double battles with Raikou as a celebrated Special Sweeper. This moveset was constructed to take down the opponent's team with overwhelming special power. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Snarl) and raises Raikou's special attack stat by 2 stages. Life Orb boosts the power of Raikou's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Pressure, if Raikou is the target of a foe's move that move loses one additional pp.
◆ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Snarl is a special 55-base power Dark-type move (100% chance to lower the foes special attack by 1 stage).
◆ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Scald is a special 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/naaf3
Movepool
Want to know what moves Raikou 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 Raikou.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Raikou 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 Raikou
- Moves: Swagger + Psych up
- Moves: Rain dance + Thunder
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Zap Cannon
- Moves with Priority: Detect, Endure, Helping Hand, Protect, Extreme Speed, Quick Attack
- Moves that inflict status: Scald, Thunder Wave, Toxic
Moves that boost Raikou's stats
- Agility
- Calm Mind
- Charge
- Charge Beam
- Curse
- Howl
Most notable and possible best moves for Raikou
- Aura Sphere
- Bulldoze
- Eerie Impulse
- Howl
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Rising Voltage
- Scald
- Snarl
- Thunder
- Thunderbolt
- Toxic
- Volt Switch
- Weather Ball
Common Effort Values for Raikou in Sword and Shield
- Timid Nature ( 44/0/0/252/0/212 )
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/4/252 )
- Optimize Raikou'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 Raikou. Top rated Raikou Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Raikou builds Sword/Shield. Raikou movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Raikou Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Raikou in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution