Competitive Information for Raikou [Sword/Shield]
Electric
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Raikou? 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.
IncineroarRillaboomLandorus-TherianCelesteelaMiloticUrshifuTapu FiniMetagrossDusclopsGlastrier
Raikou is a notable Electric-typed Pokemon. Raikou are common Pokemon to see in the SS metagame. Raikou's only type-related weakness is Ground.
Item: Sitrus Berry / Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 44 Hp / 252 SpA / 212 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Rising Voltage
- Scald
- Snarl
- Protect / Weather Ball
Special Sweeper Raikou (Popular/Trending)
Raikou is a legendary Special Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. 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).
Item: Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 116 Hp / 16 Def / 252 SpA / 124 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Weather Ball / Hyper Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Extrasensory
Special Sweeper Raikou (Pressure)
Raikou is a legendary Special Sweeper. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. 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).
♦ Weather Ball is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (power doubles and type varies in each weather).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Raikou cannot move next turn).
♦ Shadow Ball is a special 80-base power Ghost-type move (20% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Extrasensory is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to flinch the target).
Item: Expert Belt
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Switch
- Extrasensory
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
Raikou Special Sweeper (Much Flee)
Raikou is a legendary Special Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. 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 flinch the target).
♦ 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).
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Raikou? 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.
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
Moveset:
- Discharge / Thunderbolt
- Snarl
- Weather Ball / Hyper Beam
- Shadow Ball
Doubles Special Sweeper Raikou (Pressure)
Raikou is a legendary Special Sweeper. It tries to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Snarl) and boosts 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).
♦ Weather Ball is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (power doubles and type varies in each weather).
♦ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Raikou cannot move next turn).
♦ Shadow Ball is a special 80-base power Ghost-type move (20% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Raikou 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 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
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Zap Cannon
- Moves with Priority: Quick Attack, Detect, Endure, Protect, Extreme Speed, Helping Hand
Most notable and possible best moves for Raikou
- Aura Sphere
- Bulldoze
- Eerie Impulse
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rising Voltage
- Scald
- Snarl
- Thunder
- Thunderbolt
- 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 EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
Here are various how-to-use and competitive moveset analysis video guides for Raikou in Sword/Shield. These featured videos will most likely contain additional strategies and combos not listed on our site. Disclaimer: All videos belong to their respective owners along with the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the videos. They belong solely to the author and not to us.
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