Competitive Information for Raichu [X/Y]
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 X/Y 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 X/Y generation metagame.
Raichu is an interesting Electric-typed Pokemon. It's pretty standard to see Raichu show up as a X/Y opponent. Raichu's only type-related weakness is Ground.
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 / Return
- Knock Off / Thief
- Brick Break / Seismic Toss
Physical Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is an extraordinary Physical Sweeper. It is 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. 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).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ 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).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
♦ Seismic Toss is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (does damage equal to your Raichu's level).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs10a1a
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 64 Hp / 28 Def / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Surf
- Signal Beam
- Hyper Beam / Round
Special Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is a phenomenal 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. 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).
♦ Signal Beam is a special 75-base power Bug-type move (10% chance to confuse 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/gs11a1a
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 a decent Special Sweeper. It is primarily 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs12a1a
Item: Zap Plate
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Serious
EVs: 80 Hp / 96 Atk / 76 Def / 92 SpA / 72 SpD / 92 Spe
Moveset:
- Brick Break / Signal Beam
- Iron Tail
- Sleep Talk / Facade
- Thunderbolt / Thunder Punch
Raichu Mixed Tank (Surge)
Raichu is a spectacular 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.
♦ Signal Beam is a special 75-base power Bug-type move (10% chance to confuse the target).
♦ 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/gs13a1a
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Raichu? These builds have been optimized for X/Y 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 X/Y generation metagame.
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 / Return
- Knock Off / Thief
- Brick Break / Seismic Toss
Doubles Physical Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is a phenomenal Physical Sweeper. It's purpose 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).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ 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).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
♦ Seismic Toss is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (does damage equal to your Raichu's level).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gd10a1a
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 64 Hp / 28 Def / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
Moveset:
- Discharge / Electroweb
- Surf
- Signal Beam
- Hyper Beam / Round
Doubles Special Sweeper Raichu (Lightning Rod)
Raichu is an outstanding Special Sweeper. This moveset 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).
♦ Signal Beam is a special 75-base power Bug-type move (10% chance to confuse 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/gd11a1a
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 X/Y. 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 XY 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
- Moves with Priority: Bide, Quick Attack, Endure, Protect, Extreme Speed, Fake Out, Follow Me, Helping Hand, Feint
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Thunder Wave, Toxic, Yawn
Moves that boost Raichu's stats
- Agility
- Charge
- Charge Beam
- Defense Curl
- Nasty Plot
Most notable and possible best moves for Raichu
- Fake Out
- Knock Off
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Rest
- Toxic
- Volt Switch
Common Effort Values for Raichu in X and Y
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Raichu's EV spread for Pokemon X and Y
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Raichu. Top rated Raichu X/Y movesets. You can find Raichu builds X/Y. Raichu movesets X/Y are listed here. VGC Raichu Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Raichu in X/Y along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution