Alolan Raichu Discussion

DHR-107

DHR-107

Robot from the Future
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Raichu
Electric/Psychic
Abilities: Surge Surfer
HP: 60
Atk: 85
Def: 50
SpAtk: 95
SpDef: 85
Spe: 110
Level Up

Start - Psychic
Start - Psychic
Start - Speed Swap
Start - Thunder Shock
Start - Tail Whip
Start - Quick Attack
Start - Thunderbolt

TMs

TM03 - Psyshock
TM04 - Calm Mind
TM06 - Toxic
TM10 - Hidden Power
TM15 - Hyper Beam
TM16 - Light Screen
TM17 - Protect
TM18 - Rain Dance
TM20 - Safeguard
TM21 - Frustration
TM24 - Thunderbolt
TM25 - Thunder
TM27 - Return
TM29 - Psychic
TM31 - Brick Break
TM32 - Double Team
TM33 - Reflect
TM42 - Facade
TM44 - Rest
TM45 - Attract
TM46 - Thief
TM48 - Round
TM49 - Echoed Voice
TM52 - Focus Blast
TM56 - Fling
TM57 - Charge Beam
TM68 - Giga Impact
TM72 - Volt Switch
TM73 - Thunder Wave
TM86 - Grass Knot
TM87 - Swagger
TM88 - Sleep Talk
TM90 - Substitute
TM93 - Wild Charge
TM100 - Confide

Egg moves

Egg - Reversal
Egg - Bide
Egg - Present
Egg - Encore
Egg - Double Slap
Egg - Wish
Egg - Charge
Egg - Fake Out
Egg - Thunder Punch
Egg - Tickle
Egg - Flail
Egg - Endure
Egg - Lucky Chant
Egg - Bestow
Egg - Disarming Voice
Egg - Electric Terrain

New Ability

Surge Surfer: Doubles the Pokemon's Speed stat on Electric Terrain.
 
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Pretty much what people expected, it'll have a solid niche as a super fast fakeout in VGC on Koko teams but isn't likely to make waves in OU.
 
Not much can be said about it.

Raichu-Alola @ Life Orb
Ability: Surge Surfer
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Electric Terrain
- Thunderbolt
- Psyshock / Psychic
- Grass Knot

Unfortunately, Alolan Raichu will lack Surf unless an event comes up, so it does not get a very reliable way to deal with Ground-type Pokemon.

With Electric Terrain giving it a Speed boost and increasing the damage of Thunderbolt by 50%, the other two moves are mostly filler. Psyshock is the stock move for things that are too specially bulky for even Electric Terrain Life Orb Thunderbolt to dent (although it seems Psyshock cannot even get a guaranteed 3HKO on Chansey, so Psychic could be used instead), and Grass Knot deals with Ground-type Pokemon. Modest nature because who needs Timid with Surge Surfer.

Can't really see it doing anything else in Singles.

At best, if using it alongside Tapu Koko, you can change Electric Terrain to Nasty Plot, but without the Terrain Extender, you'll not have many turns to sweep.
 
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The slight boost in SpA and SpD, Psychic STAB and Surge Surger are definitely nice. It doesn't have to rely on HP Ice to hit Ground type switches ins now and its speed doubles in Electric terrain. Sadly, unlike most weather sweepers, it isn't strong or durable enough to really be a huge threat even with Double Speed. It's pretty much never setting up a Nasty Plot so you can forget a +2/+2 sweep, and even if it does manage to pull it off its going to be picked off by priority super quickly. Still, outside of its obvious use in Doubles, I could see it being a decent choice in NU/PU possibly even RU. I doubt it'll function in OU, but Tapu Koko's always going to have its back, and I could see Electric Terrain teams becoming a thing.

Really should have shaved more points off attack to further bolster SpA and Speed, smh.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I forget about its signature Z move. It deals 175 damage and causes instant paralyses. I figure Z-move competition is going to be fierce, but if you can slot this in it could be decent. Electric is pretty easy to wall though, and you're killing your firepower (something Raichu can't afford due to its middling power).
 
Not getting Surf is quite surprising. Pichu getting Electric Terrain via egg moves is great news though. It can take advantage of its ability without relying on Tapu Koko, so it could actually be decent outside of VGC. Electric Terrain / Thunderbolt / Psyshock / Grass Knot or Focus Blast could be a decent cleaner in lower tiers. Its exclusive Z-Move is okay but I don't think I'd forgo Life Orb or another item for it.
 
Altough Tapu Koko is basically this mon BF the other Tapus also work well with it, so if Terrain becomes as huge as it seems it will be nice to have in almost every team in VGC.
 
I am thinking that it will be good to include regular Raichuu's stats as well to compare. Although there are not much to say since Raichuu himself isn't doing good in competitive game....

R: 60/85/50/95/85/110
A: 60/90/55/90/80/110
The differences is well... very small, although increase in SpA means it is inclined to specials too. At least she is a little more... decisive than the regular.

What I can see is her potential in Triples. At least I know I'll be using her when I am going to use possible E-terrain strategy in next Battle Tower.
 
Nasty Plot will be killer on this thing, as +2 Life Orb Psyshock is a 2HKO on Chansey. throw in Thunderbolt, and either Grass Knot, HP Ice, or Focus Blast for coverage, and you're set.

Oh, and I love how much it benefits from Electric, Psychic, and Grassy terrain. Beautiful synergy with the Tapus.
 
Not having Surf is a bummer, but it's definitely not the end of the world.

You can hit Electric resists pretty hard with Psychic, and I think that's Alolan Raichu's biggest advantage over mono Electric-types. While they have to make the hard read and predict an Electric-type resist, Alolan Raichu can just fire off its secondary Psychic STAB.

Come to think of it... if you brought a Surf Pikachu to Alola and made it evolve, would it turn into an Alolan Raichu...?
 
Raichu-A can wreck shit if its paired with Tapu Koko and gets a Nasty Plot off. It may be incredibly frail on the physical side and get murderd by sucker punch users but Psychic Stab allows it to hit ground types hard. Great design and better than its original form.
 
Would had appreciated more Sp.Atk for hitting harder initially. Setting A-Raichu probably gonna be a pain in the ass factoring in it's terrible bulk and the fact that most players are aware that Raichu commonly runs Nasty Plot. Without a boost, it's barely threatening to Pokes not weak to it's moves that have good special bulk.

Maybe SubPlot with STABs? Probably not optimal, especially since Krookdile is immune to both STABs. Though we don't know how relevant both pokes are gonna be this Gen. Though, A-Raichu doesn't look at a simple glance top tier material. At least, for singles.
 
This thing definitely has a niche in OU when paired with Tapu Koko. Base 110 speed + Electric Terrain gives it 50% stronger STAB Tbolt and doubled speed to outrun absolutely everything, including weather sweepers, +2 Dragon Dancers and +1 Pheromosa. Base 95 SpA is bad, but it's one of those rare special Electrics that have sufficient coverage to threaten almost every Electric resist and immunity in existence.

Alolan Raichu @ Life Orb
Ability: Surge Surfer
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Grass Knot

Modest vs Timid is a tough call. Modest makes many damage ranges a lot more bearable as seen in calcs below. However you miss out on +1 Pheromosa, +2 Xzard/Volcarona and speed ties with +2 M-Meta/M-Diancie while also becoming an easy target for base 98-110s once Electric Terrain is gone.

No Volt Switch because it should have plenty of teammates for momentum gain anyway. Its main role is sweeping a weakened opposing team and checking offensive threats that lack priority, so it wants all the coverage options it can get. Focus Blast for Ferro and Drill, HP Ice for Lando Gliscor and Garchomp, Grass Knot for Hippo and Ground/Waters. I don't buy Psychic STAB in OU, especially with ET-boosted Tbolts and lack of particularly relevant targets. I guess you could drop one coverage for either Psychic or Psyshock (can beat Chansey with knocked off Eviolite and a little chip damage) should Amoonguss or M-Venusaur become very popular, but you could just as well pack Brave Bird on Tapu Koko or use misc. checks and lures in your four other teamslots.
You could complete an Electric spam core with Xurkitree (Scarf with Tbolt/Vswitch/HPIce/EnergyBall, but Specs or Ebelt lures could also have their merits) with the other three slots used on gluemons capable of countering the vast array of priority attackers in the tier and serving as backup checks for electric resists. Should Xurkitree be banned to Ubers before Koko you could replace it with the next best thing like M-Manectric. Or just settle for two Electrics if you want a less onedimensional offensive team.

252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Aegislash-Shield in Electric Terrain: 157-187 (48.4 - 57.7%) -- 94.9% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 84+ SpD Clefable in Electric Terrain: 204-242 (51.7 - 61.4%) -- 95.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Mega Diancie in Electric Terrain: 230-270 (95.4 - 112%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 188+ SpD Heatran in Electric Terrain: 165-195 (42.7 - 50.5%) -- 45.3% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 240 HP / 0 SpD Mega Heracross in Electric Terrain: 214-253 (59.2 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 28 HP / 0 SpD Kingdra in Electric Terrain: 234-277 (78.5 - 92.9%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Lopunny in Electric Terrain: 231-274 (85.2 - 101.1%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 224+ SpD Mew in Electric Terrain: 165-195 (40.8 - 48.2%) -- 8.2% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-W in Electric Terrain: 212-251 (69.9 - 82.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 144+ SpD Mega Sableye in Electric Terrain: 160-188 (52.6 - 61.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 200 SpD Mega Scizor in Electric Terrain: 185-218 (53.9 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Thundurus in Electric Terrain: 269-317 (89.9 - 106%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Tyranitar: 149-177 (43.6 - 51.9%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 180+ SpD Zapdos in Electric Terrain: 185-218 (48.3 - 56.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 248 HP / 92 SpD Amoonguss: 146-172 (33.8 - 39.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Black Sludge recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 248 HP / 92 SpD Amoonguss: 322-382 (74.7 - 88.6%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard X: 152-179 (51.1 - 60.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 377-445 (104.4 - 123.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 203-239 (57.6 - 67.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Garchomp: 307-364 (85.9 - 101.9%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Garchomp: 172-203 (48.1 - 56.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 244 HP / 200+ SpD Gliscor: 244-291 (69.3 - 82.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 244 HP / 200+ SpD Gliscor: 136-161 (38.6 - 45.7%) -- 18.8% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 112 SpD Hippowdon: 302-356 (71.9 - 84.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 252 HP / 112 SpD Hippowdon: 169-200 (40.2 - 47.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kyurem-B: 291-343 (74.4 - 87.7%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kyurem-B: 164-192 (41.9 - 49.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 8 SpD Landorus-T: 322-380 (84.2 - 99.4%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 252 HP / 8 SpD Landorus-T: 177-211 (46.3 - 55.2%) -- 98.8% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 72 HP / 0 SpD Latias: 107-127 (33.5 - 39.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Mega Latias: 94-112 (25.8 - 30.7%) -- 10.2% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Latios: 122-146 (40.8 - 48.8%) -- 70.7% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Focus Blast vs. 168 HP / 0 SpD Magnezone: 291-343 (90 - 106.1%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Manectric in Electric Terrain: 134-159 (47.6 - 56.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 169-200 (55.7 - 66%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 374-445 (123.4 - 146.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Grass Knot (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Quagsire: 499-593 (126.6 - 150.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Quagsire: 211-250 (53.5 - 63.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Serperior: 138-164 (47.4 - 56.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Grass Knot (100 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Swampert: 411-484 (120.5 - 141.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Swampert: 138-164 (40.4 - 48%) -- 5.1% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Hidden Power Ice vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 99-117 (24.5 - 28.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 144 SpD Mega Venusaur in Electric Terrain: 84-100 (23.1 - 27.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Raichu Psychic vs. 248 HP / 144 SpD Mega Venusaur: 226-268 (62.2 - 73.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
 
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Should be able to find a home in UU I would think. An electric type with access to NP is going to see some use at least as long as UU remains the bulky water tier (which it probably will). Outclasses Raikou unless you're super desperate for Raikou's defensive bulk. Otherwise the late game super speed sweep sounds great too.
 
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