[SET]
name: Terrain Sweeper (Electric)
move 1: Rising Voltage
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Grass Knot / Nasty Plot
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Surge Surfer
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Alolan Raichu is one of the best ways for Electric teams to handle fast threats thanks to Surge Surfer, outspeeding the entire metagame under Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain. Rising Voltage's power is significantly boosted under Electric Terrain, letting Alolan Raichu break past foes that don't resist it or are not specially bulky and be an effective sweeper as well. Psychic is useful for hitting notable Fighting- and Poison-type threats to Electric teams such as Kommo-o, Mega Venusaur, and Nidoking. Grass Knot provides important coverage for Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Gastrodon, Swampert, and Seismitoad. Nasty Plot is an option over Grass Knot if a teammate like Rotom-C already has Grass-type coverage, allowing Alolan Raichu to set up on foes it can force out like Pelipper, Toxapex, and Celesteela, making it a sufficient wallbreaker as well. Focus Blast can KO many important targets including Hydreigon, Excadrill, Tyranitar, Diggersby, and Ferrothorn after chip damage. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Alolan Raichu to outspeed Keldeo, Alolan Ninetales, and Landorus outside of Electric Terrain. A Modest nature can be used instead to increase damage output while still being very fast under Electric Terrain. Life Orb is used to increase Alolan Raichu's otherwise underwhelming damage output so it can sweep better. Alolan Raichu is very frail, so it should generally avoid switching in recklessly after Electric Terrain has been set up and instead come in safely from teammates' pivoting.
Tapu Koko is needed in order to set Electric Terrain for Alolan Raichu so it can clean teams or weaken foes. It also provides an immunity against Dragon-type moves from foes like Garchomp, Latios, and Mega Altaria, and it can beat problematic Dark-types like Urshifu-S and Bisharp thanks to its STAB Dazzling Gleam. Zeraora can deal with specially defensive walls such as Blissey and Celebi that Alolan Raichu struggles with. Alolan Golem and Magnezone can trap problematic Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Scizor with Magnet Pull and KO them. Alolan Golem is also able to set up Stealth Rock to chip foes for Alolan Raichu. Tapu Koko, Rotom-W, Rotom-H, and Regieleki are able to pivot into Alolan Raichu with Volt Switch and weaken foes, giving it more opportunities to sweep. Bulky partners such as Zapdos and Rotom-W are able to take powerful attacks or priority moves for Alolan Raichu, provide support with Defog, and switch in on Ground-type attacks. However, Rotom-W has to be wary of Mold Breaker Excadrill. Additionally, Zapdos is able to check Tapu Bulu, which disrupts Electric Terrain and checks Alolan Raichu freely due to its typing.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Electric
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Psyshock is an option over Psychic to deal significantly more damage to Blissey, especially if Alolan Raichu is using Nasty Plot. Choice Specs may also be used to further increase Alolan Raichu's damage output and prevent any recoil damage from Life Orb, but being locked into a move is generally not worthwhile. Volt Switch can wear down foes and bring in other teammates safely, but dropping a coverage move like Grass Knot or Focus Blast leaves Alolan Raichu walled by more Pokemon. Hidden Power Ice can be used to OHKO Landorus-T, Landorus, and Gliscor.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
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**Priority Moves**: Priority moves like Extreme Speed, Ice Shard, and Fake Out from the likes of Dragonite, Zygarde-10%, Mamoswine, and Mega Lopunny are able to easily force out Alolan Raichu by taking advantage of its poor bulk.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Walls like Blissey, Alolan Muk, and Celebi are able to absorb attacks from Alolan Raichu and threaten it back. Alolan Muk is also able to punish Alolan Raichu for switching out with Pursuit.
**Electric-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that resist Electric-type moves such as Rillaboom, Celebi, Tapu Bulu, and Latias are able to take many hits from Rising Voltage, giving Alolan Raichu a difficult time to spam the move.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Quality checked by: [[Harpp, 320110], [Maple, 473171]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
