QC: Megazard, Anty, RaizaGP: Mr. Uncompetitive, Snobalt
[OVERVIEW]
Raichu is a decent wallbreaker with access to Nasty Plot, good coverage, and a high Special Attack. Raichu has excellent Speed that lets it outrun the majority of the PU tier, allowing it to revenge kill and clean up while still being able to wallbreak. Raichu is also good at taking advantage of forced switches by pivoting with Volt Switch or setting up with Nasty Plot. Raichu faces a lot of competition from the faster Zebstrika and Electrode, but it has the advantages of hitting harder and having access to Nasty Plot. It also faces competition with Electabuzz, which is bulkier, but Raichu is a little faster and has Nasty Plot. Finally, Raichu is very frail, meaning that it is easily revenge killed and has a hard time setting up.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Lightningrod
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot greatly increases Raichu's power and allows it to break through bulky teams. Thunderbolt is Raichu's best STAB move with its good power and no drawbacks. Focus Blast gives Raichu good coverage and hits Pokemon like Audino and Regice, while Hidden Power Ice does good damage to Grass-types and Ground-types, such as Gourgeist-XL and Stunfisk. Surf is a viable option instead of Focus Blast to hit Stunfisk, Golem, and Solrock harder while still hitting Probopass decently hard; however, Raichu loses a lot of coverage and wallbreaking potential and is forced to run Static.
Set Details
========
The given EVs maximize Raichu's good Speed and Special Attack. A Timid nature is used instead of a Modest nature to let Raichu to Speed tie with Jumpluff and outspeed everything slower such as Simipour, Ninetales, and Dodrio. Lightningrod can boost Raichu's Special Attack while also giving Raichu an immunity to Electric-type moves. Life Orb increases Raichu's damage so that it can wallbreak more easily.
Usage Tips
========
Raichu's primary focus should be to wallbreak mid-game; however, Nasty Plot should only be used against bulkier Pokemon such as specially defensive Clefairy and Grumpig, as the extra power is needed to damage them enough for a KO. Late-game cleaning is possible against slower teams once they have been softened up enough. Raichu's nice Speed tier also lets it revenge kill Pokemon like as Stoutland, Simipour, and Rapidash. Nasty Plot can be used on forced switches. Raichu should never be switched in directly because it is so frail. Priority move users, such as Dodrio and Pawniard, and Choice Scarf users, such as Simipour and Sawsbuck, are important to take out because many of their attacks can KO Raichu. In addition, Raichu should be wary of switching into Electric-type attacks because it can be severely crippled by a mispredicted move.
Team Options
========
Water-types such as Floatzel and Simipour and Flying-types such as Dodrio appreciate Raichu's immunity to Electric, which also stops Volt Switch, while they can get rid of Ground- and Grass-types, respectively, for it. Fire-types such as Simisear and Monferno can KO Grass-types in exchange for Raichu KOing the majority of Water-types for them. Entry hazard setters such as Roselia and Metang make Raichu's job of wallbreaking easier by weakening the opponent's Pokemon. For example, one layer of Spikes or Stealth Rock will ensure the OHKO on Regice with a +2 Focus Blast. Entry hazard removal from the likes of Pelipper and Swanna makes it easier for Raichu to switch in. Slow Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Probopass and Vibrava can give Raichu free switches. Mr. Mime and Clefairy can use Healing Wish to let Raichu have a second chance at wallbreaking or cleaning. Roselia lures such as Knock Off Tangela, Knock Off Simipour, and Choice Band Floatzel can weaken or KO Roselia so that it can't check Raichu.
[SET]
name: All-Out-Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Surf
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Life Orb
ability: Static
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch lets Raichu pivot and gain momentum on an obvious switch or an unfavorable matchup. Thunderbolt is a powerful STAB move for Raichu to use when staying in. Surf is Raichu's main coverage move and hits Rock- and Ground-types, such as Camerupt and Stunfisk, much harder than any other move. Hidden Power Ice is a secondary coverage move that hits Grass-types, such as Gourgeist-XL and Jumpluff.
Set Details
========
Life Orb gives Raichu more power to be a more threatening cleaner. Maximum Special Attack investment boosts Raichu's already good Special Attack, while maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature lets it outspeed fast Pokemon such as Simisear and Simisage. Static must be Raichu's ability because Lightningrod is incompatible with Surf.
Usage Tips
========
In the early-game, Raichu will be using Volt Switch to pivot out of and wear down its counters such as Clefairy and Grumpig to weaken them. As the match goes on, Raichu can be used as both a revenge killer and a late-game cleaner. Raichu is too frail to come in on direct hits, so the best option is to come in on a teammate's slow Volt Switch, U-turn, or after a teammate faints. Ground-types and Lightningrod users need to be weakened enough so that Raichu can take them out by itself, as otherwise, Raichu can't use Volt Switch and Thunderbolt safely.
Team Options
========
Raichu should be paired with Water-types, such as Floatzel and Simipour, because they can easily get rid of Ground-types. Flying-types such as Dodrio and Chatot can KO Grass-types that resist Raichu's STAB moves. Fire-types such as Monferno and Simisear can also take out Grass-types for Raichu, while Raichu can take out Water-types for them in return. Defoggers such as Swanna and Pelipper can clear the field of entry hazard, which is important because Raichu already takes so much residual damage from Life Orb. Ninjask and other U-turn users can make a nice VoltTurn core with Raichu, and some slower users of pivoting moves can be used so that Raichu can have an easy time switching in. Knock Off users such as Machoke and Simisage can remove Eviolite and Leftovers from foes so that Raichu has an easier time weakening them with Volt Switch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Scarf lets Raichu outspeeds the entire unboosted tier, as well as many Choice Scarf Pokemon in PU, helping it land surprise KOs on fast Pokemon such as Floatzel and Ninjask, but Raichu loses a lot of power by forgoing Life Orb, making it quite underwhelming at times. Raichu also faces competition from Electabuzz as an Electric-type Choice Scarf user, although Raichu has the advantage of outspeeding Stoutland in the sand. Choice Specs is also a usable item for more power than Life Orb, but getting locked into one move is horrible for Raichu and not worth the extra power. Choice Band Raichu can be used due to its access to priority in the form of Extreme Speed, strong Electric-type STAB moves in Volt Tackle and Wild Charge, and Knock Off. However, Raichu can't use Volt Tackle in conjunction with Extreme Speed, both of which are crucial moves for physical Raichu. Knock Off instead of a coverage move can be used to remove Eviolite from Pokemon like Roselia, Clefairy, and Machoke that try to switch in. Encore can also be used to lock the foe into an ineffective move such as an Electric-type attack. Finally, Substitute is an option for the Nasty Plot set and can be used alongside Salac Berry instead of Life Orb to increase Raichu's Speed after setting up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types such as Golem and Camerupt completely shut down Raichu's STAB moves, simultaneously preventing it from escaping with Volt Switch. Stunfisk needs to be extremely weakened for Hidden Power Ice or Surf to KO it.
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types such as Roselia, Gogoat, and Gourgeist-XL all give Raichu trouble by taking little damage from its STAB attacks. Hidden Power Ice doesn't do enough to KO them unless they are severally weakened. Roselia in particular is the best check to Raichu because of its high special bulk.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Raichu has trouble breaking through specially defensive Pokemon, such as Grumpig and Audino, until it gets enough Nasty Plot boosts. These Pokemon can also KO Raichu or in Audino's case possibly Encore it into Nasty Plot.
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Floatzel and Zebstrika can greatly damage or KO Raichu because of its frailness. Any viable Choice Scarf users, notably Simipour and Mr. Mime, can outspeed and KO Raichu once it is weakened.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards, status conditions, and Life Orb recoil can quickly weaken Raichu until it can't switch in or use a move without getting KOed.
**Priority Attackers**: Priority moves such as Pawniard's Sucker Punch and Monferno's Mach Punch can easily revenge kill a weakened Raichu due to its frailness and its own lack of priority. Murkrow is notable in that it can OHKO Raichu with Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock damage.
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