Introduction
I've been a fan of Substitute sets in general for a while now, using mons like Entei, Golurk, and Suicune to some success, and wanted to experiment with Raikou as I felt it had the tools to succeed in the current metagame. Moon made a post in the RU forum a while ago where he shared a set that was pretty similar to something I was using around that time and I've since optimized the spread a bit more to really take advantage of some of the recent developments in the tier, particularly capitalizing against Umbreon balance teams which I'll discuss below. Overall, the tier generally skews offensive these days with so many monstrous threats to build with, so I felt a bulkier squad with SubCM Raikou + TSpikes support would do pretty well into most things you'll come across.
Proof of Peak
Teambuilding Process
Teambuilding Process
My original idea was pretty simple; use Toxic Spikes to rack up poison chip while SubCM Raikou goes to work. I loosely considered using Quagsire as my Toxic Spikes setter but felt that I would really appreciate the Rocky Helmet + Levitate combo Galarian Weezing provided, especially to help absorb Knock Off and U-turn.
I wanted a spinblocker that could threaten common removal options, like Cyclizar and Forretress, and was able to compress that and Stealth Rock nicely with Golurk. I decided on a Colbur Berry for Golurk to help absorb Knock Off and Throat Chop if needed to trade vs threats like Bisharp, Krookodile, and Galarian Zapdos; Custap Berry is another item I enjoy using on occasion and could probably fit here too. Now that my team was relatively robust I opted to use Slowbro as a catch-all defensive option and bulky wincon, acting as a competent Water resist and general physical sponge that can help support Galarian Weezing.
The original concept of this team (and the version I used on ladder to peak 1604 and in RUBD Semifinals) had Poison Heal Breloom over Cyclizar. I used Protect + 3 Attacks to help scout vs Choice-locked mons like Basculegion-F and Galarian Zapdos while also letting poison chip accrue; this was really nice generally but the lack of a Ghost resist prior to Terastallization meant I was frequently struggling to switch into Basculegion-F, Gengar, and Hisuian Zoroark. Hisuian Goodra helps in this endeavor, and I really liked the Protect + Knock Off utility set I built for this, but it was tough at times to preserve Leftovers and reliably check these Ghost-types as needed.
So, as is pretty standard in RU, I thought Cyclizar + Slowbro as a Regenerator core looked really nice and helped shore up my Ghost issues. This also allowed me to drop Defog on Galarian Weezing, which meant I could run Will-O-Wisp now to catch stuff like Bisharp and Salamence to make life easier for Raikou and Slowbro.
Team Breakdown
(click above for paste)
(click above for paste)
Raikou @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 128 HP / 136 Def / 20 SpA / 224 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Discharge
- Scald
- Substitute
Starting with a bit of a funky spread here that requires some explaining. 224 Speed EVs allows Raikou to outpace up to base 111's, specifically Maushold and Scream Tail. 128 HP and 136 Defense investment optimizes Leftovers recovery and is just enough to ensure Umbreon's Foul Play won't break your Substitute; with Tera Dark you always survive two Foul Play's, letting you boost tremendously against something that would expect to beat you comfortably. While you sacrifice a lot of power to get this much bulk, you make up for it quickly when you're suddenly +2 behind a Substitute and the opposing team can't do a ton against you.
Weezing-Galar @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 208 Def / 48 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Pain Split
- Strange Steam
- Toxic Spikes
- Will-O-Wisp
One of the premier physical walls in the tier, Galarian Weezing is the key enabler to Raikou's success, establishing the Toxic Spikes that allow Raikou and friends to go crazy. As mentioned in the teambuilding process, with Cyclizar on the team to handle hazard removal we're able to run Will-O-Wisp safely, catching the threats that avoid Toxic Spikes like Bisharp and Salamence. This set has enough Speed investment to creep base 65's like Umbreon as well as stuff that creeps Umbreon, like Chesnaught and Swampert, though this isn't of too much importance. Tera Steel is the default Tera type to help against Bisharp and Salamence if they're boosted on your arrival.
Golurk @ Colbur Berry / Custap Berry
Ability: No Guard
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dynamic Punch
- Earthquake
- Poltergeist
- Stealth Rock
One of the sneakiest threats in the builder, Golurk is our spinblocker of choice as it can compress Stealth Rock and general wallbreaking into one slot. The Speed investment is a bit higher than likely needed, as I wanted to hit at least 180 to creep Wo-Chien and bulky Bisharp before opting to just invest a bit more to beat Klefki and the rare-but-dangerous Dragalge. Not much wants to eat an attack from Golurk, especially with Dynamic Punch shenanigans often making life hard for foes like Hippowdon as they risk confusion procs to lose the 1v1. Tera Dragon is to help function as a Water resist in desperate times, taking on Barraskewda and Volcanion if absolutely needed.
Slowbro @ Covert Cloak / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 Spe OR 252 HP / 208 Def / 48 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Psychic Noise
- Scald
- Slack Off
Not a ton to say here honestly, very standard Slowbro set in the current meta with some extra Speed to maybe win the Psychic Noise wars. I originally went 48 Speed EVs to creep Quagsire but that interaction is whatever to me with Cyclizar and Galarian Weezing, so I wanted to maintain as much bulk as possible to keep Mamoswine and other physical wallbreakers in check. Covert Cloak is to help into a lot of the secondary effects you'll face like Fezandipiti, other CM Psychic Noise users, and Body Slam Jirachi, though Heavy-Duty Boots is fine too if you want to maximize your potential as a wall.
Goodra-Hisui @ Leftovers
Ability: Gooey
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 176 SpD / 80 Spe
Sassy Nature
- Acid Spray
- Draco Meteor
- Knock Off
- Protect
This particular mon is such a staple in the tier despite Mamoswine dropping recently. I have enjoyed using Protect sets with Acid Spray + Knock Off to really disrupt a lot of would-be checks like CM + Covert Cloak Fezandipiti and Slowbro. I originally had some Special Attack investment to help secure KOs into stuff like SpD Hippowdon after an Acid Spray but felt like going really fat was generally better; 80 Speed EVs to hit base 60's like Empoleon and Swampert first is kind of clutch at times but you can afford to go slower probably.
Cyclizar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 104 HP / 152 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Knock Off
- Rapid Spin
- U-turn
Standard RU Cyclizar set, though I opt to run Dragon Tail over Draco Meteor as a setup deterrent. I've run bulkier sets with 208/124/176+ EV spreads but felt this team needed that little extra Speed to help against annoyances like opposing Cyclizar and Raikou. With Mamoswine running around I really appreciate Cyclizar + Slowbro Regenerator cores, especially on fatter team compositions like this that can afford to be a little more patient in wearing down the opposition.
Replays and Summary
Most of my replays are using the Breloom version, since I hit my peak with that and then did a bunch of other testing on this alt before going back to change the Breloom to Cyclizar as it kind of occurred to me that it might be better...
Breloom Version: (paste here)Most of my replays are using the Breloom version, since I hit my peak with that and then did a bunch of other testing on this alt before going back to change the Breloom to Cyclizar as it kind of occurred to me that it might be better...
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(HIGHLIGHT GAME) - small note, the reason two Umbreon Foul Play broke Sub was because the EVs on this version originally had the wrong investment, meaning it was a 3/8 roll for Sub to break in two both times..vs
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Cyclizar Version:
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Overall, I have really enjoyed playing with this team and would've tried to peak higher if it weren't for needing to test other stuff out over the weekend for our RUBD team. I think this squad is pretty dynamic against all opposing team structures, with the tools needed to beat HO, Stall, Balance, BO, and weather stuff if played well. My main concern with this team is that even with so many defensive pieces you can find yourself getting overwhelmed at times if teams stack multiple setup demons together, especially less common anti-meta stuff like Gallade that can really disrupt your flow if they get a handful of clicks right. The lack of a bonified Speed control outside of Cyclizar and Raikou is also a bit tricky at times, though you don't necessarily struggle to beat opposing Choice Scarf users like Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile.
02-08-2025 Edit: Featured team in Blunders video attached here, check it out!
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