[OVERVIEW]
Raikou is an amazing pivot and sweeper in the RU tier, being one of the fastest Pokemon and having great power and coverage. It can pivot easily with Volt Switch while pressuring most Electric-immune Pokemon that may try to block it. Its decent bulk lets it take some hits to offensively check foes or set up more easily. Its typing and movepool also make it a good offensive check to most Flying- and Water-types as well as some Electric-types, including Togekiss, Suicune, Milotic, and Thundurus. Raikou has to compete with other Electric-type Pokemon such as Xurkitree, Toxtricity, and Thundurus as both a pivot and a wallbreaker, however. It has no moves to hit Seismitoad and Gastrodon, and it has a hard time breaking through some Electric-resistant Pokemon such as Roserade and Dragalge. It also struggles to beat bulky special walls such as Umbreon and Registeel, and it lacks the power to KO most threats without boosts or some prior damage.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Aura Sphere
move 4: Scald
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Volt Switch is used to pivot, whereas Thunderbolt is used when Raikou needs more damage. Aura Sphere does more damage to most Steel-types while also 2HKOing Zarude and KOing Tyrantrum after some damage. Scald hits some Ground- and Fire-types, most notably 2HKOing Rhyperior and Alolan Marowak. Toxic can be used over Aura Sphere or Scald to punish Gastrodon and Seismitoad. Heavy-Duty Boots allows Raikou to pivot as much as possible. This set pairs well with Pokemon that can force out special walls that often switch into Raikou such as Registeel, Porygon2, and Umbreon. Some examples are Heracross, Mienshao, and Cobalion. Other physical wallbreakers like Zygarde-10%, Zarude, and Darmanitan can also help pressure Raikou's switch-ins. Noivern can form a great VoltTurn core with Raikou on offensive teams, as the pair provides some defensive utility and counterplay to faster threats, with Noivern also pressuring some of Raikou's best checks in Seismitoad, Roserade, and Dragalge. Klefki, Heracross, and Roserade can use Spikes to help Raikou weaken foes through pivoting, and Raikou can pressure most entry hazard control options in return.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Aura Sphere
move 4: Scald / Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Aura Sphere hits Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types like Zarude, Umbreon, Porygon2, and Stakataka. Scald hits Alolan Marowak and Rhyperior, which easily stop Raikou otherwise. Substitute lets Raikou punish Pokemon that can't do much against it, especially after boosts, such as Porygon2, Milotic, and Togekiss, letting it find more setup opportunities or better pressure opposing teams. Leftovers gives Raikou passive recovery, allowing it to set up more easily after taking damage or using Substitute. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used with three attacks to give Raikou an easier time acting as a wallbreaker and revenge killer throughout the match. Raikou can potentially stall out attacking moves with Pressure, especially if using Substitute. This set goes well with other special wallbreakers, such as Starmie and Choice Specs Sylveon, which can help Raikou pressure and weaken bulkier special walls such as Registeel and Umbreon. Other wallbreakers such as Heracross, Mienshao, and Zygarde-10% can pressure Raikou's checks; in return, Raikou can check bulkier Flying- and Water-types that give them trouble. Spikes support from the likes of Roserade, Klefki, and Heracross helps Raikou weaken its checks. Grass-types such as Zarude and the aforementioned Roserade can help deal with Seismitoad and Gastrodon, which are some of the best checks to this set.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Extrasensory can be used to hit Poison-types that wall Raikou otherwise, such as Dragalge, Roserade, Toxtricity, and Vileplume, and it does more damage to Fighting-types like Mienshao and Heracross. Raikou can use Choice Specs or Choice Scarf to act more as a wallbreaker or a revenge killer; however, Heavy-Duty Boots is generally better, as it allows Raikou to switch its moves and keep itself healthy more easily throughout the match. Raikou can be used on rain teams alongside Politoed as a good Electric-type check, and it can use Thunder as its main STAB move and Weather Ball over Scald on these teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Seismitoad and Gastrodon**: Raikou doesn't have any coverage to threaten Water / Ground types such as Seismitoad and Gastrodon, although they have to be careful with Toxic, especially Seismitoad, as it lacks any form of reliable recovery.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Umbreon, Porygon2, and Registeel don't fear much from Raikou, as they take little damage from its moves, but they have to be careful of Volt Switch constantly chipping them throughout the match. Porygon2 is also susceptible to Toxic and can be used as setup fodder by Calm Mind + Substitute Raikou.
**Dragon-types**: Dragon-types such as Regidrago and Dragalge tank Raikou's attacks easily and can deal a lot of damage in return with their STAB moves, though Dragalge has to be careful of potential Extrasensory. Zygarde-10% can OHKO Raikou and take a hit if needed, but it has to be careful, since it can only Speed tie and can be crippled by a burn from Scald.
**Poison-types**: Some Poison-types, such as Vileplume and Roserade, take little damage from Raikou, as they have good Special Defense, resist most of its coverage, and are immune to Toxic. Toxtricity also resists most of Raikou's attacks, and it has sound moves to bypass a potential Substitute, but it takes much more damage from Raikou due to its mediocre defensive stats. The uncommon Extrasensory Raikou can do more damage to them.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Despite Raikou's high Speed and overall good bulk, some revenge killers can outspeed and beat it. Choice Scarf Darmanitan and Choice Scarf Tyrantrum can OHKO Raikou, whereas Choice Scarf Mienshao and Choice Scarf Heracross can OHKO it after little damage. They have to be careful with Substitute, although Mienshao and Darmanitan can use U-turn to break it. Noivern with Draco Meteor can revenge kill a weakened Raikou, even through Substitute thanks to Infiltrator, and it can take a hit from Raikou if needed.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Natan, 321109]]
- Quality checked by: [[EonX, 91480], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
Raikou is an amazing pivot and sweeper in the RU tier, being one of the fastest Pokemon and having great power and coverage. It can pivot easily with Volt Switch while pressuring most Electric-immune Pokemon that may try to block it. Its decent bulk lets it take some hits to offensively check foes or set up more easily. Its typing and movepool also make it a good offensive check to most Flying- and Water-types as well as some Electric-types, including Togekiss, Suicune, Milotic, and Thundurus. Raikou has to compete with other Electric-type Pokemon such as Xurkitree, Toxtricity, and Thundurus as both a pivot and a wallbreaker, however. It has no moves to hit Seismitoad and Gastrodon, and it has a hard time breaking through some Electric-resistant Pokemon such as Roserade and Dragalge. It also struggles to beat bulky special walls such as Umbreon and Registeel, and it lacks the power to KO most threats without boosts or some prior damage.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Aura Sphere
move 4: Scald
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Volt Switch is used to pivot, whereas Thunderbolt is used when Raikou needs more damage. Aura Sphere does more damage to most Steel-types while also 2HKOing Zarude and KOing Tyrantrum after some damage. Scald hits some Ground- and Fire-types, most notably 2HKOing Rhyperior and Alolan Marowak. Toxic can be used over Aura Sphere or Scald to punish Gastrodon and Seismitoad. Heavy-Duty Boots allows Raikou to pivot as much as possible. This set pairs well with Pokemon that can force out special walls that often switch into Raikou such as Registeel, Porygon2, and Umbreon. Some examples are Heracross, Mienshao, and Cobalion. Other physical wallbreakers like Zygarde-10%, Zarude, and Darmanitan can also help pressure Raikou's switch-ins. Noivern can form a great VoltTurn core with Raikou on offensive teams, as the pair provides some defensive utility and counterplay to faster threats, with Noivern also pressuring some of Raikou's best checks in Seismitoad, Roserade, and Dragalge. Klefki, Heracross, and Roserade can use Spikes to help Raikou weaken foes through pivoting, and Raikou can pressure most entry hazard control options in return.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Aura Sphere
move 4: Scald / Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Aura Sphere hits Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types like Zarude, Umbreon, Porygon2, and Stakataka. Scald hits Alolan Marowak and Rhyperior, which easily stop Raikou otherwise. Substitute lets Raikou punish Pokemon that can't do much against it, especially after boosts, such as Porygon2, Milotic, and Togekiss, letting it find more setup opportunities or better pressure opposing teams. Leftovers gives Raikou passive recovery, allowing it to set up more easily after taking damage or using Substitute. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used with three attacks to give Raikou an easier time acting as a wallbreaker and revenge killer throughout the match. Raikou can potentially stall out attacking moves with Pressure, especially if using Substitute. This set goes well with other special wallbreakers, such as Starmie and Choice Specs Sylveon, which can help Raikou pressure and weaken bulkier special walls such as Registeel and Umbreon. Other wallbreakers such as Heracross, Mienshao, and Zygarde-10% can pressure Raikou's checks; in return, Raikou can check bulkier Flying- and Water-types that give them trouble. Spikes support from the likes of Roserade, Klefki, and Heracross helps Raikou weaken its checks. Grass-types such as Zarude and the aforementioned Roserade can help deal with Seismitoad and Gastrodon, which are some of the best checks to this set.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Extrasensory can be used to hit Poison-types that wall Raikou otherwise, such as Dragalge, Roserade, Toxtricity, and Vileplume, and it does more damage to Fighting-types like Mienshao and Heracross. Raikou can use Choice Specs or Choice Scarf to act more as a wallbreaker or a revenge killer; however, Heavy-Duty Boots is generally better, as it allows Raikou to switch its moves and keep itself healthy more easily throughout the match. Raikou can be used on rain teams alongside Politoed as a good Electric-type check, and it can use Thunder as its main STAB move and Weather Ball over Scald on these teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Seismitoad and Gastrodon**: Raikou doesn't have any coverage to threaten Water / Ground types such as Seismitoad and Gastrodon, although they have to be careful with Toxic, especially Seismitoad, as it lacks any form of reliable recovery.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Umbreon, Porygon2, and Registeel don't fear much from Raikou, as they take little damage from its moves, but they have to be careful of Volt Switch constantly chipping them throughout the match. Porygon2 is also susceptible to Toxic and can be used as setup fodder by Calm Mind + Substitute Raikou.
**Dragon-types**: Dragon-types such as Regidrago and Dragalge tank Raikou's attacks easily and can deal a lot of damage in return with their STAB moves, though Dragalge has to be careful of potential Extrasensory. Zygarde-10% can OHKO Raikou and take a hit if needed, but it has to be careful, since it can only Speed tie and can be crippled by a burn from Scald.
**Poison-types**: Some Poison-types, such as Vileplume and Roserade, take little damage from Raikou, as they have good Special Defense, resist most of its coverage, and are immune to Toxic. Toxtricity also resists most of Raikou's attacks, and it has sound moves to bypass a potential Substitute, but it takes much more damage from Raikou due to its mediocre defensive stats. The uncommon Extrasensory Raikou can do more damage to them.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Despite Raikou's high Speed and overall good bulk, some revenge killers can outspeed and beat it. Choice Scarf Darmanitan and Choice Scarf Tyrantrum can OHKO Raikou, whereas Choice Scarf Mienshao and Choice Scarf Heracross can OHKO it after little damage. They have to be careful with Substitute, although Mienshao and Darmanitan can use U-turn to break it. Noivern with Draco Meteor can revenge kill a weakened Raikou, even through Substitute thanks to Infiltrator, and it can take a hit from Raikou if needed.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Natan, 321109]]
- Quality checked by: [[EonX, 91480], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [CryoGyro, 331519]]
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