Not Gonna Raichu A Reference To That Stupid Song
Alolan Raichu@Focus Sash/Aloraichium Z
Timid nature
Surge Surfer
252 Sp. Atk/252 Speed/4 HP
~Thunderbolt
~Psychic
~Grass Knot
~Nasty Plot
Standard set for the new Alolan Raichu. Nasty Plot for the Sp. Atk increase. Thunderbolt and Psychic for STAB. Grass Knot for coverage. Simple as that.
Item is up to you, whether you think Raichu needs help surviving the setup turn or the one-time nuke that is Stoked Sparksurfer. Ability is the only option.
Chu And Me
Raichu@Focus Sash
Timid nature
Lightning Rod
252 Sp. Atk/252 Speed/4 HP
~Thunderbolt
~Focus Blast
~Grass Knot
~Nasty Plot
We can't forget the original! Raichu's normal form might be somewhat inferior to its Alolan counterpart in many respects, but it's still a respectable Pokémon in its own right that you should not underestimate. Works pretty much the same as the set for Alolan Raichu, except instead of two STAB moves, it's got two coverage moves in Focus Blast and Grass Knot.
Item was already covered. Ability gives Raichu the freedom to switch in on Electric attacks without taking any damage whatsoever, as well as a handy extra Sp. Atk boost.
Other options:
*
Encore and
Fake Out are things.
*Alolan Raichu has
Electric Terrain to work with if you don't feel like pairing it with Tapu Koko to get Surge Surfer rolling.
*If you can get a
Surfing Pikachu into the current generation somehow, and it's got the right nature and stuff, then by all means, go for it. In fact, it works for a rain team, and you can also teach
Thunder to both kinds of Raichu, so yeah.
*Raichu's Normal form has superior Attack to its Alolan counterpart, and with moves like
Brick Break,
Knock Off, and even
Volt Tackle to choose from, it can get stuff done.
Abilities:
*
Static: When Raichu is hit by a contact move, there's a 30% chance the attacker gets paralyzed. Not a bad Ability in and of itself, it's just not as good on something that isn't meant to take hits.
*
Lightning Rod: Raichu's Hidden Ability. Raichu is immune to Electric attacks, draws Electric attacks away from its partner in double battles, would draw them away from both partners in triple battles were they still a thing (why, no, I'm totally not bitter about that- now, losing rotation battles, on the other hand, that's a whole other swarm of Yanma right there), and upon taking an Electric attack, receives a +1 boost to Sp. Atk. This is what you want on your Raichu. It can already switch into Electric attacks OK, but this lets it switch in on them without taking any damage whatsoever, and results in a Sp. Atk boost on top of it. Hard to go wrong there.
*
Surge Surfer: The one and only Ability of Alolan Raichu. Alolan Raichu's Speed is doubled when Electric Terrain is in effect. You don't really have any other options with Alolan Raichu, but this could be worse. It's no Lightning Rod, but pair this thing with Tapu Koko and ain't nothing outspeeding you anymore.
Partners:
I'll start off by stating the obvious- Tapu Koko and Alolan Raichu. I don't even care if it means using two Electric-types on your team. You got four more slots to compensate for the Ground weakness. Electric Surge not only activates Surge Surfer but also makes the Electric moves even stronger, and makes Stoked Sparksurfer even more of a nuke than it already is. Regular Raichu will want something like Gyarados or Mantine- something to draw in the Electric moves and give it an opportunity to switch in.
Counters:
Dugtrio can come in on any Electric attacks, trap them, outspeed, and OHKO with Earthquake. Unless Surge Surfer is doing its thing, of course- then Dugtrio is screwed. And of course, this should go without saying, but Alolan Dugtrio won't work for this, as it lacks Arena Trap and would need to win the Speed tie to OHKO without getting hit first. Special walls in general are also bad news for most Raichu variants, though physical variants can give Chansey and Blissey a run for their money.
Opinion:
Raichu is awesome. I find it a legitimate shame just how overshadowed Raichu is in comparison to its pre-evolution. Alolan Raichu has become somewhat prominent, true enough, but I'd still like for the normal form of Raichu to get some love, y'know?
Pre-Evolution Corner:
Mascot Madness
Pikachu@Light Ball
Timid nature
Lightning Rod
252 Sp. Atk/252 Speed/4 HP
~Thunderbolt
~Grass Knot
~Signal Beam
~Nasty Plot
That's right, ladies and gentlemen. Presenting this very series's overhyped, underwhelming mascot itself, iiiiit's Pikachu. Yaaaaaay. Yeeeaaah, this thing has no place on the battlefield. If you're adamant about using Pikachu, this set's your best bet. Thunderbolt for STAB. Grass Knot and Signal Beam for coverage. Nasty Plot in the rare event you get to use it. Spoiler; you won't get to use it.
Item powers up PIkachu. Ability is the best it gets.
Other options:
*Ahaha.
*Ahahahahaha!
*WAAAA HA HA HA HA HAAAAAA!!! XD
*...OK, I suppose you can run a physical set on it.
Volt Tackle,
Knock Off,
Brick Break,
Quick Attack, something like that.
*You may be tempted to try Pikanium Z or Pikashunium Z. You don't want to do that. Pikachu needs the Light Ball in order to get things done. NEEDS. IT. A 210 base power nuke isn't quite as nuke-y coming off of base 55 Attack. Same with a 195 base power nuke coming off of base 50 Sp. Atk- as a matter of fact, that's even worse. And that's the event-exclusive one!
Abilities:
*
Static: When Pikachu takes a contact move, the attacker has a 30% chance to be paralyzed. Pass on this. Anything that requires Pikachu to take a hit is really, really not worth it. Pikachu has all the defensive capabilities of a wet paper bag.
*
Lightning Rod: Pikachu's Hidden Ability. Pikachu draws in all Electric attacks, is immune to them, and upon activation of the Ability, gets +1 Sp. Atk. If any Ability could be said to be good on Pikachu, it would be this.
Partners:
Alolan Ninetales and Eevee spring readily to mind, the former for Aurora Veil support, and the latter for Extreme Evoboost passing. And I'm talking using both of them, not one or the other- both. Pikachu needs all the help it can get.
Counters:
Just play normally. If your team as it stands right now does not counter Pikachu in at least several ways, you have a problem.
Opinion:
Ehh, Pikachu's OK. I don't hate it by any means, I just don't like how they overhype it and leave Raichu in the dust.
Prediction for next week:
Minior.