Raikou-Electric Blitz

RAIKOU



Abilities:
Pressure
Volt Absorb

Stats:

HP: 90
Atk: 85
Def: 75
SpA: 115
SpD: 100
Spe: 115

Total: 600

Placed Tier: UU

Type: ELECTRIC

The electrified saber tooth of legend happens to be one of the most dangerous sweepers in the UU meta game and can easily turn the tide of a battle without much effort. It has multiple options when it comes to sets,has a decent movepool for coverage,and has a incredible speed and special attack stats with not to shabby defenses. Raikou only falls to the most dedicated special walls and certain Ground types who may be Scarfed. Yet underestimating Raikou on ones team can easily lead to ones demise.

Set #1: Calm and Collected

Item: Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 36 HP / 196 SATK / 252 SPE
Nature: Timid

- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Hidden Power (Ice / Grass)

Set Explanation: Probably one of the most dangerous sweepers in UU as the ability gor it to set up Calm Minds is pretty simple as it can easily for a switch and proceed to Calm Mind. Substitute blocks Raikou from status and gets harder to break from special attacks with each Calm Mind. Thunderbolt is a deadly STAB when Raikou has so many Calm Mind boost but Duscharge can do almost the same but with a higher chance of paralysis. Hidden Power Ice decimates Flygon and other Dragons and creates a pseudo BoltBeam coverage. Hidden Power Grass on the other hand destroys Swampert and Rhyperior. The EVs maximize the effectiveness of Leftovers while retaining Raikou's speed and power for sweeping.

Set #2: Scarf Switch

Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SATK / 4 SDEF / 252 SPE
Nature: Rash

- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Aura Sphere
- Hidden Power(Ice / Grass)

Set Explanation: A more offensice Raikou who is made to add momentum to teams via Volt Switch. Thunderbolt is a more powerful STAB while like always Discharge is there for a higher chnace of paralysis. Aura Sphere hits Snorlax for some decent damage as well as Umbreon. Hidden Power Ice deals with Gligar,Flygon,and anything else Drago related while Hidden Power Grass demolishes Swampert and Rhyperior. The EVs for this set are made for maximum offensive power. Raikou also out speeds base 100 threats like Jolly Flygon by 1 point meaning it can always KO them if it has to.

Set #3: Weather Abuser

Item: Leftovers / Life Orb / Expert Belt
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SATK / 4 SDEF / 252 SPE
Nature: Rash / Timid

- Thunderbolt / Thunder
- WeatherBall
- Aura Sphere / Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power(Ice / Grass / Fighting)

Set Explanation: A set made for te weathers that dominate OU and can either use an opponents weather against them or aid your weather to help win the weather war. Thunderbolt is the primary STAB,but if you're using rain Thunder is even a better option. WeatherBall's power grows to 100,and in rain decimates Ground types,in Hail it can be used as a move like Ice Beam,while in Sun acts as a Flamethrower. Aura Sphere OHKOs most Tyanitar and 2HKOs defensive or Chople Berry sets. Shadow Ball rids of Gengar and certain Psychic types like Lati@s. Hidden Power Ice can be used if you're not using WeatherBall on a hail team while Hidden Power Grass harms Gastrodon and Rotom-W. Hidden Power Fighting can be used as a way to hit Tyranitar and Steel types if you don't want to run a Rash nature with Aura Sphere but a Timid Nature instead,which out speeds more. The EVs are pretty basic.


CONCLUSION:

While Raikou is pretty good in UU and sometimes OU,its far from unbeatable. Faster Ground types like Scarf Flygon or Krookidile can KO all non Scarfed Raikou with a STAB Earthquake. Snorlax,Blissey,Chansey,and Umbreon can take a few Aura Spheres and counter with the appropriate move. Swampert walls all Raikou lacking Hidden Power Grass while Gastrodon and Quagsire can do more or less the same,the latter ignoring Calm Mind boost. In UU Grass type pokemon such as Virizion are the perfect match for Raikou as they can threaten out all bulky Waters and Ground types while in OU something like Ferrothorn does more or less the same and can also setup hazards to help Raikou's sweeps. In the end its all about what you want Raikou to accomplish whether it be a Calm Mind sweeper or Volt Switch scout so use it wisely.