Raichu (Doubles PokeMMO)

[GMjoshua]

Hey! Today I talk about one of my favorites pokemons: Raichu. This pokemons has one of the most interesting aability for any Doubles format: Lightning Road. So the most usefuls rols of Raichu will be fast rain support and to redirect electric atacks. Raichu sometimes is outclassed by another pokes with Lightning Road: choice specs/focus sash Manectric (with fire coberture, snarl,volt switch,switcheroo/protect) and choice specs/life orb Jolteon(Volt Switch,Hidden Power Ice,etc); or by another fast utilities pokes can to redirect atacks: eviolite electabuzz (follow me,  electro web, taunt, reflect). But Raichu is a interesting option when exist a war of wheaters, prankters pokes and hyper ofensive formats because Raichu has a nice and complete movepool and decent typing and speed.

 

Raichu always is a partner of a Rain setter like Pelipper or a hyper ofensive poke with a weakness x4 to electric type like Gyarados, but Gyarados was eated for the format since a lot of formats ago. Raichu also has hard counters like earth type pokes (Gastrodon, Garchomp, Gliscor, etc) and another poke with Lghtning Road, but you can take a chance of win to hard counters with the correcct movepool and correct switchs in the battle. Raichu also has problems vs the most popular set up aperture: Mienshao+ Crobat because they have Inner focus and Mienshao can OHKO to Raichu then you only need outspeed to speed base 100.

The best moves of this poke are: fake out, volt switch, encore and endeavor. But you can't use encore and endeavor in the same set because Raichu can take pasive damage of another weather. The best items for this poke are Assault Vest and Focus Sash. First, Focus Sash is the most intuitive option because Raichu has a poor bulk and you can recicle the fake out with volt switch; but Raichu doesn't has the offensive pressure like Jolteon and to recicle the fake out is only 1 turn extra for a killed Raichu(passive damage of weathers, another priority atacks,etc). Then, Assault Vest is the most interesting option because with the correct ev spread Raichu can tank and support a lot of atacks and use  endeavor in its hardcounters(Gastrodon for example). I prefear Assault Vest Raichu because is more flexible vs any kind of team and I always have endeavor like another kind of offensive pressure. 

 

 

 

 

Raichu (Assalt Vest)

 

 

Level 50

Timid Nature, Ability: Lightning Road

EVs: 194 HP / 136 SpD/ 180 Spe

 

-Fake Out

-Volt Switch

-Thunder

-Endeavor

 

 

252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu in Rain: 109-130 (68.5 - 81.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Giga Drain vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 51-60 (32 - 37.7%) -- 86.8% chance to 3HKO

 

252+ SpA Rotom-Wash Hydro Pump vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 61-73 (38.3 - 45.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

0 SpA Gastrodon Earth Power vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 66-80 (41.5 - 50.3%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Life Orb Hydreigon Dragon Pulse vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 70-83 (44 - 52.2%) -- 12.9% chance to 2HKO

 

+2 252 SpA Hydreigon Dragon Pulse vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 97-115 (61 - 72.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Life Orb Abomasnow Blizzard vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 55-66 (34.5 - 41.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after hail damage

 

252 SpA Dragon Gem Salamence Draco Meteor vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 88-105 (55.3 - 66%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Pelipper Scald vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu in Rain: 60-72 (37.7 - 45.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 62-74 (38.9 - 46.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

+1 252+ SpA Life Orb Reuniclus Psychic vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 109-130 (68.5 - 81.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kingdra Hydro Pump vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu in Rain: 129-153 (81.1 - 96.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kingdra Draco Meteor vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 102-120 (64.1 - 75.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252 SpA Charcoal Torkoal Eruption (150 BP) vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu in Sun: 91-108 (57.2 - 67.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Chandelure Fire Blast vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 76-91 (47.7 - 57.2%) -- 91.4% chance to 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Chandelure Shadow Ball vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 57-67 (35.8 - 42.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

+2 252 SpA Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 106-126 (66.6 - 79.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Life Orb Venusaur Sludge Bomb vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 64-75 (40.2 - 47.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

252+ SpA Life Orb Venusaur Giga Drain vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 55-64 (34.5 - 40.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

+2 252+ SpA Milotic Hydro Pump vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 118-141 (74.2 - 88.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252 SpA Choice Specs Solar Power Charizard Heat Wave vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu in Sun: 126-148 (79.2 - 93%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

+2 252+ SpA Life Orb Volcarona Heat Wave vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 121-144 (76.1 - 90.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

252 Atk Flying Gem Crobat Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 194 HP / 0 Def Raichu: 76-90 (47.7 - 56.6%) -- 89.8% chance to 2HKO

 

+2 252+ Atk Steel Gem Technician Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 194 HP / 0 Def Raichu: 117-138 (73.5 - 86.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

+2 252+ SpA Togekiss Air Slash vs. 194 HP / 136 SpD Assault Vest Raichu: 46-54 (28.9 - 33.9%) -- 2.4% chance to 3HKO