Raichu — Abilities, Weaknesses & Best Builds
"Raichu is a speed utility built around special attacks (90 Sp. Atk). It can outspeed most of the format, and it's commonly used because its electric typing only has 1 weakness, which makes it forgiving to switch in."
✅ Strong against
Resisted or immune to these attack types
⚠️ Watch out for
These attack types deal extra damage
How to actually play it
- 1
Open Raichu into a favorable type matchup using its electric STAB.
- 2
Pick the move that does the most damage to the most likely switch-in, not just the current Pokémon.
- 3
Pivot out once the opponent brings in a counter — don't get walled and lose a turn.
What new players get wrong
- ✕
Forgetting which attacks Raichu actually resists and burning a switch on a neutral hit.
- ✕
Leaving it in on a faster Choice Scarf user — priority and scarfers will pick it off.
- ✕
Expecting it to OHKO things — its job is usually role compression, not raw damage.
Why we rate Raichu the way we do
- Frail — one wrong switch can lose it
- High speed tier — wins matter, losses sting
Base Stats
Total: 485Use EVs to amplify the highest two — that's usually where this Pokémon's job lives.
Loading moves…
| Move | Type | Cat | Pwr | Acc | PP | How |
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Where Raichu shows up
#4
Usage ~25.97% · Win rate ~54.9%
#9
Usage ~16.39% · Win rate ~54.77%
Raichu FAQ
- What are Raichu's abilities in Pokémon Champions?
- Raichu can run static, lightning-rod. The competitive default is usually static — see the abilities section above for the trade-offs.
- What is Raichu weak to in Pokémon Champions?
- Raichu takes extra damage from ground. The full weakness breakdown is in the Weaknesses section, including any 4× type matchups.
- What is the best moveset for Raichu?
- The best moveset for Raichu depends on whether you're running it in Singles or Doubles. The Best Moveset section above lists the standard competitive set used at the top of the Pokémon Champions ladder.
- What counters Raichu in Pokémon Champions?
- The most reliable counters to Raichu are Pokémon with strong ground attacks that outspeed it. See the Best Counters section for specific picks.
- Is Raichu good in the current Pokémon Champions meta?
- Raichu's usage and win rate in M-B Singles and Doubles are shown in the Format Snapshot section. Cross-reference with the Champions Lab tier list for full context.