Moves
Psyshock is Alolan Raichu's preferred Psychic-type STAB move, as it deals extra damage to targets like Cryogonal, Lanturn, Clefairy, Audino, and Eelektross, but Psychic is also an option that deals more damage to foes such as Gurdurr and gives a slight power boost to Shattered Psyche. Focus Blast gives Alolan Raichu a tool to break past Ferroseed, and it's also an excellent way of dispatching foes like Audino, Alolan Sandslash, and Type: Null when unboosted. Substitute is another option that punishes Sucker Punch users like Skuntank and Kangaskhan while providing a temporary barrier from attacks, notably preventing Pokemon like Choice Scarf Dodrio and Primeape from revenge killing it. Grass Knot is a viable attacking option, as it gives Alolan Raichu a way of pressuring Ground-types such as Mudsdale and Golurk without needing to use Psychium Z, and it notably targets Claydol. However, replacing Focus Blast or Substitute gives Alolan Raichu no way of pressuring Ferroseed and makes the task of breaking through Pokemon like Audino much more arduous.
Set Details
Psychium Z provides Alolan Raichu with a powerful STAB-boosted nuke that allows it to muscle past Pokemon like Mudsdale, Torterra, and Gastrodon at +2 while securing an OHKO on Gurdurr if running Psyshock. Alternatively, Aloraichium Z turns Thunderbolt into Stoked Sparksurfer, which is slightly stronger than Shattered Psyche against neutral targets, helps against Pokemon like Skuntank and Metang, and comes with a guaranteed paralysis chance. However, this comes at the expense of making Pokemon like Mudsdale and Gastrodon much harder to combat. Fightinium Z is another option that converts Focus Blast into All-Out Pummeling, which allows Alolan Raichu to OHKO foes such as Audino while being perfectly accurate, but boasts less overall power than Alolan Raichu's other options.
Usage Tips
Alolan Raichu best operates mid- to late-game as a wallbreaker that can break past bulkier teams or a cleaner utilizing its solid Speed tier and well-rounded coverage. It is ill advised to attempt to clean late-game if faster Pokemon or priority users like Alolan Persian and Kangaskhan are still healthy, as they can outspeed Alolan Raichu and deny it chances of sweeping. Pokemon that pose little threat to Alolan Raichu like Oricorio-E and Scald Qwilfish as well as Pokemon forced to switch like Gurdurr and Swanna are its most ideal setup targets, as its poor bulk limits setup opportunities in other matchups. Alolan Raichu can usually forgo setting up against more offense-oriented teams once they've been weakened, as it can use its Speed and coverage moves to apply immediate pressure. Finally, keeping Alolan Raichu's Z-Move intact is important if its main priority is wallbreaking, as without Psychium Z or Fightinium Z, it can be stopped by healthy tanks like Mudsdale. Similarly, Pokemon like Torterra, Regirock, and Gastrodon have the capability to survive an unboosted Z-Move or a boosted regular attack, so Alolan Raichu should preserve its Z-Move if it intends to break past such foes.
Team Options
Alolan Raichu fits best on offense-oriented teams, where it can be supported via wallbreakers, entry hazards, and momentum. Pokemon like Absol, Choice Band Aggron, and Stoutland can form an offensive core with Alolan Raichu, as they're able to break through Pokemon like Metang and Type: Null, while they appreciate having defensive walls like Tangela and Regirock disposed of. Aggron and Stoutland can also threaten Pokemon that can Pursuit trap or use Sucker Punch against Alolan Raichu like Skuntank and Spiritomb, while Absol can utilize Knock Off to remove items off of bulkier foes to aid Alolan Raichu. Other offensive teammates like Omastar and Kangaskhan greatly appreciate having Pokemon like Lanturn, Poliwrath, and Gurdurr in check and are capable of threatening foes such as Type: Null in return. Alolan Raichu can struggle to break past Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Gastrodon without Psychium Z as well as Claydol even with it, so teammates like Victreebel and Abomasnow are recommended to take these Pokemon on. Victreebel and Abomasnow also appreciate Alolan Raichu's ability to keep Pokemon such as Articuno and Swanna in check. Entry hazard setters like Ferroseed and Qwilfish are excellent means of whittling down bulkier teams for Alolan Raichu to dismantle. Stealth Rock users such as Mudsdale and Regirock also provide defensive utility; both of these examples can threaten foes that can revenge kill Alolan Raichu like Skuntank, Kangaskhan, and Lycanroc while also crippling foes such as Gastrodon and opposing Mudsdale with Toxic, giving Alolan Raichu sets lacking Psychium Z more leeway. Fighting-types such as Gurdurr, Primeape, and Hitmonchan appreciate an answer to Pokemon like Oricorio-E and Jellicent and can check threats to Alolan Raichu like Kangaskhan and Lycanroc in addition to Dark-types such as Skuntank and Alolan Persian in return. Primeape also functions as a pivot that can draw in Pokemon like Jellicent, while Hitmonchan clears entry hazards from the field. Pivots like Scyther can bring Alolan Raichu into play much more safely and can draw in foes for it to take advantage of such as Regirock and Jellicent.
