Raichu
Generation I · #0026 — Mouse Pokémon
Raichu entered the roster in Generation I as a electric-type, and what's stuck since is less its typing than its static ability. Unlike its pre-evolution, Raichu demonstrates noticeably enhanced physical and special attack stats both sitting at 90, combined with a formidable speed stat of 110, making it a genuinely threatening force in competitive play and story progression alike.
Editor's Take
Raichu is the poster child for 'the evolution isn't strictly better' — competitively, un-evolved Pichu with Volt Tackle access briefly outperformed it in specific formats, which is a strange position for a mid-evolution Pokémon to be in relative to its own pre-evolution.
Base Stats
Height
0.8m
Weight
30.0kg
Category
Mouse Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
yellow
Shape
upright
Habitat
forest
Abilities
Has a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact.
Redirects single-target electric moves to this Pokémon where possible. Absorbs Electric moves, raising Special Attack one stage.
Raichu Biology & Physical Characteristics
Raichu is a quadrupedal Electric-type Pokémon that exhibits a distinctly mouse-like appearance scaled up significantly from its pre-evolution form, standing 0.8 meters tall and weighing 30 kilograms. Its most distinctive feature is its characteristic long tail, which according to Pokédex entries serves as a crucial grounding mechanism to protect the creature from its own high-voltage electrical power. The Pokédex notes that when electrical sacs within its body become excessively charged, Raichu will plant its tail firmly into the ground and discharge the accumulated energy, leaving scorched patches around its nest. Its cheek pouches function as electrical reservoirs, and when fully charged, both of Raichu's ears stand straight up as a visual indicator of maximum electrical capacity. The creature's ability to generate and control such tremendous electrical energy is reflected in its two available abilities: Static, which has a 30 percent chance of paralysing any Pokémon that makes physical contact, and the hidden ability Lightning Rod, which redirects single-target Electric moves toward Raichu while simultaneously raising its Special Attack stat by one stage—a remarkably useful defensive and offensive tool.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Raichu Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Raichu exhibits a perfectly balanced gender distribution with 50 percent male and 50 percent female specimens, allowing for flexible breeding strategies regardless of trainer preference. The species belongs to both the Field and Fairy egg groups, providing diverse breeding compatibility options and enabling the development of Raichu with varied genetic potential depending on the chosen breeding partner. With a base happiness rating of 70, Raichu eggs require approximately 10 cycles to hatch—equivalent to roughly 2,314 to 2,570 steps of travel—making it a moderately fast breeder for those engaged in competitive breeding operations. The relatively approachable base happiness and medium breeding time make Raichu an accessible option for players looking to breed specialized movesets or obtain perfect individual values. Female Raichu are particularly valuable in breeding chains, as their species designation ensures offspring will remain within the Raichu line when bred with compatible partners, and their dual egg group membership provides flexibility in creating diverse genetic combinations.
Held Items
Sprites
Held Items
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
oran-berry
medicine
Held: Consumed at 1/2 max HP to recover 10 HP.
Cost: 80
TMs & HMs
tm00
sword shield
tm01
yellow
tm01
gold silver
tm01
crystal
tm01
red blue
tm01
platinum
tm01
emerald
tm01
diamond pearl
tm01
firered leafgreen
tm01
ruby sapphire
tm01
xd
tm01
colosseum
tm01
heartgold soulsilver
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm01
blue japan
tm01
red green japan
tm01
sword shield
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm02
sword shield
+795 more TMs/HMs
Regional & Special Forms
Raichu also has 3 related forms: Alolan Raichu, Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y.
Gender Differences
This Pokémon has visible differences between male and female forms.
raichu's Evolution Chain
Raichu Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Raichu evolves from Pikachu when exposed to a Thunder Stone, completing the three-stage evolutionary line that begins with Pichu. This evolution represents a dramatic power increase across multiple stat categories, with Attack and Special Attack both rising from 75 to 90, while Speed increases from 100 to 110, solidifying Raichu's role as a fast, powerful electric sweeper. The Thunder Stone evolution is permanent and cannot be reversed, making it a significant decision point for trainers who must weigh Pikachu's cultural and sentimental value against the raw power increase Raichu provides. Additionally, the Kantonian Raichu can Mega Evolve into two distinct Mega forms: Mega Raichu X using Raichunite X and Mega Raichu Y using Raichunite Y, both introduced in the Mega Dimension DLC for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. These Mega Evolutions represent the pinnacle of Raichu's potential, granting further stat boosts and gameplay advantages. The Alolan region's variant, Alolan Raichu, represents a regional form that evolves into an Electric/Psychic-type hybrid with enhanced Special Attack stats and the exclusive ability Surge Surfer, providing a compelling alternative evolution path for trainers in that region.
Where to Find
cerulean cave
kanto
+5 more
power plant
kanto
+1 more
Raichu Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Raichu demonstrates significantly more aggressive and feisty behavior than its pre-evolution, with Pokédex entries from the Gold and Silver generations explicitly noting that when electricity builds up within its body, its muscles become stimulated and it grows far more aggressive than usual. This increased volatility makes sense given the creature's reliance on maintaining electrical equilibrium—the Ruby and Sapphire entries describe how excessive charge in its electrical sacks forces it to deliberately discharge through its grounded tail. When its electrical pouches run empty, Raichu has adapted the remarkable behavior of raising its tail to gather electricity directly from the atmosphere, demonstrating an intimate relationship with ambient electrical phenomena. The creature glows faintly in the dark due to its internal electrical energy, making it visible even in complete darkness. Despite its aggressive tendencies, Raichu maintains a base happiness rating of 70, suggesting that properly trained specimens form genuine bonds with their trainers and respond well to patient conditioning and trust-building.
Pokedex Entries
Its long tail serves as a ground to protect itself from its own high voltage power.
When electricity builds up inside its body, it becomes feisty. It also glows in the dark.
When its electric ity builds, its muscles are stimu lated, and it be comes more aggres sive than usual.
If the electric pouches in its cheeks become fully charged, both ears will stand straight up.
If its electric pouches run empty, it raises its tail to gather electri city from the atmosphere.
If the electrical sacks become excessively charged, RAICHU plants its tail in the ground and discharges. Scorched patches of ground will be found near this POKéMON’s nest.
This POKéMON exudes a weak electrical charge from all over its body that makes it take on a slight glow in darkness. RAICHU searches for electricity by planting its tail in the ground.
If it stores too much electricity, its behavior turns aggressive. To avoid this, it occasionally discharges excess energy and calms itself down.
Its electric charges can reach even 100,000 volts. Careless contact can cause even an Indian elephant to faint.
Its long tail serves as a ground to protect itself from its own high-voltage power.
It turns aggressive if it has too much electricity in its body. It discharges power through its tail.
It can loose 100,000-volt bursts of electricity, instantly downing foes several times its size.
Its tail discharges electricity into the ground, protecting it from getting shocked.
When its electricity builds, its muscles are stimulated, and it becomes more aggressive than usual.
If the electric pouches in its cheeks become fully charged, both ears will stand straight up.
Its tail discharges electricity into the ground, protecting it from getting shocked.
Its tail discharges electricity into the ground, protecting it from getting shocked.
When its electricity builds, its muscles are stimulated, and it becomes more aggressive than usual.
It can loose 100,000-volt bursts of electricity, instantly downing foes several times its size.
If the electrical sacs become excessively charged, Raichu plants its tail in the ground and discharges. Scorched patches of ground will be found near this Pokémon’s nest.
This Pokémon exudes a weak electrical charge from all over its body that makes it take on a slight glow in darkness. Raichu plants its tail in the ground to discharge electricity.
It unleashes electric shocks that can reach 100,000 volts. When agitated, it can knock out even an Indian elephant.
As electricity builds up inside its body, it becomes more aggressive. One theory is that the electricity buildup is actually causing stress.
It becomes aggressive when it has electricity stored up. At such times, even its Trainer has to take care to avoid being attacked.
Because so many Trainers like the way Pikachu looks, you don’t see this Pokémon very often.
When electricity builds up inside its body, it becomes feisty. It also glows in the dark.
Its long tail serves as a ground to protect itself from its own high-voltage power.
If its electric pouches run empty, it raises its tail to gather electricity from the atmosphere.
It can discharge bursts of electricity exceeding 100,000 volts— a single strike with that amount of power would incapacitate one of the Copperajah of my homeland.
Raichu Name Origin & Design Inspiration
Raichu's name traces back to Japanese elements—'Rai' referencing lightning or thunder and 'chu' mimicking the squeaking sound of rodents, continuing the linguistic pattern established by its pre-evolution Pikachu. The character design emphasizes the evolutionary step forward from Pikachu through increased size, more pronounced musculature, and a notably more aggressive facial expression with sharper features. Its distinctive long tail, which serves as both a visual trademark and functional component of its electrical system, echoes the design language of real rodents while being exaggerated to proportions befitting a fantastical creature of immense electrical power. The yellow coloration with brown or orange accents creates a visually striking appearance that reads immediately as a more mature, powerful version of Pikachu, while the standing posture on four legs gives it a distinctly different silhouette than its more upright pre-evolution. The design philosophy clearly emphasizes the transition from 'cute mascot' to 'legitimate powerhouse,' with every visual element contributing to the sense that Raichu is a force to be reckoned with.
Learnable Moves
Raichu can learn 109 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| agility | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| alluring voice | fairy | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| bide | normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| brick break | fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| brutal swing | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| calm mind | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| captivate | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| charge | electric | Status | — | — | 20 |
| charge beam | electric | Special | 50 | 90 | 10 |
| charm | fairy | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| counter | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| covet | normal | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| defense curl | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| detect | fighting | Status | — | — | 5 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| disarming voice | fairy | Special | 40 | — | 15 |
| discharge | electric | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| draining kiss | fairy | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| dynamic punch | fighting | Physical | 100 | 50 | 5 |
| echoed voice | normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| eerie impulse | electric | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| electric terrain | electric | Status | — | — | 10 |
| electro ball | electric | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| electroweb | electric | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| encore | normal | Status | — | 100 | 5 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fake out | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| feint | normal | Physical | 30 | 100 | 10 |
| flash | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| fling | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| focus blast | fighting | Special | 120 | 70 | 5 |
| focus punch | fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| growl | normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| helping hand | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| iron tail | steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| knock off | dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| laser focus | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| light screen | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| magnet rise | electric | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mega kick | normal | Physical | 120 | 75 | 5 |
| mega punch | normal | Physical | 80 | 85 | 20 |
| mimic | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| nasty plot | dark | Status | — | — | 20 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| nuzzle | electric | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| pay day | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| play nice | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| play rough | fairy | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| quick attack | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| rage | normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| reflect | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| reversal | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| rising voltage | electric | Special | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rollout | rock | Physical | 30 | 90 | 20 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| safeguard | normal | Status | — | — | 25 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| seismic toss | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| shock wave | electric | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| signal beam | bug | Special | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| skull bash | normal | Physical | 130 | 100 | 10 |
| slam | normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| spark | electric | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| speed swap | psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| submission | fighting | Physical | 80 | 80 | 20 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| surf | water | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| sweet kiss | fairy | Status | — | 75 | 10 |
| swift | normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| tail whip | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thief | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| thunder | electric | Special | 110 | 70 | 10 |
| thunder punch | electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| thunder shock | electric | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| thunder wave | electric | Status | — | 90 | 20 |
| thunderbolt | electric | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| trailblaze | grass | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| upper hand | fighting | Physical | 65 | 100 | 15 |
| uproar | normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| volt switch | electric | Special | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| wild charge | electric | Physical | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| zap cannon | electric | Special | 120 | 50 | 5 |
Raichu Competitive Battle Guide
Raichu occupies a unique position in competitive Pokémon battling, serving as a legitimate threat in formats where it is legal while requiring significant team support to overcome its defensive limitations. With a base Speed stat of 110, Raichu outspeeds a substantial portion of the metagame, allowing it to threaten opponents before they can respond, while its balanced 90 Attack and 90 Special Attack give it flexibility in move selection and coverage options. The Lightning Rod hidden ability transforms Raichu into a specialized Electric-type switch-in, redirecting opposing Electric moves while simultaneously bolstering its Special Attack, creating interesting team dynamics and wall-breaking potential against Electric-weak defensive cores. However, Raichu's defensive profile is considerably weak, with base Defense and Special Defense stats of 55 and 80 respectively alongside a modest base HP of 60, meaning it functions primarily as an offensive threat that must eliminate threats before taking significant damage. Competitive success with Raichu typically requires careful team building to provide defensive coverage, offensive support, and appropriate terrain or weather control to maximize its sweeping potential. In modern competitive formats, its overall stat sum of 485 places it in the mid-tier range, making it viable in restricted formats and lower-tier competitive ladders while requiring creative play to succeed in higher-tier environments.
Commonly Asked Questions About Raichu
What type is Raichu?
Raichu is a electric type Pokemon.
What does Raichu evolve from?
Raichu evolved from pikachu that evolved from pichu.
What are Raichu's weaknesses?
Raichu is weak to ground type moves.
Where can I find Raichu?
Raichu can be found in cerulean cave (kanto) and power plant (kanto).
How do you evolve Pikachu into Raichu?
Expose Pikachu to a Thunder Stone — unlike most evolutions, this one is item-triggered rather than level-based, and it's permanent once used.
What is a good moveset for Raichu?
A common set pairs Thunderbolt or Thunder Punch for reliable STAB with coverage moves like Focus Blast or Grass Knot, taking advantage of Raichu's 110 base Speed and balanced 90/90 Attack and Special Attack to hit hard before slower threats can respond.
What are alternatives to Raichu for an Electric-type team?
Jolteon (higher Speed and Special Attack, lower bulk) and Ampharos or Luxray (bulkier, more physically-oriented) offer different trade-offs — Raichu's own niche is its Lightning Rod hidden ability, which redirects and absorbs incoming Electric moves.
What is Raichu in the Pokémon franchise?
Raichu is the evolved form of Pikachu, National Pokédex #026, obtained via Thunder Stone rather than leveling — the final stage of the Pichu → Pikachu → Raichu line.
Where is Raichu located in Pokémon Sword and Shield?
Raichu isn't typically a wild encounter in Sword and Shield — it's obtained by using a Thunder Stone on a Pikachu, which can be caught wild or bred.
Is Alolan Raichu competitive in VGC formats?
Alolan Raichu's Electric/Psychic typing and exclusive ability Surge Surfer (which doubles its Speed on Electric Terrain) give it a genuine niche in formats that support Terrain strategies, differentiating it clearly from the Kantonian form's Lightning Rod-based set.
What are common mistakes when training Raichu?
The biggest one is treating it like a bulky attacker — with only 55 base Defense and 60 HP, Raichu can't reliably tank hits, so investing in Speed and offensive stats (rather than Defense/Special Defense) gets far more value out of its build.
Does Raichu learn Wild Charge?
Yes — Wild Charge is a physical Electric-type move available to Raichu via TM in most generations, hitting hard at the cost of recoil damage.
Does Raichu learn Thunder Punch?
Yes — Thunder Punch is part of Raichu's standard TM/move tutor movepool, giving it a reliable physical Electric-type option alongside special moves like Thunderbolt.
Why won't my Raichu obey me in Pokémon games?
Obedience issues aren't specific to Raichu — in mainline games, any traded Pokémon above a certain level relative to your trainer badges can disobey commands in battle. Earning more Gym Badges (or using your own bred/caught Raichu instead of a high-level traded one) resolves it.
Raichu Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Raichu holds a profound place in Pokémon cultural history as the evolved form of Pikachu, the franchise's undisputed mascot, representing both the aspirational power players could achieve through training and the inevitability of change and growth in the Pokémon journey. The character of Lt. Surge and his Raichu served as a major anime antagonist in early episodes of the Pokémon animated series, establishing Raichu as a symbol of competitive mastery and the discipline required to become a champion trainer. This portrayal created a fascinating cultural counterpoint to Pikachu—while Ash's Pikachu chooses to remain un-evolved and maintains its iconic status, Lt. Surge's Raichu demonstrates that evolution represents a valid path to extraordinary power and victory. Across merchandise, trading card games, and multimedia content, Raichu maintains consistent representation as a beloved evolutionary form that bridges the gap between the adorable starter experience and the serious competitive battling scene. The recent introduction of Mega Raichu forms and Alolan Raichu variants has reinvigorated interest in the species, demonstrating that Game Freak and The Pokémon Company continue to view Raichu as a franchise-relevant character worthy of development and expansion rather than a relic of early-generation games.
Where to Find Raichu in Every Pokémon Game
Raichu demonstrates consistent availability across the mainline Pokémon games, appearing in every generation since its introduction in Generation I as a natural evolution of Pikachu through Thunder Stone exposure. In the Kanto region games (Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee), Raichu appears as the natural final evolution option, with wild specimens typically appearing in late-game areas and Lt. Surge's iconic Raichu serving as a memorable trainer battle. Throughout subsequent generations, Raichu has maintained availability either through direct wild encounters, evolution of captured Pikachu, or transfer options from previous generations via systems like Pokémon Bank and Pokémon Home. The introduction of Alolan Raichu in Generation VII provided an alternative form exclusive to the Alola region, with unique availability tied to regional Pokédex slots and the Thunder Stone evolution of Alolan Pikachu. In recent games like Pokémon Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet, and Legends: Arceus, Raichu continues to appear through various encounter methods including wild spawning, evolution chains, and raid encounters, ensuring that players maintaining current game libraries can readily obtain specimens for their teams. The Mega Evolution stones Raichunite X and Raichunite Y, while exclusive to Pokémon Legends: Z-A, expand Raichu's mechanical depth for trainers with access to that title, cementing its place as a perpetually relevant evolutionary option across the franchise's expanding ecosystem.
