Stats & Training
Raikou's built around special offense. Sp. Atk leads the charge, Defense pays for it. Near-impossible to catch, worth 3 Sp. Atk and Speed EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back.
It is said to have fallen with lightning. It can fire thunderbolts from the rain clouds on its back.
Raikou Weakness
Raikou's Electric typing leaves it vulnerable to Ground. Its Electric typing keeps the defensive matchups simple. Raikou's special bulk (base 100 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Electric, Flying, Steel |
In Sword & Shield, Runerigus's Poltergeist hits Raikou for 45-53%. Garchomp threatens a KO with Earthquake (130-153%).
 Runerigus GroundGhost | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityWanderingspirit ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Raikou View Runerigus builds →Poltergeist45-53% | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Raikou View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x130-153%KO | ||
Sword & Shield Evolution
You can't breed Raikou or evolve it into anything else. This Electric legendary packs 580 stats and doesn't need a chain to be relevant. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Sword & Shield Raikou Best Moveset
Water coverage is what separates a good sweep from a wasted boost. After Calm Mind, Raikou threatens a wide range with max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs and Heavy-Duty Boots backing every hit.
Best Build
Raikou best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Calm Mind
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Extreme Speed
- Aura Sphere
- Discharge
- Thunder Wave
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Without TMs, Raikou's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 8 types on top of Zap Cannon and Thunder for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Raikou in Sword & Shield
Raikou Guide
For the Sword & Shield meta, At 580 BST, Raikou is built different. We rank it B-Tier. As a Legendary Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a sweeper. Thunderbolt with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.
In Sword & Shield, watch for Rhydon (Ground) when using Raikou. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
Pressure increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one. That's the one you want on Raikou. Inner Focus is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
In Sword & Shield, Raikou fills the sweeper role. It's a special attacker with base 115 Sp. Atk. Base 115 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
In Sword & Shield, run Thunderbolt, Scald, Volt Switch, and Calm Mind on Raikou. Thunderbolt is the most common pick at 25% usage. Thunderbolt provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Raikou has appeared in 17 games since Gold & Silver, spanning 9 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves