0RLY
A great conversation filler at bars and parties
Raikou
Type: Electric
Ability: Pressure - Enemy attacks use 1 extra PP.
90/85/75/115/100/115
CMKou
Raikou @ Leftovers
Pressure: Timid
64 HP, 136 SpA, 56 SpD, 252Spe
-Substitute
-Calm Mind
-Thunderbolt
-HP (Ice, Grass, Ground, Fighting, whatever you need)
HP - 336 (21 HP lefties recovery)
SpA - 300
SpD - 250
Spe - 361
Raikou will be walled by different Pokemon depending on what Hidden Power you use. Make sure you have a reliable Pokemon to fall back on when Raikou meets Magnezone, Snorlax, or even Tyranitar. The goal is simple, come in on a Pokemon that dislikes Raikou, make a sub and see who your opponent switches out to. If your foe stays in, alternate between CM and sub until your opponent can't break your Substitutes in 1 hit anymore. Typically, this will take 3 CMs for a really stron special sweeper, like Heatran; 2 CMs for a moderately strong special sweeper, like Lucario; and 1 CM for a plain special attacker. If the moves are unstabbed, approximately one less CM is needed.
Electric and Ice provide the best coverage, but allow Magnezone and most special walls to beat you. Grass lets you score a fatal blow on Swampert and Rhyperior, but gets you walled by every Grass type (good thing there aren't a lot of them roaming around in OU). Fighting lets you 2hko min/min Tyranitar, 73% with leftovers. Thunderbolt only gets to break one of Tyranitar's subs 100% of the time with a margin of 0.5%. If Tyranitar invests in HP/SpD, you'd better watch yourself. Ground gives you an answer to Magnezone, ohkoing all but the bulkier versions. If one does happen to switch in, your sub should keep you safe and you outspeed it anyways. Fighting also deals with Magnezone, but remember that it's a 2hko, even with a Calm Mind. Fire is not recommended because Thunderbolt already deals with what Fire can hit.
ChoiceKou
Raikou @ Choice Specs/Scarf
Pressure: Timid/Modest
4 HP, 252 SpA, 252 Spe
-Thunderbolt
-HP (Ice, Grass, whatever)
-Shadow Ball/Signal Beam
-Extrasensory/Signal Beam
First off, Raikou is already fast so you might be wondering why a Scarf set is even considered. One reason is: outspeeding other scarfed Pokemon. The other reason is: outspeeding Polished, Agility'd, and Dragon Danced Pokes. When using a Scarf set, 40 HP/252 SpA/216 Spe with a Modest nature is recommended. It's all you need to outrun Agility Metagross and +1 Spe Base 110s. Note that Metagross does need prior damage dealt to it before you can defeat it (Modest T-bolt deals an average of 58%). Using a Super Effective Hidden Power won't help you since 70*2=140 and T-bolt does 95*1.5=142.5.
The Specs set is just for the added power without needing to set-up.
LOKou
Raikou @ Life Orb
Pressure: Timid/Modest
252 SpA, 4 SpD, 252 Spe (29 HP IV to round down LO recoil)
-Thunderbolt
-HP (Grass, Fighting, whatever)
-Shadow Ball/Roar
-Calm Mind/Charge Beam
Raikou can afford to be Modest here because this set focuses a little more on power. The goal is to boost your SpA with either Calm Mind or Charge Beam. Then, you begin your sweep. HP (Ice) isn't entirely needed here since Salamence is ohko'd by Thunderbolt after LO and +1 SpA. Dragonite too, with a Modest nature. Tyranitar becomes more manageable with a +1 boost, Life Orb, and HP (Fight) - a 33% chance to ohko (252 HP/0 SpD). This is guaranteed after SR. Roar here gives you a chance against other Pokemon trying to stat-up with you. Shadow Ball ohkos 252/0 Rotom-a 100% of the time. If you go with Roar, T-bolt 2hkos Rotom-a after SR, so you shouldn't have too much trouble dealing with it.
EVs
64 HP, 136 SpA, 56 SpD, 252Spe - or - 252 SpA, 4 SpD, 252 Spe (cookie cutter build)
Don't invest in Def at all. Raikou
Just some examples to see what Raikou does to some random OU Pokemon I pulled from a hat.
Bronzong's Earthquake takes out a little over half your HP, too much for lefties to heal off, but less than SR+Substitute damage. Your Thunderbolt has a slim chance of 3hkoing him with the current EVs. You will need to max SpA if you want to guarantee it. If you already have a Calm Mind under your belt, it's a 2hko with maxed SpA. Without max SpA, you only have a 1% chance. Calcs were performed on a 336/319 Bronzong (standard).
Scizor's Bullet Punch, without a Life Orb, can't break this Raikou's sub with max damage. With a LO, it is guaranteed to. A Scizor's Superpower has a 50% chance to 2hko you without Life Orb. After a Calm Mind, you have a 50% chance of beating Scizor after it takes LO recoil. With max SpA, you have a 100% chance of taking out Scizor after LO recoil. Calcs were performed on a min/min Scizor.
Infernape is ohko'd by Thunderbolt after CM and SR. With max SpA, 80% chance of ohkoing Infernape after CM and no SR. You should always be faster than Infernape, so you shouldn't worry about taking a hit.
Hippowdon is perfectly 3hko'd by HP (Ice), even with Leftovers. Unfortunately, it packs an ohko Earthquake on you. With a CM and a sub, you can defeat it before it can heal it's health back with Slack Off. If your opponent knows this, they may just Roar your sub and your CM away.
Other Options
Crunch, Quick Attack, Reflect, Discharge, Rain Dance, Thunder, Rest, Sleep Talk, Thunder Wave, Magnet Rise, Iron Head.
Raikou has just enough moves to utilize a Choice Band set if you wish, but it only reaches 403 Atk with a neutral nature, so a Pokemon like Dragonite could hit for similar damage, albeit with more speed. Raikou is already fast, so it doesn't need Thunder Wave. A bulkier Pokemon should fulfill the supporting role instead. Reflect lets Raikou take physical hits better, but it won't save you from any Earthquakes, unless it's coming from a Bronzong.
Legal Hidden Power IVs
HP (Ice)
Timid: 22 Atk, 30 Def
Modest: 10 Atk, 30 Def
HP (Grass)
Timid: 2 Atk, 30 SpA
Modest: 26 Atk, 30 SpA
HP (Fight)
Timid: 22 Def, 30 SpA, 30 SpD, 30 Spe
Modest: 22 Def, 30 SpA, 30 SpD, 30 Spe Make sure you use 220 Spe EVs instead of 216 when using this Hidden Power
Counters
Toxic Spikes will ruin sub Raikou's fun, unless you have Rest (highly unlikely). Snorlax, Blissey (must have Seismic Toss), Tyranitar, Hippowdon, Magnezone, Electivire, and whatever your Hidden Power+Thunderbolt combination can't hit. Any counter can be defeated with enough Calm Minds, so Mean Look support and some luck can lead you to a game ending sweep. Residual damage from status and weather hinder Raikou's overall effectiveness.
Written by 0RLy.
