Special
Pivot
100Speed · Fast

Is Raichu Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?

Raichu is what Yellow never let you have: the Pikachu line at full power. AbilityStatic carries over, still paralyzing on contact. Handles Misty and provides strong Electric coverage against Lorelei and Lance's Gyarados. The Speed and offense boost from evolving matters in every late-game fight. Use the Thunder Stone whenever you're ready.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadBGTTGGGESEGEEPikachuCatchBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3RaichuEvolveErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4TerryChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Bad

Brock's Pokemon outpace and outclass Pichu here.

Avoid
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Avoid
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleBindRock Tomb
Misty
Gym 2
Good

Pikachu has the type edge here and should clean up Misty's team.

You Win
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleHardenRecoverWater Pulse
You Win
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
SwiftRecoverRapid SpinWater Pulse
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's typing presses Pikachu's defenses.

Risky
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
Sonic BoomTackleScreechShock Wave
Even
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveDouble TeamShock Wave
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveDouble TeamShock Wave
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's typing presses Raichu's defenses.

Risky
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Stun SporeAcidPoison PowderGiga Drain
Risky
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
Poison PowderConstrictIngrainGiga Drain
Risky
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sleep PowderAcidStun SporeGiga Drain
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Raichu has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Self DestructSludgeSmokescreenToxic
You Win
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
MinimizeSludgeAcid ArmorToxic
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Self DestructSludgeSmokescreenToxic
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
TackleSludgeSmokescreenToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Good

Raichu has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.

You Win
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamReflectFuture SightCalm Mind
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
PsychicFairy
Soundproof
BarrierPsybeamBaton PassCalm Mind
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
PsybeamGustLeech LifeSupersonic
Even
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsychicRecoverFuture SightCalm Mind
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Raichu has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

Easy KO
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
BiteRoarTake DownFire Blast
Easy KO
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
StompBounceFire SpinFire Blast
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
StompBounceFire SpinFire Blast
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
BiteRoarTake DownFire Blast
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

Even
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Take DownRock BlastScary FaceEarthquake
Risky
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashSand TombMud SlapEarthquake
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
Body SlamDouble KickPoison StingEarthquake
Even
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ThrashDouble KickPoison StingEarthquake
Even
Rhyhorn
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Take DownRock BlastScary FaceEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Strong

Raichu resists most of Lorelei's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Dewgong
Lv 52
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Ice BeamSurfHailSafeguard
Easy KO
Cloyster
Lv 51
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SpikesProtectHailDive
Easy KO
Slowbro
Lv 52
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
Ice BeamSurfAmnesiaYawn
You Win
Jynx
Lv 54
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Ice PunchDouble SlapLovely KissAttract
You Win
Lapras
Lv 54
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Confuse RayIce BeamSurfBody Slam
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Even
Onix
Lv 51
RockGround
Rock Head
EarthquakeRock TombIron TailRoar
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 53
Fighting
Keen Eye
Sky UppercutMach PunchRock TombCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 53
Fighting
Limber
Mega KickForesightBrick BreakFacade
Even
Onix
Lv 54
RockGround
Rock Head
Double EdgeEarthquakeIron TailSand Tomb
Even
Machamp
Lv 56
Fighting
Guts
Cross ChopBulk UpScary FaceRock Tomb
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Raichu has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 54
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Shadow PunchConfuse RayToxicDouble Team
Easy KO
Golbat
Lv 54
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
Confuse RayPoison FangAir CutterBite
You Win
Haunter
Lv 53
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
HypnosisDream EaterCurseMean Look
You Win
Arbok
Lv 56
Poison
Intimidate
Sludge BombScreechIron TailBite
You Win
Gengar
Lv 58
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Shadow BallSludge BombHypnosisNightmare
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Easy KO
Gyarados
Lv 56
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Hyper BeamDragon RageTwisterBite
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 54
Dragon
Shed Skin
Hyper BeamSafeguardDragon RageOutrage
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 54
Dragon
Shed Skin
Hyper BeamSafeguardThunder WaveOutrage
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 58
RockFlying
Rock Head
Hyper BeamAncient PowerWing AttackScary Face
Even
Dragonite
Lv 60
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Hyper BeamSafeguardOutrageWing Attack
Terry
Champion
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Terry's team.

Even
Heracross
Lv 72
BugFighting
Swarm
MegahornEarthquakeCounterRock Tomb
Even
Alakazam
Lv 73
Psychic
Synchronize
PsychicShadow BallCalm MindReflect
You Win
Tyranitar
Lv 72
RockDark
Sand Stream
CrunchEarthquakeThunderboltAerial Ace
You Win
Gyarados
Lv 73
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Hydro PumpDragon DanceEarthquakeHyper Beam
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 73
Fire
Intimidate
Extreme SpeedOverheatAerial AceIron Tail
Risky
Venusaur
Lv 75
GrassPoison
Overgrow
Solar BeamSludge BombEarthquakeSunny Day
Catch Pikachu
Available before Badge 1
Type
Electric
Tier
C

Catch Pikachu on Viridian Forest (walking, Lv 3-5, rare).

View Pikachu locations

Recommended Moves
  • After Brock
    • TUTORNormalMega Kick12075%5
  • After Lt. Surge
    • TM34ElectricShock Wave90100%20
    • TM28GroundDig80100%10
    • LV 26ElectricThunderbolt135100%15
    • LV 41ElectricThunder16570%10
  • After Koga
    • TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
  • After Giovanni
    • TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
  • Post-Game
    • TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
    • TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Evolve Pikachu to Raichu
Use Thunder Stone
Type
Electric
Tier
B

You can usually obtain this item before you reach Erika.

Recommended Moves
  • STARTING (Lv 24)
    • LV 24ElectricThunderbolt135100%15
  • After Brock
    • TUTORNormalMega Kick12075%5
  • After Lt. Surge
    • TM34ElectricShock Wave90100%20
  • After Erika
    • TM25ElectricThunder16570%10
    • TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
  • After Koga
    • TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
  • After Giovanni
    • TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
  • Post-Game
    • TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
    • TM42NormalFacade70100%20

How to Get Raichu in FireRed & LeafGreen

Thunder Stone on Pikachu. No wild Raichu in FRLG. You'll need to find or buy the stone, and Pikachu itself only lives in two areas.

Catch Pikachu at any of these 2 spots to eventually evolve into Raichu.

Encountered via tall grass encounters

  1. 1
    Catch Pichu
  2. 2
    Evolve Pikachuwith high Friendship
  3. 3
    Evolve RaichuUse Thunder Stone
Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8

How to Obtain Raichu in FRLG

The path to Raichu starts with Pichu at Lv. 3-26 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Pichu
    Step 1Breed Pichu from Pikachu
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave Pikachu with a compatible partner at the Four Island Pokemon Day Care to receive a Pichu egg. Requires the Rainbow Pass to access Four Island.
    HOME TRANSFER
    Not Tradeable
    Pokemon HOME on Switch FireRed & LeafGreen is permanently deposit-only — once it launches, Pichu can be sent from this game into HOME, but never transferred in.
  2. Raichu
    Step 3Raichu

Raichu Weakness

Type-wise, Raichu takes extra damage from Ground. Not many exploitable gaps in the Electric typing defensive chart. Lightning Rod grants an additional Electric immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Raichu's special bulk (base 80 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Raichu Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ground
0.5x (Resist)Electric, Flying, Steel
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Raichu Weak Against

Good
1Weak
3Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Raichu Strong Against

2Strong
3Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
2xStrong
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Raichu

Raichu Evolutions

Raichu evolved from Pichu's chain using an evolution item. It's a non-standard trigger, so check the details below. Breed this form to get Pichu eggs (quick to hatch). The evolution from Pichu pushed Raichu to 475 total stats. Sp.Atk saw the largest single gain at +55. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Pichu
#172Pichu
High Friendship
Pikachu
#025Pikachu
Thunder Stone
Thunder Stone
Raichu
#026Raichu
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Pichu
Electric
Pikachu
Electric
Raichu
Electric
HP
20
35+15
60+25
ATK
40
55+15
90+35
DEF
15
40+25
55+15
SP.ATK
35
50+15
90+40
SP.DEF
35
50+15
80+30
SPE
60
90+30
110+20
BST
205D-Tier
320C-Tier+115
485C-Tier+165
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Raichu to get Pichu eggs easily using 27 partners from the Fairy and Ground egg groups. Notable egg moves include Bide, Charge, Double Slap and 4 more.

Egg Groups
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
10 cycles·2,570 steps
Fast~3 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
7moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarilltogeticpikachunidokinggolduckampharosglalierhydonjumpluffbreloomdewgongmarill

FRLG Raichu Best Moveset

90 Sp. Atk at 100 Speed fires MoveThunderbolt from the special side where all Electric moves land. AbilityStatic paralyzes on contact. The moveset hits fast as a pure Electric attacker, though the lack of coverage options means Ground types shut it down completely.

Best Build

Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Static
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Raichu
Timid+SPE

Raichu best EVs are Speed and Sp. Atk

EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • SurfCoverage
  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • SubstituteUtility
  • ThunderSTAB

Moves List

The egg pool carries weight here. Bide and Charge aren't available any other way for Raichu, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Thunder and Thunderbolt for solid options.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Quick Attack+1
D4010030Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
10030Normal
Lv 1
Thunder Shock
6010030Electric
Lv 1
Thunderbolt
B14210015Electric

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
C7510015Fighting
TM28
Dig
C6010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
HM05
Flash
7020Normal
TM01
Focus Punch-3
A15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
D10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM23
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
TM16
Light Screen
C30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
C10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
A5Water
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM27
Return
D10020Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
D2010015Fighting
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM34
Shock Wave
C9020Electric
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM46
Thief
D6010025Dark
TM25
Thunder
A1807010Electric
TM24
Thunderbolt
B14210015Electric
TM06
Toxic
C8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Bide+1
10Normal
Egg
Charge
D20Electric
Egg
Double Slap
158510Normal
Egg
Encore
C1005Normal
Egg
Present
D9015Normal
Egg
Reversal
D10015Fighting
Egg
Wish
C10Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Tutor
Counter-5
D10020Fighting
Tutor
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Tutor
Mega Kick
C120755Normal
Tutor
Mega Punch
808520Normal
Tutor
Mimic
D10Normal
Tutor
Seismic Toss
D10020Fighting
Tutor
Substitute
B10Normal
Tutor
Thunder Wave
A10020Electric

Reminder Moves

Rem
Rem
Agility
C30Psychic
Rem
Charm
D10020Normal
Rem
Double Team
15Normal
Rem
Fly
C709515Flying
Rem
Growl
D10040Normal
Rem
Light Screen
C30Psychic
Rem
Slam
807520Normal
Rem
Surf
B9510015Water
Rem
Sweet Kiss
7510Normal
Rem
Thunder
A1807010Electric
Rem
Thunder Wave
A10020Electric

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP60
C
Attack90
B
Defense55
D
Sp. Atk90
B
Sp. Def80
C
Speed100
B
Total475
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging75 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.8 m
Weight30.0 kg
Base XP243
Abilities
Static
Has a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+3
Strong Speed training target
Pokedex Entry

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.

Raichu FireRed & LeafGreen Guide

  • Raichu is obtained in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen by evolving Pikachu using a Thunder Stone.

Game Availability

Available since Red & Blue, Raichu appears in 23 games spanning 10 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained an Alolan form in Generation 7.

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