Transfer-only with Pressure depleting PP, Raikou's Speed plus Sp.Atk keep it one of Gen 3's best A-Tier Electric types in Ruby & Sapphire.
Ability 1PressureAbility 1Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
580HP90Attack85Defense75Speed115Sp.Def100Sp.Atk115
Weak to
Special
Sweeper
115Speed · Fast

Is Raikou Good in Ruby & Sapphire Playthrough?

Not native to Hoenn. Trade from Colosseum. AbilityPressure doubles PP drain. One of the fastest Electric-types in Gen 3 with strong Special. If imported, Raikou outspeeds almost everything in RS and handles Winona, Wallace, and Glacia. The Colosseum import makes it rare but powerful.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEGEGESGGGGSEERoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6Tate & LizaGym 7WallaceGym 8RaikouTradeSidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4StevenChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Even

Raikou trades roughly evenly with Roxanne's team.

Even
Geodude
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
You Win
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
TackleHardenRock ThrowRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Good

Raikou has the type edge here and should clean up Brawly's team.

You Win
Machop
Lv 17
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopSeismic TossBulk Up
You Win
Makuhita
Lv 18
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustKnock OffSand AttackBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Even

Raikou trades roughly evenly with Wattson's team.

Even
Magnemite
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomThunder ShockThunder Wave
Even
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSelf DestructSparkSonic Boom
Even
Magneton
Lv 23
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomShock WaveThunder Wave
Flannery
Gym 4
Good

Raikou has the type edge here and should clean up Flannery's team.

You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
FlamethrowerRock SlideLight ScreenSunny Day
Even
Torkoal
Lv 28
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatBody SlamFlailAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Raikou trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

Even
Slaking
Lv 28
Normal
Truant
EncoreFacadeYawnFeint Attack
You Win
Vigoroth
Lv 30
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFeint AttackFacadeEncore
Even
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
Focus PunchSlack OffFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Strong

Raikou resists most of Winona's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Swellow
Lv 31
NormalFlying
Guts
Quick AttackAerial AceDouble TeamEndeavor
Easy KO
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Easy KO
Skarmory
Lv 32
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Good

Raikou has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.

You Win
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
You Win
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Wallace
Gym 8
Good

Raikou has the type edge here and should clean up Wallace's team.

Easy KO
Luvdisc
Lv 40
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
Risky
Whiscash
Lv 42
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
Easy KO
Sealeo
Lv 40
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Easy KO
Seaking
Lv 42
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseRain DanceFury AttackHorn Drill
You Win
Milotic
Lv 43
Water
Marvel Scale
Water PulseTwisterRecoverIce Beam
Sidney
Elite Four
Good

Raikou has the type edge here and should clean up Sidney's team.

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarTake DownSand AttackCrunch
Even
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
Fake OutDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Even
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Easy KO
Sharpedo
Lv 48
WaterDark
Rough Skin
CrunchSwaggerSurfSlash
You Win
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceSnatchSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Good

Raikou has the type edge here and should clean up Phoebe's team.

You Win
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseFuture Sight
You Win
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallSpiteWill O WispFeint Attack
You Win
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallPsychicAttractFeint Attack
You Win
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicToxicSkill Swap
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamConfuse RayEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Strong

Raikou resists most of Glacia's coverage and hits back hard.

You Win
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchHailIce Beam
Easy KO
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamHailIce Ball
Easy KO
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDiveHailBlizzard
You Win
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallCrunchHailIce Beam
Easy KO
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamBlizzardSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Even

Raikou trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.

Even
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectCrunch
You Win
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Take DownDragon BreathDragon DanceRefresh
Risky
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
DigDragon BreathFlySandstorm
Even
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathSand Attack
Even
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawFlyCrunch
Steven
Champion
Even

Raikou trades roughly evenly with Steven's team.

Easy KO
Skarmory
Lv 57
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
ToxicAerial AceSpikesSteel Wing
Even
Claydol
Lv 55
GroundPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
ReflectLight ScreenAncient PowerEarthquake
Even
Aggron
Lv 56
SteelRock
Sturdy
ThunderEarthquakeSolar BeamDragon Claw
Even
Cradily
Lv 56
RockGrass
Suction Cups
Giga DrainAncient PowerSludge BombConfuse Ray
You Win
Armaldo
Lv 56
RockBug
Battle Armor
Water PulseAncient PowerAerial AceSlash
Even
Metagross
Lv 58
SteelPsychic
Clear Body
EarthquakePsychicMeteor MashHyper Beam

Trade

Transfer-only
Type
Electric
Tier
A

Raikou cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.

View Raikou locations

How to Get Raikou in Ruby & Sapphire

Hoenn fields its own legendary trio, so Raikou does not roam here and only arrives by trade. Its catch rate of 3 made it a brutal chase back in its home game.

How to Get Shiny Raikou in Ruby & Sapphire

Raikou's roam only begins in FireRed or LeafGreen, where beating Team Rocket on Five Island with Squirtle as your starter sets it loose across Kanto, so hunt the shiny there and trade it over. See every game where Shiny Raikou can be hunted

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Raikou in Ruby & SapphireNormal
Shiny Raikou in Ruby & Sapphire Shiny
Color ShiftYellow
Shiny TierC Tier Shiny

Shiny Raikou Evolution

Does Not Evolve
Raikou does not evolve
Single-stage PokemonView Full Evolution Chart

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.

Raikou 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 Raikou Weak Against

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

What is Raikou Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Raikou

Swampert
Swampert
WaterGround
S
Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
B
Donphan
Donphan
Ground
B
Flygon
Flygon
GroundDragon
B
Camerupt
Camerupt
FireGround
C

Raikou Evolutions

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

No Evolution
Raikou
#243Raikou
Does not evolve

Breeding

Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

RS Raikou Best Moveset

115 Sp. Atk at 115 Speed fires MoveThunderbolt with top-tier power and initiative. AbilityPressure doubles opponent PP usage. MoveCalm Mind boosts Sp. Atk and Sp. Def for sweep setup. MoveRest plus MoveSleep Talk sustains. Held ItemLeftovers recovers. Fast Calm Mind Electric attacker.

Best Build

Experimental
Special Setup Sweeper
Ability
Pressure
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Raikou
Timid+SPE

Raikou best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Setup Sweeper Moveset

  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • Calm Mind
  • Hidden Power Grass
  • SubstituteUtility

Moves List

Without TMs, Raikou's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get Dark and Normal coverage and more on top of Thunder and Thunderbolt for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bite
D6010025Dark
Lv 1
Leer
D—10030Normal
Lv 11
Thunder Shock
—6010030Electric
Lv 21
Roar-6
C——20Normal
Lv 31
Quick Attack+1
D4010030Normal
Lv 41
Spark
C9710020Electric
Lv 51
Reflect
C——20Psychic
Lv 61
Crunch
A8010015Dark
Lv 71
Thunder
B1807010Electric
Lv 81
Calm Mind
B——20Psychic

TM Moves

All 25 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM04
Calm MindPrize for defeating Tate & Lizanot until badge 7
B——20Psychic
HM01D509530Normal
TM28
DigRoute 114badge 3
C6010010Ground
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D7010020Normal
HM05
FlashGranite Cavebadge 1
——7020Normal
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamLilycove Department Storebadge 5
B150905Normal
TM23
Iron TailMeteor Fallsnot until badge 8
C1007515Steel
TM17C——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM33C——20Psychic
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6Route 114badge 3
C——20Normal
HM06
Rock SmashMauville Citybadge 2
D2010015Fighting
TM37
SandstormRoute 111badge 4
D——10Rock
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
TM34C90—20Electric
HM04
StrengthRusturf Tunnelbadge 3
—8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny DayScorched Slabbadge 5
C——5Fire
TM25B1807010Electric
TM24
ThunderboltMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
B14210015Electric
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Raikou doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Raikou can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Pseudo
HP90
B
Attack85
C
Defense75
C
Sp. Atk115
B
Sp. Def100
B
Speed115
B
Total580
Details
Catch Rate
Legendary3 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.9 m
Weight178.0 kg
Base XP261
Abilities
Pressure
Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+1SpDSpe+2
Strong Speed training target
Pokedex Entry

RAIKOU embodies the speed of lightning. The roars of this POKéMON send shock waves shuddering through the air and shake the ground as if lightning bolts had come crashing down.

Pokemon Ruby / Pokemon Sapphire

Raikou Ruby & Sapphire Guide

  • Raikou isn't catchable in Ruby & Sapphire. Catch one in FireRed or LeafGreen, then trade it to Ruby & Sapphire.

Game Availability

Raikou has appeared in 17 games since Gold & Silver, spanning 8 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.

Explore

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