Raichu (Pokémon)

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Raichu (Japanese: ライチュウ Raichu) is an introduced in Generation I.
It evolves from when exposed to a Thunder Stone. It is the final form of .
In Alola, Raichu has a -type regional form. It evolves from Pikachu when exposed to a Thunder Stone. All Pikachu in Alola will evolve into this form regardless of their origin.
==Biology==
Raichu is a bipedal, rodent-like Pokémon. Raichu is covered in dark orange fur with a white belly. Its bifurcated ears are brown on the outside, yellow on the insides, and end in a distinctive curl. There is a circular yellow marking on each cheek where its electric sacs are, and it has a triangular, dark brown nose. Its arms and feet have patches of brown fur at the end, and the soles of its long feet are tan with a circular orange pad in the center. On its back are two horizontal brown stripes. Its long, thin tail has a lightning bolt-shaped end. This lightning bolt is chipped on females. Raichu exudes a weak electrical charge from all its body and glows slightly in the dark.
Raichu's tail is used to gather electricity from the atmosphere, or it can be planted in the ground to search for electricity. It can store over 100,000 volts of electricity. If Raichu's sacs are fully charged, its ears will stand straight up and its muscles become stimulated. However, it will become aggressive if it has stored too much electricity. To keep from reaching this state, it discharges electricity through its tail into the ground. This leads to scorched patches near its nest. Being the result of an evolution via Evolution stone, Raichu is rarely found in the wild, though they can be found in Like the in its evolution family, Raichu is able to learn as a signature move.
In Alola, Raichu has lighter coloring and more rounded features. Its eyes are blue with yellow half-circles along the bottom. It has large yellow ears with an inner spiral toward the base and brown on the inside. These ears are thicker and less pointed than a standard Raichu's ear. In addition to its white belly, Alolan Raichu has white markings on its paws with bright yellow lines between its digits. The stripes on its back have also turned white, and there is a small, white circular marking on each heel. The lightning bolt-shaped tip of its tail has rounded edges. By collecting its psychic power in its tail, it is able to ride it like a and float in the air. While its cheek sacs are still used to store electricity, rubbing them releases a sweet aroma. This is also thought to be connected to its Psychic abilities. Raichu's transformation in Alola into Alolan Raichu is mostly a mystery, but the people of Alola suggest that it ate too many sweet and fluffy pancakes.Pokémon Sun and Moon site | Alolan Raichu Researchers do believe the change is related to diet. Alolan Raichu is also sometimes called "hodad". It is the only known Pokémon capable of using the exclusive Z-Move .
==In the anime==
===In the main series===
====Major appearances====
=====Lt. Surge's Raichu=====
Raichu debuted in Electric Shock Showdown, under the ownership of Lt. Surge, the Gym Leader of Vermilion City. It defeated Ash's Pikachu with its sheer power during 's Gym . After unsuccessfully discussing the prospect of evolution with Pikachu to match Raichu's power, Ash used a strategy relying on Pikachu's speed to defeat Raichu during a rematch the next day.
=====Other=====
A Raichu appeared in Pikachu's Vacation. It was one of the four Pokémon causing trouble for and his friends at the Pokémon Theme Park, the others being , , and .
A Raichu nicknamed Raichie appeared in Lights, Camera, Quack-tion, under the ownership of . She decided to use it in the Cleavon Schpielbunk film "".
A Raichu appeared in Stage Fight!, under the ownership of Kay. It was a part a stage show that featured "" Pokémon, but it had stage fright.
A Raichu appeared in Mild 'n Wooly, under the ownership of Ellen. She commonly uses it to round up a herd of with its .
A Raichu nicknamed "Sugar" appeared in Cooking Up a Sweet Story. It evolved from the restaurant owner, Abigail's, missing Pikachu.
A Raichu appeared in Pika and Goliath!, under the ownership of Sho, who sought to have possession of one Pokémon each from the Pikachu evolutionary line. It battled Ash's Pikachu twice in that episode, with Raichu being victorious the first time and Pikachu triumphing during the rematch.
A Raichu appeared in Camping It Up!, under the ownership of the Pokémon Summer Academy. It has a very skittish Raichu for its students. It was trained by .
A Raichu appeared in Flint Sparks the Fire! and The Fleeing Tower of Sunyshore!, under the ownership of Volkner. It was his main battling Pokémon. Raichu briefly reappeared again alongside Volkner during the ending credits of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
A female Raichu debuted in Good Friends, Great Training!, under the ownership of . She reappeared in Valuable Experience for All!, where Tierno used her in his battle against Ash along with , battling Pikachu and , but they were both eventually defeated. Raichu later battled Sawyer, defeating before being recalled after fighting . Raichu later battled but soon lost.
An Raichu debuted in Racing to a Big Event!, under the ownership of Nina. It was used during the Pokémon Pancake Race, where it placed second. It has made further appearances in the .
An Alolan Raichu appeared in Battle Royal 151!, under the ownership of Hau. He used it during the Battle Royal round of the Manalo Conference, where it helped reached its Trainer the Top 16 position. It reappeared in Battling Besties!, where it battled against Samson Oak and his and won.
A Raichu appeared in SS018, under the ownership of Visquez. It was first seen defeating a Trainer's before going up against Ash's Pikachu. Ash eventually withdrew Pikachu and sent out in his place; the Shadow Pokémon then managed to defeat Raichu.
====Minor appearances====
A Raichu appeared in Pokémon Fashion Flash as one of the Pokémon seen on Scissor Street.
A Raichu appeared in The Battling Eevee Brothers during the evolution party in Stone Town.
A Trainer's Raichu appeared in Mewtwo Strikes Back as one of the Pokémon defeated while serving for .
Multiple Raichu appeared in The Power of One, where they were among the numerous Pokémon who sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.
A Raichu appeared in Pokémon Double Trouble.
A Raichu appeared in Tricks of the Trade as one of the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Swap Meet in Palmpona.
A Raichu appeared in Beauty and the Breeder, under the ownership of a participating in a Pokémon breeding competition.
A Raichu made a cameo in The Legend of Thunder!. It was one of the Pokémon that were lured by the "Miracle Crystal" that Attila and Hun were using. Raichu tried to be the hero by zapping the crystal, but the attack bounced back to itself.
A Raichu appeared in As Clear As Crystal as one of the Pokémon affected by a crystal that gave a lake the ability to heal Pokémon.
A Raichu appeared in Brock's demonstration in A Bite to Remember, where it evolved from a .
A 's Raichu appeared in Lessons in Lilycove.
A Raichu appeared in Deceit and Assist, under the ownership of a Coordinator participating in the Hoenn Grand Festival.
A Raichu appeared in Sticking With Who You Know!, where it fell in love with a due to the effect of Professor Kodama's machine.
Three Raichu appeared in Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!
A Raichu appeared in Clemont's demonstration in To Catch a Pokémon Smuggler!, where it evolved from a using a Thunder Stone.
Two Raichu appeared in Alola, Kanto!. One appeared in a fantasy, and the other was found by at Professor Oak's Laboratory, after which began running circles around it.
A Trainer's Alolan Raichu appeared in A Young Royal Flame Ignites!.
An Alolan Raichu appeared in The Shape of Love to Come!, where it was approached by Rapp, who found it cute.
A Trainer's Alolan Raichu appeared in I Choose Paradise!, where it was among the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Paradise Resort.
A Trainer's Raichu appeared in From Z to Shining Z!, where it watched the battle between Ash's Pikachu and .
====Pokédex entries====
===In Pokémon Origins===
====Lt. Surge's Raichu====
 battled Lt. Surge's Raichu in File 2: Cubone.
====Other====
A Raichu appeared in File 1: Red as one of the Pokémon seen in Professor Oak's introduction.
==In the manga==
===In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga===
A Raichu appears in Raichu's Best Friend. The ghost of a Trainer named wishes to be reunited with her old friend Raichu.
===In the Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga===
Lt. Surge's Raichu only appeared as a silhouette in JBA5 along with its Trainer and the other Kanto Gym Leaders.
===In the Pokémon Adventures manga===
Lt. Surge has a Raichu, which was first seen in Silph Co. in Go for the Golbat. However, it never participated in s until fighting the Masked Man in his Mahogany Hideout, where it helped Surge break in and seemingly backed the mastermind into a corner, until his called upon dozens of wild Houndour to thwart Surge, instead. The former Team Rocket triad member barely escaped with his life after having many of his self-destruct.
A Raichu appeared in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to participate in the fight in Ilex Forest.
A Raichu by and lent to for his Battle Pike challenge appeared in Moving Past Milotic.
The rented a Raichu, which was stolen by Guile Hideout in The Final Battle VII. It reappeared in The Final Battle IX.
Volkner has a Raichu, which he used it in his against in Encountering Elekid.
A Raichu appeared in Out-Odding Oddish, under the ownership of a Pokéathlon participant.
====Pokédex entries====
===In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga===
A Raichu appeared in GDZ21.
A Raichu appeared in GDZ23.
===In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga===
A Raichu appeared in Clefairy Evolves... At Last?!.
 has a Raichu, which he used to battle in The Pokémon Banana League (Part 1).
A Raichu appeared in PMDP16.
===In the Pokémon Zensho manga===
 had a that chose to evolve into a Raichu to help him defeat the Elite Four in PZ10.
==In the TCG==
==Other appearances==
===Super Smash Bros. Ultimate===
Alolan Raichu appears as a Pokémon summoned from the . It attacks with , surfing with its tail across the stage and damaging passersby with electricity.
==In the TFG==
One Raichu figure has been released.
* : 
==Game data==
===NPC appearances===
* Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team: Raichu is part of an unnamed rescue team which gathers at Pokémon Square just before the player and partner are able to access Magma Cavern.
===Pokédex entries===
====Raichu====
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====Alolan Raichu====
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===Game locations===
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====In side games====
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===Held items===
===Stats===
====Base stats====
=====Generation I-V=====
=====Generation VI onward=====
=====Alolan Raichu=====
====Pokéathlon stats====
===Type effectiveness===
====Raichu====
====Alolan Raichu====
===Learnset===
====By leveling up====
=====Raichu=====
=====Alolan Raichu=====
====By TM/TR====
=====Raichu=====
=====Alolan Raichu=====
====By ====
====By tutoring====
=====Raichu=====
=====Alolan Raichu=====
====By a prior evolution====
===Side game data===
====Raichu====
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 Costumes in 
 	 	 	 	
Festive hat 	Party hat 	Ash hat 	Witch hat 	Summer Style
 	 	 	 	
H.F. Custom Cap	Flower crown	Detective Pikachu	Beanie hat	
====Alolan Raichu====
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===Evolution===
===Sprites===
==Trivia==
* Raichu and Raichu were created by Atsuko Nishida.Interview with Ken Sugimori in Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon Edition: The Official National Pokédex
* Raichu originally had an evolved form named "Gorochu", which would have had two horns and fangs. Sugimori stated that while there was nothing wrong with its appearance, it was nonetheless omitted, as the staff found that the game balance was better without it.http://www.siliconera.com/2018/05/03/pikachu-originally-second-evolution-called-gorochu-large-fangs-two-horns/
* No other Pokémon has the same type combination as Alolan Raichu.
* In , there is a at the Pokémon Lab in Cinnabar Island who will trade a Raichu for an . If the player talks to him after the trade, he will mention that the Raichu evolved, which is not possible. This mistake was due to the original translation of the script of the Japanese Blue (in which this person traded a Graveler for a Kadabra) rather than that of . This error was corrected in , as the script was retranslated.
* Raichu's FireRed and Sun Pokédex entries reference a 1903 documentary film called Electrocuting an Elephant by .
* Several Pokédex entries claim Raichu can discharge up to . However, its Stadium entry claims it can only discharge up to 10,000 volts. This is likely a translation error due to the way numbers are read in Japanese, where 100,000 literally reads "ten ten-thousands".
* Raichu appears in every regional Pokédex except the Unova Pokédex.
* Although is the starter of , it is not possible to directly evolve it into Raichu in the game, and must be traded in from . This inability to evolve Pikachu is a reference to Ash's Pikachu in the anime.
* Raichu and its pre-evolved form both share their name with , , , and . They are all known as the Mouse Pokémon, though Rattata and Raticate have also been called the Rat Pokémon.
** They all have at least one family member with a regional form in Alola.
* Raichu's number in the National Pokédex and the Alola Pokédex in Pokémon Sun and Moon are the same: 026.
* Alolan Raichu is the only regional form Pokémon to have a exclusive to it.
===Origin===
Raichu's legs and long tail are like those of a or .
Alolan Raichu is likely based on the concept of and the sport of itself, which originated in Hawaii, the inspiration for the Alola region from which Alolan Raichu originates. Its design appears to have been influenced by Puka, a that appeared in the . In the Pokémon Stadium series, Raichu rides on its tail when using the move .
====Name origin====
Raichu is a combination of 雷 rai (thunder) and チューチュー chūchū (the sound of squeaking).
Alolan Raichu's alternate name, Hodad, as seen in the Ultra Sun Pokédex entry, seems to be a direct reference to the term hodad.
==In other languages==
==Related articles==
* Lt. Surge's Raichu
* Red's Raichu
* Sandy's Raichu
* Regional form
==Notes==
==External links==
* 
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de:Raichu
es:Raichu
fr:Raichu
it:Raichu
ja:ライチュウ
zh:雷丘
Category:Brown-colored Pokémon
Category:Pokémon whose base stats changed in Generation VI
Category:Pokémon with cross-generational evolutions