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 dual-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. It is the final form of Pichu in the Alola region.
==Biology==
Raichu is a bipedal, -like . 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 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 also protects Raichu from its high-voltage power. Raichu can store over 100,000 volts of electricity, enough to knock out a . If Raichu's sacs are fully charged, its ears will stand straight up, and its muscles will become stimulated. However, it will become aggressive if it has stored too much electricity and stress. To prevent it 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 evolution via Evolution stone, Raichu is rarely found in the wild, though they can be found in . The main reason Raichu is rarely seen with Pokémon trainers is because people prefer the look it had as . As revealed in the Pokémon the Series episode Electric Shock Showdown, Raichu is not capable of learning speed attacks upon evolving and can only learn them when they're still Pikachu. As shown in Pokémon Sleep, Raichu is known to sleep while discharging electricity, and a long tail is planted into the ground like a rod. It can electrocute anyone who comes near it while sleeping.Sleep Style Dex
Raichu and its pre-evolved forms are the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move .
===Forms===
Raichu has a regional form: Raichu.
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, 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 can 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 while also getting a light shock. This is also thought to be connected to its Psychic abilities.
Alolan Raichu's origins were initially a mystery at the time. The people of Alola suggested it ate too many sweet and fluffy pancakes,Pokémon Sun and Moon site | Alolan Raichu especially those made with a secret Alolan recipe. However, researchers believe the change is related to Alolan Raichu's diet in general. It is also believed the weather and climate of the Alola region played a role in the transformation. Alolan Raichu is capable of unleashing star-shaped thunderbolts. It is also known by the name hodad. While normally found in Alola, it was been seen in the Coastal Biome of the Terarium during rare Mass outbreak events.
Alolan Raichu is the only known Pokémon capable of using the Z-Move . It is also the only known Pokémon that can have as an Ability.
===Evolution===
Raichu evolves from and is the final form of .
In Alola, Raichu has a regional form that evolves from Pikachu and is the final form of Pichu in the Alola region.
(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
==Game data==
===NPC appearances===
* : 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===
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Raichu in the	Alolan Raichu in the	
===Game locations===
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====In side games====
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====In events====
=====Wild Area News=====
======Raichu======
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======Alolan Raichu======
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===Held items===
Pokémon caught in Generation I must be traded to a Generation II game in order for a held item to appear. In , Raichu can only be found in the .
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===Stats===
====Base stats====
=====Raichu=====
======Generations I-V======
======Generation VI onward======
=====Alolan Raichu=====
====Pokéathlon stats====
===Type effectiveness===
====Raichu====
====Alolan Raichu====
===Learnset===
====By leveling up====
=====Raichu=====
=====Alolan Raichu=====
====By TM====
=====Raichu=====
=====Alolan Raichu=====
====By ====
====By a prior Evolution====
=====Raichu=====
=====Alolan Raichu=====
====Special moves====
=====Raichu=====
=====Alolan Raichu=====
An Alolan Raichu that knew the move in Generation VII and transferred in via and can be retaught the move using the Pokémon HOME move reminder functionality. This is the only way for Alolan Raichu to know the move in . An Alolan Raichu knowing the move is blocked from online trades and can not be used in Battle Stadium.
===Side game data===
====Raichu====
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Holiday hat 	Party hat 	Original hat 	Halloween hat	Summer-style
 	 	 	 	
H.F. Custom cap	Flower crown 	Detective hat 	Beanie 	World cap
 	 	 	 	
New Year's hat 	Cherry blossoms	Holiday attire	 	
====Alolan Raichu====
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===Evolution data===
===Sprites===
==In animation==
===Main series===
====Major appearances====
=====Lt. Surge's Raichu=====
In Electric Shock Showdown, Lt. Surge has a Raichu that 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.
=====Goh's Raichu=====
In Gotta Catch a What?!, a female Pikachu that was newly by Goh evolved into Raichu by using a Thunder Stone.
=====Other=====
In Pikachu's Vacation, a Raichu caused trouble for and his friends at the Pokémon Theme Park, alongside a , , and .
In Lights, Camera, Quack-tion, decided to use her Raichu, nicknamed Raichie, in the Cleavon Schpielbunk film "".
In Stage Fight!, Kay's Raichu was a part a that featured "" Pokémon, but it had stage fright and was very timid around others due to an incident where it startled Kay with its electricity when they first met. Raichu eventually gained back its confidence around Kay and helped defeat Team Rocket.
In Mild 'n Wooly, Ellen commonly used a Raichu to round up a herd of with its .
In Cooking Up a Sweet Story, Abigail's missing Pikachu was revealed to have evolved into a Raichu when it returned.
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.
In Camping It Up!, the Pokémon Summer Academy lent a Raichu to for . It has a very skittish Raichu for its students.
In Flint Sparks the Fire! and The Fleeing Tower of Sunyshore!, Volkner has a Raichu that is 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.
In Racing to a Big Event!, Nina used an Raichu during the Pokémon Pancake Race, where it tied second place with Pikachu. It has since made further appearances in .
In Battle Royal 151!, Hau used an Alolan Raichu during the Battle Royal round of the Manalo Conference. It helped reached its Trainer the Top 16 position. In Battling Besties!, it battled Samson Oak and his Alolan and won.
In Destination: Coronation!, Visquez used a Raichu to defeat a Trainer's . In Ash's match, Raichu went up against Ash's Pikachu, but Ash withdrew Pikachu and sent out in his place where the Shadow Pokémon managed to defeat Raichu.
In Gotta Catch a What?!, multiple Pikachu evolved into Raichu using the Thunder Stones they had dug up.
====Minor appearances====
In School of Hard Knocks, a Raichu appeared on a teapot.
In Pokémon Fashion Flash, a Raichu was at Scissor Street.
In The Battling Eevee Brothers, a Raichu was a guest at the evolution party in Stone Town.
A Trainer's Raichu appeared in Mewtwo Strikes Back.
In The Power of One, multiple Raichu sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.
In Pokémon Double Trouble, a Raichu was working out at the Kumquat Gym.
In Tricks of the Trade, a Raichu was at the Pokémon Swap Meet in Palmpona.
In Beauty and the Breeder, a 's Raichu participated in the Pokémon Beauty Contest.
In The Legend of Thunder!, a Raichu was one of the Pokémon that were lured by the "Miracle Crystal" that Attila and Hun were using. Raichu tried to hit the robot controlled by Attila to save the other Pokémon from being kidnapped, but his attack ricocheted off.
In As Clear As Crystal, a Raichu was 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.
In Deceit and Assist, a Coordinator's Raichu participated in the Hoenn Grand Festival.
In Sticking With Who You Know!, a Raichu 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 Pikachu using a Thunder Stone.
In Alola, Kanto!, a Raichu appeared in a fantasy, while another 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!.
In The Shape of Love to Come!, an Alolan Raichu was approached by Rapp, who found it cute.
In I Choose Paradise!, a Trainer's Alolan Raichu was at the Pokémon Paradise Resort.
In From Z to Shining Z!, a Trainer's Raichu watched the battle between Ash's Pikachu and .
A Trainer's Alolan Raichu appeared in That New Old Gang of Mine!.
A Trainer's Raichu appeared in Take My Thief! Please!.
A Trainer's Alolan Raichu appeared in Curtain Up! Fight the Fights!, It's... Champion Time!, and Whittle While You Work!.
A Raichu appeared in Distant Blue Sky!.
====Pokédex entries====
===Pokémon Origins===
====Lt. Surge's Raichu====
 battled Lt. Surge's Raichu in File 2: Cubone.
====Other====
In File 1: Red, a Raichu was one of the Pokémon seen in Professor Oak's introduction.
===GOTCHA!===
====Lt. Surge's Raichu====
A Raichu briefly appeared in GOTCHA!, under the ownership of Lt. Surge.
==In the manga==
===Pokémon Adventures===
====Major appearances====
=====Lt. Surge's Raichu=====
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.
====Minor appearances====
A Raichu appeared in The Last Battle XIII as one of the Pokémon sent to participate in the fight in Ilex Forest.
A Raichu appeared at the Battle Pike 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====
===Pokémon Pocket Monsters===
A Raichu appeared in Clefairy Evolves... At Last?!.
 has a Raichu, which he used to battle in The Pokémon Banana League (Part 1).
===Pocket Monsters DP===
A Raichu appeared in PMDP16.
===Magical Pokémon Journey===
A Raichu appears in Raichu's Best Friend. The ghost of a Trainer named wishes to be reunited with her old friend Raichu.
===Pokémon Zensho===
 had a that chose to evolve into a Raichu to help him defeat the Elite Four in PZ10.
===Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!===
A Raichu appeared in GDZ21.
A Raichu appeared in GDZ23.
===Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure===
Lt. Surge's Raichu only appeared as a silhouette in JBA5 along with its Trainer and the other Kanto Gym Leaders.
===Pokémon Journeys===
Visquez's Raichu debuted in Destination: Coronation!. It reappeared in a flashback in Toughing It Out!.
Lt. Surge's Raichu appeared in a fantasy in Toughing It Out!.
==In the TCG==
==In the TFG==
One Raichu figure has been released.
* : 
==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.
==Trivia==
* No other 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 (in which this person traded a Graveler for a Kadabra) rather than that of . This error was corrected in , as the script was re-translated.
* Raichu's FireRed and Sun Pokédex entries discuss Raichu's electricity being able to knock out an Indian elephant. In , this is changed to , which is based on the Indian elephant.
** This is also the only Pokédex entry in Legends: Arceus to mention a Pokémon not obtainable in Hisui.
* 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".
* Although is the first partner Pokémon 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 Pokémon the Series.
* Raichu and its pre-evolved form both share their with , , , , , and . They are all known as the Mouse Pokémon, though Rattata and Raticate were originally called the Rat Pokémon prior to Generation III.
* Raichu is the 26th Pokémon in both the National Pokédex and Alola Pokédex in .
* Alolan Raichu is the only regional form Pokémon to have a exclusive to it.
* Raichu is the most common Pokémon found amongst rivals, being used by five of them.
* Alolan Raichu is the only Alolan form available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet that can only be obtained by transferring from other games, outside of Poké Portal News events.
===Concept and development===
Raichu and Raichu were designed by Atsuko Nishida."What It Takes to Create a Pokémon." Interview with Ken Sugimori in Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon Edition: The Official National Pokédex, p. xxi The concept of Alolan Raichu came from Masafumi Nukita, which also involved writing its Pokédex entries.https://archive.is/tS5lL
Raichu originally had an evolved form named "Gorochu" (Japanese: ゴロチュウ Gorochū), which would have had two horns and fangs.Page 3 of Yomiuri interview with Ken Sugimori, Kōji Nishino, and Atsuko Nishida (Japanese)Pikachu Originally Had A Second Evolution Called ‘Gorochu’ With Large Fangs And Two Horns — SiliconEra Ken Sugimori stated that while there was nothing wrong with its appearance, it was nonetheless omitted from , as the staff found that the game balance was better without it, and the limited game space meant that some Pokémon originally designed to evolve twice were changed to evolve only once.Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu - Pokemon.com (archived)
===Origin===
Raichu's legs and long tail resemble those of a or .
 Raichu may be based on the concept of surfing Pikachu and the sport of itself, which originated in Hawaii (the inspiration for the Alola region), as well as the hodad concept of being a fake surfer; hodad is referred to as another name for Alolan Raichu in its Pokédex entry in . Its design and typing may have been influenced by Puka, a surfing Pikachu that appeared in Pokémon the Series which had psychic powers and blue eyes. In the , , , and , Raichu rides on its tail when using the move .
According to Ken Sugimori, he asked Atsuko Nishida to design Alolan Raichu since she was the one who had worked on the original Raichu design. Nishida insisted that Raichu "has always been cuter than people might think", and designed Alolan Raichu to emphasize Raichu's cuteness; in particular, she designed it with the motif of . The in-game lore of people believing that its evolution is induced by eating pancakes was added afterward to play up the concept. The fact that Alolan Raichu was designed after bread may have also inspired the sweet fragrance it can release from its cheeks, as well as the look of its paws which resemble decorations, s, or .
====Name origin====
Raichu may be a combination of 雷 rai (thunder) and チューチュー chūchū (onomatopoeia for the squeak of a mouse).
==In other languages==
==See also==
* Lt. Surge's Raichu
* Red's Raichu
* Goh's Raichu
* Sandy's Raichu
* Regional form
* Electric rodents
==References==
==External links==
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Category:Brown-colored Pokémon
Category:Pokémon whose base stats changed in Generation VI
Category:Pokémon with cross-generational Evolutions
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