Is Raichu good in Pokemon GO?

Yes. Raichu is B-tier for Great League and has 1 other ranked role.

What are the best Raichu IVs for Great League?

The rank-1 Great League spread is 5/13/14 (Attack/Defense/HP), which reaches the 1500 CP cap at level 25.5. Low Attack with high Defense and HP wins in capped leagues. Use the IV checker on this page to rank your own copy among all 4,096 spreads.

What are the best Raichu IVs for Ultra League?

The rank-1 Ultra League spread is 15/15/15 (Attack/Defense/HP), which reaches the 2500 CP cap at level 50. Low Attack with high Defense and HP wins in capped leagues. Use the IV checker on this page to rank your own copy among all 4,096 spreads.

Is Raichu a good raid attacker?

Raichu ranks #112 of 248 electric attackers with 11.2 DPS. That is outside the top 15, so it is not a raid priority.

Can Raichu be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Yes. Shiny Raichu is available from evolution, photobomb, raid, research, wild. A shiny is worth keeping for the collection no matter its IVs.

#026 · Generation 1

Raichu

electric

Forms & variants

Max CP (L40 / L50): 2,182 / 2,467
Raid catch CP (L20 / L25): 1,247 / 1,558
Research CP (L15): 935
Buddy distance: 1 km
2nd charged move: 10,000 dust · 25 candy

Shiny
Shadow
Tradable
Mega
Dynamax

Keep

Keep to evolve

Raichu will not win battles on its own, but Raichu is A-tier for Electric raid attacker. Keep the good-IV copies and the candy to evolve one.

Battle roles

B
Great League#152 of 1154 · score 84.1
It is ranked #152 in Great League on PvPoke with Volt Switch / Volt Tackle / Trailblaze.
C
Ultra League#229 of 851 · score 81.3
It is ranked #229 in Ultra League on PvPoke with Volt Switch / Trailblaze / Volt Tackle.

Worth evolving into

Mega Raichu Y
A Electric raid attacker (mega)

Collection value

Can Mega Evolve: keep your highest-Attack copy for raid days.
Can Dynamax: only copies caught in Max Battles can Dynamax, so keep at least one Max copy.
28 costume/event variants: costumed copies cannot be re-obtained outside their event.

Tiers: S = meta-defining, A = strong, B = playable, C = niche. PvP from PvPoke overall rankings; raids from computed DPS/TDO within each attacking type; Max Battles from GO Hub tier lists.

Base stats

Attack193

Defense151

Stamina155

Base stats. Bars are scaled to the strongest Pokemon in the game.

Weak to

ground×1.6

Resists

electric×0.625
flying×0.625
steel×0.625

Evolution line

Pichu
→25 candyPikachu
→50 candyRaichu

Check your Pokemon's IVs

Ranks all 4,096 spreads for each league

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PvP rankings (GO Battle League)

League	Tier	Rank	Score	Recommended moves	Typical build
Great League	B	#152 / 1154	84.1	Volt Switch · Volt Tackle · Trailblaze	L25.5 · 5/13/14
Ultra League	C	#229 / 851	81.3	Volt Switch · Trailblaze · Volt Tackle	L50 · 15/15/15
Ultra Premier	C	#147 / 689	86.5	Thunder Shock · Brick Break · Wild Charge

Source: PvPoke overall rankings. Score is relative to the league meta (100 = best). Typical build is the IV spread PvPoke assumes.

Max Battles (Dynamax & Gigantamax)

Raichu can Dynamax. Only copies caught in Max Battles (or from Max research) can enter Power Spot battles.

Max Moves

electricMax Lightningfrom Volt Switch250 / 300 / 350 power
fairyMax Starfallfrom Charm250 / 300 / 350 power
Max Guard+20 / +40 / +60 HP shield
Max Spiritheals 8 / 12 / 16% HP

Max Battle roles

Below the tier thresholds as a Max Battle attacker, tank, or healer.

Max Move power is per level 1 / 2 / 3; levels are unlocked with Max Particles and Candy. Tiers are computed from level-3 Max Move damage, Defence × HP and HP at level 40; thresholds on the guide page.

Raid attacker rankings

Attacking type	Tier	Rank	DPS	TDO	Best moves
electric	–	#112 / 248	11.2	147	Thunder Shock · Wild Charge
water	–	#143 / 283	9.2	120	Thunder Shock · Surf
normal	–	#157 / 354	8.7	114	Thunder Shock · Skull Bash
grass	–	#194 / 344	8.8	115	Thunder Shock · Trailblaze
fighting	–	#224 / 283	8.2	108	Thunder Shock · Brick Break

Level 40, 15/15/15, neutral target. DPS = damage per second, TDO = total damage output before fainting. Rank is among every Pokemon using that attacking type.

Moves

Fast move	Type	Raid power	Energy	Duration	DPS	PvP power	PvP energy	Speed
Volt SwitchSTAB	electric	13	+20	1.5s	8.7	14	+16	4 turns
SparkSTAB	electric	4	+6	0.5s	8.0	5	+7	2 turns
Charm	fairy	20	+11	1.5s	13.3	12	+8	3 turns
Thunder ShockSTAB	electric	4	+7	0.5s	8.0	4	+9	2 turns

Charged move	Type	Raid power	Energy	Duration	Dmg/energy	PvP power	PvP energy	Effects
Brick Break	fighting	40	-33	1.5s	1.21	50	-40	100% chance: -1 foe Def
Thunder PunchSTAB	electric	50	-33	2.0s	1.52	60	-40
Wild ChargeSTAB	electric	90	-50	2.5s	1.80	100	-45	100% chance: -2 own Def
Skull Bash	normal	130	-100	3.0s	1.30	130	-75	100% chance: +1 own Def
Trailblaze	grass	65	-50	2.0s	1.30	65	-45	100% chance: +1 own Atk
Surf	water	60	-50	1.5s	1.20	75	-45
Volt TackleSTAB	electric	90	-33	3.5s	2.73	90	-40	100% chance: -1 own Def
ThunderElite TMSTAB	electric	100	-100	2.5s	1.00	100	-60

Questions people ask

Is Raichu good in Pokemon GO?: Yes. Raichu is B-tier for Great League and has 1 other ranked role.
Should I keep or transfer Raichu?: Raichu will not win battles on its own, but Raichu is A-tier for Electric raid attacker. Keep the good-IV copies and the candy to evolve one.
What are the best Raichu IVs for Great League?: The rank-1 Great League spread is 5/13/14 (Attack/Defense/HP), which reaches the 1500 CP cap at level 25.5. Low Attack with high Defense and HP wins in capped leagues. Use the IV checker on this page to rank your own copy among all 4,096 spreads.
What are the best Raichu IVs for Ultra League?: The rank-1 Ultra League spread is 15/15/15 (Attack/Defense/HP), which reaches the 2500 CP cap at level 50. Low Attack with high Defense and HP wins in capped leagues. Use the IV checker on this page to rank your own copy among all 4,096 spreads.
Is Raichu a good raid attacker?: Raichu ranks #112 of 248 electric attackers with 11.2 DPS. That is outside the top 15, so it is not a raid priority.
Can Raichu be shiny in Pokemon GO?: Yes. Shiny Raichu is available from evolution, photobomb, raid, research, wild. A shiny is worth keeping for the collection no matter its IVs.

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Costumes & event variants (28)

Party Hat (Pokemon Day 2019)Event costume
World CapEvent costume
New Year's Hat (2021)Event costume
Fragment CapEvent costume
Detective HatEvent costume
Witch HatEvent costume
Santa HatEvent costume
Holiday 2023 CostumeEvent costume
Flower CrownEvent costume
Ash's CapEvent costume
Detective Hat (2023)Event costume
Cherry Blossom CrownEvent costume
Straw HatEvent costume
BeanieEvent costume
Party Hat (Pokemon Day 2019)Gender variant
World CapGender variant
New Year's Hat (2021)Gender variant
Fragment CapGender variant
Detective HatGender variant
Witch HatGender variant
Santa HatGender variant
Holiday 2023 CostumeGender variant
Flower CrownGender variant
Ash's CapGender variant
Detective Hat (2023)Gender variant
Cherry Blossom CrownGender variant
Straw HatGender variant
BeanieGender variant