--- title: "Raichu (#0026): Stats, Weaknesses, Moves & Lore | pokee.si" url: "https://pokee.si/pokemon/raichu" description: "Raichu (#0026): Electric-type Mouse Pokémon from Kanto. Base stat total 485. Abilities: Static, Lightning Rod. Stats, matchups, evolutions, moves, every Pokédex entry and lore on pokee.si." last_updated: "2026-10-21" publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)" last_checked: "2026-10-19" --- #0026 · Kanto · Generation 1 # Raichu Mouse Pokémon · Electric-type ![Raichu official artwork](https://pokee.si/img/art/26.webp) Raichu is a [Electric](https://pokee.si/types/electric)-type Pokémon, the Mouse Pokémon, number 26 (#0026) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the [Kanto](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/kanto) region. It is 0.8 m tall and weighs 30 kg. Raichu is the Mouse Pokémon, and you rarely see one because most Trainers prefer the way Pikachu looks. Its tail works as an earth wire against its own 100,000-volt charge, and in Alola the regional form surfs through the air on that tail. ## How to pronounce Raichu Raichu is pronounced **RY-choo**. The capital letters show the stressed syllable. Listen to Raichu said out loud: [Listen](https://pokee.si/audio/names/26.mp3) In Japanese it is ライチュウ. Hear every other name on the [Pokémon pronunciation guide](https://pokee.si/pronounce). ## Lore ### Biology Raichu is 0.8 m tall and weighs 30 kg, with orange-brown fur, a white belly, curled ear tips, yellow cheek sacs and a lightning-bolt tail; Bulbapedia says it usually moves on all fours. It glows faintly in the dark from the weak charge it gives off. One Pokédex entry says that when its cheek pouches run dry it can also gather electricity from the air with its tail. ### Behaviour Raichu grows feisty as electricity builds up, and the Pokédex warns that even its Trainer must be careful. When its pouches are full its ears stand straight up, and it dumps the excess into the ground through its tail, leaving scorched patches around its nest. ### Habitat The Pokédex habitat is Forest, and Bulbapedia says it is rarely met in the wild. In Scarlet and Violet it appears in West Province, the Socarrat Trail and Area Zero; in Legends: Z-A it is in Wild Zone 20, and every form is in the Mega Dimension DLC. ### Powers Its Ability is Static, with Lightning Rod hidden, and with base Speed 110 it is a fast mixed attacker. Alolan Raichu is Electric and Psychic, rides its tail using psychic power, and is the only known Pokémon with Surge Surfer or the Z-Move Stoked Sparksurfer. The Mega Dimension DLC added Mega Raichu X (Electric Surge), which floats on two tails and fights with its fists, and Mega Raichu Y (No Guard), which fires Y-shaped bolts and has base Special Attack 160. ### Name origin Raichu may combine rai (雷, thunder) with chūchū, the squeak of a mouse. The Japanese name is ライチュウ, romanised as Raichu in the game data. ### Design inspiration Atsuko Nishida designed Raichu and Alolan Raichu, with Masafumi Nukita behind the Alolan concept. Its long legs and tail resemble a jerboa or kangaroo rat, and Nishida gave Alolan Raichu a bread motif, which fits the pancake story in its Pokédex. The Megas' fangs and horn-like fur may echo the cut evolution Gorochu. ### Evolution notes Pikachu evolves into Raichu with a Thunder Stone, or into Alolan Raichu if the stone is used in Alola. ### In the games Mega Raichu X and Y were first shown in promotional trailers for Legends: Z-A's Mega Dimension DLC, and in the base game Alolan Raichu comes from a side-mission trade of a Kantonian Raichu at Quasartico Inc. Raichu itself first appeared in Red and Green (Red and Blue outside Japan). In Scarlet and Violet, Alolan Raichu can only be transferred in. ### In the anime Lt. Surge's Raichu debuted in 'Electric Shock Showdown' and easily beat Ash's Pikachu, until Ash used Pikachu's speed to win the rematch. In Journeys, Goh's freshly caught Pikachu turned into a Raichu with a Thunder Stone in 'Gotta Catch a What?!'. ### Fun facts - Raichu's Stadium Pokédex entry says it discharges up to 10,000 volts instead of 100,000, which Bulbapedia thinks is a translation slip because the Japanese reads 100,000 as ten ten-thousands. - In the international Red and Blue, a Cinnabar Lab scientist says the Raichu he trades you has evolved, which cannot happen; FireRed and LeafGreen fixed it. - Earlier Pokédex entries say Raichu can knock out an Indian elephant; Legends: Arceus swaps in Copperajah, a Pokémon modelled on one. Sources: [Bulbapedia: Raichu (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Raichu_(Pok%C3%A9mon)) · [Serebii: Raichu (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/raichu/) ## Base stats - HP: **60** - Attack: **90** - Defense: **55** - Sp. Atk: **90** - Sp. Def: **80** - Speed: **110** Raichu’s base stat total is **485**. Its highest stat is Speed. ## Type matchups ### What is Raichu weak to? Raichu takes extra damage from [Ground](https://pokee.si/types/ground) (2×) moves. It resists [Electric](https://pokee.si/types/electric) (½×), [Flying](https://pokee.si/types/flying) (½×), [Steel](https://pokee.si/types/steel) (½×). ## Evolution ### What does Raichu evolve from? Raichu evolves from [Pikachu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pikachu) (Thunder Stone; Alolan Raichu: Thunder Stone, in Alola). Raichu is the final stage of its evolution family. The whole family: [Pichu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pichu), [Pikachu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pikachu), **Raichu**. - [Pichu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pichu) evolves into [Pikachu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pikachu) (Friendship). ## Forms - **Mega Raichu X** (Mega): [Electric](https://pokee.si/types/electric)-type, base stat total 585 (HP 60, Attack 135, Defense 95, Sp. Atk 90, Sp. Def 95, Speed 110). Ability: [Electric Surge](https://pokee.si/abilities/electric-surge). - **Mega Raichu Y** (Mega): [Electric](https://pokee.si/types/electric)-type, base stat total 585 (HP 60, Attack 100, Defense 55, Sp. Atk 160, Sp. Def 80, Speed 130). Ability: [No Guard](https://pokee.si/abilities/no-guard). - **Alolan Raichu** (Alolan form): [Electric](https://pokee.si/types/electric)/[Psychic](https://pokee.si/types/psychic)-type, base stat total 485 (HP 60, Attack 85, Defense 50, Sp. Atk 95, Sp. Def 85, Speed 110). Ability: [Surge Surfer](https://pokee.si/abilities/surge-surfer). ## Abilities - [Static](https://pokee.si/abilities/static): Has a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact. - [Lightning Rod](https://pokee.si/abilities/lightning-rod) (hidden ability): Redirects single-target Electric moves to this Pokémon where possible. Absorbs Electric moves, raising Special Attack one stage. ## Moves ### Moves Raichu learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet | Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Evo | [Thunder Punch](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder-punch) | Electric | Physical | 75 | | 1 | [Electro Ball](https://pokee.si/moves/electro-ball) | Electric | Special | — | | 1 | [Discharge](https://pokee.si/moves/discharge) | Electric | Special | 80 | | 1 | [Nasty Plot](https://pokee.si/moves/nasty-plot) | Dark | Status | — | | 1 | [Feint](https://pokee.si/moves/feint) | Normal | Physical | 30 | | 1 | [Iron Tail](https://pokee.si/moves/iron-tail) | Steel | Physical | 100 | | 1 | [Spark](https://pokee.si/moves/spark) | Electric | Physical | 65 | | 1 | [Charm](https://pokee.si/moves/charm) | Fairy | Status | — | | 1 | [Sweet Kiss](https://pokee.si/moves/sweet-kiss) | Fairy | Status | — | | 1 | [Play Nice](https://pokee.si/moves/play-nice) | Normal | Status | — | | 1 | [Nuzzle](https://pokee.si/moves/nuzzle) | Electric | Physical | 20 | | 1 | [Quick Attack](https://pokee.si/moves/quick-attack) | Normal | Physical | 40 | | 1 | [Agility](https://pokee.si/moves/agility) | Psychic | Status | — | | 1 | [Thunder](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder) | Electric | Special | 110 | | 1 | [Thunder Wave](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder-wave) | Electric | Status | — | | 1 | [Thunder Shock](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder-shock) | Electric | Special | 40 | | 1 | [Growl](https://pokee.si/moves/growl) | Normal | Status | — | | 1 | [Tail Whip](https://pokee.si/moves/tail-whip) | Normal | Status | — | | 1 | [Double Team](https://pokee.si/moves/double-team) | Normal | Status | — | | 1 | [Light Screen](https://pokee.si/moves/light-screen) | Psychic | Status | — | | 5 | [Thunderbolt](https://pokee.si/moves/thunderbolt) | Electric | Special | 90 | “Evo” means Raichu learns the move the moment it evolves: [Thunder Punch](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder-punch). ### TM moves (49) Raichu can learn 49 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: [Take Down](https://pokee.si/moves/take-down), [Charm](https://pokee.si/moves/charm), [Agility](https://pokee.si/moves/agility), [Protect](https://pokee.si/moves/protect), [Thief](https://pokee.si/moves/thief), [Disarming Voice](https://pokee.si/moves/disarming-voice), [Trailblaze](https://pokee.si/moves/trailblaze), [Charge Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/charge-beam), [Facade](https://pokee.si/moves/facade), [Swift](https://pokee.si/moves/swift), [Draining Kiss](https://pokee.si/moves/draining-kiss), [Fling](https://pokee.si/moves/fling), [Endure](https://pokee.si/moves/endure), [Volt Switch](https://pokee.si/moves/volt-switch), [Rain Dance](https://pokee.si/moves/rain-dance), [Dig](https://pokee.si/moves/dig), [Brick Break](https://pokee.si/moves/brick-break), [Body Slam](https://pokee.si/moves/body-slam), [Thunder Punch](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder-punch), [Sleep Talk](https://pokee.si/moves/sleep-talk), [Electro Ball](https://pokee.si/moves/electro-ball), [Reflect](https://pokee.si/moves/reflect), [Light Screen](https://pokee.si/moves/light-screen), [Grass Knot](https://pokee.si/moves/grass-knot), [Thunder Wave](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder-wave), [Rest](https://pokee.si/moves/rest), [Eerie Impulse](https://pokee.si/moves/eerie-impulse), [Substitute](https://pokee.si/moves/substitute), [Encore](https://pokee.si/moves/encore), [Surf](https://pokee.si/moves/surf), [Thunderbolt](https://pokee.si/moves/thunderbolt), [Play Rough](https://pokee.si/moves/play-rough), [Helping Hand](https://pokee.si/moves/helping-hand), [Reversal](https://pokee.si/moves/reversal), [Electric Terrain](https://pokee.si/moves/electric-terrain), [Nasty Plot](https://pokee.si/moves/nasty-plot), [Wild Charge](https://pokee.si/moves/wild-charge), [Giga Impact](https://pokee.si/moves/giga-impact), [Focus Blast](https://pokee.si/moves/focus-blast), [Hyper Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/hyper-beam), [Thunder](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder), [Tera Blast](https://pokee.si/moves/tera-blast), [Charge](https://pokee.si/moves/charge), [Knock Off](https://pokee.si/moves/knock-off), [Focus Punch](https://pokee.si/moves/focus-punch), [Endeavor](https://pokee.si/moves/endeavor), [Electroweb](https://pokee.si/moves/electroweb), [Alluring Voice](https://pokee.si/moves/alluring-voice), [Upper Hand](https://pokee.si/moves/upper-hand). Egg moves (7), which Pichu can hatch knowing:[Charge](https://pokee.si/moves/charge), [Disarming Voice](https://pokee.si/moves/disarming-voice), [Fake Out](https://pokee.si/moves/fake-out), [Flail](https://pokee.si/moves/flail), [Present](https://pokee.si/moves/present), [Tickle](https://pokee.si/moves/tickle), [Wish](https://pokee.si/moves/wish). ## Breeding & training - Gender: 50% male, 50% female. - Egg groups: Field, Fairy. - Egg cycles: 10 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 1,280). - Catch rate: 75 out of 255. - Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50. - Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100). - Defeating it gives 3 Speed effort values. - Base experience yield: 218. ## Pokédex entries It can discharge bursts of electricity exceeding 100,000 volts— a single strike with that amount of power would incapacitate one of the Copperajah of my homeland. *(Legends: Arceus)* If its electric pouches run empty, it raises its tail to gather electricity from the atmosphere. *(Crystal, Shield)* Its long tail serves as a ground to protect itself from its own high voltage power. *(Red, Blue, LeafGreen, Sword)* When electricity builds up inside its body, it becomes feisty. It also glows in the dark. *(Yellow, Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)* Because so many Trainers like the way Pikachu looks, you don't see this Pokémon very often. *(Ultra Moon)* As electricity builds up inside its body, it becomes more aggressive. One theory is that the electricity buildup is actually causing stress. *(Ultra Sun)* ## Names around the world - **Japanese**: ライチュウ - **Romaji**: Raichu - **French**: Raichu - **German**: Raichu - **Spanish**: Raichu - **Italian**: Raichu - **Korean**: 라이츄 - **Chinese (Simplified)**: 雷丘 - **Chinese (Traditional)**: 雷丘 ## Trivia - Highest Attack among Electric types in Gen 1: 90, shared with 1 other. - Taller than 39% of all Pokémon (0.8 m). - Heavier than 52% of all Pokémon (30 kg). - Base stat total 485, ranked #372 of 1,025. - Its best stat is Speed, ranked #69 of 1,025. - One of 69 Electric-type Pokémon (counting dual types). - One of 88 yellow Pokémon. - Number 26 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto). - Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon. - Can learn 66 different moves in Scarlet / Violet. - Catch rate 75: about 9.8% per Poké Ball at full health. - Has 3 alternate forms. - Appears in 19 distinct Pokédex entries. ## Sources and fact-checking - Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: [PokéAPI](https://pokeapi.co) open game data. - Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from [Bulbapedia: Raichu (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Raichu_(Pok%C3%A9mon)), [Serebii: Raichu (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/raichu/). - Pronunciation (RY-choo): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it. **Last checked:** 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data. ## Explore [Electric-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/electric) · [Raichu vs Pikachu](https://pokee.si/vs/pikachu-vs-raichu) · [Raichu vs Ampharos](https://pokee.si/vs/raichu-vs-ampharos) · [Kanto region guide](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/kanto) · [Static ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/static) · [Lightning Rod ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/lightning-rod) · [Compare Raichu](https://pokee.si/compare?ids=26) · [Full Pokédex](https://pokee.si/pokedex) · [Type chart](https://pokee.si/types) · [All moves](https://pokee.si/moves) ## Browse similar Pokémon [Gen 1 Electric-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/electric/gen-1) · [Gen 1 Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/pokedex/gen-1) · [Yellow Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/colours/yellow) · [Field egg group](https://pokee.si/egg-groups/field) · [Fairy egg group](https://pokee.si/egg-groups/fairy) · [Pokémon that start with R](https://pokee.si/pokemon-names/r) · [What does the Thunder Stone evolve?](https://pokee.si/evolution/thunder-stone) · [Mouse and Rodent Pokémon](https://pokee.si/animals/mouse) ← [Pikachu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pikachu) | [Sandshrew](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sandshrew) → --- Source: https://pokee.si/pokemon/raichu (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. 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