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 regional variant that is. 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 are circular yellow markings on its 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 big feet are tan with a circular orange pad. On its back are two horizontal brown stripes. Its long, thin tail has a lightning bolt-shaped end. This lightning bolt is smaller on females. The tail is used to gather electricity from the atmosphere, or it can be planted in the ground to search for electricity. Its tail also serves to protect itself from its own power.

Raichu exudes a weak electrical charge from all its body and slightly glows in the dark, and is capable of storing over 100,000 volts of electricity. 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. If Raichu's sacs are fully charged, its ears will stand straight up and its muscles become stimulated. Raichu is found in Like the   in its evolutionary 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 a mystery, but the people of Alola suggest that it ate too many sweet and fluffy pancakes. Alolan Raichu is the only known Pokémon capable of using the exclusive Z-Move.

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
Raichu was one of the four Pokémon causing trouble for and his friends at the Pokémon Theme Park in Pikachu's Vacation, along with, , and.

In Lights, Camera, Quack-tion, a girl named decided to use her Raichu in the Cleavon Schpielbunk film "". Katrina calls it Raichie.

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, a Trainer who sought to have possession of one Pokémon each from the evolutionary line. It battled against Ash's Pikachu twice in that episode.

The Pokémon Summer Academy has a very skittish Raichu for its students. It appeared in Camping It Up!, where 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.

's Raichu appeared in Good Friends, Great Training! and Valuable Experience for All!. Tierno used Raichu 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 Alolan 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 reappeared alongside its Trainer in many other episodes.

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 Raichu appeared in Mewtwo Strikes Back.

Multiple Raichu appeared in The Power of One.

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 Electric 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 the crystal.

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.

A Raichu appeared in Loading the Dex! as a silhouette that brought up.

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.

Pokédex entries

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Lt. Surge's Raichu
battled Lt. Surge's Raichu in File 2: Cubone.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga
In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga series, a Raichu appears in the bonus chapter Raichu's Best Friend. In the chapter, the ghost of a Trainer named Sandy wishes to be reunited with her old friend Raichu.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Lt. Surge has a Raichu in Pokémon Adventures, 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  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.

In Out-Odding Oddish, a Raichu appeared in the Pokéathlon.

In the Pokémon Zensho manga
had a that chose to evolve into a Raichu to help him defeat the Elite Four in Pokémon Zensho.

In the Pokémon Pocket monsters manga
has a Raichu which he used to battle in The Pokémon Banana League (Part 1).

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Alolan Raichu appears as a Pokémon summoned from the Poké Ball. It attacks with, surfing with its tail across the stage and damaging passersby with electricity.

In the TFG
One Raichu figure has been released.



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.

Raichu

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Alolan Raichu

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Game locations

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In side games

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Raichu

























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Alolan Raichu



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Trivia

 * Raichu and Alolan Raichu were created by Atsuko Nishida.
 * Raichu originally had an evolution 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.
 * 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 share their  with, , , and . They are all known as the Mouse Pokémon.
 * They all have at least one family member with a regional variant 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 variant Pokémon to have a exclusive to it.

Origin
Raichu's legs and long tail are like those of a.

Alolan Raichu is likely based on the concept of and the sport of  itself, which originated in Hawaii. Its design appears to have been influenced by Puka, a that appeared in the anime. 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. This might be a reference on how it isn't able to learn (except by evolving an event Pikachu) despite looking like a surfer.

Related articles

 * Lt. Surge's Raichu
 * Red's Raichu
 * Sandy's Raichu