Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026
Raikou
Say it: RYE-koo
Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand
Raikou is the Thunder Pokémon — Electric Legendary beast. In Pokémon GO it is a top Electric attacker with Volt Switch + Wild Charge / Aura Sphere. Electric helps against Water and Flying; Ground hits Electric hard. Catch from Legendary raids or special events.
Say it: RYE-koo
Raikou (#243) is an Electric Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Trainers use it as a premier Electric attacker with Thunder Shock / Volt Switch + Thunder / Thunderbolt / Wild Charge / Shadow Ball / Aura Sphere. Against Raikou, lead with Ground. Stats, type chart, moves, and counter picks below use our Game Master snapshot.
Type-colored placeholder — not official Pokémon artwork (see IP notice below).
Pokédex notes
Raikou is a Electric-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO. National Dex #0243. Legendaries shine in Master League and 5-star raids when IVs and moves align.
Where in GO: Legendary raids, research breakthroughs, and GO Tour events
Invest tip: Volt Switch + Wild Charge is the Electric kit; Aura Sphere for Fighting coverage. Shadow Raikou is elite Electric DPS — remove Frustration before investing. No Community Day exclusive is required in our current snapshot.
Type matchups
- Electric moves hit Water and Flying hard.
When Raikou is your opponent, Ground hits hard.
Full type matchup guide →GO base stats
From Game Master snapshot — IVs, buddy, and power-ups change real battle stats.
- Attack
- 241
- Defense
- 195
- Stamina
- 207
Weak to
Resists
Best Pokémon to use against it
When this species is your opponent (Rocket battle, gym, raid, or PvP), these picks exploit its typings. Each list is a pool of options — not a required 12-Pokémon lobby.
Recommended
Strongest practical attackers for this matchup.
- 1. Primal Groudon · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Precipice Blades
- 2. Shadow Excadrill · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Drill Run
- 3. Landorus (Therian) · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Earthquake
- 4. Excadrill · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Drill Run
- 5. Garchomp · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Earthquake
- 6. Shadow Mamoswine · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + High Horsepower
- 7. Rhyperior · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + Earthquake
- 8. Groudon · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Precipice Blades
- 9. Krookodile · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + Earthquake
- 10. Golurk · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + Earth Power
- 11. Flygon · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Earthquake
- 12. Donphan · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + Earthquake
Budget
Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.
- 1. Rhyperior · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + Earthquake
- 2. Donphan · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + Earthquake
- 3. Flygon · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Earthquake
- 4. Golem · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + Earthquake
- 5. Sandslash · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Earthquake
- 6. Hippowdon · beats Ground
Sand Tomb + Earth Power
- 7. Seismitoad · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Earth Power
- 8. Quagsire · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Earthquake
- 9. Gastrodon · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + Earth Power
- 10. Camerupt · beats Ground
Rock Throw + Earth Power
- 11. Dugtrio · beats Ground
Mud Shot + Earthquake
- 12. Marowak · beats Ground
Mud-Slap + Bone Club
Recommended moves
Game Master “moves in GO” lists Raikou’s always-available TM pool. Volt Switch + Wild Charge covers Electric raid needs.
Fast
- Volt Switch · Standard
Electric energy / default
- Thunder Shock · Standard
Electric STAB
Charged
- Wild Charge · Standard
Best Electric nuke
- Thunderbolt · Standard
Electric alternate
- Aura Sphere · Standard
Fighting coverage
- Shadow Ball · Standard
Ghost coverage
- Thunder · Standard
Electric nuke
Moves in GO
Always-available Game Master learnset (regular TMs). Community Day / Elite TM moves appear above when we have curated notes for this species.
Fast
- thunder shock
- volt switch
Charged
- thunder
- thunderbolt
- wild charge
- shadow ball
- aura sphere
PvP league ranks (family snapshot)
- Great League · rank #62 of 954 · CP 1479
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- Ultra League · rank #49 of 747 · CP 2466
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- Master League · rank #21 of 1023 · CP 3902
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
In your Collect
Name match only (text). Cards you have saved in Card Nexus Collect — not official art.
Sign in to see holdings, or open Collect.
Open Collect →Raid and PvP advice uses our Game Master snapshot (updated July 2026).
Raid attacker roles
Electric-type shortlist
- Shadow Raikou — Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- Raikou — Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
Recommended vs these bosses
- Kyogre · Water
- Primal Kyogre · Water
In the Competitive Guide
- Ch. 4: Best Raid Attackers by Type
…e Fang + Overheat Electric Zekrom / Shadow Zekrom Charge Beam + Fusion Bolt Shadow Zekrom Raikou / Electivire Thunder Shock + Wild Charge Ice Baxcalibur / Mamoswine Ice Fang + Glaive Rus…
- Ch. 12: Raid Counters — 5-Star Legendaries
…unter Focus Blast Psychic/ Fighting High damage output; safe vs most Kyogre sets 3 Shadow Raikou Volt Switch Wild Charge Electric Top Shadow Electric; high DPS 4 Zekrom Charge Beam Fusio…
- Ch. 13: Raid Counters — Mega, Primal & Ultra Beasts
…usion Thunderbolt Psychic Electric coverage via Thunderbolt; highest overall DPS 2 Shadow Raikou Volt Switch Wild Charge Electric Top Shadow Electric; Rank Pokémon Fast Move Charged Move…
- Ch. 20: Lucky Pokémon & Family Trades
When lucky status matters for trades and Stardust savings.
- Ch. 21: Best Friends & Lucky Friends
Friendship steps for raid bonuses and lucky trades.
Related species
Also named in the same guide chapters (text only).