Discussion Viability of Generations Raichu

Chicken Nugget Master

Chicken Nugget Master

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So I am currently playing a 1-1 line of Raichu in my Zoro/Luc deck, and it has been serving me well. (For some reason, the image won't show up so I've included a link instead) Here is the card:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=r...&biw=1280&bih=800#imgrc=mlUMxO0mhTz_iM:&isa=y
search



It works well in Zoroark as you will always fill up your bench as a requirement for your attacks, and Raichu can be easily teched in to help against matchups such as Ho-Oh and Wishiwashi Walls that Zoroark tends to struggle against. I would play Tapu Koko promo, but...

A: I currently don't have one.
B: Raichu does more damage (to the active) for the same energy cost.

They both have free retreat which is great, but Raichu only has 90HP. In some instances, this is better as it can be Level Balled in expanded. 20HP difference isn't that much when faced against a Buzzwole, but the only downside is that Raichu is a stage 1 whereas Koko is a basic.

The point of this thread isn't to decide whether it is worth replacing Tapu Koko with Raichu, but rather to assess if Raichu is competitively viable or not. Please consider this when giving feedback.

Thanks for reading!
 
I doubt it

The fact that is only does 100 instead of 120 makes it a no go in my book. That means that if you don't get a choice band out it only 3 shots 210 HP GXs which is really bad. Also it's weak to fighting which is a predominant meta deck right now.
 
CrownAxe said:
I doubt it

The fact that is only does 100 instead of 120 makes it a no go in my book. That means that if you don't get a choice band out it only 3 shots 210 HP GXs which is really bad. Also it's weak to fighting which is a predominant meta deck right now.
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True, I can agree with all of your points. If we had a Basic Pokemon with the same ability as Crobat G or Jolteon Star, this format would be so different. I like to play Raichu kind of like a Giratina Promo, only bringing it out when the matchup dictates. I also play 3 Choice Band so getting one out isn't really an issue, plus it is for a Zoroark deck, and Zoroark is the poster Pokemon for getting the card you need in your hand when you need it.
 
It's not like Raichu is a bad card. But when we're talking about competitive viability it's not about asking "is Raichu a good card that works?" it's about asking "Is Raichu good enough to run over other cards" and I think it's safe to say the answer to that is no. Especially when you yourself say you use it like Giratina. Committing to 2 cards that are generally dead draws in most match ups but is great in one match up is not better then running 2 good cards that are good in every match up.
 
zoroark has the same attack(pretty much) and that attack is even better than circle circuit but better because it does 20 more damage
 
No, not really. Raichu and Koko are two totally different cards, Koko is relevant because it adds damage across the field which rounds off numbers on certain cards, for example after a flying flip Zoroark with a choice band can KO a Lele. The extra damage on the active is irrelevant. Running a 1-1 evolution is inherently kind of bad because you have double the chance of it being prized of any other tech attacker.

You don't run Koko for free retreat in decks except for Golisopod. If you want free retreat add two more float stones.
 
Chicken Nugget Master said:
So I am currently playing a 1-1 line of Raichu in my Zoro/Luc deck, and it has been serving me well. (For some reason, the image won't show up so I've included a link instead) Here is the card:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=r...&biw=1280&bih=800#imgrc=mlUMxO0mhTz_iM:&isa=y
search



It works well in Zoroark as you will always fill up your bench as a requirement for your attacks, and Raichu can be easily teched in to help against matchups such as Ho-Oh and Wishiwashi Walls that Zoroark tends to struggle against. I would play Tapu Koko promo, but...

A: I currently don't have one.
B: Raichu does more damage (to the active) for the same energy cost.

They both have free retreat which is great, but Raichu only has 90HP. In some instances, this is better as it can be Level Balled in expanded. 20HP difference isn't that much when faced against a Buzzwole, but the only downside is that Raichu is a stage 1 whereas Koko is a basic.

The point of this thread isn't to decide whether it is worth replacing Tapu Koko with Raichu, but rather to assess if Raichu is competitively viable or not. Please consider this when giving feedback.

Thanks for reading!
Click to expand...
If it's working well, I would keep it. Maybe consider adding another Pikachu, and you should definitely replace it with something else when Volcanion rotates,
 
The real way to answer this is to test it and track it. Play a few dozen games on PTCGO and nown when you use it vs when you don't, as well as how much of a difference you think it made. Compare the list of decks it helped to the decks that you see or expect to see in your meta. Then go from there.
 
It has been somewhat slightly underused on PTCGO, but my local meta does consist of a fair amount of Ho-Oh (including my best friend and closest rival) so it is very situational. I monitor regional results and the meta a lot, and Ho-Oh certainly has an advantage against a lot of decks at the moment, due to its speed and tankiness. Raichu will only find its place on Zoroark I presume, but it is a worthwhile tech when the matchup odds are stacked against you.
 
Koko with a Band 2-shots Ho-oh, and they are not very likely to Phoenix Burn for 1 prize if they know a Zoroark will come up and finish them off. It's much easier to do with Pikachu/Raichu because if you only have 1 on the field, they are in no danger of it popping back out the next turn, whereas Flying Flip is not hard to pull off if your 1 Koko gets KO'd. And Ho-oh plays other attackers. That by itself makes this stage 1 Giratina promo bad.
 
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