Best Pokémon GO Raichu X and Y Guide - Best Moveset, Raid Guide, Weakness, and More

Raichu waited years for a Mega Evolution, and now it has two. Both Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y landed straight out of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and they shake up the Electric rankings in Pokémon GO. They stay pure Electric and share the same single weakness. They even use the same best moveset. The twist is that one form hits a lot harder than the other. We put the best moveset up top, then the Ground counters for the Super Mega Raid, the weakness to abuse, and a clear X vs Y call. Stats, catch CP, and shiny details follow so you can prep in a hurry.

Mega Raichu X and Y Best Moveset in Pokémon GO

Both forms of Mega Raichu use the exact same best moveset, so you do not have to think twice.

• Best fast move: Thunder Shock
• Best charged move: Wild Charge
• Best overall combo: Thunder Shock and Wild Charge

Thunder Shock builds energy fast, which counts for a lot in Party Play group raids. That speed lets Mega Raichu reach its charged move sooner. Wild Charge then does the heavy lifting as the hardest Electric option in the pool. Put together, they wring out the most damage per fight.

Do not have Wild Charge yet? Here is how the rest of the charged moves stack up.

Unlocking a second charged move runs you only 10,000 Stardust, so just grab it. Short on dust? The latest Pokémon GO promo codes sometimes drop Stardust and handy items to help. Here is a trick plenty of players skip. Both Mega forms use Thunder Shock and Wild Charge, so you can unlock X and Y on the same high-IV Raichu. That saves you from powering up two separate ones.

Mega Raichu X and Y Weakness and Best Counters

Both Mega Raichu forms are pure Electric-type, so they carry only one weakness.

• Weak to: Ground (the only weakness)
• Resists: Electric, Flying, Steel

That single weakness makes team building simple. Bring Ground-type attackers and skip anything that feeds resisted damage. Watch for two coverage moves though. If Raichu carries Surf or Trailblaze, your pure Ground types take extra damage, so dodge those charged attacks when you can.

Here are the best Mega Raichu counters, sorted by role.

Mega Garchomp is the standout. It resists Electric hard, hits like a truck with Earth Power, and doubles as your shield breaker. Rainy and partly cloudy weather boost these Ground counters, so a wet forecast speeds the fight up.

How to Beat the Mega Raichu Super Mega Raid

Mega Raichu X and Y arrived as Super Mega Raids, which run at seven-star difficulty and add a shield mechanic you must plan around.

At a set point, the boss raises shields. While they are up, it gains 2x Attack and 4x Defense, so raw damage barely scratches it. Here is how to handle it.

• Only a Mega-Evolved Pokémon can break a shield, using a charged attack during the shield phase
• Each trainer breaks only one shield, no matter how many Megas they bring
• Primal Pokémon do not count, so a Primal Groudon cannot break shields
• Bring enough trainers with Megas to clear every shield in the lobby

Previous Super Mega Raids used up to 10 shields, so fill the group. Eight or more trainers, each holding a healed Mega, is the safe target. If your Mega faints before the shield phase, leave, heal it, and rejoin so you can still break your shield.

One tactic worth stealing: shield breaking is not damage based, it only needs a Mega's charged move to land. So you can slot a cheap Electric Mega like Mega Manectric or Mega Ampharos in the back purely to break your shield, then let Ground types carry the damage. If you would rather do both jobs at once, Mega Garchomp breaks the shield and still hits hard. Missing a Ground Mega? Mega Mewtwo X and Y hit hard enough to crack shields in a pinch as well.

Mega Raichu X vs Y: Which Is Better?

For raids, Mega Raichu Y wins clearly. That huge Attack stat lifts it over nearly every Electric attacker in Pokémon GO. Only Mega Zeraora would top it, and that form is not out yet. So right now, Mega Raichu Y sits at the head of the Mega Electric pack.

Here is the head-to-head.

The gap comes from how Pokémon GO builds its Attack stat. The game mostly uses the higher of a Pokémon's Attack or Special Attack from the main series. Mega Raichu Y is the Special Attack form, so its huge number carries straight into damage. Mega Raichu X spreads its gains into Defense instead, which makes it tankier but noticeably softer.

The trade-off is survivability. With only 157 Defense, Mega Raichu Y faints faster, so its total damage before fainting is lower. In quick, coordinated raids where speed matters, Y is the better call. If you want durability or simply prefer the design, X remains a strong Electric pick. For most raiders chasing the best result, Mega Raichu Y is the one to farm.

A fair note: a well-built Regieleki in a full Party Play setup still edges out Raichu Y by roughly 3 to 4 percent. So Raichu Y is not a forced upgrade over a strong Regieleki, but it is an excellent second or third Electric slot.

Mega Raichu Catch CP, Shiny, and IVs

After you clear the raid, you meet a regular Raichu with a boosted Shiny chance. The catch is the base form, so CP stays the same whether you fought the X or Y boss.

Rain weather boosts Raichu, giving higher-level catches. Raids use a 10/10/10 IV floor, so every catch has solid stats and a real shot at a perfect one. Raichu caught from these Super Mega Raids also unlock Mega Level 1 for the form you battled, which removes the first-use barrier and lets you Mega Evolve as soon as you gather enough Energy. If you plan to raid hard across event weekends, it helps to budget your PokéCoins so you never run dry on passes mid-event.

Is Mega Raichu Worth It in Pokémon GO?

Newer or returning players should grab Mega Raichu Y without overthinking it. You get a top Electric attacker for a first-time cost of 300 Mega Energy. Veterans, pump the brakes a little. Shadow Zekrom is right on its heels, and Mega Zeraora will pass it down the line. So call Raichu a handy pickup, not a must-max monster. Tight on Energy and Stardust? Check what to upgrade first before you sink it all into one Mega.

Do not sleep on the resources either. These raids pour out Stardust and XP, so pop a Star Piece and a Lucky Egg while grinding, and chip away at the Electric-type catch medal for better Raichu catch odds.

Conclusion

Mega Raichu finally lets a beloved fan favorite compete near the top of the Electric charts in Pokémon GO. Both forms share the same best moveset in Thunder Shock and Wild Charge, both fall only to Ground types, and both are broken open with Megas like Mega Garchomp during the Super Mega Raid. Mega Raichu Y is the damage king, while Mega Raichu X trades power for bulk. Farm the Energy, catch a high-IV Raichu, and you will have one of the best Electric Megas ready the moment you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

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