Should Raichu get Light Ball

[Saiga]

I've created this thread because I was wondering what other people thought about Raichu getting the stat boost from Light Ball. Pikachu gets his Attack and Special Attack doubled by holding it, and with this he actually becomes better than his under appreciated evolved form. That said, Pikachu still isn't a useful Pokemon even with Light Ball, as it is far too frail and limited to using Light Ball.

In that case, should Gamefreak throw Raichu a bone and let it receive the stat boost from Light Ball? Or would that make his Attack/Special Attack too high? If so, perhaps Raichu could receive a smaller boost, say 1.5x rather than 2x?

 

[RocketGrunt78]

yes I think it should.

 

[chimera]

As mugh as I'd love to see that happen, I don't think it should. I'd be fine with Rai getting part of the stat boost, though.

 

[Crysta Blade]

Perhaps Raichu could get a slight Defense/Special Defense boost from the Light Ball instead?

 

[Ghetsis-Dennis]

Raichu has to use light ball in order for its famous pre-evolved form to keep its mascot title. The idea of it giving it less to power to Raichu compared to Pikachu sounds like an interesting idea; that way, he wouldn't be broken as all heck.

 

[Envoy]

Meh. Light Ball is the only thing that sort of, kind of, maybe makes Pikachu quasi-somewhat useful in the very depths of the lower half of the lowest tier in competitive battling, so no.

Raichu does need a buff, but not the Light Ball. I like the idea of buffing it's defense with something, like a Raichu specific version of Evolite, but no Light Ball.

 

[Sanic Hegehog]

Technically speaking, Raichu already has the Light Ball. Just make it hold the Light Ball. Not saying it does anything, but there is no stopping Raichu from having the Light Ball.

And no, Raichu shouldn't get a boost from the Light Ball. Nasty Plot already gives it all the power it needs, the Light Ball power boost would be overkill.

 

[Joshawott]

Personally, I don't think Raichu should be given a boost from using the Light Ball. It's 100 speed spat is pretty good as it is. Sure, it's 90 Sp.Atk could be better, but it not only has Nasty Plot, but Lightningrod to boot.

 

[Keldeo94]

I think it should receive the boost, but maybe limit it to a 1.5x boost so instead of rasing the base stat to 180, you'd be raising it to 135 which is still powerful, but not overkill like 180 would be.

 

[yourlilemogirl]

I think the whole 'chu line should get a boost, and the more evolved it is, the less of a boost it gets, like so:
Pichu: x2.5 boost
Pikachu: x2 boost
Raichu: x1.5 boost

Or perhaps have Pichu get either a .5 or 1.5 boost to show that it is inexperienced with handling electricity.

 

[Ghetsis-Dennis]

Personally, I don't think Raichu should be given a boost from using the Light Ball. It's 100 speed spat is pretty good as it is. Sure, it's 90 Sp.Atk could be better, but it not only has Nasty Plot, but Lightningrod to boot.

Unfortunately, Raichu is a fragile speedster, so he'll need a focus sash in order to use Nasty Plot in the first turn, but even then, no one would want to do that because Smogon didn't recommended it, which is a shame. That's why light ball needs to work for him, but also give him less power compare to Pikachu's, so he won't need Nasty Plot anymore.

 

[ZACH ATTACK]

@Ghetsis Dennis: Not to be rude, but why should we listen to what Smogon says?
I think Raichu should be given the whole Sp.Atk and Atk boost that Pikachu is given, just to make there be one useful Pokemon, instead of two useless ones.

 

[Joshawott]

Personally, I don't think Raichu should be given a boost from using the Light Ball. It's 100 speed spat is pretty good as it is. Sure, it's 90 Sp.Atk could be better, but it not only has Nasty Plot, but Lightningrod to boot.

Unfortunately, Raichu is a fragile speedster, so he'll need a focus sash in order to use Nasty Plot in the first turn, but even then, no one would want to do that because Smogon didn't recommended it, which is a shame. That's why light ball needs to work for him, but also give him less power compare to Pikachu's, so he won't need Nasty Plot anymore.

*sigh* Smogon isn't the "Say-All, End-All" of Pokémon. Particularly when it comes to say, VGC - The winner of the UK Qualifier (following Ruben's disqualification) used a team of Pokémon based on what Gary used in the anime (and Blue used in the games). Yes, a themed team based on what a character in the anime used got a lot further than players who used what Smogon and other competitive battling websites recommended.

Yes, Raichu is very frail and isn't of much use because of it, even with Lightningrod. However, if it got the Light Ball boost, its speed and special attack would simply be too high. Considering Raichu's rather nice movepool, I'd rather it stayed as a nice niche Pokémon as opposed to a major threat.

 

[smalllady]

I'd rather have it gain a Defense/Special Defense boost. Thing is too frail. :\

 

[Saiga]

I'd rather have it gain a Defense/Special Defense boost. Thing is too frail. :\

It has a SpD of 80, though, which is respectable for a Pokemon that is primarily an offensive speedster. So really if any of its stats need improving it's just HP and Def.

 

[Lord Clowncrete]

Yes, it should have .5% boost. That would mean it is "holding" a choice band/choice specs. It already has decent neutral coverage with focus blast/ thunder bolt and hp ice. If it had motor drive instead of lightening rod, it would have been even better and far more difficult to revenge kill with boosts from light ball.

 

[Ranger Jack Walker]

No. The entire point of Light Ball is to make an unevolved Pikachu somewhat viable. In the lower tiers Pikachu can be useful and fun. Allowing Raichu to get those boosts would defeat the purpose of the Light Ball.

 

[Saiga]

No. The entire point of Light Ball is to make an unevolved Pikachu somewhat viable. In the lower tiers Pikachu can be useful and fun. Allowing Raichu to get those boosts would defeat the purpose of the Light Ball.

Problem is that Pikachu is still crap even with the Light Ball.

 

[El_]

True, Pikachu isn't something competitively special, but the whole point of the Light Ball is to make the franchise's mascot standout a bit by giving it something special.

If Raichu were to gain anything however, then I agree that the stat ups for Raichu should go into defense. A more bulky Raichu could pull off Nasty Plots better.

 

[Trainer Yusuf]

Pikachu with Light Ball: Attack(Max.)=458 Sp. Attack(Max.)=436

Raichu with Light Ball: Attack(Max.)=459 Sp. Attack(Max.)= 459

Since Raichu has also access to Focus Blast and has higher speed, it completely overshadows(slightly though) Pikachu with 1.5 boost. So, either Light Ball should get an even higher boost(and preferably to the all members of the line) or Raichu should get a defense boost(as a speed boost would make him outclass Pikachu with his ability to use support/status moves better).

...I can't believe I'm defending Pikachu over Raichu, the gimmick Pokémon that made DP Battle Tower enjoyable to me.