Raichu (ライチュウ, Raichū^?) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar^[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. The purpose of Raichu in the games, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle only as "tamed" Pokémon that are owned by Pokémon trainers. It is the evolved form of Pikachu, arguably the most well known of all Pokémon. Image File history File links © This image is copyrighted. ... This is a complete list of Pokémon which appear in the National Pokédex as of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... Sandshrew , Sand in original Japanese language versions) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... Caterpie ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... Psyduck , Koduck) is one of 493 fictional species of Pokémon in the Pokémon franchise. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... Hoothoot , Hoho in original Japanese language versions) is a species of Pokémon, in the fictional animé and video game universes of the same name. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Pokémon game mechanics. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... The official Pokémon logo. ... The official Pokémon logo. ... Feral mouse A mouse (plural mice) is a rodent that belongs to one of numerous species of small mammals. ... // Pokémon types are special attributes, based partly on, and expanded from, the Classical elements, which determine the strengths and weaknesses of different Pokémon species. ... // Pokémon types are special attributes, based partly on, and expanded from, the Classical elements, which determine the strengths and weaknesses of different Pokémon species. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre or meter is a measure of length. ... The pound (abbreviations: lb or, sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass in a number of different systems, including various systems of units of mass that formed part of English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The U.S. National Prototype Kilogram, which currently serves as the primary standard for measuring mass in the U.S. It was assigned to the United States in 1889 and is periodically recertified and traceable to the primary international standard, The Kilogram, held at the Bureau International des Poids et... The Pokémon series of role-playing video games features many different concepts and items. ... This is a complete list of Pokémon which appear in the National Pokédex as of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. ... The official Pokémon logo. ... A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting, and trademarks of an original work of media (usually a work of fiction), such as a film, a work of literature, a television program, or a video game. ... Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a universal phenomenon. ... The main cast of the anime Cowboy Bebop (1998) (L to R: Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Ed Tivrusky, Faye Valentine, and Ein the dog) For the oleo-resin, see Animé (oleo-resin). ... Manga )   (pl. ... A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other material, usually fastened together to hinge at one side, and rots your brain. ... Various trading cards A trading card (or collectible card) is a small card which is intended for trading and collecting. ... Satoshi Tajiri , born on August 28, 1965) is a Japanese electronic game designer and the creator of Pocket Monsters, better known as Pokémon. ... The player characters, Red (male) and Leaf (female), of FireRed and LeafGreen. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ...

The name Raichu is a portmanteau of the Japanese words rai (雷, rai^?), meaning "thunder", and chūchū (チューチュー, chūchū^?), which is the Japanese onomatopoeia for a mouse's squeak. Raichu's name is also a pun on Raijū (雷獣, Raijū^?), a demon from Japanese mythology. The "Advanced Generation" drawing and sprite design of Raichu was created by Ken Sugimori's team for its 2003 release on the Game Boy Advance.^[2] A portmanteau (IPA pronunciation: ) is a word or morpheme which fuses two or more words or parts of words to give a combined or loaded meaning. ... Look up onomatopoeia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... RaijÅ« (雷獣,thunder animal or thunder beast) is a demon from Japanese mythology. ... RaijÅ« (雷獣,thunder animal or thunder beast) is a demon from Japanese mythology. ... Japanese mythology is a very complex system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculture-based folk religion. ... Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire, released in Japan as Pocket Monsters Ruby and Pocket Monsters Sapphire ), released on March 17, 2003 in North America for the Game Boy Advance, mark the beginning of the third generation in the Pokémon series of RPGs. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and the Pokémon Collaborative Projects article style, this Pokémon-related article or section may require cleanup. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Biological Characteristics

Raichu resembles a large, bipedal lagomorph, very similar to a jerboa. It has orange fur, a white underbelly, brown paws and yellow sacs on its cheeks. Its ears are large and pointed and partially curly and it has a whip-like tail that ends in a yellow lightning bolt shape. This end of the tail is flat in females and pointed in males. It also has no fingers.^[3] Families Leporidae Ochotonidae The Lagomorphs, order Lagomorpha, are an order of mammals of which there are two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). ... Genera 10 genera in 5 subfamilies Jerboas are the members of the family Dipodidae; they are small jumping desert rodents of Asia and northern Africa that resemble mice with a long tufted tail and very long hind legs. ...

Like all Electric-type Pokémon, electricity features prominently in Raichu's life processes. Raichu absorbs electric charges from the environment as needed by either planting its tail in the ground or raising it in the air to gather electricity from the atmosphere. It then stores the accumulated charge in its cheek pouches, like its pre-evolved form Pikachu. Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ...

Raichu's ability to contain electric currents is impressive; it is common for its electrical attacks to have a power of 10,000 volts, although record potential differences of up to 100,000 volts have been recorded. Even when not battling, Raichu's body exudes a weak electric charge that makes it luminescent in darkness and can give a nasty shock to anyone who touches it carelessly. Raichu is stronger than Pikachu and they are extremely rare in the wild, due to the fact that Thunder Stones are needed for Pikachu to evolve into Raichu. Raichu can only be found in power plants. Josephson junction array chip developed by NIST as a standard volt. ... Potential difference is a quantity in physics related to the amount of energy that would be required to move an object from one place to another against various types of force. ... Luminescence is light not generated by high temperatures alone. ... Darkness is the absence of light. ... Sign warning of possible electric shock hazard An electric shock can occur upon contact of a human or animal body with any source of voltage high enough to cause sufficient current flow through the muscles or nerves. ...

Raichu's attitude is partially dependent on the amount of electricity that courses through its body. The more electric power it stores, the more energetic it becomes. Its muscles are stimulated, a phenomenon especially noticeable in its ears, which stand straight up. At extremely high doses of electricity, Raichu becomes unduly aggressive. As a safeguard against this, Raichu frequently calms itself down by discharging excess electricity using its tail as a ground. In the wild, this results in characteristic patches of scorched earth around a Raichu's nest.^[4] It has been suggested that Ground conductor be merged into this article or section. ...

In the video games

In the wild, Raichu can only be found in Pokémon Blue in the Power Plant and the Unknown Dungeon. Raichu can also be obtained by using a Thunderstone on Pikachu in all of the Pokémon role-playing games thus far except for Pokémon Yellow. There, the only available Pikachu is the starter Pokémon and it rejects the Thunderstone, following Ash Ketchum's Pikachu's suit of refusing to evolve to prove itself. (Any Pikachu acquired through trading can still be evolved, however). Also, there will not be a walking Raichu if you ever attempt to transfer it to other versions of the game, evolve it, and transfer it back. Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue were the first Pokémon games released for the Game Boy in the United States. ... The official Pokémon logo. ... Computer role-playing games (CRPGs), often shortened to simply role-playing games (RPGs), are a type of video or computer game that traditionally use gameplay elements found in paper-and-pencil role-playing games. ... Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition is the fourth game in the Pokémon video game series in Japan, and the third in North America and Europe. ... Ash Ketchum, known as Satoshi ) in Japan, is the protagonist of the anime Pokémon. ...

In Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed and LeafGreen, Gym Leader Lt. Surge has a Raichu in his team. Raichu is the only Pokémon he uses in Yellow. In Pokémon Emerald, Gym Leader Wattson eventually has a Raichu in his team by using Match Call.^[5] Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue are the first two installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games, released for the Game Boy in Japan in 1996 and they are two of the best-selling video games of all time. ... Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition is the fourth game in the Pokémon video game series in Japan, and the third in North America and Europe. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Template:Unrefrenced Below is a list of Gym Leaders from the Kanto region in the fictional Pokémon series of video games games, anime and manga. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Below is a list of Gym Leaders from the Hoenn region in the Pokémon media franchise, a series of games, anime, manga, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ...

Like most Electric-type Pokémon, Raichu has very good speed and special attack, but poor defenses. Unusually enough, Raichu also has a high attack stat, giving it the potential to use physical attacks quite effectively. Although Raichu learns mostly Electric-type attacks on its own, it can also learn the useful moves Reflect and Light Screen, which can support it and its teammates.

Interestingly, in Pokémon Red and Blue, there was a man on Cinnibar Island that one could trade their Raichu for an Electrode. Upon speaking to him again he would say "The Raichu you gave me went and evolved!". Raichu has no evolved form, and this line was fixed for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

In Pokémon Channel, Raichu can be found in Viridian Forest under certain time and weather conditions. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In Pokémon Ranger, Raichu can be found in the caves south of Wintown, in the Sekra Range and near the Fiore temple. It has level three electric power, and is capable of fully recharging the Styler. Pokémon Ranger is an action/role-playing video game developed by HAL Laboratory, Inc. ...

In Pokémon Stadium (North American version), it should be noted that when the player sends out a Raichu, the announcer pronounces the Pokémon's name as "Ray-chu" ("ray" as in "a ray of light"), instead of the appropriate pronunciation, "Rai-chu" ("rai" as in "ri-ce" or "ri-ght"). This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

In the anime

Lt. Surge and his Raichu in the Pokémon anime.

Raichu has made a fair number of guest appearances, usually as a Pokémon belonging to the trainer met in that episode. In such appearances, Raichu usually cooperates with Ash's Pikachu and Team Rocket usually abducts both. It appears in a Pikachu short called, "Pikachu's Vacation" where all of Ash, Brock, and Misty's Pokémon go to a Pokémon day care. They run into a Snubbull, Marill, Cubone and a Raichu, who bully them for a while, but later become friends.^[6] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (379x704, 28 KB)Pokémon anime Pokémon Company, Game Freak, Nintendo. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (379x704, 28 KB)Pokémon anime Pokémon Company, Game Freak, Nintendo. ... Lt. ... Ash Ketchum is a fictional character in the Pokémon line of game products. ... Team Rocket ) is a fictional syndicate in the metaseries Pokémon. ...

Raichu's most important appearance was as one of the Pokémon used by Lt. Surge, the Gym Leader of Vermilion City. Ash's Pikachu was first beaten by Lt. Surge's Raichu, and it was given the option to evolve so that it could become powerful enough to stand a chance. However, Pikachu refused to evolve, intent on beating Raichu in its own way. Raichu's evolved status proved to be its undoing; Lt. Surge had evolved it too quickly and it had never learned Agility and speed-related attacks. Pikachu used those attacks to run rings around Raichu, which was rendered powerless when it discharged all its electricity.^[7] Lt. ... This is a list of the major cities and locations from the fictional Kanto region featured in the Pokémon series. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ...

Other anime appearances include being of great importance in "Lights Camera Quacktion", "Stage Fight", and "Mild n' Wooly". Raichu also made an appearance in Raikou - The Legend of Thunder, an episode of the Pokémon Chronicles spinoff series. In it, Team Rocket members Attila and Hun use a machine to attract Electric Pokémon, in an attempt to capture the legendary Pokémon, Raikou. When the machine begins to hurt the Electric Pokémon, a Raichu attempts to strike back, but it is thwarted by the machine's ability to absorb and reflect electrical attacks. Pokémon Chronicles, known in Japan as ShÅ«kan Pokémon Hōsōkyoku (週刊ポケモン放送局) (Weekly Pokémon Broadcast), is a spin-off series of the Pokémon anime, revolving around characters other than Ash. ... Raikou ) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon from the Pokémon Franchise – a series of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ...

In other media

in the Pokémon Trading Card Game(classic edition).

Raichu is one of the most influential lightning-type Pokémon in the card game, for in addition to being the evolution to Pikachu, the effective mascot of Pokémon, it was a Stage 1 Lightning card in a generation where there were no stage 2 lightning-type Pokémon (until Ampharos came in the second generation). That is why there are fifteen cards with its name on it as of now, and they are in the following sets: Base Set, Fossil , Team Rocket (as Dark Raichu), Gym Heroes (as Lt.Surge's Raichu), Gym Challenge (also as Lt.Surge's Raichu), Neo Revelation, Neo Destiny (Basic, as Shining Raichu), Pokémon *VS (Basic, as Jasmine's Raichu), Pokémon *VS (Basic, as Lt. Surge's Raichu), Expedition, Skyridge, EX Sandstorm (as Raichu EX), EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua, EX: Firered & Leafgreen, EX: Emerald(as Raichu EX), EX Holon Phantoms, and EX Holon Phantoms (Steel-type delta species).^[8] Shining Raichu's Thundersquall attack requires two Lightning energy and two Water energy. Notably, Dark Raichu was a "secret" card; it was not listed in official catalogues, and was numbered 83rd from a set of 82. Image File history File links Raichu_tcg_2. ... Image File history File links Raichu_tcg_2. ... Ampharos , Denryu in original Japanese language versions) is one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ...

Since Raichu is the evolution of the very popular Pikachu character, and since it is impossible to devolve a Pokémon, many people do not wish to initiate the evolution at all. While Raichu has some stronger abilities than Pikachu, it lacks the aesthetic appeal of Pikachu. Thus, it is not featured as much as its pre-evolved form. Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... Pikachu ) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise—a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards, and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ...

Raichu is parodied in Drawn Together as Ling-Ling's rich father Jun-Jee. Drawn Together is an American animated television series on Comedy Central created by Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein, and first aired on October 27, 2004. ... Ling-Ling is a fictional character in the animated series Drawn Together. ... The Drawn Together cast (Counter-clockwise from upper left): Wooldoor, Toot, Ling-Ling, Foxxy, Xandir, Clara, Spanky, and Captain Hero. ...

References

• The following games and their instruction manuals: Pokémon Red and Blue; Pokémon Yellow; Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2; Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal; Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald; Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Notes

1. ^ “Pokémon Franchise Approaches 150 Million Games Sold" PR Newswire
2. ^ Pokémon Sapphire information Amazon.com. URL accessed on March 27, 2006.
3. ^ Psypoke - Picture Dex :: #026 - Raichu
4. ^ The in-game Pokédexes of the Pokémon video games (A copy of them from Psypokes.com.)
5. ^ Entry Call - Wattson Serebii.net
6. ^ "Pikachu's Summer Vacation" SummarySerebii.net
7. ^ Electric shockdown. No. 14, season Indigo League.
8. ^ Raichu appearances in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Psypokes.com

Publications

• Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
• Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
• Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
• Mylonas, Eric. Pokémon Pokédex Collector’s Edition: Prima’s Official Pokémon Guide. Prima Games, September 21 2004. ISBN 0-7615-4761-4
• Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5

Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue are the first two installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games, released for the Game Boy in Japan in 1996 and they are two of the best-selling video games of all time. ... Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition is the fourth game in the Pokémon video game series in Japan, and the third in North America and Europe. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... ‹ The template below (Poke-cleanup) has been proposed for deletion. ... Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire, released in Japan as Pocket Monsters Ruby and Pocket Monsters Sapphire ), released on March 17, 2003 in North America for the Game Boy Advance, mark the beginning of the third generation in the Pokémon series of RPGs. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Pokémon Colosseum is the first GameCube incarnation of the Pokémon video game franchise. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article deals with the Pokémon video games. ...

External links

• Official Pokémon website
• Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Raichu as a species
• Raichu’s fourth-generation Pokédex entry at Serebii.net
• Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
• PsyPoke - Raichu Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
• PokeRealm Raichu battle analysis
• WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Raichu Previously hosted by Wikibooks