Raikou

Raikou is a solid offensive pivot thanks to its high Speed outrunning other threats like Heracross and Tornadus, which is its main advantage over fellow Electric-types like Xurkitree and Toxtricity. Heavy-Duty Boots makes it difficult to wear down passively, letting it use Volt Switch with great freedom, and its useful coverage across Shadow Ball, Extrasensory, and Scald keeps many Pokemon from confidently switching into it. It can put that coverage to even greater use with its Calm Mind wallbreaking set. Its biggest problem is its glaring inability to hit Gastrodon and Flygon very hard; the best it can do is use Toxic or try to burn Flygon with Scald, so they hold it off well early-game. Its attacks are generally a bit weak, so it often relies on teammates to actually break through bulky Pokemon like Registeel and Assault Vest Reuniclus, and its defensive typing isn't good for much beyond switching into Togekiss and Xurkitree; this means it's hesitant to take strong attacks. The Calm Mind set sacrifices Volt Switch, making it a worse team player and thus harder to fit. Stronger Electric-types like Xurkitree and Toxtricity are much better than pivot Raikou at breaking through cores by themselves, while others like Heliolisk and Rotom-Mow offer greater defensive utility due to their typings and abilities.