Summary:
Alolan Raichu has rolled into Pokémon UNITE on a psychic surfboard, ready to electrify the battlefield with swift dashes and crowd‑control lightning. We look at the official release details, Surge Surfer’s high‑octane mobility, and every move in Raichu’s arsenal. From item builds that squeeze out extra special attack to emblem palettes that shave seconds off cooldowns, we break down practical loadouts for casual queues and top‑tier Ranked play alike. You’ll find explanations on lane choices, team‑fight positioning, and objective control with Thunderstorm Aerial. We also cover the time‑limited Commemorative Challenge offering a free license, so you don’t miss out on bonus Aeos Coins and event prizes. By the end, you’ll know how to zap foes with Electro Ball chains or kite them in endless figure‑eights using Stored Power. Ready to turn every match into a high‑voltage highlight? Read on and ride the surge.
Meet Alolan Raichu: Surf’s Up and Sparks Fly
Alolan Raichu arrives as an Attacker with the laid‑back confidence of a beach‑side surfer and the punch of a thunderstorm. Unlike its Kanto cousin, this variant rides psychic waves, darting across the arena while pelting enemies with crackling bolts. The combination of electric and psychic energy lets Alolan Raichu weave between foes, pressuring back‑liners without sacrificing style. Fans had anticipated its debut for months, and the surfboard Pikachu evolution finally joined the roster on April 17, 2025 at 7 AM UTC. Since then, trainers worldwide have scrambled to master its kit—and discover how a rodent on a board can flip entire team‑fights.
What Makes This Raichu Different?
Beyond the obvious aesthetic, Alolan Raichu trades pure burst for mobility and zoning. Stored Power orbs spin outward while you glide, letting you chip opponents even as you reposition. Electro Ball, meanwhile, forces rivals to respect any ground you claim: two lingering orbs can deter engages or fence in high‑priority targets. Where Pikachu roots itself to channel Thunder, Alolan Raichu stays in motion, punishing any attempt to pin it down.
Electric‑Psychic Synergy in UNITE
The dual typing shines through subtle design choices. Psychic applies a slow, then rewards aggression with extra damage if you tag the same foe—mirroring the mind‑over‑matter vibe of telekinesis. Thunderbolt and Electro Ball fuse for cinematic explosions, echoing electric bursts triggered by a mental command. This mix turns every skirmish into a kinetic puzzle: can opponents dodge the mental shove before lightning finishes the job?
Release Timing and How to Unlock the License
If you missed day one, fear not—you can still snag the Limited License through the Alolan Raichu Commemorative Challenge running from April 17 to May 1, 2025. Complete daily missions, claim shards, and a full license lands in your pocket for zero Aeos Coins. Prefer the direct route? The Unite Shop lists Alolan Raichu for 790 Aeos Gems today and for 14,000 Aeos Coins starting April 24. Either way, clearing the event nets extra Item Enhancers and a cheeky surfer‑themed sticker—worth grinding even if you already bought in.
Limited License & Event Challenge
The challenge spans seven mission cards, each asking simple tasks like scoring goals or assisting KOs. Grab the license early to double‑dip: using Raichu while clearing missions accelerates progress, rewarding you with coins that cover emblem rerolls or future holowear purchases.
Running parallel is April’s Pika Party event, returning from 2022 and packed with discounts on all Pikachu‑family holowear. Queueing into this fun‑run mode also counts toward challenge missions, shaving hours off the grind.
Role, Stats, and Signature Ability
Officially categorized as a Ranged Attacker, Alolan Raichu deals hefty special damage yet remains tissue‑paper thin. Offense and mobility stats hover near four stars, while endurance barely creeps over one. Translation: you hit like a portable generator but fold faster than wet cardboard if caught in a stun.
Ability – Surge Surfer
Surge Surfer allows basic attacks while moving and injects a mini‑dash each time you use a move or boosted attack. This passive single‑handedly rewrites positioning: you can kite melees, weave through Rough Terrain, and slip past bush ganks without burning Eject Button.
Mastering Surge Surfer Angles
Think of every dash as a micro‑blink. Angle the stick perpendicular to incoming skillshots to sidestep while maintaining DPS. Face turrets when poking from behind walls; the dash takes you inside range for a single zap before you slide back to safety. Small adjustments add up, turning Raichu into a jittery target that refuses to stand still.
Move Set Breakdown
At level 5 you evolve straight from Pikachu into surf‑crafting glory and pick between two primary routes. Which one you choose should match team comp and personal vibe.
Stored Power + Psychic Combo
This path plays like a bullet‑hell shooter. Activate Stored Power, fire six electrified stars, then hit Psychic to yank enemies into reach and apply a slow. Every star pairs with Rapid‑Fire Scarf for machine‑gun beams that melt squishies. The downside? You must stay close enough for basic attacks, which exposes you to dive assassins.
Dodge forward mid‑animation using Surge Surfer to overlap star‑blasts at point‑blank range. Pre‑cast Psychic so targets are already debuffed when the first star lands, amplifying damage and ensuring nobody escapes alive.
Electro Ball + Thunderbolt Synergy
Prefer artillery play? Toss Electro Ball to plant zoning orbs, then detonate them with Thunderbolt for instant burst and AoE paralysis. Cooldown reduction from Black‑Green emblem sets lets you keep two orbs rolling nearly nonstop, roofing choke points and Rayquaza pit entrances.
The trick is patience. Cast Electro Ball behind your target’s retreat path, wait for them to step forward, then rip Thunderbolt. The stun locks them into the explosion radius, guaranteeing double hit and often a free snipe.
Unite Move: Thunderstorm Aerial
Unlocked at level 9, Thunderstorm Aerial paints a star‑shaped field that hurts and slows everything inside, refreshing your boosted basics with each hit. Drop it on objectives to deter steal attempts—few opponents risk wading through a frying pan just for last‑hit glory.
Zoning Drednaw & Rayquaza
Line the star so its tip touches the objective’s collision circle; enemies must cross at least two damage ticks and one slow tick before they can even auto‑attack the boss. Meanwhile, you pepper them from the outer edge, racking up free damage.
Pair with allies like Zeraora or Blastoise who thrive in clustered fights. Their ultimates vacuum targets into your electric field, stacking slows and burst for wipe‑level carnage.
Recommended Held Items
Your core depends on move choice, but some picks remain evergreen.
Core Damage Loadouts
Stored Power Route: Rapid‑Fire Scarf, Muscle Band, Slick Spoon for DPS with sustain penetration. Electro Ball Route: Wise Glasses, Choice Specs, Slick Spoon for chunky spell nuke.
Muscle Band vs Wise Glasses
Muscle Band accelerates basic‑attack builds, perfect for circling prey with Stored Power. Wise Glasses scales raw special attack, making every Electro Ball crackle harder. Swap depending on lane matchup—against tanks, the sustained DPS of Muscle Band chews through HP bars; versus fragile speedsters, one Wise Glasses‑buffed orb could end the duel.
Battle Items and Emblems
Eject Button remains staple safety, but X Attack transforms Thunderstorm Aerial into a portable nuke.
Activate just before Psychic or Thunderbolt, then ride the Surge Surfer dash into the fray. The temporary boost stacks with Slick Spoon’s defense‑pierce, letting you shred even Blastoise’s shell.
Emblem Color Sets
Six Green and seven Black emblems slice cooldowns and pump special attack. If you’re still farming perfect rolls, settle for three dual‑colored emblems and fill gaps with any Sp. Atk boosters.
Laning & Macro Strategy
Alolan Raichu fits top or bottom lanes but also flexes jungle when your squad’s assassin locks in Zoroark.
Snag a level‑3 early lead by clearing central Corphish, then rotate to lane for a surprise Electro Ball poke. The fast dash lets you steal bees before defenders notice.
Stick to the outer third of fights, kite clockwise around the clash while leaving Electro Ball traps or star blasts in your wake. Never dash directly back—angle sideways so pursuers fight through your own damage field.
Advanced Tips & Tricks
Small micro‑plays separate good surfers from world‑class wave‑riders.
Immediately tap basic attack after Stored Power activation; the first star fires sooner, shaving almost half a second off your true opener. Chain with Surge Surfer dash to reposition mid‑cancel.
If a Dodrio charges Sprint Gauge, dash perpendicular at the last moment—its beaks collide with empty space while your stars chase behind like angry seagulls.
Get the Most from Current Events
Event currency rains this month. Log in daily, win three quick matches, and you’ll clear the Commemorative Challenge within a week—well before the May 1 cutoff. Spend spare coins on Drive Lens or the new Accel Bracer for other special attackers.
Weekend Coin Cap Boost
The Pika Party playlist grants 50 percent more Aeos Coins from wins. Issue quick‑chat “Group up!” pings and drop Thunderstorm Aerial right on Zapdos for lightning‑fast finishes.
Because Pika Party counts toward both the challenge and standard daily missions, two birds—well, rodents—with one stone!
Wrapping Up Your Electrifying Journey
From surfing dashes to star‑shaped storms, Alolan Raichu flips the standard Attacker script. Master Surge Surfer angles, pair abilities for brutal combos, and you’ll jolt foes into surrender votes before Rayquaza even spawns. Grab the event license, fine‑tune emblem pages, and ride the electric tide to MVP screens. See you on the waves!
Conclusion
Alolan Raichu isn’t just another range blaster; it’s a lightning‑fast conductor of chaos. The moment you layer Psychic slows with Stored Power stars or detonate Electro Ball under Thunderstorm Aerial, opponents learn that speed is nothing without spark. Stay mobile, capitalize on event rewards, and let every match be a sunny beach day—complete with thunderclouds for anyone daring to stand in your way.
FAQs
- Q: What level does Pikachu evolve into Alolan Raichu in Pokémon UNITE?
- A: Immediately at level 5, giving you early access to surf‑powered mobility and high damage.
- Q: Can I get Alolan Raichu for free?
- A: Yes. Complete the Commemorative Challenge running until May 1, 2025 to earn the Limited License without spending Aeos Coins.
- Q: Which move set is better for beginners?
- A: Electro Ball plus Thunderbolt keeps you at safer ranges and is easier to land, making it friendlier for new players.
- Q: Does Surge Surfer stack with Eject Button?
- A: It does; you can dash via Surge Surfer, then instantly reposition again with Eject for clutch escapes or aggressive pursuits.
- Q: What emblem colors should I prioritize?
- A: Aim for six Green and seven Black to maximize special attack and cooldown reduction, with Sp. Atk stat rolls wherever possible.
Sources
- Alolan Raichu Release Date and Time | Pokemon UNITE, Game8, April 17, 2025
- Pokemon UNITE – Alolan Raichu Commemorative Challenge, Game8, April 17, 2025
- Alolan Raichu Guide: Best Builds and Moveset | Pokemon UNITE, Game8, April 18, 2025
- Pokemon Unite Alolan Raichu: Best moveset, builds, items, and more, Sportskeeda, April 17, 2025
- Alolan Raichu (UNITE) – Bulbapedia, Bulbapedia, April 18, 2025
