Hello guys, I’m HupuMetapod, a creative VGC competitor from mainland China.

Today I will share 3 different Raging Bolt cultivation theories with you, including Direct-Offensive Bolt, Assault Vest Bolt, and Calm Mind Bolt.

About Raging Bolt

Raging Bolt is the culmination of the design template of the bulky low-speed attacker in Gen8 and Gen9.

Compared to Ursaluna Normal, Raging Bolt does not require a turn start and has a priority attack move.

Compared to Kingambit, Raging Bolt does not have the limitation of 4X Weaknesses.

Compared with Iron Hands, Raging Bolt is better at short-round attacks, rather than solving problems through the recovery provided by Drain Punch.

Overall, Raging Bolt is the Paradox Pokémon with outstanding offensive capabilities in short-round combat. On the other hand, Raging Bolt could also still take on the task of being the team's fortress or set-up core with its excellent physique and the move Calm Mind.

Direct-Offensive Pivot

In this type of Raging Bolt, the attack move is generally fixed on the explosive method (Draco Meteor), the stable STAB move (Thunderbolt), the priority STAB move (Thunderclap) that provides guessing ability, and the brake (Protect).

Raging Bolt's Electric and Dragon Types both have excellent striking surfaces, but they also have 0X immune, so they are slightly more difficult to use than Pokémon with similar positioning such as Kingambit.

In the current meta, the main targets that require attention for the direct output Raging Bolt are Chien-Pao, Flutter Mane, Landorus-I, and Amoonguss. The first three Pokémon all have the ability to directly knock down Raging Bolt. Flutter Mane's high SpD will also increase the difficulty for Raging Bolt to deal with her. Amoonguss resists and redirects Raging Bolt's Electric Moves and can block Raging Bolt's movements through Spore.

As a result, Raging Bolt needs to consider these options when defending against these predators:

Powder Moves Countermeasures

-Tera Grass or Safety Goggles.

Defensive Tera Types

-Water (mainly against Chien-Pao-Entei-Rapid Urshifu combo)

Bug (resistant to Ground and not super effective by Poison)

Flying (Immune to Ground, but unable to resist Chien-Pao. Same for Grass)

Fairy (countermeasures of Urshifu-Single meta trend)

About the 1.3x Multiplier Theory

When considering Raging Bolt's offensive capabilities, generally speaking, we can directly increase SpA to the stat bump. (multiples of 11)

But in this sharing, I want to put forward a unique point of view: Raging Bolt is more sensitive to the 1.3x damage-increasing multiplication zone.

When Raging Bolt hits the first 1.3x multiplier zone, it will have a chance to threaten Landorus-I's survival through Draco Meteor:

52+ SpA Protosynthesis Raging Bolt Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Landorus: 169-201 (103 - 122.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO.

When Raging Bolt gets a second (estimated) 1.3x multiplier zone (1.69x actually) it will become unstoppable offensively and can even 2HKO most Flutter Manes in the game via Thunderclap:

52+ SpA Protosynthesis Tera Electric Raging Bolt Thunderclap vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Flutter Mane: 80-96 (49.3 - 59.2%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO.

In order to achieve this effect, we need to choose two elements from Life Orb, Protosynthesis activation, and Tera Electric. The easiest way to build this kind of Raging Bolt is through a combination of Held Item and Tera Electric. This is what the offensive Tera Type actually means for Raging Bolt.

Tips:

Tera Stellar is also a viable option for Raging Bolt, but only provides a single damage boost for Electric Type moves. Generally speaking, Draco Meteor only needs one 1.3x damage boost.

Magnet + more SpA investment is also a viable option, but it won't add to Draco Meteor.

Finally, let’s talk about Speed Investment.

Offensive Raging Bolt's speed investment really depends on the teammate it's paired with.

If you're teaming up with Speed Booster Flutter Mane, make it a priority to make sure your Raging Bolt can exceed the targets of withstanding Icy Wind once.

For Example:

120 speed stats for Max Speed Ogerpon and Tornadus.

113 speed stats for Max Speed Landorus-I and Chi-Yu.

If you're teaming up with Tornadus, you might consider outpacing some Pokémon with Choice Scarf under Tailwind.

Even if you don't team up with any Speed Controllers, remember that there will continue to be a considerable number of Raging Bolt, Archaludon, Rillaboom, and other Pokémon with 75-85 Speed Species strength in the current meta. So investing in the speed of a Raging Bolt can often be seen as an investment that pays off handsomely.

Finally, there are several Offensive Raging Bolt distribution models I have built that can be used in actual combat. Hope you like them. This is my first attempt to share Pokémon-related content in a non-native language. It’s challenging, but I naturally love challenges.

Recommended EVs:

Tips:

252 Atk Sword of Ruin Chien-Pao Icicle Crash vs. 60 HP / 124 Def Raging Bolt: 174-206 (83.6 - 99%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Tips:

252+ Atk Sword of Ruin Chien-Pao Icicle Crash vs. 100 HP / 172 Def Raging Bolt: 182-216 (85.4 - 101.4%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

Assault Vest Pivot

Like many other great bulky characters, Assault Vest can also bring huge improvements to Raging Bolt's team role, including enduring Earth Power from Sheer Force Landorus Incarnate, the speed control ability provided by Electroweb, and Snarl's suppressive power on Special Attackers. 

Raging Bolt’s Defensive Potential

First of all, Raging Bolt has very respectable durability on paper. Its durability triangle of 125 HP-91 Def-89 SpD is almost the same as the level of Generation 5 Legendary Pokémon Kyurem-Normal (125-90-90). Although Kyurem-Normal is not a strong member of the Legendary Pokemon pool, its durability level appears on a Paradox Pokémon that can be used in Regulation Set F and has a complete set of offensive move combinations, which means Raging Bolt is destined to become an existence that cannot be ignored. Let's thank the growth of a new Pokémon Generation for the numerical inflation.

However, Raging Bolt's defensive advantages in attributes are even unmatched by Kyurem-N. Although the combination of Electric + Dragon is not complementary, they each provide several of the most precious resisted types in this metagame, such as Bleakwind Storm, Surging Strike, Fire or Water Type Ivy Cudgel, and Incineroar/Rillaboom’s major attack moves. This gives Raging Bolt a lot of opportunities to take low damage and get a matchup advantage. The significant zone defense value allows Raging Bolt to serve as an important strategic resource for both Balance Teams and Hyper Offensive Teams.

In the Physical Attack area, Raging Bolt can survive some common attackers' Super Effective Moves through its own durability, such as Chien-Pao's Icicle Crash:

252 Atk Sword of Ruin Chien-Pao Icicle Crash vs. 100 HP / 92 Def Raging Bolt: 180-212 (84.5 - 99.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

It even has the potential to take on the most damaging 1x move in the current metagame, the Facade of Guts Ursaluna:

252+ Atk Guts Ursaluna Facade (140 BP) vs. 188 HP / 164 Def Tera Fairy Raging Bolt: 189-223 (84.3 - 99.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

This means that even without the support from those Intimidate Pivot Pokémons such as Incineroar and Arcanine-Hisui, Raging Bolt can still strive for at least a 2-turn output window on its own. It’s quite essential for Raging Bolt, which uses STAB Move + Thunderclap as its core offensive method.

Generally speaking, Raging Bolt will be more easily knocked down by Special Attack Moves. Raging Bolt's special attack-focused enemies possess a level of firepower equal to that of its physical ones, and those special moves are harder to weaken. Sheer Force Landorus-I, Choice Specs Flutter Mane can easily OHKO Raging Bolt, but the peak of the damage range is usually below 150%. This allows Raging Bolt to gain a chance to deal with these natural enemies for a round by carrying Assault Vest. For an opportunistic hunter like Raging Bolt, one turn is often enough.

20 SpA Choice Specs Tera Fairy Flutter Mane Moonblast vs. 188 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 184-220 (82.1 - 98.2%)

252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Earth Power vs. 188 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 174-205 (77.6 - 91.5%)

Attack Moves Preferences

Based on Raging Bolt's powerful resource exchange capabilities in limited turns, its 4 Moves as Assault Vest Terminal should also be designed to maximize its team contribution and individual threat.

Thunderclap is a key move that must be carried at all times.

Snarl will also occupy a position. It can help Raging Bolt's team reduce the pressure against lineups such as Psyspam and can also give the opponent extra operating pressure when switching to Special Attackers.

Thunderbolt is an alternative move to this category of Raging Bolt. Electroweb can help the team take on some speed control duties, while also putting pressure on the Torn-Urshifu Rapid combination. On the other hand, abandoning Thunderbolt may cause Raging Bolt to lose some of its ability to fight certain Pokémon, such as Kingambit. So you need to decide this position based on your team's needs.

Dragon Type STAB move now has two options: Draco Meteor and Dragon Pulse. 

Draco Meteor is still excellent as a burst method, but after losing the 1.3x multiplier zone, it no longer has the ability to OHKO against Pokémon such as Landorus-I.

Therefore, Dragon Pulse, which has no negative effects, has become a more popular choice, and can stably cause damage to Pokémon that are resistant to Electric, such as Rillaboom and Ogerpon-H.

Finally, there's Tera Blast. This is an option that can replace Snarl. Together with the most commonly used Tera Fairy Type of Assault Vest Raging Bolt, it can resist the current hot Urshifu-Single trend in both attack and defense.

Other Tera Type options include Powder Move countermeasures like Grass, or increased damage options like Electric.

About the Teammates

Regarding the teammate selection, Raging Bolt with Assault Vest basically digests the usage rate of Iron Hands in former Regulations. Incineroar handles Iron Hands' Fake Out legacy, while Redirection Supports (Amoonguss and Ogerpon-W), Specs Flutter Mane and Stat Boost Sweepers (Dragon Dance Roaring Moon, Gholdengo, etc.) continue to serve as various components of Balance Team.

In the Hyper Offensive teams, Assault Vest Raging can also exist as a strategic resource for the team to exchange Pokémon status for matchup advantages during the stalemate phase. At this point it is not fundamentally different from the running concept of offensive Raging Bolts, and like Rillaboom, only appears as a player's design preference.

Recommended EVs

Tips:

Survive from Bulky Specs Tera Fairy Flutter Mane's Moonblast without terastalization.

11n SpA

Outspeed 152 Speed Pokémons (Adamant/Modest 252Spe Entei/Chi-Yu) after 1 time Electroweb.

Calm Mind Set-up Core

This is the method of using Raging Bolt that was underestimated in the early stages of the metagame. As the environment developed and matured, it was eventually generally regarded as the final answer to Regulation F. 

Calm Mind can simultaneously meet the needs of Raging Bolt's damage boosting and enduring special moves by continuously improving Special Attack and Special Defense. 

As a price, since both types of Raging Bolt have immunity, this type of Raging Bolt (in OTS) can only carry the combination of Dragon Pulse + Thunderclap to transform its firepower. As a result, it will be targeted by specific Pokémon. Such as Clefairy, Tera Fairy Farigiraf and Amoonguss. 

On the other hand, such a significant Move on Raging Bolt like Calm Mind will always be noticed by the majority first, so Calm Mind Bolt was targeted more in the early metagame. Over time, solid balance pivots such as Incineroar, Rillaboom, Landorus-Incarnate and Scarfed Urshifu Rapid Strike began to appear frequently as teammates for Calm Mind Raging Bolt. For common counters such as Farigiraf, second setup cores like Gholdengo have also begun to be introduced. Redirection providers such as Amoonguss and Hearthflame Ogerpon have also become part of the difference.

Eventually, Calm Raging Bolt teams became the most unique way to display diversity in Regulation F. They have very similar main structures, but different secondary axes and game plans form the differences among these teams. This is also the most interesting part of metagame development, but it also inevitably creates many difficult-to-handle mirror deadlocks in the later stages of the game.

As for item selection, Leftovers is the best choice for CM Bolt in most periods of the metagame. However, during the EUIC cycle, Booster Energy was developed as an alternative. This is because a SpA-boosted Raging Bolt could directly OHKO the Assault Vest ones, with only 1 Calm Mind. The saved Leftovers can be handed over to Gholdengo.

Recommended EVs

Conclusion

As a bulky attacker born in the DLC2 generation, Raging Bolt suppressed the Torn-Shifu insanity of Regulation E, inherited most of the legacy of Iron Hands, and provided a brand new answer for Electric Type Pokémon.

Since Zekrom and Miraidon cannot completely replace Raging Bolt in the Single Restricted metagame, we will definitely continue to see this magical long-necked monster continue to be active on the VGC battlefields, at least in the next few months.

Disclaimer: The opinions/stories expressed in the blog post are those of the author's and not necessarily reflective of the platform or its affiliates.