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Pokemon of the Week RS: Raticate

by Eraleas

Raticate artwork

General info

Type
Normal
Ability
Run Away (Can always escape from a non-trainer battle)/ Guts (Attacks is multiplied by 1,5 when affected by a status condition)
Base Stats
  • HP: 55
  • Attack: 81
  • Defense: 60
  • Special Attack: 50
  • Special Defense: 70
  • Speed: 97
Description

Eventhough Rattata is one of the most common POkémon in the game, seen even from the very beginning, his evolved form is not extremely bad, possessing a well around Attack and Speed which along with the ability, Guts can inflict serious damage before going down.

Online Pokédex
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Role #1: Physical Sweeper

Item Held
Liechi Berry (raises Attack when HP are low)/ Choice Band (Increases move’s power but only the selected move can be used until switched)
Nature
Jolly (+Speed –Special Attack)/Adamant (+Attack –Special Attack)
Effort Points
252 Attack, 252 Speed, 6 HP
Moveset
  • Quick Attack
  • Super Fang
  • Shadow Ball
  • Return/Hidden Power Fighting
Strategy

The first moveset is quite obvious: take advantage of Raticate’s Attack and Speed and sweep your way to victory. Super Fang is there because it deals an amount of damage equal to the opponent’s Pokémon current Hit Points, which in some cases is better. Use either Liechi Berry or Choice Band. Both will work well with this set.

Role #2: Physical Sweeper (variant)

Item Held
Liechi Berry (raises Attack when HP are low)
Nature
Jolly (+Speed –Special Attack)/Adamant (+Attack –Special Attack)
Effort Points
252 Attack, 252 Speed, 6 HP
Moveset
  • Substitute
  • Quick Attack
  • Endeavor
  • Shadow Ball
Strategy

This is kinds tricky but works well. You must use Substitute twice so that your Hit Points drop low, activating Liechi Berry. After using Substitute for the second time, make use of Endeavor which will surely hurt! Finish your opponent’s off by using Quick Attack.

Egg Moves

These are the moves Rattata can learn through breeding with Pokémon of the Ground Egg Group, and the Pokémon it can get them from.

Screech
Ekans/Arbok, Meowth/Persian, Psyduck/Golduck, Mankey/Primape, Aipom, Umbreon, Dunsparce, Sneasel or Keckleon
Counter
Slakoth/Vigoroth/Slaking
Bite
Ekans/Arbok, Meowth/Persian, Growlithe/Arcanine, Eevee/Vaporeon/Jolteon/Flareon/Espeon/Umbreon, Snubbull/Granbull, Houndour/Houndoom, Poochyena/Mightyena or Elektrike/Manectric
Flame Wheel
Growlithe/Arcanine or Cyndaquil/Quilava/Typhlosion
Reversal
Vigoroth/Slaking
Fury Swipes
Sandshrew/Sandslash, Meowth/Persian, Psyduck/Golduck, Mankey/Primape, Sentrer/Furret, Aipom, Sneasel, Teddiursa/Ursaring or Linoone
Uproar
Spinda, Vigoroth/Slaking or Whismur/Loudred/Exploud
Swagger
Poochyena/Mightyena, Nuzleaf/Shiftry, Slaking or Seviper

Training Grounds

This section is to advise you on the areas in which you can train for the acquisition of the Effort Points presented above. It is recommended you use 10 vitamins on the stat you desire to raise. Do not use vitamins on stats that require less than 100 Effort Points. Equip the Macho Brace on your Pokémon to speed up the process even more.

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
HP
Rusturf Tunner [Wishmur +1]
Attack
Fish with Super Rod on Route 118 [Carvanha +1]
Speed
Route 118 [Elektrike +1] [Manectric +2] [Zigzagoon +1] [Linoone +2] [Wingull +1]
Fire Red/Leaf Green
HP
Viridian Forest [Caterpie +1]
Attack
Routes 16, 18 [Doduo +1] [Dodrio +2]
Speed
Routes 13 to 15 [Pidgey +1] [Pidgeotto +2]
Diglett’s Cave [Diglett +1] [Dugtrio +2]

Contests

Item Held
Red Scarf
Contest Moveset
Quick Attack [Cool]
Shock Wave [Cool]
Thunderbolt [Cool]
Hyper Beam [Cool]

Another Pokémon suitable for Cool contest. However, you should use some TM’s on Rattata/Raticate before applying for it. The strategy is fairly simple: Quick Attack then Shock Wave for a bunch of Cool Appeal points. Follow this and you will not fail.

More precisely

  • If you appeal 1st:
    • Round 1: Shock Wave
    • Round 2: Quick Attack
    • Round 3: Shock Wave
    • Round 4: Quick Attack
    • Round 5: Shock Wave
  • If you appeal 2nd, 3rd or 4th:
    • Round 1: Quick Attack
    • Round 2: Shock Wave
    • Round 3: Quick Attack
    • Round 4: Shock Wave
    • Round 5: Hyper Beam

Useful Links: If you are not familiar with game language used above, read through the
Stats & Training Guide, the Team Building Guide and the Egg Group Guide. More guides shall be added soon to help you out. If you have suggestions on additional movesets for either Battles or Contests, please post them in the Comments section. I will then evaluate them and probably add some of them, giving you credit.