Raticate, The Mouse Pokémon. Its hind feet are webbed. They act as flippers, so it can swim in rivers and hunt for prey. Its disposition is far more violent than its looks would suggest. Don’t let your hand get too close to its face, as it could bite your hand clean off. Its whiskers are essential for maintaining its balance. No matter how friendly you are, it will get angry and bite you if you touch its whiskers.
Overview
The original in the chain of early game rodents which often get a powerful normal STAB early, Raticate may have some fame with people who played GSC thanks to everyone's favorite Youngster Joey constantly calling and talking about his Rattata, and eventually Raticate. Raticate was interesting in the original generations being the only Pokemon to learn Hyper Fang until Bidoof, making it one of the longer lasting exclusive moves in the game history. Unfortunately that's one of the more notable things about Raticate, as it's never going to stand out enough to have any impact competitively even if you train a top percentage Rattata like Youngster Joey.
Positives
Abilities - Guts and Hustle are great abilities that a decent amount of Pokemon would love to have. This gives Raticate some room to play with sets on paper as a Guts boosted Facade will chunk a lot of Pokemon while a Hustle boost Quick Attack can clean effectively late game.
Negatives
Stats - Raticate is an early game Pokemon, its going to have bad stats for anything other than the early game. Raticate only has Attack and Speed above base 70 and even then 81 Attack isn't hurting much. This sort of forces Raticate into using a Choice Band to augment its damage which means using Hustle, making it unreliable which is rough because competition among lower tier Normal-types is already tough.
Abilities
Guts - Raises Attack by 1.5x when inflicted with status, ignores Attack reduction from burns - Always a solid ability and with STAB on Facade, Raticate can be quite threatening with this. This does make it very easy to wear down since it's so frail as well, but the power boost is worth it.
Hustle - Raises physical moves damage by 1.5x but lowers accuracy by 20% - Not a bad ability but the misses can really hurt. Overall a strong competition between it and Guts, but chances are you don't want to deal with the accuracy drops if you can avoid it.
Run Away - Guarantees fleeing from wild battles - Useless in competitive play, never use this.
Movesets
Guts Breaker
- Facade
- Sucker Punch
- Stomping Tantrum
- U-turn
Item Attached: Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk /4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Acting as a wallbreaker, Raticate tries to blow holes with its high power Facades. This set got a minor buff with the burn damage changes in SM, giving more longevity. U-Turn abuses Raticate's good Speed to scout threats and this is one of its main traits separating it from Kangaskhan and Stoutland. Sucker Punch adds a nice priority option while Stomping Tantrum gives Raticate a way to beat Rock- and Steel-types.
Flame Orb is ideal over Toxic Orb in all instances of Guts sets since Flame Orb is a consistently low amount of status damage, while Toxic Orb stacks over time.
Choice Band
- Quick Attack
- Sucker Punch / Return
- Stomping Tantrum
- U-turn
Item Attached: Choice Band
Ability: Hustle
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Assault Vest Raticate is a fun idea to allow Raticate to pivot more easily into special attackers. Stone Edge and Earthquake make the Quake Edge combo and both get STAB boost, there's really no reason not to run both moves. Sucker Punch is nice again to pick up those 2HKOes as well as revenge kill faster threats and get a last-second chip hit in. Last slot is open to Fire Punch to surprise some Grass threats more reliably than Stone Edge and also snipe Ferroseed or Ferrothorn. However, Explosion is also a viable option to blow something up when in a pinch. It's not as good as it used to be but it's still as strong of an option when you need it.
Other Options & Partners
Special Coverage - 50 Special Attack makes them hit like wet paper, but Water-type moves like Bubble Beam can really hurt Golem and Rhydon which wall Raticate quite well, but that means giving up Stomping Tantrum which does well enough against them anyway.
Alolan Raticate, The Mouse Pokémon. This gourmet Pokémon is particular about the taste and freshness of its food. Restaurants where Raticate live have a good reputation. It has an incredibly greedy personality. Its nest is filled with so much food gathered by Rattata at its direction, it can’t possibly eat it all. It commands a nest of Rattata. Different nests don’t get along, whipping up severe fights over feeding grounds. It makes its Rattata underlings gather food for it, dining solely on the most nutritious and delicious fare.
Overview
Like most Gen 1 Pokemon that missed out on a mega last generation, Raticate got a new form in the chunky Alolan Raticate. Alolan Raticate does the same thing as Raticate but better in some areas and worse in others, and with a new Dark typing it gains more utility and a slightly more unique niche. Overall it's still a subpar choice compared to something like Alolan Persian, but Alolan Raticate does ultimately end up being roughly the same thing as Kantonian Raticate but better. That doesn't amount to much when Raticate wasn't great to begin with but sometimes that's okay, not every Pokemon needs to be a powerhouse or defensive juggernaut.
Positives
Swords Dance - Swords Dance is the biggest factor to Alolan Raticates usage as it combines well with Hustle to make it an offensive nightmare. This in combination with STAB boosted Knock Off or Sucker Punch is rough for defensive and offensive teams alike.
Negatives
Speed - Gaining its new still subpar defense came at the cost of Raticate's Attack and good Speed. This leaves Alolan Raticate in an odd spot as it lacks the Speed to outright sweep or the bulk to just tank like Swords Dance Garchomp in OU. Combined with a reliance on Sucker Punch, this can put Raticate in a tough spot against balanced teams as it's not quite strong enough or bulky enough to do much.
Abilities
Hustle - Raises power by 1.5x but lowers accuracy by 20% - Probably the best ability for Alolan Raticate because it doesn't have access to Guts, and its other abilities are too defensively inclined for something with mediocre defenses.
Gluttony - Consumes Berries early - This is a great ability on something with the bulk to utilize this such as Snorlax, but despite the chubby look this is no Snorlax. Alolan Raticate is too frail for this to really be useful.
Thick Fat - Halves Fire and Ice damage - Thick Fats an amazing ability, just not on Raticate. Taking less damage from two very strong types doesn't help much when you have no recovery or bulk, or even good offense without the ability to help it.
Movesets
Z-Move Breaker
- Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Double-Edge
Item Attached: Normalium Z / Darkium Z
Ability: Hustle
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
Swords Dance is the main move that sets Alolan Raticate apart from the plethora of Normal-types in lower tiers. In combination with Hustle and the STAB bonus on Sucker Punch, this makes Raticate a hard Pokemon to revenge kill unless you have a faster priority user. Knock Off is just a great move to spam on the switch as almost no Pokemon likes having a held item removed, and the damage of Alolan Raticate chunks most lower tier threats. Finally Double-Edge is for slower Pokemon or a more powerful STAB to Knock Off at the cost of health in the recoil. This allows Alolan Raticate to pressure Stall teams exceptionally well which is something other Normal types struggle to do.
Other Options & Partners
Choice Band - Like its Kantonian counterpart, a Choice Band is a solid option for Alolan Raticate. However, losing Swords Dance hurts as it's Alolan Raticate's main niche that sets it apart from other Normal-type attackers.
Mespirit - The ability to check Fighting threats and set up hazards is greatly enjoyed by the Raticate forms. U-turn also helps the slower Alolan Raticate get in safe while making a nice U-turn core with it. Finally, Healing Wish can give Alolan Raticate a new life and chance to punch holes in the opposing team.
Alolan Persian - Z-Parting Shot is the primary reason Alolan Persian is here as it gives a safer entrance for both Raticates and helps build offensive momentum for your team.
Checks & Counters
Hitmonchan - One of the best Fighting-types in lower tiers and with access to Mach Punch, Hitmonchan is a solid check to both Raticate and Alolan Raticate. If Alolan Raticate runs Adamant nature then Hitmonchan will outpace it, though Mach Punch will OHKO it anyway.
Kangashkan - Arguably better than both Raticate forms, Kangashkan is a strong option to revenge kill both Raticate forms with its solid bulk, good Attack, and in the case of Alolan Raticate, faster priority moves.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Route 16, Route 17, Route 18, Route 21 (Red/Blue)
Route 9, Route 10, Route 11, Route 16, Route 18, Route 21, Pokémon Mansion (Yellow)
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Route 38, Route 39, Union Cave, Mt. Mortar, Burned Tower, Route 7, Route 9, Route 10, Route 26, Route 27, Tohjo Falls (Gold/Silver)
Route 38, Route 39, Route 42, Route 43, Union Cave, Mt. Mortar, Burned Tower, Route 1, Route 3, Route 4, Route 6, Route 7, Route 9, Route 10, Route 11, Route 21, Route 26, Route 27, Tohjo Falls (Crystal)
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Routes 17, 18 & Pokémon Mansion
Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Chaser Furgy in Citadark Isle (XD)
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen (Colosseum)
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Route 225, Route 226
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Route 7, Route 9, Route 10, Route 26, Route 27, Route 38, Route 39, Route 47, Union Cave, Mt. Mortar, Burnt Tower, Tohjo Falls, Safari Zone
Black/White:
Dreamyard
Black 2/White 2:
Relic Passage, Dreamyard, Strange House
X/Y:
Trade from Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Route 118
Sun/Moon:
Route 10, Route 11, Route 15, Route 16, Route 17, Akala Outskirts, Ancient Poni Path, Malie City, Poni Gauntlet, Poni Grove, Poni Plains, Poni Wilds, Tapu Village
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Route 8 (SOS Only), Route 10, Route 15, Route 16, Route 17, Akala Outskirts, Mount Lanakila, Poni Plains, Tapu Village
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Route 7, Route 8, Route 9, Route 10, Route 11, Route 16, Route 17, Route 18, Route 21, Pokemon Mansion
Animé Appearences
