Collecting Raikou: The Complete Card Guide for Aesthetic Binders
See why Raikou belongs in every Cats & Felines collection. Card picks, evolution spreads, and display ideas inside.
2024-02-29
Popularity Rank: #399
Fan survey data
Blended rank from two r/pokemon "favourite Pokémon" surveys, weighted 60/40 toward the 2025 results (u/Jawnysparklez; u/mamamia1001 2019).
2025 survey: #452
2019 survey: #274
#399 / 1025
#0243
Raikou
Thunder Pokémon
★ Legendary
The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
Pokédex details
National Dex
#0243
Height
1.9 m
Weight
178.0 kg
Capture rate
3 / 255
Generation
Gen II
Gender ratio
Genderless
Hatch steps
Cannot breed
Base happiness
35
Growth rate
Slow
Color
Yellow
Habitat
Grassland
Shape
Quadruped
Why people love Raikou
Three fast, fan-friendly reasons Raikou stands out — no lore dump, just the vibe.
- Honestly? Some Pokémon are just plain likeable. They don't need a sales pitch.
- Pairs naturally with Entei on a themed page — cute alone, cuter as a duo.
- Who doesn't love cats? Raikou nails that feline charm without even trying.
Pokémon TCG cards
Recent cards featuring Raikou from the Trading Card Game, newest first.
Paldean Wonders
Two Shiny
Mega Evolution
Rare
Secluded Springs
Two Star
Secluded Springs
Two Star
Secluded Springs
Four Diamond
Wisdom of Sea and Sky
Three Diamond
Crown Zenith Galarian Gallery
Rare Holo V
Brilliant Stars
Holo Rare V
Vivid Voltage
Amazing Rare
Lost Thunder
Rare
SM Black Star Promos
Promo
SM Black Star Promos
Promo
Showing 12 of 31 loaded cards · card data from TCGdex with pokemontcg.io as backup · images via Scrydex when needed
Binder plan & Michi Method for Raikou
Binder geometry for Raikou: where the eye should land first and what can stay in the background.
Cards to anchor your spread
TCG picks for collectors — pair these with a printed scene below.
Raikou #79 (Lost Thunder) is a promo worth chasing — alternate art that stands out on any Raikou binder page.
Raikou #SM150 (SM Black Star Promos) is a promo worth chasing — alternate art that stands out on any Raikou binder page.
Raikou #32 (Shining Legends) is a promo worth chasing — alternate art that stands out on any Raikou binder page.
Species art references
Character renders for colour matching, pose ideas, and silhouette checks.
Official artwork
Match card holo colours and keep the species silhouette consistent across pockets.
HOME render
Modern pose reference when you want a cleaner, upright character layout.
Dream World vector
Simple line-and-fill shape — handy for tracing pocket placement before you print.
Shiny palette
Alternate colourway for accent pockets or shiny-themed spreads.
Art via PokéAPI/sprites (open source).
Raikou mini binder spread
A seeded two-page 3×3 binder mockup using Raikou chase cards and Michi Method scene art for display planning.
Left page
Lost Thunder
Rare
SM Black Star Promos
Promo
Shining Legends
Rare
Paldean Wonders
Two Shiny
Mega Evolution
Rare
Secluded Springs
Two Star
Secluded Springs
Two Star
Right page
Secluded Springs
Four Diamond
Wisdom of Sea and Sky
Three Diamond
Crown Zenith Galarian Gallery
Rare Holo V
Brilliant Stars
Holo Rare V
Vivid Voltage
Amazing Rare
SM Black Star Promos
Promo
BREAKthrough
Rare
The Michi Method treats your binder like a small gallery: print one scene that spans multiple pockets, then nest your favourite Raikou cards around it. The picks and reference art below are meant for collectors building display spreads — not competitive lists.
Michi Method scene examples
Illustration picks when dedicated scene art is not cached yet — card frames may still show.
Scene wallpaper — Raikou
Scene art via Wallhaven — Scene wallpaper — Raikou
Scene wallpaper — Raikou
Illustration by pokemon.com
Scene art via Wallhaven — Scene wallpaper — Raikou
Find more scene art
Curated galleries and search links — we do not hotlink Pinterest or ArtStation results.
Pokémon and character names are trademarks of Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK.
Additional tips
- If you're building for Cats & Felines, repeat one motif (floral border, café table, neon sign) across three cards so the theme feels authored.
- Raikou's stoic personality in-game pairs with minimalist layouts: fewer stickers, more negative space, let the art breathe.
- Keep a "swap tray" of mid-value Raikou duplicates beside the binder — trades move faster when the page is already curated.
- Reserve one sleeve for Trainer cameos or duos with Entei, Suicune, and Chien Pao; vignette cards routinely outperform sterile solo placeholders in flat lays.
Raikou: competitive snapshot
For players and duel-minded collectors — abilities, hallmark moves, and tier shorthand in one place.
Base stats
In-game numbers for Raikou — useful context beside abilities and moves.
HP
90
Attack
85
Defense
75
Sp. Atk
115
Sp. Def
100
Speed
115
Total: 580
Players file Raikou around tier "NU" while Ability Pressure (Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.) shapes the fantasy — chase art that stages that payoff, not just the highest number on the slab.
- Zap Cannon — 100% chance to paralyze the target. — Illustration Rares that stage that motion tend to outperform static portraits.
- Mono-electric Raikou spreads live on lighting variation: same palette, different contrast.
3D battle sprites
Animated Showdown-style models for Raikou — normal and shiny.
Sprites via Project Pokémon. Pokémon and character names are trademarks of Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK.
Backstory & Lore
A short write-up on Raikou, weaving together Pokédex notes, species lore, and evolution context.
The rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will. They say that it descended with lightning.
A POKéMON that races across the land while barking a cry that sounds like crashing thunder.
This rough POKéMON stores energy inside its body, then sweeps across the land, shooting off electricity.
A second dex beat (Omega Ruby) frames Raikou as raikou embodies the speed of lightning.. Rotating that line on a sticky note beside the page keeps the spread feeling lived-in.
Raikou shows up in Leafgreen lore as the rain clouds it carries let it fire thunderbolts at will.. When you shop for cards, look for illustrations that lean into that mood instead of generic portrait poses.
Name in other languages
Common localized names collectors may search for.
German
Raikou
Spanish
Raikou
French
Raikou
Italian
Raikou
Japanese
ライコウ
Japanese (Romaji)
Raikou
Korean
라이코
Chinese (Simplified)
雷公
Chinese (Traditional)
雷公
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