Like many Raichus, this one also packs a big punch but discards a lot of energy. Essentially, this card has almost the same attack as Mewtwo lv X, except with a power that helps its attack.
First things first, the HP of 100 is good for a stage 1, but more would have been welcome since it is a prime after all. The weakness to fighting is expected, machamp and donphan will have a field day, and sadly, they will probably be played a lot next format, so bad for Raichu. The resistance to steel is good against Dialga G, making defeans do 0 damage without a belt. The retreat cost of 1 is bad, as there are many raichu with free retreat, and this raichu is the "prime".
Next, the
powr:, it allows the player to move a :lightning: energy from the bench to Raichu multiple times per turn, allowing energy recyclers like Magnezone and Rayquaza to charge Raichu. This would be a good power if raichu prime actually had any attacks worth attaching the energy for. The level X can still be used with this card, but the level X requires energy in hand as well to use its pokebody and Voltage Shoot. Combined with the level X, it is possible to take 2 prizes, sniping a pokemon for 80 with Voltage shoot, and due to the level X's body, using Mega thunderbolt for 120 to the active.
Mega thunderbolt is the only attack on Raichu prime, costing :lightning: :lightning: :colorless: and doing 120 to the active, but discarding all energy. Compared with other Raichu, the SF one does 100 for 3 but the energy discards can be from any pokemon in play. This Raichu also has a free attack, and an extra attack that does 50. The MD one simply does the same as the prime except for 20 less damage and has another attack, agility for 20 damage. SV Raichu uses the same energy cost as the prime and MD but does 60 to the active, and 10 to 2 benched pokemon, for no discard and another weak move. AR Raichu only does 70 and only requires one :lightning: discard. Finally, HGSS Raichu does 100 damage for the cheap cost of :lightning: :lightning: for 100 to the active, but discards the energy afterward, but has free retreat.
The attack on the prime outclasses the MD raichu and works diffrently from other raichu, but discards 3 energy, which is a hefty cost without enough support from the bench. Overall, I would use the SF Raichu or HGSS with the level X instead of this prime Raichu. The prime has the downside of only having one attack, and unfortunatly, discards energy. Fortunatly, its power will allow instant energy attachments from the bench for an instant recharge. So in the end, it is simply a matter of taste. When the set-up is optimum(probably a bench with at least 2 Magnezone SF and some Rayquazas LA), Raichu prime, combined with the level X, have a lot of potential to do 120 damage per turn, and the turn Raichu X is played the potential to take 2 prizes. But as I stated earlier, I prefer the SF Raichu because it has back-up attacks when the optimum set-up is not in place, at the cost of doing 20 less damage with its most powerful attack.
