>>54701253At this point? No.
Pikachu needs Raichu because part of the appeal of Pikachu is being the underdog. If he was fully buffed, he’d just be a strong Pokémon, but seeing Weakachu fly, surf, or take on Raichu against surge plays into the winning underdog theme. Also, Pikachu plays into themes of choosing your own path and playing with your favorites. These are staples of the series. Without Raichu, a player never has to choose Pikachu and give up the potential stone evolution.
