Pikachu

Pikachu (ピカチュウ Pikachuu) is an Electric-type Pokémon, which was introduced in Generation I. Pikachu is renowned for being the most well-known and recognizable Pokémon. Over the years, Pikachu has become so popular that it serves as the Pokémon franchise mascot. It is the Version Mascot and Starter Pokémon for the game Pokémon Yellow and its remake, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!. It is also well known from the anime, where Ash Ketchum, the protagonist, owns a Pikachu. It evolves from Pichu when leveled up with high friendship and evolves into Raichu when exposed to a Thunder Stone. When in Alola, it evolves into Alolan Raichu. It also has a Gigantamax form

Biology

Physiology

Pikachu are small, chubby, and incredibly cute mouse-like Pokémon. They are almost completely covered by yellow fur. They have long yellow ears that are tipped with black. A Pikachu's back has two brown stripes, and its large tail is notable for being shaped like a lightning bolt. On its cheeks are two circle-shaped red pouches used for storing electricity. They turn yellow and spark with electricity when its about to use an Electric attack, such as Thunderbolt. It has also been known to generate small surges of electrical energy in anger or for protection, like in the anime.

A female Pikachu looks almost exactly the same as a male, with the exception of her tail, which is rounded at the end and has an inward dent, giving it the appearance of a heart. However, in earlier anime episodes, and in the games prior to Generation IV, female and male Pikachu look identical.

As Gigantamax Pikachu, it becomes larger and chubbier (similar to its Generation 1 design). Its tail becomes longer and stores all of the electricity it generates, causing it to glow a bright yellow and enabling it to become as powerful as a lightning strike. Its power is equal to that a power plant; however, it is difficult to use it in peoples' homes since Pikachu can only remain in its Gigantamax form for a short time.

When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity can cause lightning storms.

A Shiny Pikachu is orange.

In "A Plethora of Pikachu!", according to Pikala, the fur from Pikachu in the Kanto region sparkles in sunlight, while the Pikachu from Alola fur is silky smooth and shines in sunlight.

Behavior

Pikachu are usually friendly creatures that love to be cuddled. They love having their tails rubbed, especially at the base; they also like being stroked. However, if threatened or angered, this Pokémon can be quite aggressive. If someone pulls or steps on its tail, it is most likely it will bite or shock anyone in the area, including the one who pulled its tail.

However in the anime and in the wild of the Kanto region they live in big groups deep in forests and are wary of humans.

The Pikachu that live in the Pikachu Valley in Alola in the anime, greet each other by sniffing one another and rubbing their tails together. Also they can start duels with one another by sending electric signals and the winner is decided when the opponent's tail is bitten.

Special abilities

Pikachu's special ability is Static, which can cause paralysis in battle if hit by a physical move. In Pokémon Black and White's Dream World, the Trainer receives a Pikachu with the Lightningrod ability.

Pikachu are capable of learning Volt Tackle, a powerful Electric-type physical move exclusive to the Pikachu family of Pokémon.

Partner Pikachu is also capable to learning special moves: Zippy Zap, Floaty Fall, Splishy Splash, and the Partner Power, Pika Papow.

Z-Moves

Pikachu is one of the few Pokémon in Sun and Moon which have a special Z-Move dedicated to them.

The Z-Move Catastropika is Pikachu's signature move. The move is activated by the Z-Crystal, Pikanium Z. Its base is Volt Tackle. Catastropika can be learned only by a Pikachu with Volt Tackle, and becomes unusable if Volt Tackle is forgotten or if the Pikachu evolves into Raichu.

The Z-Move 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt is Ash Pikachu's signature move. The move is activated by the Z-Crystal, Pikashunium Z. Its base is Thunderbolt.

Pikachu, being an Electric-type, is capable of using the Z-Crystal, Electrium Z, to use the Z Move Gigavolt Havoc.

Gigantamax

Pikachu is one of the few Pokémon in Sword and Shield that can Gigantamax by having a special member from it species.

Gigantamax Pikachu is the only known Pokémon capable of using the G-Max Move, G-Max Volt Crash.

Evolution

Pikachu evolves into a Raichu by using a Thunder Stone. It evolves from Pichu when its happiness is maxed with the trainer in game. It will evolve into Alolan Raichu if using a Thunder Stone in the Alola region

Game info

Game locations

Locations
Version(s)	Area(s)	Rarity
Red and Blue	Viridian Forest, Power Plant	Uncommon
Yellow	Starter Pokémon, Trade	One
Gold and Silver	Route 2	Common
Crystal	Route 2	Rare
Ruby and Sapphire	Safari Zone	Rare
FireRed and LeafGreen	Viridian Forest (uncommon if chosen Charmander), Power Plant	Rare
Emerald	Safari Zone	Rare
Diamond and Pearl	Trophy Garden	Common
Platinum	Trophy Garden	Common
HeartGold and SoulSilver	Route 2, Viridian Forest	Common
Black and White	Poké Transfer, Dream World	None
X and Y	Santalune Forest, Route 3	Rare
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire	Safari Zone or by winning your first Contest	Uncommon/One
Sun and Moon	Route 1, Hau'oli City (SOS Battle)	Rare
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon	Route 1 (SOS Battle)	Common
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!	Starter Pokémon (Partner Pikachu), Viridian Forest (Pikachu)	Rare (Partner Pikachu)
Sword and Shield	Route 4, Rolling Fields, Stony Wilderness Max Raid Battle: Giant's Cap, Giant's Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills, Lake of Outrage, Motostoke Riverbank Meetup Spot (Gigantamax Pikachu; Gift) by talking to a girl if the player has save data of Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!	Common

Pokédex entries

Stats

Learnset

Leveling

TM/HM

By TR

Generation VIII
Machine	Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy	PP
TR01	Body Slam		Physical	80	100%	15
TR04	Surf		Special	?	100%	10
TR08	Thunderbolt		Special	90	100%	15
TR09	Thunder		Special	110	70%	10
TR12	Agility		Status	—	100%	10
TR20	Substitute		Status	—	100%	10
TR21	Reversal		Physical	80	100%	15
TR26	Endure		Status	—	100%	10
TR27	Sleep Talk		Status	—	100%	10
TR30	Encore		Status	—	100%	10
TR31	Iron Tail		Physical	80	100%	15
TR35	Uproar		Special	90	100%	10
TR68	Nasty Plot		Status	—	100%	10
TR77	Grass Knot		Special	?	100%	10
TR80	Electro Ball		Special	?	100%	10
TR86	Wild Charge		Physical	90	100%	15
TR90	Play Rough		Physical	90	90%	10
Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Breeding

To see the Egg Moves that Pikachu can learn, refer to Pichu.

Tutoring

Sprites

Side Game Data

Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
No.	Pokémon		Group	Field Move		Poké Assist
R-002		Pikachu	Electric		Recharge 3		Recharge
Capture Points*			On Sight**
645			No reaction.
Browser Entry
It attacks by blasting electricity from its body.
* - This is the amount of points required to capture the Pokémon (excluding boss Pokémon). ** - This is the reaction of the Pokémon when players approach it.

Super Smash Bros.

Pikachu has also appeared in all Super Smash Bros. Series games, with most of its main appearance is mostly males. Pikachu is a very agile and mobile playable character. In Super Smash Bros., Pikachu was considered the strongest playable character. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikachu's Skull Bash move was introduced, and its Quick Attack ability was upgraded so that it did a small amount of damage to opponents. Pikachu has also once again appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a playable character, with its exclusive attack Volt Tackle as its Final Smash. If you look at the hat Pikachu and you look at the shiny above and the hat, you would notice it's the Shiny Pikachu with Red's Japanese hat.

Each of Pikachu's alternate forms in Brawl and SSB4 can be seen as a tribute to different Pokémon games; The blue goggles come from Pokémon Colosseum and the red hat comes from the Kanto region games while the green headband comes from Pokémon Emerald. In the fourth title, one alternate form is that of Calem. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate gives Pikachu its two female alternates, one is based on Moon, and another is the Libre cosplay which is known appearing in Pokken Tournament (DX).

Along with Mario, Link, and Kirby, Pikachu is a mascot for the Super Smash Bros. series.

Appearances

Anime

Main articles: Ash's Pikachu and Sparky

Pikachu is considered as the main Pokémon in the anime as it is the starter of Ash. Ash received Pikachu in "Pokémon - I Choose You!". Then, Ash's rival, Ritchie, owned a Pikachu named Sparky.

In PJ013, it was revealed that Ash Pikachu can Gigantamax.

• Puka (Surfing Pikachu in the anime)
• Pikachutwo (a clone)
• Nurse Joy's Pikachu
• Pikachu (TB039)
• Exam instructor's Pikachu
• Shopper's Pikachu
• Travis' Pikachu
• Aura Guardian's Pikachu
• Ayumi's Pikachu
• Mirror Ash's Pikachu
• Pikachu (MS018)
• Frank's Pikachu
• Spike
• Ash's Pikachu (MS020)
• Boss
• Curly
• Pikachu (SM091)
• Ashachu

• Mystery Dungeon Series
  • Pikachu (Mystery Dungeon)
  • Pikachu (Gates to Infinity)

Manga

Main articles: Pika and Chuchu

In the Pokémon Adventures Manga, Red owns a Pikachu named "Pika" and Yellow also owns a Pikachu named "Chuchu".

Trivia

• Pikachu and Eevee are the only Starter Pokémon in the canon RPG games that deviates from the usual Grass, Fire, and Water-typings.
• Pikachu is the only Pokémon to have appeared in every episode, special, and movie in the series in some shape or form.
• Though Pikachu isn't in the Unova Pokédex, an image of it can be found in a building in Castelia City before the National Pokédex is obtained, as well as on a billboard above the Castelia City Pokémon Center. There are also several Pikachu shaped hedges in Striaton City. Also, there is a giant Pikachu float next to the Nimbasa City Gym.
• In the game Pokémon Battle Revolution, Pikachu can use the HMs Surf and Fly.
• Starting from Pokémon X and Y, Ikue Ōtani provides the voice of Pikachu in the place of a cry.
• In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there are three variations of Pikachu. One has a headband similar to Brendan's hat, one has a hat similar to Ash's hat and another has goggles. The goggles variant is a reference to Pichu having an alt with goggles.
• Pikachu has appeared on more merchandise than any other Pokémon, including the limited edition N64, Game Boy Color, DS and 3DS consoles.
• In the 2011 Guinness World Records Book: Gamers Edition, Pikachu placed 20th in the "Top 50 VideoGame Characters of All Time."
• Pikachu is the Japanese mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
• It is the first Pokémon in Pokédex order to have a baby form.
• Pikachu and Meowth have inverse Pokédex numbers, 25 and 52. Coincidently, they are based on a cat and a rodent. Even more coincidently, Ash's Pikachu and Team Rocket's Meowth are rivals, like the popular cartoon, Tom and Jerry. (Ash and co. usually thwarting Team Rocket's various crazy schemes.)
• Having a Pikachu hold a Light Ball will double its Special Attack and Attack stats, making its stats higher than its evolution, Raichu. Raichu also cannot hold a Light Ball unless it evolves from a Pikachu that is holding one
• Though not the first Pokémon created, Pikachu was the first Electric-type Pokémon created, conceived after the type was suggested to Sugimori and designed around the concept of electricity and the common symbol for lightning.
• Pikachu is one of Veronica Taylor's favourite Pokémon.
• A protein is named after Pikachu, the name of the protein is "pikachurin".
• Pikachu is one of the 16 Pokémon to be made into a puppet in Japan.
• A 2002 Carl's Jr toy features Pikachu playing the saxophone.
• There are two Pikachu-centric spin off games, Hey You, Pikachu! (N64) and Detective Pikachu (3DS).
• Pikachu was originally set to have a third evolution named Goruchu.
• Pokémon Black and White and their sequels are the only games you cannot find Pikachu in the wild. Instead, you have to transfer one over from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl or Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
• Pikachu was the only Pokémon until Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! to have its cry from the anime in the main RPG games. This was then reused for Eevee in the Let's Go games.

Etymology

The name "Pikachu" is a portmanteau of the Japanese words "pikapika", an onomatopoeia for electric sparkling, and "chū", which is the Japanese onomatopoeia for a mouse's squeak.

Origin

Pokémon designer Atsuko Nishida said that Pikachu was originally based on a squirrel. The stripes on the back and the lightning bolt tail were added as details in the appearance, and the black ear tips are the remnant of the original daifuku-based design.

Gallery

See also

• Pokémon.com Pokédex
• Legendary Pokémon data
• The Pokémon Database
• Pokémon Dream Pokédex data
• Psypokes Psydex data

v · d · eStarter Pokémon
Kanto Johto Bulbasaur Charmander Squirtle Chikorita Cyndaquil Totodile Hoenn Sinnoh Treecko Torchic Mudkip Turtwig Chimchar Piplup Unova Kalos Snivy Tepig Oshawott Chespin Fennekin Froakie Alola Galar Rowlet Litten Popplio Grookey Scorbunny Sobble Other Starter Pokémon Yellow Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Pikachu Eevee (Rival) Partner Pikachu Partner Eevee

v • d • e Gigantamax Pokémon Generation I · · · · · · · · · · Generation V Generation VII Generation VIII · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

v · d · eGeneration I Pokémon
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