Pichu is a baby Pokemon from Gen 2 — it can't hold its own in battle yet. The payoff is Raichu, which is where the real competitive value lives. Worth raising if you need one on your team. Only weak to Ground.
Speed and Attack carry most of Pichu's stat budget. Defense's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Speed EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It is not yet skilled at storing electricity. It may send out a jolt if amused or startled.
Despite its small size, it can zap even adult humans. However, if it does so, it also surprises itself.
Pichu Weakness
GoodPichu is weak to Ground-type moves. Few weaknesses and 3 resistances make the typing clean. Just 1 weak spot to worry about, which keeps teambuilding straightforward.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
This is the baby stage. Pichu grows into Pikachu by leveling up. Want more? Breed the adults. Baby Pokemon sit in the Undiscovered egg group. Evolving adds up to 280 stat points total.
How to Evolve
Best Build
Gen 2 build content has limited support (no abilities).
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Egg moves make a real difference. Pichu gets Bide and Double Slap exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Steel coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Zap Cannon and Thunder.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
No wild encounters for Pichu in Gold & Silver. It's available in Crystal, Diamond, or Scarlet and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Pichu is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Receive as a gift in:
Then trade to Gold & Silver.
Also found in:
Pichu is meant to evolve into Pikachu. At 205 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Pichu's biggest threats include Golem (Ground), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
Pichu evolves into Pikachu by leveling up. Pichu is the base form in a 4-stage evolutionary line.
At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Pichu is leaning toward the physical side (base 40 Attack). Defensively? Fragile — can't afford to take many hits.
Pichu appears in 19 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Available in 19 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Pichu spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in most mainline games.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A