Stats & Training
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 unskilled at storing electric power. Any kind of shock causes it to discharge energy spontaneously.
Despite this Pokémon’s cute appearance, those who want to live with one should prepare to be on the receiving end of its electric jolts.
Pichu Weakness
Pichu is weak to Ground. Few weaknesses and 3 resistances make the typing clean. Lightning Rod grants an additional Electric immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Electric, Flying, Steel |
Excadrill GroundSteel | S | |
Ground is super effective against PichuView Excadrill → | ||
Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Ground is super effective against PichuView Hippowdon → | ||
In Legends: Z-A, Excadrill can KO Pichu with Earthquake (444-522%). Hippowdon threatens a KO with Earthquake (314-370%).
Excadrill GroundSteel | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pichu View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x444-522%KO Rapid Spin74-87% | ||
Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Pichu View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x314-370%KO | ||
Legends: Z-A Evolution
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Legends: Z-A Pichu Best Moveset
Lightningrod and Eviolite give Pichu staying power beyond its evolution stage. Modest nature boosts Sp. Atk, spread EVs set the spread, and the pre-evolution bulk actually works here.
Best Build
Pichu best EVs are Sp. Atk and Sp. Def
Special Tank Moveset
- Nuzzle
- Fake Out
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder
Support Moveset
- Volt Tackle
- Nuzzle
- Encore
- Charge
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Leveling does the heavy lifting. Pichu picks up Thunderbolt and Thunder along the way, building toward a complete offensive set. TMs add coverage across 7 types, but the foundation's already strong by then.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Pichu in Legends: Z-A
No wild encounters for Pichu in Legends: Z-A. It's available in Crystal, Diamond, or Scarlet and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Pichu Guide
Pichu evolves into Pikachu by leveling up, then the line branches. Pikachu can become Raichu using a Thunder Stone and Alolan Raichu using a Thunder Stone. Two final forms from the same mid-stage.
Pichu is catchable in Legends: Z-A. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.
Pichu is available in Legends: Z-A. Across the full series, it appears in 20 games total.
For Legends: Z-A, you can run Pichu through the first few routes without issues. 205 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Pikachu as fast as you can.
Game Availability
Available in 20 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Pichu spans 9 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in most mainline games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB

Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM

Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves
