Stats & Training
Speed and Attack carry most of Pikachu's stat budget. HP's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 2 Speed EVs. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It lives in forests with others. It stores electricity in the electric sacs on its cheeks.
If it looses crackling power from the electric sacs on its cheeks, it is being wary.
Pikachu Weakness
Ground moves hit Pikachu for super-effective damage. 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 |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
 Phanpy Ground | D | |
 Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x127-150%KO Mud-Slap 2x33-40% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Phanpy Ground | D | |
Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x112-132%KO Mud-Slap 2x29-35% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x196-231%KO Bulldoze 2x120-141%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x116-137%KO Bulldoze 2x73-86% Sand Tomb 2x43-51% | ||
Phanpy Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Phanpy builds →Earthquake 2x137-163%KO Bulldoze 2x87-103%KO | ||
Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x123-146%KO Stomping Tantrum 2x94-111%KO Bulldoze 2x76-90% Bone Rush 2x36-43% | ||
 Gible DragonGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gible builds →Earthquake 2x156-184%KO Bulldoze 2x94-111%KO Sand Tomb 2x57-69% | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x177-210%KO Dig 2x146-171%KO Bulldoze 2x109-129%KO Mud Shot 2x73-86% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x196-231%KO Dig 2x156-184%KO Bulldoze 2x120-141%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x116-137%KO Dig 2x94-111%KO Bulldoze 2x73-86% Sand Tomb 2x43-51% | ||
Phanpy Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Phanpy builds →Earthquake 2x137-163%KO Bulldoze 2x87-103%KO | ||
 Hippopotas Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Hippopotas builds →Earthquake 2x160-189%KO Dig 2x127-150%KO Bulldoze 2x97-116%KO Sand Tomb 2x57-69% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x179-212%KO Dig 2x143-168%KO Bulldoze 2x109-128%KO Mud Shot 2x68-80% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x195-230%KO Dig 2x155-183%KO Bulldoze 2x117-139%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x111-132%KO Dig 2x89-106%KO Bulldoze 2x68-80% Sand Tomb 2x43-51% | ||
Phanpy Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Phanpy builds →Earthquake 2x137-161%KO Bulldoze 2x83-99% | ||
Hippopotas Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Hippopotas builds →Earthquake 2x159-187%KO Dig 2x127-150%KO Bulldoze 2x96-113%KO Sand Tomb 2x59-70% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x170-201%KO Earth Power 2x144-170%KO Dig 2x135-160%KO Bulldoze 2x103-123%KO | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x174-205%KO Dig 2x141-167%KO Bulldoze 2x107-126%KO Mud Shot 2x69-82% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x191-225%KO Dig 2x153-181%KO Bulldoze 2x116-136%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x109-130%KO Dig 2x90-106%KO Bulldoze 2x69-82% Sand Tomb 2x40-48% | ||
Phanpy Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Phanpy builds →Earthquake 2x133-157%KO Bulldoze 2x81-95% | ||
Gastrodon WaterGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x170-201%KO Earth Power 2x144-169%KO Dig 2x138-163%KO Bulldoze 2x102-121%KO | ||
 Steelix SteelGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Steelix builds →Earthquake 2x173-204%KO Dig 2x140-166%KO Bulldoze 2x105-124%KO Sand Tomb 2x62-73% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x173-204%KO Dig 2x140-166%KO Bulldoze 2x105-124%KO Mud Shot 2x67-80% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x189-223%KO Dig 2x151-179%KO Bulldoze 2x116-137%KO | ||
Phanpy Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Phanpy builds →Earthquake 2x135-160%KO Bulldoze 2x81-96% | ||
Gastrodon WaterGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x170-201%KO Earth Power 2x144-169%KO Dig 2x138-163%KO Bulldoze 2x102-121%KO | ||
Steelix SteelGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Steelix builds →Earthquake 2x173-204%KO Dig 2x140-166%KO Bulldoze 2x105-124%KO Sand Tomb 2x62-73% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x173-204%KO Dig 2x140-166%KO Bulldoze 2x105-124%KO Mud Shot 2x67-80% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x189-223%KO Dig 2x151-179%KO Bulldoze 2x116-137%KO | ||
Phanpy Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Phanpy builds →Earthquake 2x135-160%KO Bulldoze 2x81-96% | ||
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Excadrill can KO Pikachu with Earthquake (363-427%).
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x363-427%KO Rapid Spin61-72% | ||
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution
Sitting between Pichu and Raichu, Pikachu is part of a chain that requires an evolution item. Not your typical level-up setup. So far, Speed got the biggest boost (+30 from Pichu). The final form adds another 165 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Pikachu to get Pichu eggs easily using 35 partners from the Fairy and Ground egg groups. Notable egg moves include Charge, Disarming Voice, Electric Terrain and 8 more.
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Pikachu Best Moveset
The recommended build leans into Pikachu's strengths as an attacker. Lightball provides extra utility, and max Attack and Speed EVs back that up. Lightningrod rounds out the package.
Best Build
Pikachu best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Iron Tail
- Quick Attack
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Iron Tail
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Discharge
Recommended Teammates
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Iron Tail
- Quick Attack
- Surf
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Don't skip the egg moves. Pikachu picks up Charge and Disarming Voice only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Thunder and Thunderbolt while coverage across 8 types adds range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Pikachu in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
A few locations for Pikachu with moderate rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Pikachu in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
To get Pikachu, start by catching Pichu through walking encounters at Lv. 16-18. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch PichuTrophy GardenBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.16 Forest30%MidMorningTrophy GardenShining PearlGrass Lv.16 Forest30%MidMorningTrophy GardenBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.16 Forest10%MidTrophy GardenShining PearlGrass Lv.16 Forest10%Mid
Step 2Pikachu ✓Trophy GardenShining PearlGrass Lv.18 Forest10%MidTrophy GardenBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.18 Forest10%Midor evolve from Pichu (Step 1)
Pikachu Guide
Multiple options from Pikachu: Raichu using a Thunder Stone and Alolan Raichu using a Thunder Stone. Each branch takes the 320 BST base in a different direction.
For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, you can run Pikachu through the first few routes without issues. 320 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Raichu as fast as you can.
You can find Pikachu in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 22 other games across the series.
Pikachu has an Alolan form that swaps the typing and reshuffles the stats. Introduced in Gen 7. Worth checking if the original version doesn't fit your team.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Pikachu has appeared in 23 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7 and a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
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 7SMAlolan
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGigantamax
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