Stats & Training
Speed and Attack carry most of Pikachu's stat budget. Defense's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 2 Speed stat exp. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
When it is angered, it immediately discharges the energy stored in the pouches in its cheeks.
Pikachu Weakness
Ground moves hit Pikachu for super-effective damage. Few weaknesses and 3 resistances make the typing clean. Just 1 weak spot to worry about, which keeps teambuilding straightforward.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Electric, Flying, Steel |
- 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
 Donphan Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x289-341%KO Mud-Slap 2x60-71% | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | B | |
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x217-256%KO Dig 2x174-205%KO Mud-Slap 2x46-55% | ||
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandslash builds →Dig 2x199-235%KO Mud-Slap 2x53-63% | ||
 Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x173-205%KO Mud-Slap 2x47-55% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Dig 2x110-130%KO Mud-Slap 2x33-40% | ||
 Cubone Ground | C | |
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Dig 2x118-140%KO Bone Club 2x97-115%KO Bonemerang 2x75-90% Mud-Slap 2x33-40% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Geodude builds →Dig 2x160-190%KO Mud-Slap 2x47-55% | ||
 Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x157-185%KO Mud-Slap 2x42-50% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x165-196%KO Mud-Slap 2x46-54% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Dig 2x181-213%KO Mud-Slap 2x49-58% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Dig 2x106-125%KO Mud-Slap 2x31-38% | ||
Cubone Ground | C | |
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Dig 2x113-133%KO Bone Club 2x92-108%KO Bonemerang 2x74-88% Mud-Slap 2x31-38% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x151-179%KO Mud-Slap 2x42-50% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x161-191%KO Mud-Slap 2x45-53% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Dig 2x176-207%KO Mud-Slap 2x47-57% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Dig 2x103-122%KO Mud-Slap 2x30-36% | ||
Cubone Ground | C | |
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Dig 2x109-130%KO Bone Club 2x89-105%KO Bonemerang 2x69-81% Mud-Slap 2x30-36% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x145-170%KO Mud-Slap 2x41-49% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x161-191%KO Mud-Slap 2x45-53% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Dig 2x176-207%KO Mud-Slap 2x47-57% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Dig 2x103-122%KO Mud-Slap 2x30-36% | ||
Cubone Ground | C | |
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Dig 2x109-130%KO Bone Club 2x89-105%KO Bonemerang 2x69-81% Mud-Slap 2x30-36% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x145-170%KO Mud-Slap 2x41-49% | ||
Donphan Ground | B | |
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x161-191%KO Mud-Slap 2x45-53% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Dig 2x176-207%KO Mud-Slap 2x47-57% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Dig 2x103-122%KO Mud-Slap 2x30-36% | ||
Cubone Ground | C | |
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Dig 2x109-130%KO Bone Club 2x89-105%KO Bonemerang 2x69-81% Mud-Slap 2x30-36% | ||
In Crystal, Golem can KO Pikachu with Earthquake (293-345%).
 Golem RockGround | A | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Golem builds →Earthquake 2x293-345%KO Explosion244-287%KO Rapid Spin49-58% | ||
Crystal 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 175 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Pikachu to get Pichu eggs easily using 16 partners from the Fairy and Ground egg groups. Notable egg moves include Bide, Double Slap, Encore and 2 more.
Crystal Pikachu Best Moveset
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Thunder
- Quick Attack
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Don't skip the egg moves. Pikachu picks up Bide and Double Slap only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Zap Cannon and Thunder while Normal and Fighting coverage and more adds range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
How to Get Pikachu in Crystal
Finding Pikachu at moderate rates takes patience. 2 spots are available in early-game routes, but the rate difference between them matters. Lock in the top one from the sorted list below.
Where To Catch Pikachu in Crystal
Pichu is your first catch on the way to Pikachu. You'll find gift and walking encounters from Lv. 4-25 across 3 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch PichuRoute 34Gift from NPC Lv.5 RouteCommonEarlyHatch Odd Egg (random)
Step 2Pikachu ✓Route 2Grass Lv.4 Route5%EarlyCeladon City - Game CornerGift from NPC Lv.25 CityLimitedMidPurchase: 2,222 coinsor 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 310 BST base in a different direction.
For Crystal, you can run Pikachu through the first few routes without issues. 310 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Raichu as fast as you can.
You can find Pikachu in Crystal. 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