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 EVs. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It lives in forests with others. It stores electricity in the pouches on its cheeks.
If it looses crackling power from the electric pouches 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 |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Onix RockGround | C | |
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
 Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Bone Club 2x89-106%KO Bonemerang 2x70-83% | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodGreat Marsh Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x210-249%KO Dig 2x170-201%KO Mud Bomb 2x83-99% Mud Shot 2x73-86% | ||
 Gligar Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gligar builds →Earthquake 2x193-227%KO Dig 2x156-184%KO | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x233-274%KO Dig 2x186-219%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x134-159%KO Dig 2x109-129%KO | ||
 Phanpy Ground | D | |
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodGreat Marsh Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x211-249%KO Dig 2x171-201%KO Mud Bomb 2x80-95% Mud Shot 2x68-80% | ||
Gligar Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gligar builds →Earthquake 2x193-227%KO Dig 2x155-183%KO | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x229-271%KO Dig 2x187-220%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x133-157%KO Dig 2x109-128%KO | ||
Phanpy Ground | D | |
 Steelix SteelGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Steelix builds →Earthquake 2x208-245%KO Dig 2x167-198%KO | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x202-239%KO Dig 2x165-194%KO Mud Bomb 2x103-123%KO Mud-Slap 2x34-41% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodGreat Marsh Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x208-245%KO Dig 2x167-198%KO Mud Bomb 2x81-95% Mud Shot 2x69-82% | ||
Gligar Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gligar builds →Earthquake 2x188-222%KO Dig 2x153-181%KO | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x228-269%KO Dig 2x182-215%KO | ||
Steelix SteelGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Steelix builds →Earthquake 2x205-243%KO Dig 2x165-195%KO | ||
Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x200-236%KO Dig 2x163-191%KO Mud Bomb 2x105-124%KO Mud-Slap 2x35-41% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodGreat Marsh Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x205-243%KO Dig 2x165-195%KO Mud Bomb 2x81-96% Mud Shot 2x67-80% | ||
Gligar Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gligar builds →Earthquake 2x186-220%KO Dig 2x151-179%KO | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x224-265%KO Dig 2x179-211%KO | ||
Steelix SteelGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Steelix builds →Earthquake 2x216-255%KO Dig 2x173-204%KO | ||
Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x211-249%KO Dig 2x171-201%KO Mud Bomb 2x110-130%KO Mud-Slap 2x36-42% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodGreat Marsh Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x216-255%KO Dig 2x173-204%KO Mud Bomb 2x84-99% Mud Shot 2x72-85% | ||
Gligar Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Gligar builds →Earthquake 2x194-229%KO Dig 2x156-184%KO | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x238-280%KO Dig 2x190-224%KO | ||
In Diamond & Pearl, Flygon can KO Pikachu with Earthquake (318-374%).
 Flygon GroundDragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Flygon builds →Earthquake 2x318-374%KO Outrage190-224%KO U Turn74-88% | ||
Diamond & 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 175 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 Bide, Charge, Double Slap and 7 more.
Diamond & Pearl Pikachu Best Moveset
The recommended build leans into Pikachu's strengths as a physical attacker. Lightball provides extra utility, and max Attack and Speed EVs back that up. Static rounds out the package.
Best Build
Pikachu best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Volt Tackle
- Thunderbolt
- Quick Attack
- Grass Knot
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Don't skip the egg moves. Pikachu picks up Bide and Charge only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Volt Tackle and Thunder while coverage across 7 types adds range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
Event Moves
How to Get Pikachu in Diamond & Pearl
2 encounter spots for Pikachu at decent spawn rates starting from mid-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Pikachu in Diamond & 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 GardenDiamondGrass Lv.16 ForestCommonMidMorningTrophy GardenPearlGrass Lv.16 ForestCommonMidMorningTrophy GardenDiamondGrass Lv.16 ForestUncommonMidTrophy GardenPearlGrass Lv.16 ForestUncommonMid
Step 2Pikachu ✓Trophy GardenPearlGrass Lv.18 ForestUncommonMidTrophy GardenDiamondGrass Lv.18 ForestUncommonMidor 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 Diamond & Pearl, 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 Diamond & 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