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 has small electric sacs on both its cheeks. If threatened, it looses electric charges from the sacs.
When several of these POKéMON gather, their electricity can build and cause lightning storms.
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 |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
 Dugtrio Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x247-292%KO Dig 2x199-235%KO Sand Tomb 2x87-104%KO Mud-Slap 2x53-63% | ||
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x247-292%KO Dig 2x199-235%KO Sand Tomb 2x87-104%KO | ||
 Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x232-273%KO Dig 2x185-218%KO | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x252-297%KO Dig 2x201-237%KO | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x310-365%KO Dig 2x247-292%KO | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x188-221%KO Dig 2x150-179%KO | ||
 Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x174-207%KO Dig 2x145-171%KO | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x188-221%KO Dig 2x150-179%KO | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x174-207%KO Dig 2x145-171%KO | ||
Dugtrio Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x228-269%KO Dig 2x182-216%KO Sand Tomb 2x82-97% Mud-Slap 2x49-57% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x131-154%KO Dig 2x104-124%KO | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x194-229%KO Dig 2x157-185%KO | ||
 Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x138-163%KO Dig 2x112-132%KO Bone Club 2x90-106%KO Bonemerang 2x71-84% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x182-216%KO Dig 2x150-176%KO | ||
Dugtrio Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x238-280%KO Dig 2x191-225%KO Sand Tomb 2x87-103%KO Mud-Slap 2x50-59% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x130-154%KO Dig 2x107-126%KO | ||
 Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Rhyhorn builds →Earthquake 2x208-245%KO Dig 2x167-197%KO | ||
Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x143-170%KO Dig 2x113-134%KO Bone Club 2x93-111%KO Bonemerang 2x74-87% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x187-221%KO Dig 2x150-178%KO | ||
Dugtrio Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x238-280%KO Dig 2x191-225%KO Sand Tomb 2x87-103%KO Mud-Slap 2x50-59% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x130-154%KO Dig 2x107-126%KO | ||
Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Rhyhorn builds →Earthquake 2x208-245%KO Dig 2x167-197%KO | ||
Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x143-170%KO Dig 2x113-134%KO Bone Club 2x93-111%KO Bonemerang 2x74-87% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x187-221%KO Dig 2x150-178%KO | ||
Dugtrio Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x239-283%KO Dig 2x190-225%KO Sand Tomb 2x86-101%KO Mud-Slap 2x51-61% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x130-153%KO Dig 2x105-124%KO | ||
Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Rhyhorn builds →Earthquake 2x211-248%KO Dig 2x168-199%KO | ||
Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x141-167%KO Dig 2x113-133%KO Bone Club 2x92-110%KO Bonemerang 2x73-87% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x190-225%KO Dig 2x154-182%KO Sand Tomb 2x68-81% | ||
Dugtrio Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x247-292%KO Dig 2x199-235%KO Sand Tomb 2x87-104%KO Mud-Slap 2x53-63% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x136-161%KO Dig 2x108-128%KO | ||
Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Rhyhorn builds →Earthquake 2x217-256%KO Dig 2x174-205%KO | ||
Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x145-172%KO Dig 2x118-139%KO Bone Club 2x97-115%KO Bonemerang 2x74-87% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x196-232%KO Dig 2x157-185%KO Sand Tomb 2x72-85% | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Claydol can KO Pikachu with Earthquake (268-316%).
 Claydol GroundPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Claydol builds →Rapid Spin45-53% Earthquake 2x268-316%KO Explosion222-262%KO Psychic56-66% | ||
FireRed & LeafGreen 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 27 partners from the Fairy and Ground egg groups. Notable egg moves include Bide, Charge, Double Slap and 4 more.
FireRed & LeafGreen Pikachu Best Moveset
The recommended build leans into Pikachu's strengths as a special attacker. Lightball provides extra utility, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs back that up. Static rounds out the package.
Best Build
Pikachu best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Tackle
- Surf
- Hidden Power Grass
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 Thunder and Thunderbolt while Normal and Fighting coverage and more adds range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Event Moves
How to Get Pikachu in FireRed & LeafGreen
Grab Pikachu from the locations below, it shows up in the wild. Drop it at the nursery to hatch Pichu. From there, level the baby through the remaining stages to Pikachu.
Where To Catch Pikachu in FireRed & LeafGreen
Pichu is your first catch on the way to Pikachu. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 3-26 across 4 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Breed Pichu from PikachuBreed from Pikachu at the Day Care.
Step 2Pikachu ✓Viridian ForestFireRedGrass Lv.3-5 ForestRareEarlyViridian ForestLeafGreenGrass Lv.3-5 ForestRareEarlyPower PlantFireRedGrass Lv.22-26 Power-plantCommonMidPower PlantLeafGreenGrass Lv.22-26 Power-plantCommonMidor 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 FireRed & LeafGreen, 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 FireRed & LeafGreen. 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