Special
Balanced
CTier
90Speed · Above Avg

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.

Base Stats
Avg
HP35
F
Attack55
D
Defense40
D
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def50
D
Speed90
B
Total320
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.4 m
1'04"Tiny
Weight6.0 kg
13.2 lbsFeather
Base XP112
Average
Abilities
StaticTop Pick
Has a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact.
Lightning RodHANiche
Redirects single-target electric moves to this Pokémon where possible. Absorbs Electric moves, raising Special Attack one stage.
Lightning Rod grants Electric immunity
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Speed training target
Pokedex Entries

This forest-dwelling Pokémon stores electricity in its cheeks, so you’ll feel a tingly shock if you touch it.

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.

Pikachu Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ground
0.5x (Resist)Electric, Flying, Steel
Type ChartGood
1Weak
3Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
Ground
½xResist
ElectricFlyingSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
Electric
STAB (2)
WaterFlying
How to Beat Pikachu in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee (Best Counters)
Onix
Onix
RockGround
C
Available Moves
Moves
  • EarthquakeLv. 35
  • DigLv. 20
Damage vs Pikachu
Earthquake 2x
113-134%KO
Dig 2x
93-109%KO
View Onix builds →

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee 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

2 Evolutions
Pikachu
#025Pikachu
Raichu
#026RaichuThunder Stone
Alola RaichuAlola
#026Alola RaichuThunder Stone
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Pikachu
Electric
Raichu
Electric
Alola Raichu
Electric
HP
35
60+25
60+25
ATK
55
90+35
90+35
DEF
40
55+15
55+15
SP.ATK
50
90+40
90+40
SP.DEF
50
80+30
80+30
SPE
90
110+20
110+20
BST
320C-Tier
485C-Tier+165
485C-Tier+165
ROLE
Balanced
Pivot
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Mixed
Breeding is not available in this game

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee 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. Static rounds out the package.

Best Build

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee uses different battle mechanics.

Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.

Moves

Leveling does the heavy lifting. Pikachu picks up Thunderbolt and Thunder along the way, building toward a complete offensive set. TMs add Normal and Fighting coverage and more, but the foundation's already strong by then.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
——10040Normal
Lv 1
Thunder Shock
—4010030Electric
Lv 3
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 6
Quick Attack+1
A4010030Normal
Lv 9
Double Kick
—3010030Fighting
Lv 12
Double Team
———15Normal
Lv 15
Thunder Wave
C—9020Electric
Lv 18
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
Lv 21
Thunderbolt
S9010015Electric
Lv 24
Slam
—807520Normal
Lv 27
Agility
C——30Psychic
Lv 30
Thunder
D1107010Electric

TM Moves

TM
TM13
Brick Break
D7510015Fighting
TM33
Calm Mind
C——20Psychic
TM10
Dig
D8010010Ground
TM12
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM01
Headbutt
D7010015Normal
TM03
Helping Hand+5
C——20Normal
TM19
Iron Tail
A1007515Steel
TM06
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
TM57
Pay Day
—4010020Normal
TM07
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM09
Reflect
C——20Psychic
TM05
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM15
Seismic Toss
D—10020Fighting
TM08
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM38
Thunder
D1107010Electric
TM23
Thunder Punch
C7510015Electric
TM16
Thunder Wave
C—9020Electric
TM36
Thunderbolt
S9010015Electric
TM27
Toxic
C—9010Poison

Egg Moves

Pikachu doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Floaty Fall
—909515Flying
Tutor
Splishy Splash
—9010015Water
Tutor
Zippy Zap+2
—5010015Electric

Event Moves

Evt
Event
Pika Papow
———20Electric

How to Get Pikachu in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee

This 2-stage line starts with Pichu, a baby that doesn't spawn wild. Breed Pikachu at the nursery to hatch one, then level through the stages to reach Pikachu.

Where To Catch Pikachu in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee

To get Pikachu, start by catching Pichu through walking and gift encounters at Lv. 3-6. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

  1. Pichu
    Step 1Breed Pichu from Pikachu

    Breed from Pikachu at the Day Care.

  2. Pikachu
    Step 2Pikachu ✓
    Pallet Town
    Let's Go PikachuGift from NPC Lv.5 City
    Early
    Starter choice
    Viridian Forest
    Let's Go EeveeGrass Lv.3-6 Forest
    5%Early
    Viridian Forest
    Let's Go PikachuGrass Lv.3-6 Forest
    5%Early
    or 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 Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee, 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 Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee. 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

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