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 several of these POKéMON gather, their electricity could build and cause lightning storms.
When several of these POKéMON gather, their electricity could build and cause lightning storms.
Pikachu Weakness
Ground moves hit Pikachu for super-effective damage. Few weaknesses and 2 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 |
- Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
- Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
- Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
 Rhydon GroundRock | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x310-365%KO Dig 2x247-292%KO | ||
 Dugtrio Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x247-292%KO Dig 2x199-235%KO | ||
 Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x247-292%KO Dig 2x199-235%KO | ||
 Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Nidorina (Celadon City Gift) | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Nidorino (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Dugtrio Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x233-275%KO Dig 2x188-221%KO | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x131-154%KO Dig 2x106-125%KO | ||
 Sandshrew Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x188-221%KO Dig 2x151-179%KO | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x197-233%KO Dig 2x158-188%KO | ||
 Cubone Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x142-167%KO Dig 2x113-133%KO Bone Club 2x92-108%KO | ||
Dugtrio Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x238-280%KO Dig 2x191-225%KO | ||
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 | ||
Sandshrew Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x187-221%KO Dig 2x150-178%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 | ||
Dugtrio Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x239-283%KO Dig 2x190-225%KO | ||
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 | ||
Sandshrew Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x190-225%KO Dig 2x154-182%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% | ||
Sandslash Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x247-292%KO Dig 2x199-235%KO | ||
Dugtrio Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Dugtrio builds →Earthquake 2x247-292%KO Dig 2x199-235%KO | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x208-245%KO Dig 2x166-196%KO Bone Club 2x136-161%KO Bonemerang 2x106-125%KO | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x238-281%KO Dig 2x190-224%KO | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x136-161%KO Dig 2x108-128%KO | ||
In Red & Blue, Golem can KO Pikachu with Earthquake (293-345%).
 Golem RockGround | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Golem builds →Earthquake 2x293-345%KO Explosion244-287%KO Rock Slide110-130%KO Body Slam83-98% | ||
Red & Blue Evolution
Partway through Pichu's chain, Pikachu is a Electric type pushing toward Raichu. No breeding at this stage. 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
Red & Blue Pikachu Best Moveset
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Surf
- Thunder Wave
- Quick Attack
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Pikachu. TMs unlock Normal and Fighting coverage and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Thunder and Thunderbolt into something with actual range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Red & Blue Pikachu Locations
A handful of locations for Pikachu with decent spawn rates across early-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.
Best Locations to Catch Pikachu in Red & Blue
Pikachu appears in 4 walking locations at Lv. 3-24 across Blue and Red. Not all encounters show up in every version, so check which ones match your game.
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 Red & Blue, 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 Red & Blue. 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