The Mouse Pokemon. Rare in Viridian Forest but worth catching. Hand Pikachu a Thunder Stone when you're ready to upgrade to A-Tier Raichu.
310HP35Attack55Defense30Speed90Sp.Def50Sp.Atk50
Pikachu
Raichu
Weak to
Special
Balanced
90Speed · Above Avg

Is Pikachu Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Catchable in Viridian Forest, and Electric typing is useful early since Water-types show up everywhere. Pikachu itself is fragile though. One bad hit and it's done. Evolving into Raichu with a Thunder Stone makes it much more usable, but you lose the chance to learn some moves naturally. Worth keeping if you evolve it at the right time.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTGEEGEGEGEEEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Raichu's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Risky
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
Misty
Gym 2
Good

Raichu has the type edge here and should clean up Misty's team.

Easy KO
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
You Win
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
Even
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Even
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
Even
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Risky
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Raichu has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
You Win
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Even
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Raichu has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

Even
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
Risky
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
Risky
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
Risky
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Good

Raichu has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.

Easy KO
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
Easy KO
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Easy KO
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
You Win
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Even
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
Even
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Easy KO
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

You Win
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Raichu trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Easy KO
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Even
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
You Win
Gyarados
Lv 61
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Arcanine
Lv 63
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberLeerTake Down
Risky
Venusaur
Lv 65
GrassPoison
Overgrow
Razor LeafGrowthMega DrainSolar Beam

Catchable

Available before Badge 1
Type
Electric
Tier
E

Catch Pikachu in Viridian Forest (walking, Lv 3-5, rare).

View Pikachu locations

How to Get Pikachu in Red & Blue

Only two places hold wild Pikachu: rare in Viridian Forest and common in the Power Plant. The Viridian sightings are famously thin, so most players wait for the Power Plant later on.

2 locations to catch Pikachu

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7

Where To Catch Pikachu in RB

Pikachu is where the line starts, caught through walking encounters at Lv. 3-24. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

Bring the right balls: check Pikachu catch odds in the Red & Blue Catch Rate Calculator before you throw.

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.

Pikachu Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ground
0.5x (Resist)Electric, Flying
Gen I Type Chart
  • 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

What is Pikachu Weak Against

Avg
1Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Pikachu Strong Against

2Strong
3Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
2xStrong
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Pikachu

Geodude
Geodude
RockGround
C

Pikachu Evolutions

You'll evolve Pikachu into Raichu the traditional way. This Electric type doesn't breed despite having a chain ahead. The evolved forms gain up to 175 total stats over Pikachu. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Pikachu
Electric
Raichu
Electric
HP
35
60+25
ATK
55
90+35
DEF
40
55+15
SP.ATK
50
90+40
SP.DEF
50
80+30
SPE
90
110+20
BST
320E-Tier
485A-Tier+165
ROLE
Balanced
Pivot
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Pikachu Best Moveset

90 Speed and 50 Special mean MoveThunderbolt exists but doesn't hit hard. No way to boost Pikachu's output in this generation. Electric attacks from a stat line that Raichu improves in every way. Evolve with a Thunder Stone.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Pikachu
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • SurfCoverage
  • Thunder WaveSTAB
  • Quick Attack

Moves List

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

Lv 1
Growl
D—10040Normal
Lv 1
Thunder Shock
—6010030Electric
Lv 9
Thunder Wave
B—10020Electric
Lv 16
Quick Attack+1
A4010030Normal
Lv 26
Swift
D60—20Normal
Lv 33
Agility
C——30Psychic
Lv 43
Thunder
A1657010Electric

TM Moves

All 22 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
D8510015Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
HM05D—7020Normal
TM05
Mega KickCeladon Department Storebadge 3
D120755Normal
TM01
Mega PunchMt. Moonbadge 1
D808520Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM16
Pay DayRoute 12badge 5
D4010020Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
A——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM19
Seismic TossRoute 25badge 1
D—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
C10010010Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
D808025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
A1657010Electric
TM45
Thunder WaveRoute 24badge 1
B—10020Electric
TM24B14210015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Pikachu can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP35
F
Attack55
D
Defense30
F
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def50
D
Speed90
B
Total310
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.4 m
Weight6.0 kg
Base XP112
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Speed training target
Pokedex Entry

When several of these POKéMON gather, their electricity could build and cause lightning storms.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Pikachu Red & Blue Guide

  • 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.

Game Availability

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Pikachu has appeared in 22 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

Explore

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