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.
Whenever PIKACHU comes across something new, it blasts it with a jolt of electricity. If you come across a blackened berry, it’s evidence that this POKéMON mistook the intensity of its charge.
This POKéMON has electricity-storing pouches on its cheeks. These appear to become electrically charged during the night while PIKACHU sleeps. It occasionally discharges electricity when it is dozy after waking up.
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
 Nincada BugGround | D | |
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
 Trapinch Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Trapinch builds →Dig 2x182-216%KO Sand Tomb 2x82-97% | ||
 Numel FireGround | D | |
 Sandshrew Ground | D | |
 Baltoy GroundPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Baltoy builds →Dig 2x97-115%KO Mud-Slap 2x29-35% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Trapinch Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Trapinch builds →Dig 2x188-221%KO Sand Tomb 2x85-100%KO | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Baltoy GroundPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Baltoy builds →Dig 2x99-117%KO Mud-Slap 2x28-33% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Trapinch Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Trapinch builds →Dig 2x191-225%KO Sand Tomb 2x87-103%KO | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Baltoy GroundPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Baltoy builds →Dig 2x100-118%KO Mud-Slap 2x29-36% | ||
 Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x207-243%KO Dig 2x163-193%KO | ||
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Numel builds →Earthquake 2x167-197%KO Dig 2x132-157%KO | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Baltoy GroundPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Baltoy builds →Dig 2x101-120%KO Mud-Slap 2x28-33% | ||
Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Rhyhorn builds →Earthquake 2x213-250%KO Dig 2x170-200%KO | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x204-241%KO Dig 2x165-194%KO | ||
 Phanpy Ground | D | |
Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Numel builds →Earthquake 2x161-191%KO Dig 2x129-153%KO | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pikachu View Sandshrew builds →Earthquake 2x191-225%KO Dig 2x153-181%KO | ||
In Ruby & Sapphire, 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% | ||
Ruby & Sapphire 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.
Ruby & Sapphire 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
How to Get Pikachu in Ruby & Sapphire
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 Ruby & Sapphire
To get Pikachu, start by catching Pichu through walking encounters at Lv. 25-27. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Breed Pichu from PikachuBreed from Pikachu at the Day Care.
Step 2Pikachu ✓Safari Zone - SoutheastRubyGrass Lv.25-27 Facility5%MidSafari Zone - SoutheastSapphireGrass Lv.25-27 Facility5%MidSafari Zone - SouthwestRubyGrass Lv.25-27 Facility5%MidSafari Zone - SouthwestSapphireGrass Lv.25-27 Facility5%Midor 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 Ruby & Sapphire, 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 Ruby & Sapphire. 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