Ash's Pikachu (2024)

This Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokémon owned by Ash Ketchum. He is Ash's first Pokémon. Also, Pikachu always stays outside his Poké Ball, and can be seen riding on either Ash's head or shoulder.

Personality[]

Despite his small size, Pikachu is one of Ash's most dependable and strongest partners. Whenever Ash isn't around, Pikachu takes a leadership position for the team. He is curious, smart, friendly, and shares Ash's fondness for battling. Pikachu is a very determined Pokémon and unwilling to give up in tough situations. He is responsible and often looks after younger Pokémon, particularly Misty's Togepi, who he is often forced to shepherd out of danger. Although stubborn at times, he obeys Ash's commands in battle and rarely leaves his side. Pikachu is also a constant target for Team Rocket. They try to capture him, but on the few occasions that they do, their plans are always thwarted by Ash and his friends. Pikachu will often use his Electric-type attacks to escape danger or traps, with Thunderbolt being one of his most common moves. He is very swift in battles as well. He can also imitate some Pokémon by making their face shapes.

Like Ash, Pikachu has a love for science and technology, even if he cannot understand most of it. Pikachu might be oblivious to the concept of love, as seen when Dawn's Buneary tried to flirt with him.

Pikachu doesn't like being in his Poké Ball one bit, hates someone pulling on his tail (and being followed very closely).^[1] He likes riding on Ash's head or shoulder.

He has a strong rivalry with most Raichu, his evolved form. In the Sun and Moon series, during the pancake race, Pikachu wanted to defeat an Alolan Raichu. The prime example of this rivalry is when Lt. Surge's Raichu defeats and injures Pikachu in the first season of the anime. This also carries to Sho's Raichu who also overpowers all of Pikachu's abilities such as his Iron Tail and Volt Tackle. In these battles, Ash and Pikachu usually have to use unconventional strategies to win.

Even in the face of losses to Raichu and other strong Pokémon, Pikachu refuses to evolve, wanting to become stronger just as he is. This trait is later shared by his best friend, Dawn's Piplup, who also given the chance to evolve, but also refuses and is given an Everstone to prevent it.

Relationships[]

Ash Ketchum[]

Ash and Pikachu are best friends and partners; even though they had a rough start, they are nearly inseparable. Pikachu has always been on Ash's side during his journey, and enjoys sitting on his shoulder or head since Pikachu is always reluctantly to stay inside his Poké Ball. They always have each other's back no matter what and they would do anything to protect each other from danger. At times, Pikachu and Ash do butt heads but they don't stay mad at each other for long.

Pikachu's teammates[]

Pikachu cares very much about his teammates and he considers them family. Pikachu will always form a strong relationship with some or all of the members of Ash's team in every region they travel to. Also, Pikachu would risk his safety to protect them no matter what. Pikachu is a role model for many of his teammates and enjoys training with them for battles. Whenever one of his teammates fights with the other, Pikachu would stop or break up the fighting between them. Whenever one of his teammates leaves Ash's party, Pikachu is saddened but knows that their friendship will endure the distance no matter where they go.

Biography[]

Anime[]

As Pichu[]

Pichu was alone during his time in the forest until he met a Kangaskhan and her child, who were with their horde. Pichu befriended Kangaskhan and joined its horde. Pichu was able to form a close bond with the Kangaskhan and her child who enjoy having him in their family.

One night, Pichu left the horde, while he remembers his times with them. After thinking about his friendship with Kangaskhan, Pichu began to evolve into Pikachu.^[2]

As Pikachu[]

After evolving, Pikachu was amazed by his evolution and bid his friends farewell while he set off on his own journey. At some point, he was found by Professor Oak and was taken to his lab.^[2]

Pokémon the Series: The Beginning[]

Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver[]

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire[]

Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl[]

Pokémon the Series: Black & White[]

Pokémon the Series: XY and Pokémon the Series: XYZ[]

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon[]

Pokémon Journeys: The Series[]

Other appearances[]

Known moves[]

Pokémon the Series: The Beginning[]

Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver[]

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire[]

Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl[]

Pokémon the Series: Black & White[]

Pokémon the Series: XY and XYZ[]

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon[]

Pokémon Journeys: The Series[]

Known moves[]

Move	Type	First Used
Karate Chop	Fighting	[[]]
High Jump Kick	Fighting	[[]]
Flying Press	Fighting	[[]]
X-Scissor	Bug	[[]]

Trivia[]

• Ash's Pikachu is currently Ash's only Electric-type Pokémon he owns.
• Pikachu is the first evolved Pokémon Ash obtained as his First partner Pokémon.
• Pikachu was Ash's first Pokémon to activate their Ability.
  • Pikachu was also Ash's first Pokémon to have been Gigantamaxed.
• Pikachu is Ash's only Pokémon to use a Z-Move that is tied to each of his four regular moves. Being Electric: Gigavolt Havoc, Normal: Breakneck Blitz, Electric: 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, and Steel: Corkscrew Crash.
• When Ash received Pikachu from Professor Oak, his Poké Ball had a lightning bolt on the top part.
  • Because Pikachu doesn't like being inside his Poké Ball, it has only been seen a few times since the first episode. The first was against Brock in Showdown in Pewter City when Pikachu was being attacked brutally by Onix and the second was in the episode Snow Way Out when Ash becomes worried about the safety of his Pokémon in the cave's freezing conditions. Both times Ash's attempted return of Pikachu was blocked, by Onix the first time and by Pikachu the second.
• Pikachu had a chubby appearance in the beginning of the series but lost the weight for a more slender appearance from Generation II onward.
• Ash gave Pikachu a choice to evolve with the Thunder Stone after Pikachu lost to Lt. Surge's Raichu, but Pikachu chose not to evolve because he wanted to prove that he could defeat stronger Pokémon without evolving. This makes him the first of Ash's Pokémon to choose not to evolve.
• In "Showdown at Dark City", Pikachu displayed a strong fondness for ketchup. In fact, when the ketchup bottle he was carrying was smashed, Pikachu was seen crying over the smashed ketchup bottle. A possible reason for this is because the word ketchup sounds phonetically similar to Ash's last name, Ketchum.
• There was a special event for Pikachu in Generation IV. The event Pikachu knew the moves that Ash's Pikachu had in Sinnoh League Victors.
• Pikachu is the first of Ash's Pokémon to defeat a Mega-Evolved Pokémon.
• Pikachu seems to have his own language when referring to certain people or things. He often refers to Ash as "Pika-pi" because it sounds almost identical to his Japanese name, Satoshi. This also applies to Misty's Togepi who often calls Togepi as "Pipi-pi" and Misty who calls her as "Pikachu-pi" almost referring to her Japanese name as Kasumi. He also refers to Dawn as "Pikaka", partially referring to her Japanese name of Hikari.
• On the UK quiz show "Think Tank", it was incorrectly stated by a member of the Think Tank that Pikachu was the first Pokémon that Ash caught when in reality, Ash was given Pikachu as his First partner Pokémon and the first one he caught was Caterpie.
• Pikachu has been captured and used as a hostage for almost every villainous organization in each region he's been to. Also, Pikachu is the first of Ash's Pokémon to be used for multiple villainous organization's plans.
• Pikachu is Ash's only Pokémon to travel through every single Region with his Trainer, due to him being his First partner Pokémon.

Gallery[]

See also[]

• Ash's Pikachu (MS020)

Notes[]

References[]

v · d · ePokémon the Series
Category · Series and seasons · Who's That Pokémon?
Characters	Ash Misty Brock Tracey May Max Dawn Iris Cilan Serena Clemont Bonnie Lana Kiawe Lillie Sophocles Mallow Goh Chloe Liko Roy
Pokémon	Ash's Pikachu Misty's Psyduck Brock's Blissey Tracey's Venomoth May's Blaziken Dawn's Piplup Iris' Haxorus Cilan's Pansage Serena's Delphox Clemont's Chespin Clemont's Dedenne Snowy (Lillie's Vulpix) Sophocles' Vikavolt Mallow's Tsareena Goh's Cinderace Chloe's Eevee Liko's Sprigatito Roy's Fuecoco
Series	Pocket Monsters (1997–2002) Pokémon the Series: The Beginning (1998–2000) Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver (2000–2003) Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire (2002–2006) Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl (2006–2010) Pokémon the Series: Black & White (2010–2013) Pokémon the Series: XY and XYZ (2013–2016) Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon (2016–2019) Pokémon Journeys: The Series (2019–2023) Pokémon Horizons: The Series (2023-present) Spin-off Pocket Monsters: Side Stories (2002–2004) Pokémon Chronicles (2005)
Anime