Pikachu
- For fighter info, seePikachu (SSB),Pikachu (SSBM),Pikachu (SSBB),Pikachu (SSB4), andPikachu (SSBU).
| Pikachu | |
|---|---|
   Official artwork of Pikachu fromPokémon FireRed andLeafGreen Versions andPikachu Libre fromPokémon Omega Ruby andAlpha Sapphire. | |
| Universe | Pokémon |
| Debut | Pokémon Red andGreen Versions (1996) |
| Smash Bros. appearances | SSB Melee Brawl SSB4 Ultimate |
| Most recent non-Smash appearance | Pokémon Legends: Z-A (2025) |
| Species | Pikachu |
| Gender | Varies |
| Place of origin | Kanto |
| Created by | Atsuko Nishida |
| Designed by | Atsuko Nishida Ken Sugimori |
| Voice actor | Ikue Ōtani |
| Article on Bulbapedia | Pikachu (Pokémon) |
Pikachu (ピカチュウ,Pikachu) is a Mouse Pokémon from thePokémon series. It debuted in the series'first generation, and as a member of the "perfect-attendance crew", Pikachu has been featured as a playable character throughout the entireSuper Smash Bros. series. Similarly toMario andLink, Pikachu is one of the most well-known video game characters in the world, to the point of being the de facto mascot of thePokémon series.
Origin[edit]
Pikachu is a small, rodent-like Pokémon characterized by its yellow fur, long, conical ears with black tips, thunder bolt-shaped tail, and round, red cheeks. A pureElectric-type Pokémon, it is categorized within the Pokédex at #025 as the "Mouse Pokémon". The extensive variety of Pokédex entries available for Pikachu throughout thePokémon series provide plenty of biological information about the species: it stores electric energy within its cheeks, and releases this energy when startled or angered. Groups of Pikachu typically live in secluded forests, and can occasionally cause thunderstorms when gathered together. It is the evolved form ofPichu, and evolves intoRaichu when exposed to aThunder Stone, with the latter having an Electric/Psychic-typeregional form endemic toAlola.
Pikachu was designed by graphic designerAtsuko Nishida on the impetus of creating more "cute" Pokémon during development; the earliest Pokémon designed were fearsome beasts, such asRhydon. With this in mind, she originally based the design ondaifuku, a Japanese sweet that is often crafted to resemble a rabbit (the basis of its long, rabbit-like ears). The creature's final design, including its ability to store electricity in its cheeks, is largely based upon squirrels, which Nishida had been obsessed with at the time. She coined the name "Pikachu" after the onomatopoeia "pika pika" (the sound of sparking electricity) and "chu chu" (the sound of a mouse's squeak). Lastly, lead artistKen Sugimori drew the final character artwork based on Nishida's dot sprite.[1]
In thecore series, Pikachu is a relatively weak yet somewhat rare Pokémon that can be found early in the series'first generation of games:Pokémon Red,Green andBlue Versions. Unlike certain Pokémon that had plot elements wrapped around them, such asMewtwo, Pikachu was simply a Pokémon that could be readily caught, evolved into a stronger form, and had no bearing on the story. According to programmerKōji Nishino, its unusual rarity was because he was personally fond of the design and wanted it to be difficult to find; however, this resulted in Pikachu becoming popular among players precisely due to its rarity.[2]
Soon afterwards, Pikachu's popularity led to its prominent appearance in thePokémon anime, wherea member of the species became the first Pokémon acquired byAsh Ketchum, the anime's main character for the first 25 seasons. This, in turn, resulted in Pikachu becoming the main mascot of the series. To capitalize on its fame, it became a major focus of manyPokémon spin-offs, along with being the version mascot forPokémon Yellow Version, a remake ofRed,Green andBlue Versions that is largely based on the anime. In keeping with the anime,a Pikachu is the first Pokémon thatthe player obtains, and its digitized cry from the previous versions is replaced with voiced soundbites provided byIkue Ōtani, Pikachu's voice actress from the anime, who also voices him throughout theSuper Smash Bros. series. Ikue Ōtani would also voice Pikachu in the core seriesPokémon games fromPokémon X and Y up untilPokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
FollowingYellow Version, Pikachu has since been featured in every core series game, and is usually associated with some new gameplay mechanic with each successive installment. It is also readily available to catch in all games within the core series, with the exception of those in the fifth generation (Pokémon Black andWhite Versions andPokémon Black andWhite Versions 2). InPokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pikachu gains the signature moveVolt Tackle, which can be learned by breeding a female Pokémon of the Pikachu line while holding theLight Ball introduced inPokémon Gold and Silver. Volt Tackle became Pikachu'sFinal Smash beginning withBrawl.Pokémon Diamond and Pearl introduced the concept ofgender differences with female Pikachu having a dent at the tip of their tails that makes it look like a heart. The female Pikachu's design is the basis for two of itsalternate costumes inUltimate, one of which includes aCosplay Pikachu named Pikachu Libre, which was introduced inPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and featured inPokken Tournament.
Pikachu has also been featured in virtually everyPokémon-related spin-off game ever released, sometimes as a main character or merely being featured among the hundreds of other Pokémon species. Notable Pikachu-centric games includeHey You, Pikachu!, where the player can talk to Pikachu using theVoice Recognition Unit;Pokémon Channel, which is usually regarded as a spiritual sequel toHey You, Pikachu!; and thePokéParkseries, which featuresa Pikachu as the main character. ThePokémon Mystery Dungeon series has also consistently featured Pikachu as one of the Pokémon that the player can start out as.
A more anthropomorphic male Pikachu, capable of speaking human language, appears as the main character in theDetective Pikachu sub-franchise. In the game, he is voiced byTōru Ōkawa in Japanese, and byKaiji Tang in English; in theDetective Pikachu film,Ryan Reynolds and Hidetoshi Nishijima provide the character's spoken dialogue in English and Japanese respectively, and Ōtani reprises her role to provide his traditional vocalizations in all languages. The end of the movie explains the origin of Detective Pikachu, relating to his two said voice actors' other character portrayal, Harry Goodman.
Much like its fighting game appearances in theSuper Smash Bros. series, Pikachu is one of the playable Pokémon inPokkén Tournament and itsenhanced version. While the initial arcade release features a presumably male Pikachu, the female Pikachu Libre was later introduced as an additional character with a different moveset.
InSuper Smash Bros.[edit]
As a playable character[edit]
Pikachu's debut in theSuper Smash Bros. series is as one of the eightstarter characters. Just like in its home series, Pikachu is a small, fast character whose playstyle is prominently dependent on its speed and powerfulelectrical attacks. Pikachu'sneutral special move,Thunder Jolt, emits a bolt of electricity that bounces along the stage.Quick Attack is Pikachu'sup special move and while it's not capable of dealing damage, it has fantastic recovery distance. Lastly, itsdown special move,Thunder, involves Pikachu striking itself with a thunderbolt that blasts anyone else standing in the way.
Pikachu is considered the best character among theSSB competitive community and is ranked 1st on thetier list, placing it in the S tier.
In-game description:
- Pikachu
- Mouse PKMN
- Height 1'4"
- Weight 13lbs
- When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity could cause lightning storms.
- (Pokédex excerpt)
- Works:
- Pokémon (GB)
InSuper Smash Bros. Melee[edit]
As a playable character[edit]
Pikachu returns as a starter character. While its playstyle is still incredibly similar to its first appearance, Pikachu wasnerfed inMelee. Despite this, Pikachu still holds up at 9th out of 26 on thetier list, ranking at C tier. It has gainedSkull Bash as aside special move, and possesses a respectable mix of speed and power. Pikachu is the onlyPokémon which is available from thestart of the game. On thecharacter selection screen, it appears initially afterMario on the top row, but moves to the bottom row whenLuigi is unlocked.
Trophies[edit]
In line with the other playable characters, there are three Pikachu trophies obtained by defeating the single-player modes - a normal trophy from Classic Mode, and "Smash Red" and "Smash Blue" trophies from the Adventure and All-Star modes, respectively.
- Pikachu
- It's safe to say that Pikachu is the most famous and popular of all Pokémon. It has electric pouches in both cheeks; when in danger, it shoots electricity at its enemies. Although Pikachu can evolve into Raichu by exposure to a Thunderstone, many trainers like Pikachu so much that they don't let it evolve.
- Pokémon Red & Blue (9/98)
.png)
- PikachuSMASH
- While its electric attacks, such as Thunder and Thunder Jolt, are powerful, Pikachu is at its best speeding around the fray and waiting for its chance to strike. You can control the path of Pikachu's two-directional Quick Attack, allowing you to jump twice. Hold down the B Button to charge up Skull Bash.
- B: Thunder Jolt
- Smash B: Skull Bash
.png)
- PikachuSMASH
- The angle of the Control Stick controls the direction of Pikachu's Quick Attack. Pikachu will move blindingly fast, and it will also cause damage to any character it runs into. Move the Control Stick during the Quick Attack and Pikachu will move in up to two directions. Be sure to check out the ceilings on the level when you use Thunder.
- Up & B: Quick Attack
- Down & B: Thunder
InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
As a playable character[edit]
Pikachu returns as a starter character inBrawl. Visually, Pikachu has barely changed at all from itsMelee design, only being touched up slightly. While its position on the tier list isn't much of an improvement fromMelee, Pikachu is considered to have beenbuffed inBrawl, becoming more powerful and gaining many new techniques such asQuick Attack canceling and twochain grabs in exchange for mainly weaker knockback in its attacks. Pikachu is ranked 8th on thetier list, placing it in the B tier. Like the rest ofBrawl's cast, Pikachu possesses aFinal Smash, a new kind of special attack that debuted inBrawl. In Pikachu's case, its Final Smash is its signature move in the Pokémon series,Volt Tackle, which involves it generating a giant ball of electricity around itself that can be controlled by the player in order to slam into and/or shock the opponent.
Trophy[edit]
- Pikachu
- A Mouse Pokémon. Its lightning-bolt tail and round cheeks are its trademarks. When danger draws near, it uses tiny electric pouches within its cheeks to discharge electricity. When it's really fired up, it unleashes electricity on its rivals. It's said to recharge when it's sleeping. It evolves into Raichu.
:Pokémon Red/Blue
:Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
Sticker[edit]
| Name | Game | Effect | Fighter(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikachu | Pokémon series |  |  |
.png) Pikachu (Pokémon series) |
InSuper Smash Bros. 4[edit]
As a playable character[edit]
Pikachu returns as a starter character, with its design having been updated to appear in line with its more recent appearances in the Pokémon series, namely being slimmed down somewhat.
Pikachu is ranked 15th on theSSB4tier list. Pikachu received somenerfs in the transition fromBrawl, such as its powerful down throw and forward throw chain grabs (which were a large part of Pikachu's prior success inBrawl) being removed, and lower damage outputs on some moves. In return, Pikachu benefits from the changes tohitstun canceling, which improve its combo game by enabling its attacks to chain together easier. Some of its attacks' ranges and their KO potential were also improved. However, Pikachu suffers from poor endurance, and has a general lack of reliable KO options. Despite having a small playerbase in the competitive scene, Pikachu still gained a bit of success in theSmash 4 metagame from a few players.
Trophies[edit]
- Pikachu
Recognized the world over, Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokémon that stores energy in its cheeks for use in battle. In Smash Bros., Pikachu is a well-rounded fighter with speedy, powerful electric attacks. Quick Attack can be used twice in a row if two directions are input, one after another.- :Pokémon Red & Pokémon Blue (09/1998)
- :Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (10/1999)
Pikachu is famous worldwide as the face of the Pokémon series. There's a lot of electricity stored in those rosy cheeks, and in this game, that allows for some devastating attacks, like Thunder Jolt. Tip: Input another direction after using Quick Attack to get a second burst. It's top-notch for recoveries!- :Pokémon Red/Blue (10/1999)
- :Pokémon Yellow (06/2000)
- Pikachu (Alt.)
Pikachu's Thunder Jolt fires off a ball of electricity that bounces across the stage, getting weaker as it travels. It does more damage to enemies in the air. The default down special, Thunder, causes a lightning strike that both shocks opponents and turns Pikachu invincible for a split second.
Pikachu's Thunder Jolt fires off a ball of electricity that bounces across the stage, getting weaker as it travels. It does more damage to enemies in the air. The default down special, Thunder, causes a lightning strike that both shocks opponents and makes Pikachu invincible for a split second.- :Pokémon Red & Pokémon Blue (09/1998)
- :Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (10/1999)
- Pikachu's Thunder Jolt fires off a ball of electricity that bounces across the stage, getting weaker as it travels. Airborne enemies will take extra damage from it and get launched further. The default down special, Thunder, causes a lightning strike that both shocks opponents and turns Pikachu invincible for a split second.
- :Pokémon Red/Blue (10/1999)
- :Pokémon Yellow (06/2000)
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
As a playable character[edit]
Pikachu returns as a starter character inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. For the first time in the series, Pikachu now has female variants to choose from viaalternate costumes, one of which isCosplay Pikachu wearing the Pikachu Libre attire.
Pikachu received several changes and buffs in the transition toUltimate, including a new neutral aerial that acts similarly toMewtwo's. Due to the significance of its buffs, some players have argued that Pikachu could be one of the best characters in the game. However, its small presence at the top level of competitive play weakened these arguments, and Pikachu was never ranked among the best characters, though it remains ranked amongst the top 20 on thetier list.
Spirits[edit]
Fighter spirits[edit]
407.Pikachu
408.Pikachu Libre
Support spirits[edit]
| No. | Image | Name | Class | Cost | Ability | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 562 |  | Detective Pikachu | ★★ | 2 | Fog Immunity | Detective Pikachu |
| 1,298 |  | Partner Pikachu | ★★★ | 1 | Undamaged Attack & Speed ↑ | Pokémon Series |
Gallery[edit]
Pikachu Libre, as she appears inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Japanese | ピカチュウ,Pikachu |
 English | Pikachu |
 French | Pikachu |
 German | Pikachu |
 Spanish | Pikachu |
 Italian | Pikachu |
 Chinese | 皮卡丘,Pikachu |
 Korean | 피카츄,Pikachu |
 Dutch | Pikachu |
 Russian | Пикачу |
 Portuguese | Pikachu |
Trivia[edit]
- Pikachu andCharizard are the only playable Pokémon that aregame mascots.
- Pikachu is the only playable Pokémon in theSuper Smash Bros. series to have a visible gender difference. Male Pikachu look like the one in theSuper Smash Bros. series, while females have a heart shape at the tip of their tail. However, gender differences in thePokémon series were introduced inGeneration IV, which debuted well afterSSB andMelee did. As a result, and because itsalternate costumes include hats commonly worn by male characters, the Pikachu in theSuper Smash Bros. series is commonly perceived as male. In addition,Ultimate gave it two distinctly female variants via alternate costumes. Even so, Pikachu is not listed under a specific gender, as Nintendo and its affiliates primarily use gender-neutral pronouns for all Pokémon, no matter a species' appearance/gender ratio or lack thereof.
- Pikachu is the only character to have only four alternate costumes in the first threeSuper Smash Bros. games. It has eight alternate costumes inSSB4, just like every other character aside fromLittle Mac and theMii Fighters.
- As of the currenttier lists for each installment ofSuper Smash Bros., Pikachu andFox McCloud are the only characters who have never been ranked lower than the upper portion of the mid-tier.
- Both characters have incidentally also been at the top of a tier list before.
- Additionally, Pikachu also has the highest average tier ranking overall in the series, being top tier, upper mid-tier and high tier.
- Pikachu's poses for its Classic trophy inMelee and its official artwork forSSB4 resemble itssprite fromPokémon Yellow Version.
- Mario and Pikachu are the only members of the "Original 8" to never have been the sole fighters from their respective series.
References[edit]
| Playable characters | |
|---|---|
| Super Smash Bros. | Captain Falcon ·Donkey Kong ·Fox ·Jigglypuff ·Kirby ·Link ·Luigi ·Mario ·Ness ·Pikachu ·Samus ·Yoshi |
| New inMelee | Bowser ·Dr. Mario ·Falco ·Ganondorf ·Ice Climbers ·Marth ·Mewtwo ·Mr. Game & Watch ·Peach ·Pichu ·Roy ·Sheik ·Young Link ·Zelda |
| New inBrawl | Diddy Kong ·Ike ·King Dedede ·Lucario ·Lucas ·Meta Knight ·Olimar (Pikmin) ·Pit ·Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle ·Ivysaur ·Charizard) ·R.O.B. ·Snake ·Sonic ·Toon Link ·Wario ·Wolf ·Zero Suit Samus |
| New inSmash 4 | (Alph) ·Bayonetta ·Bowser Jr. (Koopalings) ·Cloud ·Corrin ·Dark Pit ·Duck Hunt ·Greninja ·Little Mac ·Lucina ·Mega Man ·Mii Brawler ·Mii Gunner ·Mii Swordfighter ·Pac-Man ·Palutena ·Robin ·Rosalina &Luma ·Ryu ·Shulk ·Villager ·Wii Fit Trainer |
| New inUltimate | Banjo &Kazooie ·Byleth ·Chrom ·Daisy ·Dark Samus ·Hero ·Incineroar ·Inkling ·Isabelle ·Joker ·Kazuya ·Ken ·King K. Rool ·Min Min ·Mythra ·Piranha Plant ·Pyra ·Richter ·Ridley ·Sephiroth ·Simon ·Sora ·Steve (Alex,Zombie,Enderman) ·Terry |
