RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

As of this weekend, Gamestop has a Pokemon event going, offering a shiny Pichu as a tie-in for the latest movie, and to encourage folks to preorder Heart Gold and Soul Silver. This shiny Pichu not only unlocks the Ilex Forest event in HG/SS, it also comes with two unique moves, Endure and Endeavor. Now, on the whole, Pichu isn’t a particularly useful little critter, so I thought we’d take a look at what can be done with its evolutions. This week, we’ll investigate Pikachu, the electric mouse everybody loves… Or would love to throw in a grain thresher.

Pikachu
Electric
HP: 35 Atk: 55 Def: 30 Sp Atk: 55 Sp Def: 40 Spd: 90
Ability: Static: When this Pokemon is struck by a contact move, the attacking Pokemon has a 30% chance to become Paralyzed.

Now, at first glance, you may not see Pikachu as being much of a competitive threat, and for the most part, you’d be right. There’s a reason it’s only ever seen in the Never Used tier. However, in that tier, it can actually be quite a threat. Pikachu owes it all to a little item called Light Ball, which has the effect of doubling its Atk and Sp Atk. Not only does this turn the electric mouse into a lion just on raw statistics — a Pikachu with maxed out Atk EVs goes from 229, which is just sad, to 458, which is higher than a maxed out Rhyperior — it essentially turns Pikachu into the NU equivalent of Deoxys Attack Form, with huge offensive bonuses balanced by paper-thin defenses.

And of course, it’s those defenses which really keep it in NU. Aside from the impressive offense, Pikachu’s Spd is not quite high enough to allow it to sweep in higher tiers, and its defenses are so poor that it’s nearly impossible to get into play. The fact that it is more or less required to hold the Light Ball can be a problem, too. It means you can’t rely on Focus Sash to get the little bugger in, and since Pokemon Platinum gave Trick and Knock Off to untold hordes of new Pokemon, relying so heavily on a held item can be very risky.

Still, the main attraction of using Pikachu is that massive offense, and the look on your opponent’s face when you sweep them with a Pikachu. I wouldn’t recommend trying any of these sets in OU, but seeing Pikachu in UU might be enough to rattle some cages.

Flowers for Algernon
Pikachu @Light Ball
Hasty (+Spd, -Def) nature
Static ability
76 Atk, 180 Sp Atk, 252 Spd
-Thunderbolt / Volt Tackle
-Substitute
-Focus Punch
-Grass Knot / Hidden Power Ice
Since Light Ball doubles both Atk and Sp Atk, a mixed set is not only viable, but actually recommended. Pikachu loves surprising opponents, since forcing switches means the mouse gets a free Focus Punch, or at the very least a solid smack on whatever comes in. Come to think of it, Pikachu plays pretty dirty for a fine upstanding mascot.

Anyway, Thunderbolt and Volt Tackle are your two main options for attacking. Volt Tackle is the more damaging option, but most folks stick with Thunderbolt, since Substitute means Pikachu’ll be running down its health pretty fast regardless. Unfortunately, removing Substitute isn’t really an option. Pikachu’s terrible defenses mean that Substitute is really the only way it’s going to survive more than a light smack.

Using Substitute does, however, mean Focus Punch is a viable option, and one that Pikachu uses to disturbing effect. The last slot is mainly for coverage; Hidden Power Ice is, as usual, the best option if you can get it, but Grass Knot does exceptionally well against Steelix, whose huge Def and immunity to Electric would otherwise be a bit of an issue for our mouse.

Maus
Pikachu @Light Ball
Jolly (+Spd, -Sp Atk) nature
Static ability
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 Def
-Volt Tackle
-Brick Break / Focus Punch
-Substitute
-Iron Tail
I’ll admit it; this set is just an excuse to use Volt Tackle. As a late-game sweeper, a purely physical Pikachu can mitigate its longevity issues by making sure the opponent doesn’t live long, either. Attempting this, however, requires a fairly deep understanding of your opponent’s team, near perfect timing to get Pikachu into play with minimal damage, and cojones the size of Rhode Island. Once it’s in play, however, expect Pikachu to wreak some truly satisfying damage.

Incidentally, you may have noticed that the last six EVs haven’t been dropped into HP like they normally would. This is because Pikachu’s HP (assuming you’ve got an IV of 31 in HP) is enough to use Substitute four times. Altering its HP would mean that it could only Sub three times, and given how much Pikachu relies on it, that would be a problem.

The Mouse Who Roared
Pikachu @Light Ball
Timid (+Spd, -Atk) nature
Static ability
252 Sp Atk, 252 Spd, 6 Def
-Thunderbolt
-Substitute
-Grass Knot
-Hidden Power Ice
A more straightforward set for our mouse, focusing on type coverage. This set is optimized for useability rather than raw power for a few very important reasons. For a start, Timid is used instead of Modest despite the drop in power because Pikachu really relies on outspeeding foes. When your defenses are this low, every little bit helps. Secondly, Nasty Plot. Although one Nasty Plot would indeed put its Sp Atk into orbit, there just isn’t a place for it on this set… or really any others. Ditch Thunderbolt and you’ve got no STAB move. Drop Substitute and your foe will turn Pikachu into electric pavement pudding at the earliest opportunity. Without Grass Knot, Steelix runs rings around you, and without Hidden Power Ice, Pikachu can do little or nothing to defensive Grass-types.