From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Red's Pikachu (Japanese: レッドのピカチュウ Red's Pikachu) is the sole starter Pokémon in Pokémon Yellow for Red; it is based on Ash's Pikachu from the Pokémon anime, which Yellow Version is loosely based on. As of HeartGold and SoulSilver, it is the highest-leveled Trainer-owned Pokémon in the main series games.
In the games
In Generation I
Pikachu and Red traveling together
Pikachu first appears along the outskirts of Route 1, where Professor Oak will encounter and catch it. The player receives Pikachu after they go into Professor Oak's laboratory and attempt to take the starter Eevee, which Blue will take instead.
Pikachu replaces all of the other usual starter Pokémon, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle; although these three Pokémon can be received during events later in the game, which reflects how Ash Ketchum eventually obtained all three of Kanto's starters in the anime. This Pikachu is also the only Pikachu found in Yellow; other Pikachu must be traded in from compatible games.
After battling against Blue for the first time, the Pikachu will choose to stay out of its Poké Ball and follow the player around unless it faints, is put into storage, or is traded. If the player decides to speak to Pikachu, a small image of its current emotion will pop up. The image also shows how much the Pikachu likes the player. This makes Pokémon Yellow the first game to show Pokémon friendship, which would become more prominent in Generation II. Pikachu's friendship does not have many uses in the game, however it is vital if the player wishes to receive a Bulbasaur in Cerulean City. Besides showing Pikachu's emotions and friendship, the image can also show several other events, such as when Pikachu learns Thunderbolt.
Notably, like Ash's Pikachu did twice, this Pikachu will refuse a Thunderstone given to it in Yellow, and not evolve into Raichu unless it is traded out of Yellow to do so. Raichu must be otherwise obtained by either trading in an already evolved one or trading in a Pikachu from another game.
Pikachu is also able to learn Surf if transferred into Pokémon Stadium, and will be able to participate in the Surf Minigame if it knows the move. In battle, its animations are different from other Pikachu, and its voice is based on Ikue Ohtani's as opposed to using Pikachu's normal cry.
Since the release of the Generation II games, if the starter Pikachu from Yellow is traded over, it will be holding a Light Ball.
In Generation II
Red can be battled in Mt. Silver, with a level 81 Pikachu on his team. At the time, his Pikachu was the highest leveled Pokémon that could be battled in the main series. This Pikachu is likely to have been based on Red's Pikachu from Pokémon Yellow.
When brought into Pokémon Stadium 2, the player's Pikachu from Yellow still has its lack of a normal Pikachu's cry.
In Generation IV
Red's challenge at Mt. Silver returns in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. He still uses Pikachu in these games; it is now level 88. This again makes it the highest level Trainer-owned Pokémon in the series, a title it lost to Barry's starter Pokémon on the release of Pokémon Platinum only a year before. In this appearance, Red's Pikachu appears to come from inside his Poké Ball contradicting his dislike of doing so in Pokémon Yellow, or maybe it was conquered.
In the final battle, it is holding a Light Ball, while it knows the four moves used by Ash's Pikachu most often prior to the release of the games.
In Generation V
Red can be battled in the Champion League Pokémon World Tournament. He uses his Pikachu once again in the battle, though it varies in gender.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Pika
In Pokémon Adventures, a character named Red owns a Pikachu named Pika. While Pika is not technically Red's actual starter Pokémon, he is still one of Red's closest companions.
Trivia
- Pikachu has several in-game events where it can show an emotion other than how happy it is. They include:
- If Pikachu is affected by a status ailment, it will appear weak or in pain. If it is asleep, it will appear asleep when talked to.
- Playing the Poké Flute outside of battle will wake Pikachu up if it is asleep.
- If Pikachu knows Thunder or Thunderbolt, it may occasionally shock the player if talked to.
- In Pewter City's Pokémon Center, there is a Jigglypuff that will Sing a lullaby if talked to. After listening to the Jigglypuff, Pikachu will fall asleep and not move unless awakened by the player. The center's nurse will also comment on Pikachu's sleeping if talked to, instead of healing the party. Until the player awakens Pikachu, it can't be deposited into the PC.
- When the player goes to Bill's house and discovers that he has turned into a Pokémon, Pikachu will approach him and look confused. When he reappears in human form, Pikachu will appear to be shocked.
- If the player walks into the Pokémon Fan Club in Vermilion City, Pikachu will approach a Clefairy and fall in love with it.
- If the player uses a fishing rod then checks Pikachu, it will appear to have a bucket over its head.
- If taken inside Pokémon Tower, Pikachu will appear to be scared.
- If talked to right after catching a Pokémon, it will do the V of victory.
- In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, there is a park called Amity Square where players may walk around with a Pokémon following them. While only certain kinds of Pokémon may follow the player, Pikachu is one of the few and may reference Red's Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow.
- Red's Pikachu likely inspired, at least partly, the concept of any Pokémon following the player outside its Poké Ball in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
- Oddly, in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Red's Pikachu is holding a Light Ball when transferred from Yellow, but is not holding an item in the battle against Red at Mt. Silver. However, Pikachu is holding the Light Ball in the remakes.
Related articles
For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Pikachu.
