Competitive Information for Pikachu (starter) [Sun/Moon]


Electric
Abilities:
Note: Pokemon with the Lightning Rod ability are immune to Electric attacks.
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Pikachu-starter? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sun/Moon Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sun/Moon generation metagame.
Pikachu is an awesome Electric-typed Pokemon. It's a almost common sight to see Pikachu out in the 7th generation battlefield. Pikachu's only type-related weakness is Ground.
Item: Electrium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 156 Hp / 252 Atk / 16 Def / 84 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunder Punch / Zippy Zap
- Floaty Fall
- Brick Break / Double Kick
- Headbutt / Facade
Physical Sweeper Pikachu-Starter (Lightning Rod)
Pikachu is a phenomenal Physical Sweeper for single battles. It's designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Pikachu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Lightning Rod, Pikachu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. Atk by 1; electric immunity. Facade's damage doubles when the user has a status affliction. With a Electrium Z equipped to it, if Pikachu has an electric move, this item allows it to use an electric z-move.
◆ Zippy Zap is a physical STAB-boosted priority-increased 50-base power Electric-type move (nearly always goes first. Always crits).
◆ Floaty Fall is a physical 90-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Double Kick is a physical 30-base power Fighting-type move (hits 2 times in one turn).
◆ Headbutt is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
◆ Facade is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if Pikachu is burn/poison/paralyzed).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hs10i19
Item: Electrium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 156 Hp / 16 Def / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Thunder Shock
- Splishy Splash
- Thunder Wave
- Light Screen
Special Sweeper Pikachu-Starter (Lightning Rod)
Pikachu is a stupendous Special Sweeper for single battles. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Pikachu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Lightning Rod, Pikachu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. Atk by 1; electric immunity. With a Electrium Z equipped to it, if Pikachu has an electric move, this item allows it to use an electric z-move.
◆ Thunder Shock is a special STAB-boosted 40-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Splishy Splash is a special 90-base power Water-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Thunder Wave is a status move (paralyzes the target).
◆ Light Screen is a status move (for 5 turns, special damage to allies is halved).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hs11i19
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Pikachu-starter? These builds have been optimized for Sun/Moon Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sun/Moon generation metagame.
Item: Electrium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 156 Hp / 252 Atk / 16 Def / 84 Spe
Moveset:
- Thunder Punch / Zippy Zap
- Floaty Fall
- Brick Break / Double Kick
- Headbutt / Facade
Doubles Physical Sweeper Pikachu-Starter (Lightning Rod)
Pikachu is a decent Physical Sweeper for double battles. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Pikachu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Lightning Rod, Pikachu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. Atk by 1; electric immunity. Facade's damage doubles when the user has a status affliction. With a Electrium Z equipped to it, if Pikachu has an electric move, this item allows it to use an electric z-move.
◆ Zippy Zap is a physical STAB-boosted priority-increased 50-base power Electric-type move (nearly always goes first. Always crits).
◆ Floaty Fall is a physical 90-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Double Kick is a physical 30-base power Fighting-type move (hits 2 times in one turn).
◆ Headbutt is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
◆ Facade is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if Pikachu is burn/poison/paralyzed).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hd10i19
Item: Waterium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 156 Hp / 16 Def / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Splishy Splash
- Thunderbolt / Thunder Shock
- Thunder Wave
- Light Screen
Doubles Special Sweeper Pikachu-Starter (Lightning Rod)
Pikachu is popular Special Sweeper for double battles. This moveset attempts to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Pikachu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Lightning Rod, Pikachu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. Atk by 1; electric immunity. With a Waterium Z equipped to it, if Pikachu has a water move, this item allows it to use a water z-move.
◆ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Thunder Shock is a special STAB-boosted 40-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Thunder Wave is a status move (paralyzes the target).
◆ Light Screen is a status move (for 5 turns, special damage to allies is halved).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/hd11i19
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Pikachu-starter learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Pikachu-starter can perform in Sun/Moon. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SM Move and Ability Combos for Pikachu-starter
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Quick Attack, Protect, Helping Hand, Zippy Zap
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Thunder Wave, Toxic
Moves that boost Pikachu-starter's stats
- Agility
- Calm Mind
Most notable and possible best moves for Pikachu-starter
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Pikachu-starter in Sun and Moon
- Nature ( )
- Nature ( )
- Optimize Pikachu-starter's EV spread for Pokemon Sun and Moon
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Pikachu-starter. Top rated Pikachu-starter Sun/Moon movesets. You can find Pikachu-starter builds Sun/Moon. Pikachu-starter movesets Sun/Moon are listed here. VGC Pikachu-starter Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Pikachu-starter in Sun/Moon along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution