Competitive Information for Pikachu [Sword/Shield]
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? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield 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 Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Pikachu is a decent Electric-typed Pokemon. Pikachu is not a Pokemon anyone usually expects sees on the battlefield. Pikachu's only type-related weakness is Ground.
Item: Light Ball
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf
- Thunderbolt / Thunder
- Volt Switch
- Protect
Special Sweeper Pikachu (Popular/Trending)
Pikachu is a remarkable Special Sweeper for single battles. It's designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. With Lightning Rod, Pikachu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. Atk by 1; electric immunity. With a Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Thunder is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze. Can't miss in rain).
◆ Volt Switch is a special STAB-boosted 70-base power Electric-type move (Pikachu switches out after damaging the target).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Pikachu this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is10a19
Item: Light Ball
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Hasty (+Spe, -Def)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Tackle / Nuzzle
- Brick Break
- Fake Out
- Protect
Mixed Sweeper Pikachu (Popular/Trending)
Pikachu is a sensational Mixed Sweeper for single battles. With Lightning Rod, Pikachu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. Atk by 1; electric immunity. With a Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Nuzzle is a physical STAB-boosted 20-base power Electric-type move (100% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Fake Out is a physical priority-increased 40-base power Normal-type move (hits first. First turn out only. 100% flinch chance).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Pikachu this turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11a19
Item: Light Ball / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Tackle / Wild Charge
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Knock Off / Thief
- Play Rough
Physical Sweeper Pikachu (Lightning Rod)
Pikachu is pretty popular Physical Sweeper for single battles. It is meant 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. With a Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Wild Charge is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (has 1/4 recoil).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Knock Off is a physical 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Thief is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Pikachu has no item, it steals the target's).
◆ Play Rough is a physical 90-base power Fairy-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is12a19
Item: Light Ball / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Thunderbolt / Discharge
- Surf
- Grass Knot
- Round / Snore
Special Sweeper Pikachu (Lightning Rod)
Pikachu is an extraordinary Special Sweeper for single battles. It's designed 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 Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Discharge is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze adjacent pokemon).
◆ Surf is a special 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
◆ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
◆ Snore is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (Pikachu must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is13a19
Item: Light Ball
Ability: Static
Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
EVs: 252 Hp / 33 Atk / 225 Def
Moveset:
- Brick Break
- Endure
- Reversal
- Agility
Pikachu Physical Wall (Light Ball Pika)
Pikachu is a marvelous Physical Wall for single battles. It's primary goal is to take a hefty amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. With Static, 30% chance a pokemon making contact with Pikachu will be paralyzed. With a Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Endure is a status move (Pikachu survives attacks this turn with at least 1 hp).
◆ Reversal is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (more power the less hp your Pikachu has left).
◆ Agility is a status move (raises your Pikachu's speed by 2 stages).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is14a19
Item: Light Ball
Ability: Static
Nature: Mild (+SpA, -Def)
EVs: 128 Atk / 128 SpA / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Electro Ball
- Volt Tackle
- Quick Attack
- Thunderbolt
Pikachu Mixed Sweeper (Pikachuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu)
Pikachu is pretty popular Mixed Sweeper for single battles. With Static, 30% chance a pokemon making contact with Pikachu will be paralyzed. This is the pikachu used by ash:same moves and ability, just edited to make it usable.With a Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Volt Tackle is a physical STAB-boosted 120-base power Electric-type move (has 33% recoil. 10% chance to paralyze target).
◆ Quick Attack is a physical priority-increased 40-base power Normal-type move (usually goes first).
◆ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is15a19
Item: Light Ball
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Nuzzle
- Grass Knot
- Volt Tackle
- Fake Out
Pikachu Physical Sweeper (Volt Tackle )
Pikachu is an outstanding Physical Sweeper for single battles. It's goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. With Lightning Rod, Pikachu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. Atk by 1; electric immunity. With a Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
◆ Volt Tackle is a physical STAB-boosted 120-base power Electric-type move (has 33% recoil. 10% chance to paralyze target).
◆ Fake Out is a physical priority-increased 40-base power Normal-type move (hits first. First turn out only. 100% flinch chance).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is16a19
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Pikachu? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield 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 Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Light Ball / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Volt Tackle / Wild Charge
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Knock Off / Thief
- Play Rough
Doubles Physical Sweeper Pikachu (Lightning Rod)
Pikachu is pretty popular Physical Sweeper for double battles. It's goal 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. With a Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Wild Charge is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (has 1/4 recoil).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Knock Off is a physical 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Thief is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Pikachu has no item, it steals the target's).
◆ Play Rough is a physical 90-base power Fairy-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10a19
Item: Light Ball / Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Discharge / Electroweb
- Surf
- Grass Knot
- Round / Snore
Doubles Special Sweeper Pikachu (Lightning Rod)
Pikachu is a fabulous Special Sweeper for double battles. It's 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 Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Electroweb is a special STAB-boosted 55-base power Electric-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Surf is a special 90-base power Water-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. Double damage on dive).
◆ Grass Knot is a special 0-base power Grass-type move (more power the heavier the target).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
◆ Snore is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (Pikachu must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id11a19
Item: Light Ball
Ability: Lightning Rod
Nature: Naive (+Spe, -SpD)
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Grass Knot
- Fake Out
- Protect
- Thunderbolt / Thunder
Pikachu Special Sweeper (Double-battle Pikachu)
Pikachu is an outstanding Special Sweeper for double battles. It was designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. With Lightning Rod, Pikachu draws electric moves to itself to raise sp. Atk by 1; electric immunity. This Pikachu is really more of a 2v2 style build.
Use Fake Out first to allows your partner to use a support moves (Tailwind, Icy Wind, or Spore) for an easier second turn.
Thunderbolt is Pikachu's main STAB move, which does plenty of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. The alternative Thunder is a harder-hitting option should only be used with rain teams since its horrible accuracy without the rain isn't worth the extra damage.
Grass Knot is an excellent way for Pikachu to smack a wide variety of Pokemon with super effective damage Especially those super heavy Ground- and Rock-types likes Rhyperior, Gastrodon, Tyranitar, and Terrakion.
Protect is useful to allows Pikachu to last longer during battle, and it allows your teammates to give Pikachu to power up and go on the offensive. With a Light Ball equipped to it, if held by a pikachu, its attack and sp. Atk are doubled.
◆ Fake Out is a physical priority-increased 40-base power Normal-type move (hits first. First turn out only. 100% flinch chance).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Pikachu this turn).
◆ Thunderbolt is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Thunder is a special STAB-boosted 110-base power Electric-type move (30% chance to paralyze. Can't miss in rain).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id12a19
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Pikachu 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 can perform in Sword/Shield. 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 SS Move and Ability Combos for Pikachu
- Moves: Defense curl + Rollout
- Moves: Rain dance + Thunder
- Moves: Endure + Flail
- Moves: Endure + Reversal
- Moves: Endure + Endeavor
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Substitute + Reversal
- Moves: Yawn + Protect
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Endeavor + Item: Focus Sash
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Zap Cannon
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Dynamic Punch
- Moves with Priority: Quick Attack, Detect, Endure, Protect, Extreme Speed, Fake Out, Follow Me, Helping Hand, Feint
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Thunder Wave, Toxic, Yawn
Moves that boost Pikachu's stats
- Agility
- Calm Mind
- Charge
- Charge Beam
- Curse
- Defense Curl
- Nasty Plot
- Skull Bash
Most notable and possible best moves for Pikachu
- Brick Break
- Fake Out
- Knock Off
- Light Screen
- Nuzzle
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Surf
- Thunder
- Thunderbolt
- Toxic
- Volt Switch
- Volt Tackle
Common Effort Values for Pikachu in Sword and Shield
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/4/252 )
- Timid Nature ( 4/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Pikachu's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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