Pichu

The Tiny Mouse Pokémon
#172 - Pichu
Evolve	Pikachu
Debut	Pokémon: Gold Version Pokémon: Silver Version
Species Info
Type	+
Height	0.3 m (1'00")
Weight	2.0 kg (4.4 lbs.)
Color	Yellow
Gender Ratio	1♂ : 1♀
Ability	Static
Hidden Ability	Lightningrod
Egg Group	Unbreedable
Icon		Sprite
		File:172sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	20	Speed	60
Attack	40	Sp. Attack	35
Defense	15	Sp. Defense	35
Training Info
Catch Rate	190	Hatch Steps	2,560
Base Exp.	042	Effort Points	Spe
Happiness	70
To Lv.100	Normal

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 172 >	< 021 >	< 155 >	< 103 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #
	< 021 >

Pichu is a baby electric mouse Pokémon that was introduced in the second generation games as the new pre-evolved form of Pikachu from the first generation. This makes it the first form in a three-step evolutionary line, as its evolved forms are Pikachu and Raichu.

Information

Pichu is smaller than Pikachu, has larger ears, and a shorter tail. Pichu is not yet skilled in storing electricity, so it discharges electricity whenever it is happy or shocked. When Pichu play together, they sometimes short each other out. A Pichu's shock is painful to adult humans, but when attacking it sometimes shocks itself. It can more easily charge itself with electricity on days with thunderclouds or very dry air, and the static energy it emits can be heard from those nearby.

Pichu's electric sacs are small and cannot store much electricity. It will shock itself if even a small amount of electricity leaks out. They play with each other by touching each other's tails and setting off sparks as a test of courage. Pichu only evolves into Pikachu when it levels up with a high amount of happiness.

Variations

A Shiny variation of Pichu called the Pikachu-colored Pichu was introduced in the fourth generation games, as a Pokémon obtainable only in events. This Pichu than can could be used to unlock another Pichu variation in HeartGold and SoulSilver; the Spiky-Eared Pichu appears at the Ilex Shrine if the player has a Pikachu-colored Pichu in front and will automatically join the player.

According to Professor Elm, the Spiky-Eared Pichu is a special female Pichu that has traveled through time with Celebi, and due to all the time traveling has become incapable of evolution. It cannot evolve, nor can it be traded to other games.

Appearances

Mainstream Games

Usually, Pichu is only available by breeding with a Pikachu with another Pikachu, a Raichu, or a Ditto. In Pokémon: Crystal Version, the couple running the Daycare Center will give the player an egg upon the first visit which has an equal chance of hatching into a Pichu or any of the second generation's other baby Pokémon. Additionally, Pichu are found in the Trophy Garden of the Pokémon Mansion in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, being more common in the morning.

Other Games

Pichu appears in Pokémon Stadium 2, where it is featured in the minigame "Pichu's Powerplant". In Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, Pichu was unlocked by defeating the Pokéfan, who would appear in Challenge Mode on Normal or higher difficulty if the player had played for four minutes prior to battling Clair. In Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, Pichu can be obtained by hatching it from an egg and also appears as the ball server within the game. In Pokémon Channel, Pichu can be found in Camp Starlight on clear or cloudy Saturday nights. Pichu was also featured in some of the e-Reader applications such as "Pika Pop" (where Pichu danced along with Togepi), Tokotoko Truck (a special minigame where the player controlled Pichu riding a draisine to Pokémon Center Tokyo) and "Hold Down Hoppip" (where Pichu tried to keep a Hoppip tied down). A Surfing Pichu egg was also given to a player after adding 1499 Pokémon from one cartridge to Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire, and this egg could then be transferred to any of the third generation color versions to be hatched.

In Pokémon Trozei!, Pichu can be obtained at Huge Storage 1, Trozei Battle or Mr. Who's Den. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Teams, Pichu is found on the third through sixth floors of the Joyous Tower. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness, Pichu are found in the ninth and tenth levels of the Amp Plains as well as the first four floors of the Far Amp Plains. In Pokémon Ranger, Pichu are found in Lyra Forest and Fall City. Pichu can alternately be found in Ranger School, Vientown, Vien Forest, Marine Cave and Pueltown in Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia.

The player in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs also has a ukulele-playing Pichu as their partner. Ukelele Pichu lives on Dolce Island and is befriended there by the player character. A Pichu also appeared in PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure at the Haunted Zone. In Pokémon Rumble Blast, Pichu was found at Trailhead Forest.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In the Super Smash Bros. series, Pichu was featured as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Melee and made a return appearance from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate after being absent for several games. Pichu's moveset is based on Pikachu's, except that it is smaller, faster and weaker. It also causes itself some damage upon using any electrical attacks.
  • In Melee, Pichu was unlocked by playing 200 Vs. Mode matches or by completing Event Match 37: Legendary Pokémon. In Ultimate, it could be unlocked through the game's variable-based system for unlocking characters or by awakening Pichu in Adventure Mode (where it could be found within the Power Plant area).
  • Throughout the series, Pichu has also been represented by three unlockable trophies in Melee, a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for NIntendo 3DS and a Fighter Spirit in Ultimate.
  • In Ultimate, Pichu's Classic Mode route is called "Lightweight Fracas" and follows the theme of fighting the game's lighter opponents. The route ends with a boss battle against Master Hand (with Crazy Hand on higher difficulties).

Other Media

• Several Pichu have appeared in the Pokémon anime series, although the most prominent may be the "Pichu Brothers", a pair of mischievous Pichu who are featured in several Pokémon shorts. The Spiky-Eared Pichu was also featured in the ninth Pokémon movie, where she helped to find a key for the others in the past.
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Red and Yellow's Pikachu have an egg together near the end of the Gold/Silver/Crystal arc. Gold takes care of it until it hatches, at which point it plays a vital role in defeating Pryce as well as helping Gold realize his talents as a Pokémon breeder. The Pichu has remained part of Gold's party since.

Trivia

• The name Pichu is a combination of the Japanese words "pika", an onomatopoeia for electric sparking, and "pii", a prefix meaning small. It is also a truncation of Pikachu's name, which seems to be a common naming scheme amongst baby Pokémon.