{{AnimePokémonInfobox|
trainername=Ash|
pokemonname=Pikachu|
jtrainername=サトシ|
jpokemonname=ピカチュウ|
tmtrainername=Satoshi|
tmpokemonname=Pikachu|
image=[[File:Ash Pikachu.png|250px]] |
caption=Ash's Pikachu |
gender=Male|
ability={{a|Static}} |
location=[[Pallet Town]] |
prevonum=025|
type1=Electric|
epnum=EP001|
epname=Pokémon - I Choose You! |
current=[[Party|With Ash]]|
java1=[[Ikue Ohtani]]|
}}
'''Ash's Pikachu''' (Japanese: '''サトシのピカチュウ''' ''Satoshi's Pikachu'') was the [[starter Pokémon|first Pokémon]] obtained by {{Ash}} on his journey as a [[Pokémon Trainer]]. His universal voice actress is [[Ikue Ohtani]]. However, in some episodes during the first season of the English dub series, [[Rachael Lillis]] provided Pikachu's voice when the original Japanese track couldn't be saved.

==History==
[[File:First Meeting.png‎|200px|left|thumb|{{Ash}} and Pikachu meeting for the first time]]
In the first episode of the [[Pokémon anime]], ''[[EP001|Pokémon - I Choose You!]]'', Ash woke up late the day he was supposed to go to [[Professor Oak]]'s laboratory to obtain his first Pokémon. When he arrived at the lab, the three available starter Pokémon, {{p|Bulbasaur}}, {{p|Charmander}}, and {{p|Squirtle}}, had already been taken by other Trainers who arrived earlier. Seeing that Ash was disappointed, Professor Oak gave him Pikachu, which did not take a liking to his new Trainer, constantly zapping him and anyone else nearby. He refused to go into a [[Poké Ball]], and when Ash failed to catch a wild Pokémon, he laughed at him. However, by the end of the episode, Ash gained Pikachu's trust by protecting him from an attack by a flock of {{p|Spearow}} and rushing him to the [[Pokémon Center]]. Pikachu and Ash soon became inseparable. In ''[[EP039|Pikachu's Goodbye]]'', Ash gave Pikachu his consent to remain in a forest filled with Pikachu, but Pikachu decide to stay by Ash's side.

[[File:Ash 1st Poke Ball.png|thumb|right|200px|The Poké Ball Professor Oak stored Pikachu in, has a special lightning bolt mark. This Poké Ball certainly was never permament as Ash uses a regular Poké Ball to attempt to recall Pikachu, and the other three Poké Balls that held Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle were still on the podium but empty. Also, [[Gary's Blastoise]] is held in a regular Poké Ball.]]
In general, Pikachu as a species are not particularly powerful, but Ash's Pikachu is an anomaly, overcoming odds in {{pkmn|battle}} numerous times. In ''[[EP005|Showdown in Pewter City]]'', he defeated [[Brock's Steelix|Brock's Onix]] with an {{type2|Electric}} attack that triggered the sprinkler system causing Onix to be drenched in water, one of its weaknesses. In ''[[EP014|Electric Shock Showdown]]'', Pikachu fought [[Lt. Surge]]'s {{TP|Lt. Surge|Raichu}} and lost. During a resulting hospital stay, he refused to become Raichu's equal by evolving via a {{evostone|Thunderstone}}, and in the second battle, Pikachu overcame Raichu by using his superior speed. In ''[[EP002|Pokémon Emergency!]]'', {{MTR}} remarked that Pikachu's power "far exceeds its evolutionary level." Ash's Pikachu has also defeated very powerful Pokémon that Ash's other Pokémon were unable to, such as {{p|Dragonite}} and {{p|Metagross}}. He has helped Ash win innumerable battles and [[Gym]] and {{pkmn|League}} matches.

However, at times, {{p|Pikachu}} has lived up to his species' frail and brittle strengths, particularly in Gym battles where he was defeated with relative ease by his opponent; for example, he was overpowered very easily by [[Lt. Surge's Raichu]], [[Sabrina's Kadabra]], [[Blaine's Magmar]], [[Bugsy]]'s {{p|Scyther}}, [[Whitney's Miltank]], [[Roark's Rampardos]], [[Fantina's Drifblim]], and [[Corn]]'s {{p|Hiyappu}}. He also drew against [[Winona]]'s {{p|Pelipper}} and [[Norman]]'s {{p|Vigoroth}}, and struggled against [[Crasher Wake]]'s {{p|Floatzel}}. Furthermore, he has lost twice to Shooti's Janovy, despite Shooti being a starting trainer and recently having obtained Janovy.

Pikachu is extremely loyal to Ash, and while he is not always immediately trusting of strangers, he is generally friendly to humans and Pokémon alike. He acted as a guardian and big brother to [[Misty's Togepi]], and has been seen mediating and even breaking up fights among other Pokémon, such as in ''[[PK01|Pikachu's Vacation]]''. In ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]'', Pikachu, {{MTR}}, and Meowth's clone were the only Pokémon not to participate in the giant battle; Pikachu stood motionless as his clone repeatedly slapped his face. Contrary to his distrusting nature, Pikachu took a liking to Misty very early in the series, and he has retained this liking of Misty throughout the series, such as when he was very happy to see her in ''[[AG132|The Scheme Team]]''.

However, even Pikachu has had exceptions to this rule. In ''[[EP086|Pikachu Re-Volts]]'', Pikachu was controlled by Butch and Cassidy, which caused him to become evil and disobey Ash's commands. During the Hoenn saga, Pikachu [[AG089|developed amnesia at one point]] and sided with [[Team Rocket]] for a while. Later within the same series, Pikachu was possessed by the Red Orb and controlled by Groudon, nearly causing a disaster. On several occasions, Pikachu has developed an "electric flu" causing him to become overcharged, and extremely powerful. During these instances, Pikachu will sometimes attack his friends, including Ash. In all of these cases, Pikachu did not intentionally mean harm upon anyone.

Since Ash's first encounter with [[Team Rocket]] in ''[[EP002|Pokémon Emergency!]]'', Pikachu has been pursued by the trio of [[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}}. Throughout the series, it has been Jessie, James and Meowth's desire to steal this Pokémon from Ash and present him to [[Giovanni|their boss]]. To do this, they have come up with many schemes. Though they have tried and continue to try hundreds of times, every last one of their plots fail, usually with the help of Ash, his friends, other Trainers, an [[Officer Jenny]], or even themselves (such as in the [[DP001|first episode]] of the {{series|Diamond & Pearl}}).
[[File:Pikachu Bad Mood.png|thumb|240px|right|Pikachu in a bad mood.]]
As shown in a handful of episodes, the first being ''[[EP042|Showdown at Dark City]]'', Pikachu has a special fondness for ketchup, but he will eat and enjoy almost any other human or Pokémon food. A running joke in the anime also seems to be the destruction of a female character's [[bike]] with one of Pikachu's {{m|Thunderbolt}}s at the beginning of each series, which then causes her to {{ashfr|follow Ash}} for the remainder of the series. This has happened to {{an|Misty}}, {{an|May}}, and {{an|Dawn}} so far, but did not happen to {{an|Iris}}.

Pikachu is the primary mascot of the Pokémon franchise, mostly due to Ash's ownership of him. A Pikachu appears on nearly all merchandise and promotional material for the series, and became, due to the anime, the [[version mascot]] of and only [[starter Pokémon]] in {{game|Yellow}}.

Pikachu became the second non-legendary Pokémon to defeat a [[legendary Pokémon]] in the anime after {{AP|Charizard}}, beating {{FB|Pyramid King|Brandon}}'s {{DL|Brandon's Regis|Regice}} in ''[[AG190|Pace - The Final Frontier]]'', giving Ash his final [[Symbol|Frontier Symbol]].

Pikachu is the primary protagonist of several [[Pikachu shorts|short films]] that feature only Ash and his friends' Pokémon. He was seen helping {{p|Delibird}} collect his missing presents, helped to build the {{p|Snorlax}} snowman, helping to put up a Christmas tree and help reunite the baby {{p|Kangaskhan}} to its parent. It was also seen in a dream that {{an|Misty}} had.

Pikachu is also the only one of Ash's Pokémon to accompany him to the [[Hoenn]] and [[Unova]] regions, and was intended to be the only Pokémon to accompany him to [[Sinnoh]] before {{AP|Aipom}} was discovered to have stowed away on the ship Ash was taking. Up until the capture of [[Dawn's Pachirisu]], Pikachu was the only {{type2|Electric}} Pokémon in the anime owned by a main character.

Even with its high level of electrical power, Pikachu has not stopped learning new attacks. Upon learning that [[Roxanne]], the Rustboro Gym Leader used Rock-types, Ash had Pikachu begin learning [[Iron Tail]] in ''[[AG013|All Things Bright and Beautifly!]]''. After training hard, Pikachu finally perfected it in ''[[AG016|The Winner by a Nosepass]]'', where he used it to defeat Roxanne's {{p|Nosepass}} and earn Ash his first Hoenn badge. In addition to giving Pikachu an advantage over Rock-types, Iron Tail has allowed Pikachu to defeat many powerful opponents. In ''[[AG150|May's Egg-Cellent Adventure]]'', during a battle with Team Rocket, Ash ordered Pikachu to do a {{m|Quick Attack}}. Much to the surprise of Ash and his friends, the Quick Attack morphed into {{m|Volt Tackle}} which sent Team Rocket blasting off. Since then, it has become one of Pikachu's signature moves.

In Hoenn, Pikachu learned how to surf. He also learned how to punch from Ash in ''[[EP029|The Punchy Pokémon]]''. In Sinnoh, Ash used him during the [[Pokémon Ping Pong Tournament]].
[[File:PikachuStatic.png‎|250px|left|thumb|Pikachu activating his {{a|Static}} ability]]
In Sinnoh, he defeated [[Roark]]'s {{p|Onix}} in the [[Oreburgh Gym]] rematch. Pikachu battled again in the [[Pastoria Gym]] battle, where he battled [[Crasher Wake]]'s {{p|Gyarados}} and defeated it with a Volt Tackle to the face. He also battled [[Crasher Wake's Floatzel]] for a moment, allowing {{AP|Buizel}} time to recover. In ''[[DP102|Shield with a Twist!]]'', Pikachu lost to [[Fantina's Drifblim]] after a fierce battle.

Pikachu's next major battle after Fantina, was when he was used against [[Paul]] in ''[[DP132|Evolving Strategies!]]''. First he went up against {{TP|Paul|Magmortar}}; however, when he attacked with {{m|Quick Attack}}, he was {{status|burn}}ed by Magmortar's {{a|Flame Body}} and Pikachu was recalled. Later, he went up against Paul's very powerful {{TP|Paul|Ursaring}} and {{status|Paralysis|paralyzed}} it with {{a|Static}}. This actually made things worse for Pikachu as being paralyzed activated Ursaring's {{a|Guts}} ability, and Pikachu found himself completely outmatched by Ursaring's massive power and was defeated and thrown into [[Lake Acuity]], taking him out of the match as well as injuring him. This defeat meant that Ash had to defeat Paul's remaining five Pokémon with only {{AP|Chimchar}}.
[[File:Ash and his Pikachu.png|thumb|250px|Ash and Pikachu]]
Later, in ''[[DP165|Flint Sparks the Fire!]]'', Pikachu battled {{EF|Flint}}'s {{p|Infernape}}, but it was defeated after a long fight.

In ''[[DP179|The Eighth Wonder of the Sinnoh World!]]'', Pikachu battled against [[Volkner]]'s Electivire and won, giving him his first victory over a Pokémon in the Electabuzz evolutionary line. However, he was defeated by Volkner's {{p|Luxray}}.

In the [[Lily of the Valley Conference]], Ash used Pikachu in his battle against Paul in ''[[DP186|Familiarity Breeds Strategy!]]''. It was used against Paul's {{p|Aggron}}, where it put up a good fight and weakened Aggron before it was recalled in place of Infernape. Pikachu was also used in the continuation of Ash's battle against Paul in ''[[DP187|A Real Rival Rouser!]]''. It went against Paul's {{p|Froslass}} where he was seen having some trouble at first, but by the end, he was able to pull through and defeat Froslass with a powerful Volt Tackle attack. This gave Pikachu his first win against one of Paul's Pokémon and also gave Ash the lead in the battle. In [[DP188]], he battled Paul's Electivire, but had trouble due to Electivire's {{a|Motor Drive}} ability, and was soon defeated by a {{m|Brick Break}}. In [[DP189]], Pikachu was the last Pokémon chosen by Ash to battle [[Tobias]] in the semi-finals. Despite Ash losing five of his Pokémon, Pikachu tried its best to defeat Tobias's {{p|Latios}}. Almost none of the attacks hit or did any damage to Latios in the beginning, however, Pikachu finally managed to jump on top of Latios and used Thunderbolt several times before he was shaken off. As Pikachu is about to land, Latios used Luster Purge. Pikachu used Volt Tackle and Iron Tail, taking against the force of the Luster Purge. However, it was tied with Latios as both fainted. As Ash's last Pokémon also fainted, Tobias was crowned the winner of their battle.

In [[BW001]], Pikachu had an encounter with {{p|Zekrom}}, which unaware by Ash, caused Pikachu to lose its ability to use Electric-type moves. Ash finally noticed this when it battled [[Shooti]]'s {{TP|Shooti|Snivy|Janovy}}, losing in the process. In [[BW002]], it regained its ability to use Electric-type attacks and was used in battle which lead to the capture of {{AP|Pidove}}. In [[BW005]], Ash used Pikachu in his gym battle at the [[Sanyou Gym]], where he faced [[Corn]] and his {{p|Hiyappu}}. Even though he tried his best, Pikachu was just not as fast as Hiyappu and was defeated without landing a single hit. In [[BW010]], he battled Shooti's {{p|Hatooboo}}, who had already taken out [[Ash's Oshawott]] and {{AP|Tepig}}. It took a beating from multiple Aerial Aces, but showed Shooti the power of its electrical attacks by defeating Hatooboo with Volt Tackle. It then battled Snivy again, who by then had evolved into Janovy. However, despite not being incapacitated, he was once again defeated. In [[BW013]], Ash used Pikachu in a battle against [[Bel]] and her {{p|Chaoboo}}. Even though he had some trouble at first, Pikachu was able to pull through in the end and defeat Chaoboo with a powerful Volt Tackle.

===Moves used===
{{anmov/h|electric||{{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 7}}|0|1=Pikachu Thunderbolt.png|2=Pikachu Volt Tackle.png|3=Pikachu Quick Attack.png|4=Pikachu Iron Tail.png|5=Pikachu Tackle.png|6=Pikachu Agility.png}}|Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 7}}|0|1=Thunderbolt|2=Volt Tackle|3=Quick Attack|4=Iron Tail|5=Tackle|6=Agility}}|image2={{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 6}}|0|1=Pikachu Thundershock.png|2=Pikachu Thunder.png|3=Pikachu Leer.png|4=Pikachu Double Edge.png|5=Pikachu Agility.png|6=Pikachu Tackle.png}}|caption2=Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 6}}|0|1=ThunderShock|2=Thunder|3=Leer|4=Double-Edge|5=Agility|6=Tackle}}}}
{{anmov|electric|ThunderShock|EP001|Pokémon - I Choose You!}}
{{anmov|electric|Thunderbolt|EP005|Showdown in Pewter City|rec=yes}}
{{anmov|normal|Leer|EP009|The School of Hard Knocks|x=yes}}
{{anmov|psychic|Agility|EP014|Electric Shock Showdown}}
{{anmov|normal|Quick Attack|EP014|Electric Shock Showdown|rec=yes}}
{{anmov|electric|Thunder|EP042|Showdown at Dark City}}

{{anmov|normal|Double-Edge|EP079|Friend and Foe Alike}}
{{anmov|normal|Tackle|EP118|The Double Trouble Header|x=yes}}
{{anmov|steel|Iron Tail|AG013|All Things Bright and Beautifly!|rec=yes}}
{{anmov|electric|Volt Tackle|AG150|May's Egg-Cellent Adventure|rec=yes}}
{{anmov/f|electric|x=yes}}

=====Moves improvised=====
[[File:Pikachu's Counter Shield.png|thumb|right|250px|Pikachu using Counter Shield]]
*'''Leer''' was first seen in ''[[EP009|The School of Hard Knocks]]''. When Giselle called for Cubone to use Leer, Ash told Pikachu to 'Leer right back' by making funny faces. Ash also told Pikachu to use Leer in ''[[EP150|Hour of the Houndour]]'', when a {{p|Houndour}} used its own Leer on Pikachu.

*An attack where Pikachu stored electricity in his tail similar to {{m|Slam}} was used to defeat [[Lt. Surge's Raichu]] in ''[[EP014|Electric Shock Showdown]]''. A similar move, referred to as "Shocking Tail" by the MC, was used to defeat Drake's Ditto in ''[[EP111|Hello Pummelo!]]''.

*'''Rocket Punch''' was a move that Pikachu used while "boxing" {{ka|Anthony}}'s {{p|Hitmonchan}} in ''[[EP029|The Punchy Pokémon]]''. Pikachu glowed red and shot off his boxing gloves, leaving off a trail of smoke. Once the smoke disappears, Pikachu still has his boxing gloves on and flies towards Hitmonchan at high speed.
[[File:Pikachu Volt Tail.png|thumb|right|250px|Pikachu using Volt Tail]]
*'''Thunder Armor''' was a one-time technique in the episode ''[[AG100|Solid as a Solrock]]'', Pikachu is seen using Thunder on himself while riding Ash's Swellow. This increased their attack power greatly, and they easily overpowered their opponents.

*'''Spin''', originally made by {{an|Dawn}} and first used by her Piplup and Buneary, was also used by Turtwig and Aipom in the episode ''[[DP018|O'er the Rampardos We Watched!]]'', where he was able beat Roark and obtain the Coal Badge.

*'''Volt Tail''', a combination of {{m|Volt Tackle}} and {{m|Iron Tail}}, was used in ''[[DP074|Pika and Goliath!]]'' against [[Sho]]'s {{p|Raichu}} and once again in [[DP189]] against [[Tobias]]'s {{p|Latios}}.

*'''[[Counter Shield]]''' can be used by Pikachu by utilizing {{m|Thunderbolt}}, similar to [[Ash's Buizel]] and {{AP|Infernape}} who can do the technique with their own moves.

*'''Hydro Volt Tackle''' is used as a finishing blow against [[Team Rocket]] in [[DP191]]. It is a combination of Pikachu's {{m|Volt Tackle}} and [[Dawn's Piplup]]'s {{m|Hydro Pump}} creating a massive Electric-Water shot.

==In the games==
{{main|Red's Pikachu (game)}}

{{bulbanews|Satoshi's Pikachu to be distributed via Wi-Fi}}
{{bulbanews|Toys 'R' Us to distribute Ash's Pikachu}}
Pikachu was one of {{Ash}}'s three Pokémon in {{g|Puzzle League}}. The Pikachu in the Super Smash Bros. series may be based on Ash's Pikachu.

In the main series, {{ga|Red's Pikachu}} is noticeably based on Ash's Pikachu: not only does {{ga|Red}} receive it from Professor Oak after his rival, Oak's grandson, takes the last starter Pokémon, but in {{game|Yellow}}, it [[walking Pokémon|follows Red around]] rather than being kept in a Poké Ball. In [[Generation II]] and {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}, Pikachu is the highest-leveled member of Red's team when he is encountered at Mt. Silver, and the highest leveled Pokémon owned by a Trainer in the entire series excluding battle arenas. His moves, notably in HeartGold and SoulSilver, are the four moves used most recently by Ash's Pikachu, as well.

A Japanese event distributed an in-game representation of Ash's Pikachu via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and at participating Japanese {{wp|McDonald}}'s locations which was held from July 15th through August 10, 2010. This Pikachu will soon be distributed at participating American {{wp|Toys 'R' Us}} locations from January 30 to February 5, 2011.

{{G4event|
pokemon=Pikachu|
nick=PIKACHU|
gender=m|
level=50|
game=4h|
ndex=025 m|
item1=Light Ball|
dexno=025|
typea=Electric|
otcolor=blue|
ot=サトシ{{tt|*|Japanese}}|
id=07150{{tt|*|Japanese}}|
ability1=Static|
nature=Naughty|
date=Jan. 30, 2011|
met=Pokémon Event|
type1=Electric|move1=Volt Tackle|
type2=Steel|move2=Iron Tail|
type3=Normal|move3=Quick Attack|
type4=Electric|move4=Thunderbolt|
rclass=Classic|
datedis=January 30 to February 5, 2011{{tt|*|July 15 to August 10, 2010 in Japan}}|
country=the United States |
diamond=yes|
pearl=yes|
platinum=yes|
heartgold=yes|
soulsilver=yes|
}}

==In the manga==
===In the Ash and Pikachu manga===
Ash's Pikachu is a starring character in the [[Ash and Pikachu]] {{pkmn|manga}} series, which is based on the [[Johto]] saga of the Pokémon anime.

===In the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga===
[[File:Ash Pikachu EToP.png|thumb|right|Ash's Pikachu in The Electric Tale of Pikachu]]
Ash's Pikachu is a starring character in the {{pkmn|manga}} series
[[The Electric Tale of Pikachu]], which is loosely based on the Pokémon anime. Pikachu appears in every chapter of the manga.

Like in the anime, Pikachu was Ash's first Pokémon. However, Ash did not receive Pikachu from [[Professor Oak]] - instead, he finds Pikachu under the floorboards of his home, chewing on wires to eat the electricity. His [[Delia Ketchum|mother]] asks him to take Pikachu outside, but when [[Gary Oak]] taunts Ash about how he has not yet become a [[Pokémon Trainer]], Ash decides to keep Pikachu as his first Pokémon.

Like in the anime, Pikachu was originally unwilling to obey Ash, but after Ash protects Pikachu from a herd of wild {{p|Spearow}} and {{AP|Fearow}}, Pikachu gains respect for Ash, and after Ash defeats Brock, he is named Jean Luc Pikachu.

Later on, when Ash is in a gym battle with Misty, Pikachu is petrified by the sight of her Gyarados and does not battle, while in his gym battle with Sabrina, it is easily bested by her Abra.

Pikachu likes {{an|Misty}} and greets her enthusiastically whenever she appears, often ignoring Ash in the process.

====Moves used====
{{anmov/h|electric||Electric Tale Pikachu Swift.png|Using Swift}}
{{anmov|electric|ThunderShock|ET01|Pikachu, I See You!}}
{{anmov|psychic|Agility|ET04|Haunting My Dreams}}
{{anmov|electric|Thunder|ET04|Haunting My Dreams}}
{{anmov|normal|Swift|ET05|The Human Race and the Pokémon Race}}
{{anmov|normal|Quick Attack|ET16|You Bet Your Wife}}
{{anmov/f|electric}}

===In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga===
Ash's Pikachu, along with {{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}} and {{an|Brock}}, makes a cameo appearance in the bonus chapters at the end of every volume of the [[Magical Pokémon Journey]] {{pkmn|manga}} series. In the bonus chapters, Ash and friends have mistakenly wandered into the Magical Pokémon Journey world and are trying to return back to the world of the {{pkmn|anime}}, encountering many unusual situations along the way, including encounters of aspects of the Magical Pokémon Journey canon which are different in anime canon.

Ash's Pikachu shows a video to {{MPJ|Pikachu}} of him bouncing a [[Poké Ball]] on his head in [[One Hundred Fifty-One]].

==In the TCG==
Ash's Pikachu is featured in the TCG as a {{TCG|Pokémon M|Pokémon}} {{SP|M}}. The following is a list of cards named '''Pikachu {{SP|M}}'''.
{| border="1" style="border: 1px solid #999; border-collapse: collapse; background: white;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2"
|- style="background: #{{tcg Lightning color}};"
!Name
!Type
!Level
!Rarity
!Set
!Set no.
|-
| {{TCG ID|Movie Random Pack Promo|Pikachu M|12}} || rowspan=2 | {{e|Lightning}} || 45 || - || {{TCG|Movie Commemoration Random Pack}} (no English release) || 012/022
|-
| {{TCG ID|DPt-P Promo|Pikachu M LV.X|43}} || ''X'' || - || {{TCG|DPt-P Promotional cards}} (no English release) || 043/DPt-P
|}

==Trivia==
[[File:Pikachu loves ketchup.png|200px|thumb|right|Pikachu and his love of ketchup]]
* Ash's Pikachu is the subject of many 'gamebreaking' abilities that normally do not fit in the general stasis of the games. This includes Pikachu's ability to sometimes hurt {{type2|Ground}} Pokémon with Electric moves (sparking the meme "Aim for the Horn!"), and using moves that do not exist, or moves in a way that do not work in the games, such as the infamous "Thunder Armor".
* Despite the fact that {{m|Volt Tackle}}, the signature move of his evolutionary line, is in fact an egg move, Ash's Pikachu learned the move "by accident," when using an electrically-charged {{m|Quick Attack}}.
* Pikachu is Ash's only {{type2|Electric}} Pokémon and was the only Electric-type owned by a main character in the anime until the capture of {{TP|Dawn|Pachirisu}} by Dawn. However, Pikachu is the only Electric-type Pokémon owned by a main character that can evolve.
* For ''[[DP013|A Staravia is Born]]'', [[Professor Oak's lecture]] is about Ash's Pikachu. He writes this [[Pokémon senryū]] about him: パートナー　サトシとピカチュウ　いいかんじ ''Partners Satoshi and Pikachu: a pleasant feeling''.
* Out of all six regions that Ash visited, [[Kanto]], [[Hoenn]] and [[Unova]] are the only ones that Ash started out with just Pikachu. He did try to go to [[Sinnoh]] with Pikachu alone but Aipom followed him. At the beginning of all three, Pikachu was also, in some way, injured, and in the case of Kanto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, ended up destroying the [[Bicycle|bike]] of a particular girl who would later [[Ash's friends|travel with Ash]].
* Pikachu was the first of Ash's Pokémon to disobey him. Other Pokémon that would do so, and be better remembered for their disobedience than Pikachu, are {{AP|Primeape}} and {{AP|Charizard}}.
* Ash's act of keeping Pikachu [[Walking Pokémon|outside his Poké Ball]] on a permanent basis has been mimicked by several other characters in the anime.
** [[Ritchie]], when he first meets Ash, keeps [[Sparky]] inside of its ball, but later is shown to carry it on his shoulder much like Ash does.
** {{an|Misty}} never put {{TP|Misty|Togepi}} inside a Poké Ball and was always shown carrying it in her arms.
** Dawn, likewise, does the same with her {{TP|Dawn|Piplup}}.
** {{an|Iris}} also does this with her {{TP|Iris|Kibago}} and keeps it in her hair.
* Out of Ash's Pokémon, Pikachu was the first one to defeat a [[pseudo-legendary]] Pokémon during battle in the anime, defeating {{OBP|Drake|Orange League}}'s {{TP|Drake|Dragonite}} in ''[[EP112|Enter the Dragonite]]'' and {{ho|Tyson}}'s {{p|Metagross}} during the [[Ever Grande Conference]] of the Hoenn League in ''[[AG131|At the End of the Fray]]''. However, in both occasions, the two [[pseudo-legendary]] Pokémon had been weakened by other Pokémon in Ash's team at the time; {{AP|Squirtle}}, {{AP|Charizard}} and {{AP|Tauros}} had weakened {{TP|Drake|Dragonite}} while {{AP|Swellow}} and {{AP|Grovyle|Sceptile}} had weakened {{p|Metagross}}.
* Pikachu is the second Pokémon in the entire {{pkmn|anime}} series to have managed to defeat a [[legendary Pokémon]], which he did by defeating {{FB|Pyramid King|Brandon}}'s {{DL|Brandon's Regis|Regice}} in ''[[AG190|Pace - The Final Frontier!]]''. [[Ash's Charizard]] was the first Pokémon to have achieved this feat, against {{TP|Noland|Articuno}}. Pikachu also tied with Tobias's Latios in [[DP189]].
* Most of the moves Pikachu used in the [[original series]] were first used in an episode with the word ''showdown'' in its title.
* In ''[[EP030|Sparks Fly for Magnemite]]'', it was revealed that Pikachu has a fear of Ash leaving him.
[[File:PikachuDP.png|200px|thumb|right|Pikachu]]
* In many new episodes, Pikachu's tail sparks instead of his cheeks when using {{m|Thunderbolt}}.
* In ''[[DP142|Where No Togepi Has Gone Before!]]'' it was confirmed that Pikachu is male. When a {{p|Togepi}} used {{m|Attract}} on Pikachu, {{MTR}}, {{TP|Dawn|Piplup}}, {{TP|Brock|Croagunk}} and {{TP|Jessie|Yanmega}}, all but Yanmega were affected (coincidentally, this also revealed Yanmega as being female). Voice actress Ikue Ohtani stated prior to this episode that the writers had intended to keep Pikachu's gender ambiguous so the fanbase can connect with him more easily.
** Ash also referred to Pikachu as a male in the dub of ''[[EP086|Pikachu Re-Volts]]''. Shortly after [[Officer Jenny]] first arrives, Ash proclaims in dismay, "You just gotta find him, Officer Jenny!"
** Pikachu's gender can also be inferred from Buneary's infatuation with Pikachu, first seen in ''[[DP009|Setting the World on Its Buneary!]]''.
** His gender was also implied long before, in the Japanese version of ''[[EP017|Island of the Giant Pokémon]]'', where he refers to himself, {{AP|Charmander|Charizard}}, {{AP|Squirtle}} and {{AP|Bulbasaur}} as ぼくたち ''{{wp|Japanese pronouns|boku-tachi}}'', which is a male speaker-only pronoun meaning "we", also used by characters such as [[Max]] and {{an|Dent}} in the Japanese version.
* Pikachu was the only member of Ash's Sinnoh team that did not learn a new move in the Sinnoh region.
* It is the only Pokémon of Ash's to be used in every gym battle in a [[Johto|region]].
*In {{pmin|Latin America}}, Cartoon Network has a "Biografia Toon" segment, which consists of biographies and histories of cartoon characters. This segment has done a two-part feature on Ash's Pikachu. According to the segment, Pikachu is the result of an experiment conducted by [[Professor Oak]] and allegedly destroyed the lab where he was created in a momentary loss of control.
* ''[[DP170|An Elite Coverup!]]'' has been the only time when Ash does not use Pikachu against an [[Elite Four]] member.
*The defeat of [[Volkner]]'s {{p|Electivire}} marks the first time Pikachu has defeated a member of the {{p|Electabuzz}} evolutionary line one on one. All previous times it has either tied or lost, with the exception of [[Dr. Namba]]'s Electabuzz, where Pikachu teamed up with [[Ritchie]]'s Pikachu, [[Sparky]], to defeat it.
*Pikachu seems to have a talent for mimicking Pokémon, as seen from his performance during [[DP033|a cosplay competition]]. He will occasionally use pantomime to specify what he is talking about. He can contort his face and his ears to imitate {{Ash}}, his {{AP|Turtwig|Torterra}}, {{TP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}}, among others.
*Pikachu has also used his face to tell when a character is in trouble by imitating people and Pokémon.
* Pikachu is one of two Pokémon owned by Ash to have a [[baby Pokémon|baby form]] introduced in a generation after its capture, the other being {{AP|Snorlax}}.

===Pikachu's language===
Some of [[Pokémon language|Pikachu's speech]] is consistent enough that it seems that some phrases actually mean something. (In ''[[DP115|Stealing The Conversation]]'', [[Team Rocket]] refers to this language as "PikaSpeak," however, this most likely isn't official.) For instance, Pikachu always uses "Pikapi" when referring to Ash (notice that it sounds somewhat similar to "Satoshi"). Other speech includes:
*Pika Pikachu or Pika-Pika Pikachu: ''My name is Pikachu''. When Ash and his friends are introducing themselves to the [[characters of the day]], he says this.
[[File:Pikachu wobbuffet.png|200px|thumb|Pikachu as a {{p|Wobbuffet}} in ''[[DP033|All Dressed Up With Somewhere to Go!]]'']]
*Pi-Kachu: He says this during the sponsor spots in the original Japanese.
*Pikachu-Pi: ''{{an|Misty|Kasumi}}'' (Misty)
*Pika-Chu: ''{{an|Brock|Takeshi}}'' (Brock)
*Pikaka: ''{{an|Dawn|Hikari}}'' (Dawn)
[[File:Pikachu as ash.png|200px|thumb|left|Pikachu imitating {{Ash}} in ''[[EP110|The Stun Spore Detour]]'' ]]
*Pi?: Used when addressing something unknown. Can mean, "What?"
*PiPiPi: ''{{TP|Misty|Togepi}}'' (Togepi)
*PikakaPika: ''[[Ash's Bulbasaur|Fushigidane]]'' (Bulbasaur)
*PikaPika: ''[[Ash's Squirtle|Zenigame]]'' (Squirtle) or ''[[Ash's Staraptor|Mukuhawk]]'' (Staraptor) or ''[[Ash's Infernape|Goukazaru]]'' (Infernape)
*Pi-kachu: ''[[Dawn's Piplup|Pochama]]'' (Piplup)
*PiPi-kachu: ''[[Team Rocket|Rocket-dan]]'' (Team Rocket).
*Pi-Pikachu: ''[[Gotta catch 'em all!|Get da ze!]]'' He says this after Ash wins a badge, catches a new Pokémon or anything similar.
*Pi-ka: Used for multiple things such as "eiga" (movie) as seen during trailers for each upcoming [[Pokémon movie]]. Can also be used for "yes".
*Pi-ka-chu?: ''Are you alright?'': When a character or Pokémon is injured, Pikachu says this.
*Specific names for {{Tracey}}, {{an|May}}, and [[Max]] have not been heard.
[[File:Pikachu Imitating Turtwig.png|200px|thumb|right|Ash's Pikachu imitating his Turtwig to alert him that it is missing in ''[[DP044|Mass-Hip-Po-Sis!]]'']]
*Chuuu-Pika: ''{{m|Iron Tail}}''. He says this when using {{m|Iron Tail}}.
*Piiika-Chuuuuuuuu: ''{{m|Thunderbolt}}''. He says this when using {{m|Thunderbolt}}, "Pika" when charging up and "Chuuuuu" when discharging.
*Pikaaaaaa-Chuuuuuuuu: ''{{m|Thunder}}''. He says this when using {{m|Thunder}}, like above but with different and a longer stress.
*PikaPikaPika... Pi-ka: ''{{m|Volt Tackle}}''. He says this when using {{m|Volt Tackle}}.
*ChuChuChu...: ''{{m|Quick Attack}}''. He may also say this when using {{m|Agility}}.
*PiPiPiPiPi...: ''{{m|Quick Attack}}''. He may also say this when using {{m|Agility}}.

==Related articles==
* {{Animespecies|Pikachu}}
* {{cat|Episodes focusing on Pikachu}}

==External links==
*[http://pokeani.com/poke/satoshi/r_p-no025.html Pikachu's Profile] on [[Pokeani]] (Japanese)

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{{Ash's Pokémon}} 
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[[Category:Ash's Pokémon|Pikachu]]
[[Category:Anime starter Pokémon|Pikachu, Ash's]]

[[de:Ashs Pikachu]]
[[es:Pikachu de Ash]]
[[fr:Pikachu de Sacha]]
[[ja:サトシのピカチュウ]]
[[pl:Pikachu Asha]]
[[pt:Pikachu de Ash]]