Flying Pikachu

Flying Pikachu in its original appearance as a TCG card

Flying Pikachu (Japanese: そらをとぶピカチュウ Flying Pikachu) is a recurring Pikachu variant, commonly depicted with balloons tied to it. These Pikachu know the move Fly, an event-exclusive move to the Pikachu family.

In the core series games

Pokémon Yellow

A Flying Pikachu can be seen in the intro to Pokémon Yellow.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

A Flying Pikachu can be found in Yellow Forest, an event-only Pokéwalker course. This Pikachu, when caught, can be transferred to either Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver. However, this Pikachu must forget Fly in order to be transferred to Generation V.

PIKACHU ♂

025

Pokéwalker

Flying

Fly

Lv.15

Met at Lv. 15.

-

-

None

-

Ability

Static

Can be obtained in:		D	P	Pt	HG	SS	Activation:	In-game	Event

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!

Partner Pikachu using Floaty Fall in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!

While no Pikachu can learn Fly in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! or Let's Go, Eevee!, in the former game, the player's Partner Pikachu can use the Secret Technique Sky Dash. When using this Technique, the player and their partner ride on a seat lifted by balloons to a town they have been to before, effectively replacing the overworld function Fly used to have.

In addition to the Secret Technique, Partner Pikachu can learn the exclusive move Floaty Fall, likely inspired by Flying Pikachu.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

The Flying-type Tera Jewel is based on a cluster of helium balloons. When paired with Pikachu, this resembles the design of Flying Pikachu. A Flying Tera Type Pikachu that knows Fly was distributed in the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games, complete with artwork of the Pikachu in question.

Events

In addition to the methods mentioned above, Flying Pikachu have often been distributed directly through events. The following is a listing of Flying Pikachu events:

List of events featuring Flying Pikachu

Games	Event	Language/Region	Location	Level	Distribution period
RG B	CoroCoro Flying Pikachu	Japanese	Japan	?	October 1997
RS E FRLG	All Nippon Airways Pikachu	Japanese	Japan	10	December 5 to 25, 2004
RS E FRLG	GW Pikachu	Japanese	Japan	10	April 25 to May 8, 2005
RS E FRLG	Sapporo Pikachu	Japanese	Japan	10	July 1 to August 21, 2005
BW	All Nippon Airways Pikachu	Japanese	Japan	50	July 18 to September 30, 2011
BW	2012 World Championships Pikachu	English	United States	50	August 12, 2012
BW	2012 World Championships Pikachu	French	United States	50	August 12, 2012
BW	2012 World Championships Pikachu	German	United States	50	August 12, 2012
BW	2012 World Championships Pikachu	Italian	United States	50	August 12, 2012
BW	2012 World Championships Pikachu	Japanese	United States	50	August 12, 2012
BW	2012 World Championships Pikachu	Korean	United States	50	August 12, 2012
BW	2012 World Championships Pikachu	Spanish	United States	50	August 12, 2012
ORAS	Pokémon Center Online Pikachu	Japanese region	Online	10	February 16 to August 31, 2016
SM USUM	Pokémon World Festival Pikachu	All	South Korea	10	April 27 to May 7, 2018
SV	Flying Terastal Pikachu	All	Online	5	November 18, 2022 to February 28, 2023

Gallery

Sprites

Sprite from Yellow's intro

Artwork


A Flying Pikachu seen in artwork of Yellow Forest from HeartGold and SoulSilver	Promotional art for Flying Tera Type Pikachu from Scarlet and Violet

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Snap

A nod to the Flying Pikachu can be found in the game's fifth level, the Cave, where it is referred to as Balloon Pikachu. If the Zubat carrying Pikachu is hit with a Pester Ball, it will fly off and Pikachu will fall. However it spawns a group of balloons that carry it to safe ground. Taking a picture while Pikachu is drifting down will earn lots of points.

Pokémon Trading Card Game series

Flying Pikachu is an obtainable card in both Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!. In the first game, the player can obtain a copy by trading a Ditto card with Mr. Ishihara. In the latter game, the player can obtain two copies by trading a Zapdos card and a Clefairy card with Ishihara. The second card is a variant originally released in Japan as a special card through All Nippon Airways in 1998


Sprite from TCG GB	Sprite from TCG GB2	ANA sprite from TCG GB2

Pokémon Dash

Sprite from Pokémon Dash

A Flying Pikachu was featured in Pokémon Dash in special courses.

PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure

The flying Pikachu appeared in PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. By typing in a certain code, a set of balloons are unlocked, which can then be used by Pikachu so he can play Pelipper's Circle Circuit and Salamence's Air Ace.

Region	Code
North America	99930457
PAL	57429445
Japan	80373821

Pokémon Puzzle Challenge

Sprite from Puzzle Challenge

A flying Pikachu can be seen in the opening of Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, along with a Pichu.

Pokémon GO

Flying Pikachu were made available for Pokémon GO on July 3, 2020, as along with the introduction of Fly as a Charge Attack, as part of GO's fourth anniversary GO Fest. It returned for the Pokémon Air Adventures event from May 3, 2022 to May 8, 2022. This Pikachu cannot evolve and can be Shiny. Unlike Surfing Pikachu, Flying Pikachu has a unique appearance in this game, based on its appearance in the TCG. It is possible for this Flying Pikachu to be Shiny.

Further variants of Flying Pikachu appeared in other events. None of these Pikachu can be Shiny.

Flying Pikachu with a 5-shaped balloon was available in Pokémon GO during the Pokémon GO 5th Anniversary event from July 6 to July 15, 2021.
Flying Pikachu with yellow-orange balloons was available in Pokémon GO during the Pokémon Air Adventures event in Okinawa Prefecture from May 3 to May 8, 2022.
Flying Pikachu with green balloons was available in Pokémon GO during the Pokémon Air Adventures event in Taipei from October 14 to October 23, 2022.
Flying Pikachu with purple balloons was available in Pokémon GO during the Pokémon Air Adventures event in Singapore from November 11 to November 20, 2022.


Models from Pokémon GO

5-shaped balloon model from Pokémon GO	Okinawa balloons model from Pokémon GO	Green balloons model from Pokémon GO	Purple balloons model from Pokémon GO

In animation

Captain Pikachu using Rising Volt Tackle in Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Friede's Captain Pikachu is referred to as a Flying Pikachu. While lacking the balloons usually associated with Flying Pikachu, he is able to use Volt Tackle to create a vortex that allows him to rise up high into the air, where flapping his tail will enable him to float momentarily. This Pikachu originally lived in Paldea before being introduced to Friede by Lucca.

In the manga

Flying Pikachu in Pokémon Adventures

Scarlet's Terastallized Pikachu that resmeble a Flying Pikachu

Pokémon Adventures

Gold, Silver & Crystal arc

In The Last Battle VII, Chuchu flew with Pika and their Egg, lifting them in the air by using balloons wrapped to her body.

Scarlet & Violet arc

In PASV01, Scarlet Terastallized her Pikachu into a Flying type, which resembles a Flying Pikachu.

In the TCG

Flying Pikachu originated from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The first card it was printed on was a Wizards Black Star Promo card. They have an original Pokédex entry which reads, "By learning how to fly, Pikachu overcame its weakness to Fighting Pokémon." Befitting that, these cards have a Resistance to Fighting, rather than the Weakness to Fighting that most Pikachu cards have. They also do not have a Weakness at all. Since they are known for flying, they all have the attack Fly. Since these cards are not named "Pikachu", they usually cannot evolve into Raichu.

Celebrations introduced Flying Pikachu V and Flying Pikachu VMAX. Flying Pikachu V can evolve into Flying Pikachu VMAX. These cards keep the Fighting Resistance, but instead have a Lightning Weakness. While Flying Pikachu V still has Fly, the VMAX card instead has Max Balloon, which prevents it from taking damage from Basic Pokémon on the following turn. Both cards also benefit from having no Retreat Cost.

Flying Pikachu VMAX depicts a Dynamax Flying Pikachu, which is held aloft by substantially more balloons than normal. This is distinctly unlike how Dynamax is depicted in other media, where the shape of the Pokémon does not change.

The following are cards named Flying Pikachu, or variations of such.

Flying Pikachu VMAX, which shows a Dynamax Flying Pikachu

Flying Pikachu Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	Mark	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Flying Pikachu			Wizards Black Star Promos		25	Unnumbered Promotional cards
						Unnumbered Promotional cards
			Rising Rivals		113/111	Bonds to the End of Time		090/090
Flying Pikachu						Unnumbered Promotional cards
Flying Pikachu			Evolutions		110/108	XY-P Promotional cards		292/XY-P
Flying Pikachu
Card	Type	Mark	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Flying Pikachu			Celebrations		006/025	25th Anniversary Collection		023/127
Flying Pikachu
Card	Type	Mark	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Flying Pikachu			Celebrations		007/025	25th Anniversary Collection		024/127