Default game sprite of Pikachu
Game sprite

Default game sprite of Pikachu

Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures Inc. / GAME FREAK; sprite distributed through PokéAPI · Copyright — reference image; not freely licensed · Image source

Copyright reference image, not a Creative Commons asset. API availability does not grant a free image licence.

Overview

Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokémon recognized by yellow fur, dark ear tips and a lightning-shaped tail. Its electrical cheek pouches make an ordinary small-mammal silhouette distinctive. The games treat Pikachu as a species with many individuals, while the television anime develops a particular companion whose personality and relationships should not define every member of that species.

Pokémon Yellow and later partner games give selected Pikachu special narrative roles. Evolution, available moves and unusual forms vary by title, and anime resistance to evolution is an individual story choice. The entry therefore distinguishes the game species from its best-known screen representative, with version-specific Pokédex details available through the official catalogue rather than blended into one immutable biology.

Electric-typeCheek pouchesEvolution to Raichu

Species and game attributes

Properties of the species and its default game form. Versions and alternate forms can differ.

Types
Electric
Height
0.4 m
Weight
6 kg
Abilities
Static, Lightning Rod (hidden)
Egg groups
Ground, Fairy
Habitat
Forest
Body shape
Quadruped
Colour
Yellow
Experience growth
Medium
Gender distribution
50% female · 50% male
Hatch duration
10 cycles
Base friendship
70 / 255
Capture parameter
190 / 255
Form references
Pikachu
Species varieties
Pikachu, Pikachu Rock Star, Pikachu Belle, Pikachu Pop Star, Pikachu Phd, Pikachu Libre, Pikachu Cosplay, Pikachu Original Cap, Pikachu Hoenn Cap, Pikachu Sinnoh Cap, Pikachu Unova Cap, Pikachu Kalos Cap, Pikachu Alola Cap, Pikachu Partner Cap, Pikachu Starter, Pikachu World Cap, Pikachu Gmax

Base stats

HP
35
Attack
55
Defense
40
Special Attack
50
Special Defense
50
Speed
90

Base stats are starting parameters, rather than an individual’s calculated battle stats. Capture rate is a game parameter, not a percentage chance; steps per hatch cycle depend on the game.

Species source · Default-form source

Source values and definitions
Egg groups (API names)
Ground, Fairy Game classificationA fictional game-data category; not a real biological classification.Source record
Experience growth category (API name)
Medium Game classificationA fictional game-data category; not a real biological classification.Source record
API habitat category
Forest Game classificationA fictional game-data category; not a real biological classification.Source record
API body-shape category
Quadruped Game classificationA fictional game-data category; not a real biological classification.Source record
API colour category
Yellow Game classificationA fictional game-data category; not a real biological classification.Source record
Gender rate (raw API value)
4 Eighths; -1 = genderlessRaw API rate in eighths for female probability; -1 means genderless in game data.Source record
Hatch counter
10 Game hatch cyclesRaw API cycle count. Steps per cycle depend on game/version; no universal step conversion is supplied.Source record
Base happiness
70 Game friendship parameter (0–255)Initial game value; not a measure of real animal behaviour.Source record
Capture rate
190 Game capture parameter (0–255)A parameter used by game capture mechanics, not a direct percentage probability.Source record
Default-form height (raw)
4 DecimetresFictional default game form; the existing heightM field provides the metres conversion.Source record
Default-form weight (raw)
60 HectogramsFictional default game form; the existing weightKg field provides the kilograms conversion.Source record
Base stat: Hp
35 Game stat pointsDefault-form base stat, not a calculated individual battle stat or biological measurement.Source record
Base stat: Attack
55 Game stat pointsDefault-form base stat, not a calculated individual battle stat or biological measurement.Source record
Base stat: Defense
40 Game stat pointsDefault-form base stat, not a calculated individual battle stat or biological measurement.Source record
Base stat: Special Attack
50 Game stat pointsDefault-form base stat, not a calculated individual battle stat or biological measurement.Source record
Base stat: Special Defense
50 Game stat pointsDefault-form base stat, not a calculated individual battle stat or biological measurement.Source record
Base stat: Speed
90 Game stat pointsDefault-form base stat, not a calculated individual battle stat or biological measurement.Source record
Default Pokémon record: form references
Pikachu Referenced game formsReferences listed by the cached default Pokémon endpoint; detailed form endpoints were not fetched.Source record
Species varieties
Pikachu, Pikachu Rock Star, Pikachu Belle, Pikachu Pop Star, Pikachu Phd, Pikachu Libre, Pikachu Cosplay, Pikachu Original Cap, Pikachu Hoenn Cap, Pikachu Sinnoh Cap, Pikachu Unova Cap, Pikachu Kalos Cap, Pikachu Alola Cap, Pikachu Partner Cap, Pikachu Starter, Pikachu World Cap, Pikachu Gmax Referenced Pokémon varietiesNamed references only; alternate-variety statistics remain outside this record.Source record
01

First appearances & development

Pokémon Red and Green (1996) introduce Pikachu in the original Japanese games. This entry follows the version represented by the primary works listed below, rather than treating the name as a single creature shared by every adaptation. Game species are the baseline; anime personalities, Mega forms and Pokédex text vary by version.

02

Canon & continuity

Primary basis: Pokémon Red and Green (1996); comparison: Pokémon Yellow (1998). The bibliography identifies the relevant fictional treatments, while the linked guide supports identification and context. Exact page references, exhaustive first-appearance research and edition-independent mechanics are outside this profile. Game species are the baseline; anime personalities, Mega forms and Pokédex text vary by version.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Pokémon Red and Green

    Game Freak · 1996

    Original Japanese Game Boy releases and Generation I species.

  2. 02

    Pokémon Yellow

    Game Freak · 1998

    Original Japanese release; Pikachu companion.

Family, evolution & connections

Canonical evolution family

Pokémon “evolution” is a game transformation mechanic, distinct from biological evolution. Selected default conditions are shown; games and forms can differ.

Source: PokéAPI evolution-chain record

Documented · documented inspiration

Squirrels

Atsuko Nishida explains in the official creator interview that her interest in squirrels prompted Pikachu's electricity-storing cheeks. The interview distinguishes this design idea from the later Mouse Pokémon classification. Her account documents a creative association; it does not establish that every squirrel has the same food-storage anatomy she imagined.

Creator Profile: The Creators of Pikachu · University of Michigan: Sciuridae

Encyclopedia background

An additional attributed reference, separate from the editorial profile above.

Read the open encyclopedia overview

Pikachu ( ; Japanese: ピカチュウ, Hepburn: Pikachū) is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise, and the franchise's mascot. First introduced in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue, it was created by Atsuko Nishida at the request of lead designer Ken Sugimori, with the design finalized by Sugimori. Since Pikachu's debut, it has appeared in multiple games including Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as various merchandise. While Pikachu has been primarily voiced in media by Ikue Ōtani, other actors have also voiced the character including Kate Bristol, Ryan Reynolds, Kaiji Tang, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tōru Ōkawa, and Koichi Yamadera.

Classified as an Electric-type Pokémon, Pikachu is a large yellow mouse with a lightning bolt-shaped tail, and red sacs on its cheek which can generate large amounts of electricity. It evolves into Raichu after it is exposed to the Thunder Stone item. A pre-evolution for Pikachu, Pichu, was later added in the sequel titles Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Pikachu is widely considered to be the most popular and well-known Pokémon species, largely due to its appearance in the Pokémon anime television series as the companion of series protagonist Ash Ketchum. Pikachu has been well received by critics, with particular praise given to its cute design, and it has been regarded as an icon of both the Pokémon franchise and Japanese pop culture as a whole.

Text from Wikipedia contributors, “Pikachu”. CC BY-SA 4.0. Extracted introduction; formatting changed. Retrieved 5 October 2026. The source article may have changed since retrieval.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. OfficialPikachu — official franchise guideResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

Game sprite

Default game sprite of Pikachu

Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures Inc. / GAME FREAK; sprite distributed through PokéAPI · Copyright — reference image; not freely licensed · Image source

Copyright reference image, not a Creative Commons asset. API availability does not grant a free image licence.

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