Pikachu — Abilities, Weaknesses & Best Builds
"Pikachu is a balanced attacker built around physical attacks (55 Attack). It can trade hits at a competitive speed tier, and it's commonly used because its electric typing only has 1 weakness, which makes it forgiving to switch in."
✅ Strong against
Resisted or immune to these attack types
⚠️ Watch out for
These attack types deal extra damage
How to actually play it
- 1
Open Pikachu into a favorable type matchup using its electric STAB.
- 2
Pick the move that does the most damage to the most likely switch-in, not just the current Pokémon.
- 3
Pivot out once the opponent brings in a counter — don't get walled and lose a turn.
What new players get wrong
- ✕
Forgetting which attacks Pikachu actually resists and burning a switch on a neutral hit.
- ✕
Expecting it to OHKO things — its job is usually role compression, not raw damage.
Why we rate Pikachu the way we do
- Frail — one wrong switch can lose it
- Low damage output — has to play perfectly
Base Stats
Total: 320Use EVs to amplify the highest two — that's usually where this Pokémon's job lives.
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| Move | Type | Cat | Pwr | Acc | PP | How |
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Where Pikachu shows up
#156
Usage ~1.38% · Win rate ~51.1%
#181
Usage ~1.2% · Win rate ~50.48%
Pikachu FAQ
- What are Pikachu's abilities in Pokémon Champions?
- Pikachu can run static, lightning-rod. The competitive default is usually static — see the abilities section above for the trade-offs.
- What is Pikachu weak to in Pokémon Champions?
- Pikachu takes extra damage from ground. The full weakness breakdown is in the Weaknesses section, including any 4× type matchups.
- What is the best moveset for Pikachu?
- The best moveset for Pikachu depends on whether you're running it in Singles or Doubles. The Best Moveset section above lists the standard competitive set used at the top of the Pokémon Champions ladder.
- What counters Pikachu in Pokémon Champions?
- The most reliable counters to Pikachu are Pokémon with strong ground attacks that outspeed it. See the Best Counters section for specific picks.
- Is Pikachu good in the current Pokémon Champions meta?
- Pikachu's usage and win rate in M-B Singles and Doubles are shown in the Format Snapshot section. Cross-reference with the Champions Lab tier list for full context.