Summary
Ash’s Pikachu from thePokémonanime has done some truly incredible things over the years which have helped to secure its reputation as an absurdly powerful Pokémon. Pikachu has done everything from defeating “gods” to becoming world champion, and these moments are some of the most exciting in the entire series.
Pikachu’s best moments often show the amazing Pokémon’s abilities off, giving fans a good look at Pikachu’s true power. While Pikachu’s power has fluctuated over the years, when at its peak, Pikachu is a threat to even the strongest Pokémon out there. Pikachu has also learned and mastered many new powers over the years, granting him an even greater level of power than what he already possessed. Here are 10 of the best Pikachu moments, where Pikachu proved its power has grown with each moment.
10Pikachu Defeats a Totem Pokémon
Pokémon Sun & Moon, “To Top A Totem”
Totem Pokémon are individuals of a species which are far larger and more powerful than others of that species, found in the Alola region. There, defeating a Totem Pokémon is part of the rite of passage that is the Island Challenge. Ash and Pikachu faced down their first Totem Pokémon, a Totem Gumshoos, in the Verdant Cavern, where the powerful adversary made quick work of Ash’s Rowlet, leaving him with only Pikachu to battle with.Pikachu approached the battle tactically, kicking up a lot of dust to reduce Gumshoos' visibility, turning the Pokémon’s own attack against it.
Pikachu managed to defeat the Totem Gumshoos with a classic Thunderbolt, leaving it dazed, but so impressed that it directly rewarded Ash with a Normalium Z crystal. This is noted as something that almost never happens, proving what an impression Pikachu made.
9Pikachu’s Tears Helped Revive Ash
Pokémon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back
During the course of the firstPokémonmovie, Ash is hit by attacks from Mew and Mewtwo simultaneously, which somehow cause him to turn to stone. Pikachu was understandably freaked out by the situation and began shocking Ash, hoping to wake him back up, but to no avail.Pikachu began crying, as did many of the other Pokémon (and humans) watching the heartbreaking scene unfold. It’s at that point that the Pokémon’s tears begin to flow through the air towards Ash, eventually restoring his body to how it was.
While this wasn’t solely a feat of Pikachu, it was initiated by Pikachu, and Pikachu’s own tears no doubt played a big role in the ultimate revival of Ash Ketchum. The moment is a testament tothe bond between Ash and Pikachu, even at this relatively early point in the overall tale of the pair.
8Pikachu Bested Its Own Evolution
Pokémon: The Beginning, “Electric Shock Showdown”
Pikachu became the first Pokémon in the series (and one of very few overall) to defeat its own evolved form in a battle. In his first battle with Lt. Surge’s Raichu, Ash’s Pikachu was severely beaten and hospitalized, to the point where Ash considered potentially evolving Pikachu in order to stand a chance. Pikachu refused, and wanted to win “on behalf of all Pikachu everywhere,” according to Meowth.Pikachu then returns to battleand uses the one advantage it has over Raichu: its speed.Able to outmaneuver the bigger, slower Pokémon, Pikachu deals some major damage, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory.
Pikachu would go on to replicate the feat again later, defeating a much faster Raichu belonging to a trainer named Sho in theDiamond and Pearlera, although admittedly Pikachu needed a rematch in order to secure that victory.
7Pikachu Defeats Legendary Pokémon Repeatedly
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, “Pace - The Final Frontier!”
Pikachu became the second Pokémon to defeat a Legendary Pokémon on screen when Ash went up against the last Frontier Brain, Brandon, who battled using a Regice. Regice fought cleverly, icing the ground to prevent Pikachu from finding solid footing, but Pikachu manages to hit it with a Thunderbolt and paralyze it.Despite getting frozen solid more than once, Pikachu is able to keep moving and landing attack after attack, and the cumulative effect of all these hits soon begins to weaken Regice. Pikachu lands one final Volt Tackle,knocking out the Legendary Pokémon and securing Ash’s victory.
Pikachu has gone on to make something of a habit of this, defeating Tobias' Latios in a simultaneous knockout, Gladion’s Silvally, and eventually, the Tapu Koko that fought under Professor Kukui’s command. No individual Pokémon has taken down as many Legendaries as Pikachu, especially not without evolving.
6Pikachu Overcomes the Power of Mega Evolution
Pokémon XY, “Showdown at the Shalour Gym!”
Mega Evolution is an incredibly powerful mechanic, capable of increasing the power a Pokémon wields by a massive amount. Pikachu was already at a bit of a disadvantage againstKorrina’s Lucario, but her use of Mega Evolutionwidened the gulf between them considerably, knocking out Ash’s other two Pokémon with ease. Pikachu held strong, able to use Iron Tail to block the Mega Lucario’s powerful Aura Sphere attack.The two counter each other’s moves repeatedly, until finally Pikachu manages to land an unobstructed Thunderbolt, dealing enough damage to knock out Mega Lucario and win the day.
Like with Legendary Pokémon, Pikachu would manage to keep this streak of victory against Mega Evolved Pokémon alive, defeating two Mega Gyarados (one belonging to Lysandre and one to Misty), and Steven’s Mega Metagross.
5Pikachu Mastered Its Ultimate Z-Move
Pokémon Sun & Moon, “From Z to Shining Z!”
Pikachu’s ultimate Z-Move, the 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, was first demonstrated when Ash’s Electrium Z transformed into a Pikashunium Z while in Ultra Space. Unfortunately, it reverted back when Ash left Ultra Space, but would transform again during Ash’s climactic battle with Professor Kukui and Tapu Koko. Ash and Pikachu pull out the 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt against Tapu Koko’s Z-Move, Guardian of Alola.Pikachu was able to overpower even the Legendary Pokémon’s Z-move, leaving a destroyed stadium battlefield behind as Ash celebrated their victory.
Ash’s Z-crystal would remain as a Pikashunium Z from this point forward, as Pikachu had clearly earned the ability to use such a powerful move at will. This would come in incredibly handy in the Masters' Eight Tournament, as he was the only competitor capable of using Z-moves.
4Pikachu is Capable of Gigantamax
Pokémon Journeys, “The Climb to Be the Very Best!”
Z-moves are far from the only mysterious power that Pikachu is adept with. In an early episode ofJourneys,Pikachu is exposed to Dynamax energy, and suddenly grows not only to massive size, but transforms into its Gigantamax form. Pikachu would defeat an attacking Gigantamax Drednaw, and then face Leon down in a Gigantamaxed battle. While Pikachu lost to Leon’s Charizard the first time, Pikachu’s Gigantamax form would end up playing a crucial role in Ash’s eventual rematch with Leon, defeating his Gigantamax Cinderace in the final round of the Masters' Eight tournament.
Pikachu’s Gigantamax form also hints at whyPikachu might be so opposed to evolving; in the games, a Pikachu with the Gigantamax factor is actually incapable of evolving into Raichu unless the factor is removed.
3Pikachu Stopped a Human/Pokémon Fusion
Pokémon Sun & Moon, “10,000,000 Reasons to Fight!”
During a major arc of theSun & Moonanime, a human woman known as Lusamine was taken by the Pokémon Nihilego into Ultra Space, where the two fused into a single being, often referred to by fans as “the mother beast.” Ash worked with Lusamine’s children, Gladion and Lillie, to try to get through to her, but the toxins of Nihilego made that impossible, necessitating a more aggressive means of neutralizing the fused monster.This is when Ash’s Electrium Z transforms into Pikashunium Z for the first time, and Ash and Pikachu initiate the Z-move to take down the fused Lusamine-Nihilego.
Fortunately, Lusamine survived and was able to be separated from the Nihilego, allowing the group to leave Ultra Space at last. While the whole ordeal served to prove how dangerous Ultra Beasts can be, it also proved that Pikachu’s power is a force to be reckoned with, even in another world.
2Pikachu Won the World Championship
Pokémon Journeys, “Partners in Time!”
Ash and Pikachu not only made it to the top of the World Coronation Series, but found themselves once again battling the “unbeatable” Leon and his Charizard. While it was a long match, the battle eventually came down to Pikachu vs. Charizard, and Pikachu struggled initially, almost fainting before seeing visions of all his friends from over the years supporting him.Pikachu got back up, and both Pokémon launched incredibly powerful attacks which collided in the middle of the arena. It’s revealed that Pikachu managed to withstand the attack, but Charizard was defeated,making Ash and Pikachu world champions.
This is obviously one of Pikachu’s greatest accomplishments, and it’s no exaggeration to say Ash couldn’t have done it without Pikachu. Pikachu was the only unevolved Pokémon in the entire tournament, and yet he managed to come out on top, signifying his great power.
1Pikachu Wielded the Powers of a Legendary
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, “Gaining Groudon”
Pikachu once came in contact with an artifact known as the Blue Orb, which is tied to the Legendary Pokémon Groudon.When Pikachu came into contact with the orb, it was absorbed into his body, causing Pikachu immense pain, but also granting him power on par with a Legendary Pokémon. Pikachu, in this form, is able to channel power from thunderstorms overhead, increasing his strength even further. Pikachu was even able to deflect an attack from Kyogre using its enhanced Thunderbolt, indisputably putting his power at the Legendary-tier.
Of course, Pikachu was eventually separated from the Blue Orb, and the orb itself was destroyed, so Pikachu won’t be experiencing this level of power again. Still, it was unambiguously Pikachu at his most powerful, and stands out as one of Pikachu’s greatest moments in the entirePokémonanime.
Pokémon
Cast
Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
