Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon. When it is angered, it immediately discharges the energy stored in the pouches in its cheeks. When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity can build and cause lightning storms.

Overview

Pikachu, the mascot of Pokémon. Known the world over for its cute appearance, Pikachu has been the face of the franchise and has received numerous pieces of support as a result. However none of this translates to competitive viability. Yes, Light Ball is an insane item, pushing Pikachu’s offenses to some of the highest in Pokémon. And Pikachu definitely has the movepool to abuse it, with wide coverage and a support movepool that ensures Raichu has seen VGC success.

What holds Pikachu back is its horrid base stats. Base 35 HP is dire, being the same as Dugtrio who looks like an immoveable wall compared to Pikachu thanks to Pikachu having 30 Defense and 40 Special Defense. Pikachu is easy to KO by all but the most passive of Pokémon and its frailty rends its otherwise decent Base 90 Speed moot. Light Ball is much a shackle as it is a boon, preventing Pikachu from using any other Item that would patch up its defenses or speed and leaving Pikachu setup fodder in the face of any Item disruption. Pikachu’s popularity is potent, but it isn’t fighting fit in any other situation.
Positives
Light Ball is an insane item that would be busted on any other Pokémon and even still rockets Pikachu’s Power to be comparable with that of Groudon and Zekrom.
Pikachu’s has a wide and varied arsenal with amazing Grass and Water coverage to compliment its Electric STAB alongside a toolbox of disruption that can make Pikachu unpredictable.

Negatives
Pikachu can’t take a hit. At all. Pikachu cannot pivot into attacks and must KO its target or be KO’d in turn.
Base 90 Speed is too slow, leaving Pikachu outsped by a huge number of Pokémon that easily OHKO it
Light Ball prevents Pikachu from running any other item and leaves Pikachu with nothing if removed.
Lack of Gigantamax or Z-Move gimmicks has lowered its utility even further

Movesets

Pika Power

-Thunderbolt
-Grass Knot
-Nasty Plot
-Substitute
Ability: Lightning Rod
Item: Light Ball
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe Timid Nature

Pikachu tries to act as a powerful endgame sweeper, annihilating any that gets into its path once setup. Have Pikachu come in on a threat it can outspeed and scare out to setup Substitute to insulate against priority and Status, use Nasty Plot to boost to mind boggling levels of power and try to Sweep. Thunderbolt is reliable STAB, while Grass Knot annihilates most Ground types that try to stop Pikachu’s assault.

Tera Types:
Tera Ice is highly recommended here for an offensive Tera type. Ice and Electric have amazing offensive synergy and Pikachu often struggles with Dragon and Grass types that resist its STAB and common coverage. Tera Fire and Fairy are worth considering if you have teammates that can reliably answer Dragon and Grass types respectively.

EVs and Items:
Max Speed and Special Attack are recommended for as much speed and power as possible as Pikachu is a lost cause when it comes to defense. Light Ball is mandatory as the crux of Pikachu’s niche comes from it.

Partners:
Speed Control in any form is heavily recommended. Pikachu needs to be able to outspeed its targets to apply pressure and if it is slower it can’t do that. Pikachu is far too fast for Trick Room, so Sticky Web users like Masquerain or Tailwind users like Talonflame, Frosmoth, and Oricorio are highly recommended. The fact that most of these users naturally answer Grass types and can pivot into Ground Attacks is great as well. Anything to ease setup for Pikachu makes for a great partner. Orthworm’s Shed Tail gives Pikachu a far more durable Substitute than anything it could make, while Toedscruel, Amoongus and Brute Bonnet’s Spore also open up setup opportunities. Hazard setters like Cacturne, Skuntank, and Sudowoodo are also vital. Pikachu needs to pick up KOs and the chip damage from entry hazards is vital in reaching those numbers.

Other Options:
Surf -Water coverage that hits Camerupt and other lighter weight Ground types hard, but is still resisted by Grass and Dragon types.
Play Rough -Hits Dragon types hard, and the added coverage on Fighting and Dark types is nice, but leaves Pikachu rather unfocused.

Countering Pikachu

Attacking Pikachu. It can’t take a hit -any offensive Pokémon can easily OHKO Pikachu while defensive ones can still usually 2HKO it. Acting passively in front of Pikachu and allowing it to setup is where Pikachu starts getting scary.

Grass and types tend to fare well against Pikachu, resisting both its STAB and common coverage, while Dragons do the same with Special sets. Amoongus, Rotom-Mow and Dragalge stand out, resisting all sets easily, though the others can manage depending on Pikachu’s coverage. Special sets are walled by Appletun, Flapple, and Goodra while physical Pikachu find Leafeon to be an unmoveable wall.

Otherwise, any faster Pokémon, or those with priority work well, able to outspeed and OHKO Pikachu before it even starts.

Anime Appearences