With the recent release of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, many trainers are looking to already build up their Pokedex, adding new entries as well as returning Pokemon from previous generations.
The series’ mascot, Pikachu, is an especially popular Pokemon to add to your team. If you want to bring the cute Electric-type mouse onboard, then keep reading to find out the best methods for obtaining Pikachu in the game!
Poke Portal Mystery Gift
The first method to get Pikachu is by using the Poke Portal’s Mystery Gift system. You can follow the steps below to obtain your special Flying Tera Type Pikachu!
- First, open your Main Menu by clicking the X Button on your controller.
- Scroll down until you reach the ‘Poke Portal.’
- Once you open the Poke Portal, go down to the bottom until you reach ‘Mystery Gift.’
- You will see four options on your screen. Choose ‘Get via Internet.’
- Your Switch system will then begin connecting to the internet and will search for gifts. Then, you should receive a screen labeled ‘Flying Tera Type Pikachu Gift.’
- You will then receive your free Flying Tera Type Pikachu!
This Special Flying Tera Type Pikachu will only be available until February 28, 2023.
Pichu In Los Platos Region
The next method for getting Pikachu is by taking the tried-and-true approach of catching it in the wild. Catching Pichu is a great alternative to the Poke Portal method if you want to go out and catch the Pokemon yourself, as Pichu is available very early in the game and is easy to find. Below, you will find a map and tips to make your search a bit easier.
- To start, Pichu can be found in the regions highlighted in yellow on the map above. It especially seems to appear in the middle regions that are circled in red.
- Pichu can be spotted close to the small lake in the middle field or often nearby to trees. It seems that Pichu is also more active during the daytime, so make sure to change the time by sleeping in your dorm room if it is nighttime.
- Once you have spotted your Pichu, you can either approach it directly or use the ZR Button to throw a Poke Ball at it to startle it and begin a battle.
- In the battle, you will want to dwindle down Pichu’s health to make it easier to catch. You can use a regular Poke Ball on it, as most of the Pichus in this area are low-level.
- If you are successful, you will have caught your first Pichu! This Pokemon will be able to evolve into Pikachu later on in the game.
Pikachu In South, West, & East Province Regions
If you are farther in the game and can reach the other areas, you can find Pikachu in the locations highlighted in yellow on the above map. Keep in mind that Pikachu can be much harder to find than Pichu, so this could possibly take a lot longer than the previous methods. Try to change the time of day or leave the area and come back if you are coming up empty. This will give you more chances to spot Pikachu as the Pokemon in the region will reset.
Also, to make your search easier, you can eat a few different foods to increase your chances of finding Pikachu. In the images above, there are a few examples of items at restaurants you can choose from. The first will give you an ‘Encounter Power’ bonus for Electric-Type Pokemon, meaning you will more likely find Electric-Types in the area you’re searching. There are many other bonuses as well, including ‘Teensy Power’ in the second picture, which increases your chances of finding a small Electric-Type Pokemon.
Trading With Others Online
The last method is a more straightforward approach: trading Pokemon with others online. You can access this by opening up your Poke Portal. There will be two options: ‘Link Trade’ and ‘Surprise Trade.’
Link Trading allows you to trade with nearby and faraway friends. Once you choose ‘Link Trade,’ you will be given two options: ‘Begin Searching’ and ‘Set Link Code.’ Using the above instructions, you will be able to either search for a friend’s nearby Switch system to trade, or you can set a Link Code that you can give to your friend, so they can access trading with you.
The other method of trading is ‘Surprise Trade.’ This method is not recommended if you are searching for a specific Pokemon, however, because you cannot choose the Pokemon you receive from the other player.
