How to Get Pikachu in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

A brand new Pokemon game means tons of brand new Pokemon to catch, and the region of Paldea in Scarlet and Violet is definitely full of potential new additions for your roster. Though, if you’re like me, you’re probably wondering if any older, familiar friends from Generation 1 made the cut. Good news – they did, and of the ones you’ll find in Paldea, there’s quite possibly none more recognizable than Pikachu. They’re practically the mascot of the entire franchise, so how could you resist? Here’s how to get Pikachu in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

How to Get Pikachu in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokemon, but you probably already knew that. What you may not know is that, although a rare spawn, Pikachu can be caught pretty early on in Scarlet and Violet.

The earliest location you can catch Pikachu at is just west of Los Platos. If you check the map above, you’ll notice that we caught one in the northwestern area.

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Other areas you may find Pikachu include South Province (Area Two), near the olive fields outside of Cortondo. You’ll also see them outside of Cascarrafa, just right of the Asado Desert.

Pikachu Evolutions in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

If you’re having trouble finding Pikachu, you can always catch a Pichu and evolve them. Pichu is located outside of Los Platos and in South Province (Area Three). Once caught, you can evolve them into Pikachu after reaching a high enough friendship level by using the Picnic feature.

Wanna take it a step further? Once your Pikachu is strong enough, you can evolve them even further into Raichu by using a Thunder Stone. Raichu is the final stage of evolution for the Pichu/Pikachu line.

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For more information on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, check out our other guides here at Prima Games, like How to Get Charizard.