Pikachu Guide: Builds and Best Items | Pokemon UNITE

The best guide on how to play Pikachu in Pokemon UNITE for Nintendo Switch and Mobile. Check here for the best builds, Held and Battle items, movesets, as well as the latest nerfs, buffs, counters, matchups, and more!

Pikachu Latest Buffs and Nerfs (06/20)

June 20 Update

Pikachu Move Changes (June 20)
Stat Change	• HP recovery increased

Pikachu Basic Info

Pikachu
	Tier Rating: Role: Attacker Attack Type: Ranged Damage Type: Special Difficulty: Novice Cost: 6000 / 345
"Pikachu is a Pokémon that excels at attacking opponents from far away with electricity. Sometimes the attacks even leave opposing Pokémon paralyzed!"

Pokemon Unite Tier List

Pikachu Best Lanes

Top	Jungle	Bottom

Tips & Strategies for Every Lane

Pikachu Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
✔︎ Huge Damage Sustain ✔︎ Wide Attack Range ✔︎ AOE Stun for Crowd Control	✖︎ Very Squishy ✖︎ Low AOE Burst ✖︎ No Escape

Best Builds for Pikachu

Builds
Unite Move Build
Balanced Build	Artillery Build
Single Target Build	-

The Best Build for Pikachu is the one with the gold crown!

Unite Move Build

Unite Move Build
Moveset			Held Items
Electro Ball Thunderbolt			Choice Specs Energy Amplifier Buddy Barrier
Battle Item
Eject Button
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Sp. Atk: +39 HP: +450 Cooldown: -4.50% Unite Move Charge Rate: +6%
Recommended Lane
Top Lane		Jungle		Bot Lane

This is a new offensive build centered around Thunderstorm as a response to Pikachu's buff in the 1.3.1.7 Update. Get aggressive once you get Thunderstorm, using it whenever it's available to get kills or securing objectives for your team.

By default, Electro Ball and Thunderbolt are your main moveset. However, you can be flexible with the first move choice, interchanging Electro Ball and Thunder depending on whether your team needs more single-target burst damage or an AoE crowd control. On the other hand, Thunderbolt is the best choice for your second move.

Choice Specs is your default offensive item, having Wise Glasses or Shell Bell as a substitute. Energy Amplifier and Buddy Barrier are your bread-and-butter item combination, providing cooldown reduction, faster recharge rate, durability, and damage increase after casting Thunderstorm.

Eject Button is the best choice for this build, giving you mobility to get aggressive or be defensive. However, if you manuveur well enough, you can equip X Attack instead for more damage.

Balanced Build

Balanced Build
Moveset			Held Items
Electro Ball Thunderbolt			Buddy Barrier Focus Band Choice Specs
Battle Item
Eject Button
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Sp. Atk: +39 Defense: +30 Sp. Def: +30 HP: +450
Recommended Lane
Top Lane		Jungle		Bot Lane

This is a stable build with a balanced offense and defense. Electro Ball and Thunderbolt is you primary moveset, providing both high single-target damage and a reliable crowd-control, respectively.

Choice Specs is your core damage item, increasing your moves' damage output for a decent amount. However, you can equip Wise Glasses as a replacement, whichever has the highest level. Shell Bell is also an alternative, providing you instead with a decent heal and cooldown reductions for your moves, although it does not give a high Sp.Atk. boost compared to the others. Buddy Barrier and Focus Band are your core defensive items, allowing you to survive longer in fights so you can keep casting your moves. You can replace Focus Band with Muscle Band should you want a stronger standard attack, especially early on.

Eject Button is a standard battle item to have, giving you both an offensive and defensive tool. However, if you want more damage, equip X Attack instead.

Artillery Build

Artillery Build
Moveset			Held Items
Thunder Thunderbolt			Choice Specs Wise Glasses Shell Bell
Battle Item
Eject Button
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Sp. Atk: +102 Cooldown: -4.50%
Recommended Lane
Top Lane		Jungle		Bot Lane

This build transforms Pikachu into a long-ranged AoE Sp. Atk. artillery. Your gameplay should be providing AoE damage and stuns from afar via Thunder and Thunderbolt, keeping distance away from the enemy as much as possible.

Choice Specs, Wise Glasses, and Shell Bell are your core items, boosting your moves' damage output. Also, the cooldown reduction from Shell Bell allows you to cast your moves more frequently. Energy Amplifier can be a substitute for one of these items, replacing either Shell Bell or one of the other two items. If you want more cooldown reduction and a faster Unite Move recharge rate, replace either Choice Specs or Wise Glasses. Otherwise, just replace Shell Bell.

Eject Button is a must-have battle item, providing your only escape or repositioning tool when things go awry.

Single Target Build

Single Target Build
Moveset			Held Items
Electro Ball Volt Tackle			Choice Specs Wise Glasses Buddy Barrier
Battle Item
X Attack
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Sp. Atk: +78 HP: +450
Recommended Lane
Top Lane		Jungle		Bot Lane

This is a high-damage single-target build. Since you'll be more of a single-target assassin, your gameplay should be taking out the enemy's squishy Pokemon using Electro Ball and Volt Tackle, particularly Attackers and Speedsters. Taking out the enemy's damage dealers quickly makes it easier for your team to win fights.

Choice Specs and Wise Glasses are your primary damage items, boosting your moves' damage output. Buddy Barrier is your only defensive and teamfight item, providing high bonus HP and decent shields when you cast Thunderstorm.

X Attack is nonnegotiable for this build, amplifying your damage output drastically.

Pikachu Best Items & Moveset

Item	Explanation
Buddy Barrier	Buddy Barrier is a great defensive item for Pikachu, giving some durability to it. It also works well with Pikachu's Unite Move since it has a shorter cooldown compared to most.
Energy Amplifier	Energy Amplifier makes Pikachu's Unite Move recharge much faster that it already is. The increased damage effect is also benefitial to Pikachu's high burst damage moves.
Wise Glasses	Wise Glasses is a reliable damage item for Pikachu, increasing its burst potential.
Shell Bell	Shell Bell's cooldown reduction and healing effects makes Pikachu's moves more valuable and effective. Although it gives less Sp. Atk. stat compared to others, it's a decent item nonetheless.
Choice Specs	Choice Specs functions similarly to Wise Glasses since both give the same flat Sp. Atk. boost, increasing its burst potential.

List of Held Items

Best Battle Items

Item	Explanation
Eject Button	Eject Button provides Pikachu with an escape tool when things get awry and a chase tool to catch enemies.
X Speed	X Speed functions similarly to Eject Button but also gives Pikachu immunity from slows for a duration.

List of Battle Items

Best Moveset

Move	Explanation
Thunderbolt	Thunderbolt is essential for winning team battles since it locks down enemies in an area with a long stun.
Electro Ball	Electro Ball can stun enemies and deal huge damage within an AOE when timed correctly. It's a great assassination tool since it deals more damage the lower the target's HP is.

Thunderbolt is a must have for team battles as it locks down any enemies caught within the AOE with a long stun. Stopping enemies in teamfights is the top priority, if they are stunned they cannot use skills which is a huge advantage for you and your team.

Though not as huge as the Thunderbolt, the Electro Ball can stun enemies within an AOE as well as deal huge damage when timed correctly. The less health your enemy has, the more Electro Ball deals damage. Use this skill to chase down enemies on the run!

Though we chose Electro Ball as the best moveset, Thunder is a close second as the best choice between them depends on your playstyle. A chase-down Pikachu would prefer Electro Ball while a poking Pikachu would prefer Thunder.

Which Moveset Do You Think is Best For Pikachu?

Let us know why in the comments!

Previous Poll Result

How to Play Pikachu

Pair Up with an Ally with High HP

Pikachu is a glass cannon - high damage output, but can easily be shattered so never go alone. You'll want to pair up with tougher allies, preferably Defenders, and stunning any enemies that get close and escape. Doing this will also allow Pikachu to support bulky Pokemon like Snorlax or Slowbro by 0000 their lack of offense.

Chase Down or Poker, AoE or Single Target

The choice of Thunder or Electro Ball at Level 4 should be made based on your playstyle: a chase-down playstyle would prefer Electro Ball while a poking Pikachu would be better off with Thunder.

At Level 6, the choice of Volt Tackle or Thunderbolt should be made based on your need for single target or AoE crowd control respectively.

Disable Opponents with Stun Moves

Pikachu has a strong arsenal of stun moves that also packs a punch. A well-placed Thunderbolt will incapacitate opponents long enough for your allies to bombard them with attacks. So, use this to hold enemies in place to defeat them in one go.

Attack Safely from Range

Since Pikachu's attack range is quite large you can easily kite and poke enemies safely at the edge of the attack range, before stunning them and finishing them off with an Electro Ball or Thunder. Using Battle Items like Eject Button or X Speed can be used as an emergency retreat or X attack to ensure a KO.

Farm Wild Pokemon with Ease

Since Pikachu's moves deal high AoE damage and stun, Pikachu can easily clear the Vespiquen and Combee Camps for XP and points, as well as any opponent unlucky enough to be in the Electro Ball's or Thunder's path. If playing on Bottom lane, Drednaw can even be soloed due to Pikachu's long range and stuns which helps avoid Drednaw's knock up ability.

Save Thunderstorm for Team Fights

Since big team fights typically break out around important map objectives like Rotom, Drednaw and Zapdos, Pikachu's Unite Move Thunderstorm should be saved until then. While the damage is not great, it has a large area of effect and can be used to finish of the enemy team at low health.

Alternatively, Thunderstorm can also be used as an escape mechanism for Pikachu when the need arises. Activiting the unite move will give Pikachu a window of invulnerability to escape, as well as shoot lightning bolts to nearby enemies. No matter the situation, it is best to save the unite move for intense fights.

Utilize Thunderstorm's Low Recharge Rate

Thunderstorm's recharged rate improved drastically thanks to the 1.3.1.7 Update, allowing you to use it more freely and frequently. You can further improve Thunderstorm's recharge rate by equipping Energy Amplifier with the bonus of dealing more damage for a short duration after using it.

Wait for Enemy UNITE Moves to Finish and Cleanup

Though it is tempting to initiate fights with Pikachu's Thunderstorm, it is much better to use it as a clean-up tool.

When used to initiate, enemy teams can easily mitigate the tick damage by stacking shields using Buddy Barrier, which would waste the damage potential of your Thunderstorm.

Cleaning up a depleted enemy team to secure kills would be a better option. On the contrary, if your team lost the clash then you can use Thunderstorm to escape.

Progression and Leveling Guide

Level	Objectives
1 - 3	• Secure as many wild Pokemon as you can to reach level 4 quickly
4 - 9	• Harass your enemies out of the lane once you have Electro Ball or Thunder • Help your team get kills and push lanes once you have Volt Tackle or Thunderbolt • If possible, try to reach level 9 and get Thunderstorm before boss Pokemon spawn • Help your team secure Rotom and/or Drednaw
10+	• Stick with your allies to hunt targets, secure objectives, and push lanes • Use Thunderstorm whenever you can to win teamfights, especially when taking objectives, but make sure it's available when Zapdos spawns • Help your team secure Zapdos by winning a teamfight or forcing enemies to retreat

Pikachu Combos

Multi-Enemy Stun Combo

Multi-Enemy Stun Combo
► ►
Thunderbolt ► Thunder ► Standard Attack
This combo focuses on stunning multiple enemies and dealing AoE tick damage using Thunder. Thunderbolt makes sure that enemies will receive the full tick damage of Thunder. This enables Pikachu to be really efficient during clashes and setup kills for teammates!

Control-Damage Combo

Control-Damage Combo
► ►
Thunderbolt ► Electro Ball ► Thunderstorm
This combo focuses on controlling a group of enemies and using your best AoE moves to deal insane group damage. Use Thunderbolt to keep a group in place and then use Electro Ball to hit them all at once. If they are still within range and your Unite move is fully charged, you can follow that up with Thunderstorm which hopefully clears off the rest of the enemies.

Burst Combo

Burst Combo
► ►
Electro Ball ► Volt Tackle ► Standard Attack
The Burst combo focuses on making sure Pikachu moves away after every attack since Volt Tackle has the benefit of allowing you to move quickly away from the point of impact. Use Electro Ball first to keep your target in place and then use Volt Tackle. Then, begin retreating away while still launching your standard attacks when you can. Once fully recharged, continue with the combo.

Matchups and Counters for Pikachu

Pikachu Matchups

Matchup Notes
Hard Counter	Even Matchup	Easy Matchup
1. The chart is based on our own experience playing Pikachu. 2. Pokemon within each tier are unordered 3. Any Pokemon not shown here are still under investigation.

Hard Counter by Closing the Gap

Pikachu has no escape moves to rely on once its cornered. Closing the distance between you and Pikachu increases your chances of winning a fight. Most likely if you chase a Pikachu, it will either stun you and run or attempt to use its UNITE move as a ditch effort to burst you down. If you survive the fight, punish Pikachu accordingly.

Best Counters

Pokemon	Explanation
Zeraora	Rating: ★★★★★ • Can approach Pikachu quickly using Spark or Volt Switch. • Can burst down Pikachu using Wild Charge or Discharge.
Gengar	Rating: ★★★★ • Can burst Pikachu down quickly with its Sludge Bomb and Hex combo. • Phantom Ambush is great for catching Pikachu off-guard.
Machamp	Rating: ★★★ • Machamp's buffs and immunities make it easy for it to get close to Pikachu and subdue it. • Difficult for Pikachu to escape Machamp's assault due to its movement speed buffs.

Even Matchups for Pikachu

Even matchups are always a matter of skill, luck and timing. Here are some tips to help push Pikachu ahead against other Pokemon on equal footing.

Stand-off

Pokemon with High Damage and Crowd Control
How to Beat
• Draw first blood to come out on top against these Pokemon.

Halt, Citizen!

Thick Defense and Crowd Control
How to Beat
• Be careful against stuns and debuffs. • Approach thick Defenders with caution.

Easy Matchups for Pikachu

Gets Shut Down Once Disabled

Susceptible to Disables
How to Beat
• Subdue these Pokemon with Pikachu's high-damaging and disabling moves.

Little to No Damage Output

Low Damage Output
How to Beat
• Outgun these Pokemon with Pikachu's superior offense.

Best Teammates for Pikachu

Pokemon	Explanation
Zeraora	Good melee support to Zeraora's rushing attack style
	Pikachu on its own is a very volatile character. But, with Zeraora at its side, with its potent rushing and slashing attacks, stunning an opponent will spell its early doom with Pikachu's stunning attacks and Zeraora to finish it off.
Snorlax	Can act as a shield for Pikachu
	Pikachu can use its potent attacks behind Snorlax's block. When Block ends, Pikachu can then switch to defensive mode using its stun attacks while Snorlax becomes the offense, using its slamming moves.
Eldegoss	Offers more survivability for Pikachu
	Pikachu's main problem is its fragility - but with Eldegoss at its side, it can help solve that somewhat, allowing Pikachu to use its attacks more often.

Looking for teammates to synergize with you? Head over to our Friend Request Board to find other trainers to join you in your grind or just to hang out with!

Friend Request Board

Pikachu Moves and Ability

Move Slot 1 (R)

Thunder Shock (Lv. 1 or 3)	Move Type: Sure Hit Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 5s Total Damage: 427 / 519
Fires electricity at a target area, damaging and stunning enemy Pokemon.
Thunder (Lv. 4) Upgrade Lv. 11	Move Type: Area Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 8s Total Damage: 1280 / 3290
Drops wicked thunderbolts, dealing damage to opposing Pokemon in the area of effect. Upgrade: Increases the number of attacks for this move.
Electro Ball (Lv. 4) Upgrade Lv. 11	Move Type: Sure Hit Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 5s Total Damage: 735 / 1869
Hurls an electric orb, dealing damage to opposing Pokemon in the area of effect and leaving them paralyzed for a short time. This move's damage increases the lower the opposing Pokemon's HP is. Upgrade: Increases damage dealth by this move.

Move Slot 2 (ZR)

Electroweb (Lv. 1 or 3)	Move Type: Hindrance Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 9s Total Damage: 368 / 465
Attacks and captures opposing Pokemon using an electric net. leaving them unable to move.
Thunderbolt (Lv. 6) Upgrade Lv. 13	Move Type: Hindrance Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 8s Total Damage: 683 / 1358
Attacks with a strong electric blast, dealing damage to opposing Pokemon in the area of effect and leaving them unable to act. Upgrade: Increases damage dealt by this move.
Volt Tackle (Lv. 6) Upgrade Lv. 13	Move Type: Hindrance Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 10s Total Damage: 945 / 1575
Has the user electrify itself and charge ahead, throwing opposing Pokemon. Upgrade: Reduces this move's cooldown

Unite Moves (ZL)

Thunderstorm (Lv. 9)	Move Type: Area Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 88s Total Damage: 3096 / 4388
Attacks the opposing team's Pokemon near the user with tremendous bolts of lightning.

Standard Attack

Standard Attack	Becomes a boosted attack with every third attack, dealing increased damage. This boosted attack also stuns opposing Pokemon for a short time when it hits.

Ability (Passive)

Static	All Evolution Stages Paralyzes all opponents near the Pokemon for a short time when the Pokemon receives damage. The Ability goes on cooldown after it's triggered.

Pikachu Stats and Evolutions

Pikachu Evolutions

Pikachu This Pokémon does not evolve.

Pikachu Stats

Level	HP	Defense	Special Defense	Attack Damage
1	3292	35	27	134
2	3399	40	31	140
3	3517	45	35	146
4	3646	51	40	153
5	3788	58	45	160
6	3945	65	51	168
7	4117	73	57	177
8	4307	82	64	187
9	4516	92	72	198
10	4747	103	80	210
11	5001	115	89	223
12	5280	128	99	237
13	5588	142	110	253
14	5927	158	122	271
15	6300	175	135	290

Attack Damage is the damage of the Basic Attack as tested against the Training Dummy.

Pikachu In-Game Stat Listings

Offense	Endurance	Mobility	Scoring	Support

Pikachu Skins (Holowear)

Holowear
Hip-hop Style Event: Season 1 Battle Pass	Fashionable Style Zirco Trading: 400
Purple Unite Style Zirco Trading: 350 / 18	Orange Unite Style Zirco Trading: 350 / 18
Festival Style Event: Pre-Registration Campaign Reward	Holiday Style Zirco Trading: 2499
Concert Style Event: Season 4 Battle Pass	Cook Style Zirco Trading: 840

All Pokemon Skins (Holowear)

Pokemon UNITE Related Guides

List of All Pokemon

All Pokemon Guides and Builds

Best Build for Each Pokemon

Pokemon Roster
Absol	Aegislash	Alolan Ninetales	Azumarill
Blastoise	Blissey	Charizard	Cinderace
Cramorant	Crustle	Decidueye	Delphox
Dragonite	Duraludon	Eldegoss	Espeon
Garchomp	Gardevoir	Gengar	Greedent
Greninja	Hoopa	Lucario	Machamp
Mamoswine	Mr. Mime	Pikachu	Slowbro
Snorlax	Sylveon	Talonflame	Trevenant
Tsareena	Venusaur	Wigglytuff	Zeraora
Upcoming Pokemon
No new CONFIRMED Pokemon

Top 5 Master Rank Picks & Win Rate

All data is based on Season 04 Master Rank Top 100. Last Updated: June 14, 2022

Pokemon	Tier	Most Played %	Average Win %
Hoopa		24%	73.4%
Lucario		16%	72.8%
Blissey		12%	80.8%
Greninja		12%	74.8%
Tsareena		4%	71%

Top Picked Pokemon Per Role

Attacker	Supporter	All- Rounder	Defender	Speedster
Greninja	Hoopa	Lucario	Greedent	Talonflame

Master Rank: Top Ranked Win Rates

Pokemon by Role

All Pokemon Roles
Attackers		All-Rounders		Defenders
Speedsters			Supporters

Pokemon by Characteristics

Attack Type
Melee Pokemon	Ranged Pokemon
Physical Pokemon	Special Pokemon
Stat Rankings
HP Ranking	Defense Ranking
Sp. Def. Ranking	Basic Attack Ranking