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 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

Best Builds for Pikachu

Builds
Control
Burst	Stun Support

Control Build

Moveset	Held Items
Electro Ball Thunderbolt	Buddy Barrier Wise Glasses Choice Specs
Battle Item
Eject Button

This is the most effective build to use Pikachu with given its priority to attack and the effective use of its moves that inflict stun. This is also the perfect move combination for Pikachu's Unite Move allowing for a more devastating attacking strategy.

Burst Build

Moveset	Held Items
Electro Ball Volt Tackle	Buddy Barrier Wise Glasses Choice Specs
Battle Item
Eject Button

The Burst Build is a more strategic offensive option as compared to the Control Build. It takes into account a well-timed singular attack to help ease out a congested lane and then escape to avoid damage.

Stun Support Build

Moveset	Held Items
Electro Ball Thunderbolt	Buddy Barrier Exp. Share Choice Specs
Battle Item
Eject Button

A defensive build that focuses on support rather than attack, Pikachu abuses its stun moves in this build while making sure it stays alive to continue providing ample offense and support. Not as viable as the first two, but this can work in teams filled with Attackers and/or Speedsters with Pikachu taking a back seat and letting the others take the kills.

Pikachu Best Items & Moveset

Item	Description
Exp. Share	While the Pokemon has the fewest Exp. Points on the team, it gains (2/3/4) Exp. Points per second. In addition, when a nearby teammate defeats a wild Pokemon, that teammate gains slightly more Exp. Points.
Buddy Barrier	When the Pokemon uses its Unite Move, that Pokemon and the nearby ally Pokemon with the lowest HP are each granted a shield equal to (20/30/40)% of their max HP.
Wise Glasses	Increases Sp Attack by (3/5/7)%.
Choice Specs	Increases the damage of moves by a minimum of (40/50/60) when they hit. The higher the Pokemon's SP. Atk. the more the damage is increased

Held Item Tier List: Best Items to Equip

Exp. Share will add more HP on top of Buddy Barrier. Further, this increases your mobility allowing Pikachu to escape skirmishes or provide support easier. The Buddy Barrier provides a decent amount of HP to offset Pikachu's fragility and would help your teammates survive as needed. Shell Bell's main function is to keep Pikachu's health up whenever necessary. Use your moves often to maximize the effect of this Held Item.

Best Battle Items

Item	Description
Eject Button	Makes your Pokemon move quickly in the specified direction.

Eject Button allows Pikachu to have a quick getaway when things get dicey, it also allows you to catch up to a fleeing low-health enemy.

Best Moveset

Move	Description
Thunderbolt	Summons a powerful blast of lightning after a short charge, damaging and stunning enemy Pokemon in the area. Upgraded: Increases the damage dealt by Thunderbolt.
Electro Ball	Hurls an electric orb, damaging and stunning enemy Pokemon within the area of effect. Deals extra damage based on missing HP of enemy Pokemon. Upgrade: Increases the damage dealt by Electro Ball.

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!

Which Moveset Do You Think is Best For Pikachu?

Let us know why in the comments!

How to Play Pikachu

Pikachu is a glass cannon - easily shattered but deadly when used. You'll want to be playing away from enemies, behind tougher allies (preferably Defenders) and stunning any enemies that get close and escape.

Pikachu has strong stun capability, so use this to hold enemies in place to defeat them in one go.

AoE or Single Target

The choice of Thunder or Electro Ball at Level 4 should be made based on if you need AoE damage for team fights or high damage single target stun. Similarly, at Level 6 the choice of Volt Tackle or Thunderbolt should be made based on crowd control or AoE necessity.

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 Aeos Points as well as help take out Rotom. 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.

Pikachu Combos

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

✘ : Counter | = : Even | ✓ : Advantageous
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.

Close the Gap to Counter Pikachu

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: ★★★★★ ・Spark can be proc'd three times, making it a deadly gap closer. ・Discharge just deals disgusting amount of damage and grants a shield to Zeraora, lowering the chances of being bursted down.
Gengar	Rating: ★★★★ ・Hex can close a gap instantly, leaving Pikachu unable to react. ・ Gengar's UNITE move, Phantom Ambush can be chained with Hex for a Double TP wombo combo.
Machamp	Rating: ★★★ ・Bulk Up grants a CC Debuff, making Machamp imune to stun in the early game. ・Barrage Blow combined with Submission makes Machamp an unstoppable train of anti-crowd control.

Even Matchups

Even matchups for Pikachu are those who can either match its amount in damage or survive its damage burst.

Mexican Stand-off

Pokemon with High Damage and Crowd Control

Pikachu can go toe-to-toe against these Pokemon in an even setting. Whoever gets the jump first, most likely will win the match up as these Pokemon have good damage output.

Halt, Citizen!

Thick Defense and Crowd Control

Pikachu can dish out awful stuns to the enemy but once it gets a taste of its own medicine, the tables get turned. If debuffed, Pikachu can only watch in terror as the enemy team chip away at its health. Thick Defenders also pose a problem as they block the path to the more squishier Pokemon.

Best Matchups for Pikachu

Pokemon with lower damage output in the early game will have no chance since they will have a hard time catching up to you in damage if you stomp them early on. Pokemon with hardly any damage output at all will only be a mild nuisance.

Pokemon	Explanation
Alolan Ninetales	Unless Alolan Ninetales traps Pikachu, it would not have much difficulties with Ninetales given its fragility (even with boosts from Aurora Veil). Add stun into the mix, it almost becomes a free kill.
Eldegoss	Eldegoss has no good damaging move that can counter Pikachu and Pikachu's stun moves will be its doom.
Greninja	A single stun and follow up combos will make quick work of Greninja and offers little counters to Pikachu's moves.

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

Pikachu Ability

Static	The user unleashes electricity when taking damage, stunning nearby opponents. Will not take effect again until 10 sec. cooldown ends.

Move Slot 1 (R)

Thunder Shock (Lv. 1 or 3)	Move Type: Sure Hit Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 5s Total Damage: 481 (Lv. 3)
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: 1115 (Lv. 4) / 2947 (Lv. 15)
Summons a barrage of lightning strikes at the target area, dealing damage to enemy Pokemon. Upgrade: Increases the number of lightning strikes.
Electro Ball (Lv. 4) Upgrade Lv. 11	Move Type: Sure Hit Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 5s Total Damage: 735 (Lv. 4) / 1869 (Lv. 15)
Hurls an electric orb, damaging and stunning enemy Pokemon within the area of effect. Deals extra damage based on missing HP of enemy Pokemon. Upgrade: Increases the damage dealt by Electro Ball.

Move Slot 2 (ZR)

Electroweb (Lv. 1 or 3)	Move Type: Hindrance Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 9s Total Damage: 414 (Lv. 3)
Throws an electric net, stunning the enemy Pokemon.
Thunderbolt (Lv. 6) Upgrade Lv. 13	Move Type: Hindrance Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 8s Total Damage: 683 (Lv. 6) / 1358 (Lv. 15)
Summons a powerful blast of lightning after a short charge, damaging and stunning enemy Pokemon in the area. Upgraded: Increases the damage dealt by Thunderbolt.
Volt Tackle (Lv. 6) Upgrade Lv. 13	Move Type: Hindrance Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 10s Total Damage: 610 (Lv. 6) / 1015 (Lv. 15)
The user engulfs itself with electricity and leaps forward, damaging and knocking up enemy Pokemon hit by the Move. Upgraded: Reduces the cooldown of Volt Tackle.

Unite Moves (ZL)

Thunderstorm (Lv. 9)	Move Type: Area Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 139s Total Damage: 3096 (Lv. 9) / 4388 (Lv. 15)
Summons a lightning all around the user and increases Movement Speed. Any enemies around the user will get struck by lightning.

Pikachu Stats and Evolutions

Pikachu Evolutions

Pikachu This Pokémon does not evolve.

Pikachu Stats

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 Season 1 Battle Pass Reward	Fashionable Style 400
Purple Unite Style 350 / 18	Orange Unite Style 350 / 18
Festival Style

All Pokemon Skins (Holowear)

Pokemon UNITE Related Guides

List of All Pokemon and Builds

Top 5 Master Rank Picks & Win Rate

▼ All data based on Master Rank Top 100

Pokemon	Tier	Most Played	Average Win	Best Lane
Lucario		18%	79%	Bot
Snorlax		15%	79%	Top
Greninja		13%	79%	Jungle
Eldegoss		12%	79%	Bot
Cramorant		10%	79%	Top

Master Rank: Top Ranked Win Rates

Pokemon by Role

All Pokemon Roles
Attackers		All-Rounders		Defenders
Speedsters			Supporters

All Pokemon Guides and Builds

Pokemon Roster
Pikachu	Charizard	Snorlax	Crustle
Greninja	Eldegoss	Talonflame	Lucario
Venusaur	Mr. Mime	Slowbro	Absol
Machamp	Wigglytuff	Alolan Ninetales	Cramorant
Gengar	Garchomp	Cinderace	Zeraora
Gardevoir	Blissey	Blastoise	Mamoswine
Sylveon	-	-	-

Pokemon by Characteristics