Summary
Pikachu has defeated Totem, Legendary, and Mega Evolved Pokémon, demonstrating its true power. Pikachu's battles show its tactical prowess, defeating larger or stronger opponents. Pikachu's most memorable feats include stopping a Human/Pokémon fusion and winning the World Championship.
Ash's Pikachu from Pokémon The anime has done some truly amazing things over the years that have cemented its reputation as an absurdly powerful Pokémon. Pikachu has done everything from defeating “gods” to becoming world champion, and these moments are some of the most exciting in the entire series.
Pikachu’s best moments often showcase the Pokémon’s amazing abilities, giving fans a clear view of Pikachu’s true power. While Pikachu’s power has fluctuated over the years, at its peak, Pikachu is a threat to even the most powerful Pokémon out there. Pikachu has also learned and mastered many new powers over the years, giving it even greater power than it already had. Here are Pikachu’s 10 best moments, where Pikachu proves its power has grown with each passing moment.
10 Pikachu defeats a Totem Pokémon
Pokémon Sun & Moon, “To Climb a Totem”
Totem Pokémon are individuals of a species that are much larger and more powerful than others of their species, found in the Alola region. There, defeating a Totem Pokémon is part of the rite of passage into adulthood, known as the Island Challenge. Ash and Pikachu faced their first Totem Pokémon, a Gumshoos Totem, in the Verdant Cavern, where the powerful foe quickly took down Ash's Rowlet, leaving him with only Pikachu to fight. Pikachu approaches the battle tactically, throwing up a lot of dust to reduce Gumshoos' visibility, turning this Pokémon's attacks into attacks against it.
Pikachu defeated Totem Gumshoos with a classic Thunderbolt attack, stunning it, but impressing it so much that it directly rewarded Ash with a Normalium Z Crystal. This is noted to be something that almost never happens, demonstrating how impressive Pikachu made it.
9 Pikachu's Tears Helped Resurrect Ash
Pokémon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back
During the first Pokémon movie, Ash is attacked by Mew and Mewtwo at the same time, which somehow turns him to stone. Pikachu is understandably frightened by the situation and begins shocking Ash, hoping to wake him up, but to no avail. Pikachu began to cry, as did many other Pokémon (and humans) who witnessed this heartbreaking scene.. At that moment, the Pokémon's tears began to flow through the air towards Ash, eventually restoring his body back to its original state.
While this wasn't just Pikachu's feat, it was Pikachu's initiator, and Pikachu's tears certainly played a big part in Ash Ketchum's eventual resurrection, this moment is a testament to the bond between Ash and Pikachu, even at this relatively early point in the pair's overall story.
8 Pikachu That Beat Its Own Evolution
Pokémon: The Beginning, “The Shock War”
Pikachu became the first Pokémon in the series (and one of the very few) to defeat its own evolved form in battle. In his first battle with Lieutenant Surge's Raichu, Ash's Pikachu was beaten so badly that he had to be hospitalized, that Ash considered evolving Pikachu to give himself a chance. Pikachu refused, wanting to win “on behalf of all Pikachu everywhere,” according to Meowth. Pikachu then returned to the battle and used the only advantage it had over Raichu: its speed. Capable of defeating larger and slower Pokémon, Pikachu deals a large amount of damage, eventually gaining a hard-fought victory.
Pikachu later repeated this feat again by defeating Raichu, a much faster dog owned by a trainer named Sho during the Diamond and Pearl era, although Pikachu actually needed a rematch to win.
7 Pikachu defeated legendary Pokémon multiple times
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, “Pace – The Final Frontier!”
Pikachu became the second Pokémon to defeat a Legendary Pokémon on screen when Ash faced off against the final Frontier Brain, Brandon, who fought using Regice. Regice fought smartly, freezing the ground to prevent Pikachu from finding solid footing, but Pikachu hit it with a Thunderbolt attack and paralyzed it. Despite being frozen multiple times, Pikachu was still able to continue moving and attacking continuously, and the cumulative effect of all these attacks soon began to weaken Regice.. Pikachu unleashes a final Volt Tackle, taking down the legendary Pokémon and securing victory for Ash.
Pikachu continued to make a habit of it, defeating Tobias' Latios in a single blow, Gladion's Silvally, and finally Tapu Koko fighting under Professor Kukui's command. No single Pokémon has taken down as many Legendaries as Pikachu, especially without evolving.
6 Pikachu surpass the power of Mega Evolution
Pokémon XY, “Battle at Shalour Gym!”
Mega Evolution is an incredibly powerful mechanic that can greatly increase the power of a Pokémon. Pikachu was at a disadvantage against Korrina's Lucario, but her use of Mega Evolution widened the gap between them significantly, easily taking out Ash's other two Pokémon. Pikachu remained resilient, able to use Iron Tail to block Mega Lucario's powerful Aura Sphere attack. The two continuously counterattacked each other, until Pikachu finally unleashed an unopposed Thunderbolt attack, dealing enough damage to knock out Mega Lucario and win.
Like the Legendary Pokémon, Pikachu managed to maintain his winning streak against Mega Evolved Pokémon by defeating two Mega Gyarados (one belonging to Lysandre and one belonging to Misty) and Steven's Mega Metagross.
5 Pikachu has mastered its Z-Move
Pokémon Sun & Moon, “From Z to Shining Z!”
Pikachu's ultimate Z-Move, 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, was first demonstrated when Ash's Electrium Z transformed into Pikashunium Z while in Ultra Space. Unfortunately, it reverted back to its original form when Ash left Ultra Space, but would transform again during Ash's climactic battle with Professor Kukui and Tapu Koko. Ash and Pikachu unleashed 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt against Tapu Koko, Guardian of Alola's Z-Move. Pikachu was even able to overpower the Legendary Pokémon's Z-move, leaving behind a destroyed stadium battlefield as Ash celebrated their victory..
Ash's Z-crystal will remain Pikashunium Z from this point on, as Pikachu has apparently gained the ability to use such a powerful move at will. This will be extremely useful in the Masters' Eight Tournament, as he is the only opponent capable of using a Z-move.
4 Pikachu with Gigantamax ability
Pokémon Journeys, “The Journey to Be the Best!”
Z-moves aren't the only mysterious powers Pikachu masters. In an early episode of Journeys, Pikachu is exposed to Dynamax energy and suddenly not only grows to a giant size but also transforms into a Gigantamax form. Pikachu would defeat an attacking Gigantamax Drednaw, and then face Leon in a Gigantamaxed battle. While Pikachu lost to Leon's Charizard the first time around, Pikachu's Gigantamax form would eventually play a major role in Ash's eventual rematch with Leon, defeating his Gigantamax Cinderace in the final round of the Masters' Eight tournament.
Pikachu's Gigantamax form also hints at why Pikachu is so resistant to evolution; in the games, a Pikachu with a Gigantamax factor is actually incapable of evolving into Raichu unless the factor is removed.
3 Pikachu Stopped a Human-Pokémon Fusion
Pokémon Sun & Moon, “10,000,000 Reasons to Fight!”
In a major arc of the Sun & Moon anime, a human woman named Lusamine was taken into Ultra Space by the Pokémon Nihilego, where the two merged into a single entity, often referred to by fans as the “mother beast.” Ash teamed up with Lusamine’s children, Gladion and Lillie, to try to reach her, but Nihilego’s toxins made it impossible, requiring stronger measures to neutralize the fused monster. This is when Ash's Electrium Z transforms into Pikashunium Z for the first time, and Ash and Pikachu perform a Z-move to take down the fused Lusamine-Nihilego.
Luckily, Lusamine survived and was able to separate from Nihilego, allowing the group to finally leave Ultra Space. While this entire ordeal proves how dangerous Ultra Beasts can be, it also proves that Pikachu's power is a force to be reckoned with, even in another world.
2 Pikachu won the world championship
Pokémon Journeys, “Companions in Time!”
Not only did Ash and Pikachu make it to the top of the World Coronation Series, but they also found themselves once again battling the “invincible” Leon and his Charizard. Despite being a long battle, the battle eventually came down to Pikachu versus Charizard, and Pikachu struggled at first, almost fainting before seeing the image of all the friends who had supported him over the years. Pikachu stood up and both Pokémon launched powerful attacks and collided into each other in the middle of the arena.. Pikachu withstands the attack, but Charizard is defeated, making Ash and Pikachu world champions.
This is clearly one of Pikachu's greatest achievements, and it's no exaggeration to say that Ash couldn't have done it without Pikachu. Pikachu was the only Pokémon that hadn't evolved throughout the entire tournament, but he still won, showing his immense power.
1 Pikachu possesses the power of a legend
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, “Reaching Groudon”
Pikachu once came into contact with an artifact known as the Blue Orb, which is associated with the legendary Pokémon Groudon. When Pikachu came into contact with the orb, it was absorbed into Pikachu's body, causing Pikachu terrible pain, but also giving it power on par with a legendary Pokémon.. Pikachu, in this form, can channel the energy from the thunderstorms above, increasing its power even further. Pikachu was even able to deflect Kyogre's attack with the enhanced Thunderbolt, undeniably bringing its power to Legendary level.
Of course, Pikachu eventually separated from the Blue Orb, and the orb itself was destroyed, so Pikachu would never experience this level of power again. Still, it was definitely Pikachu at his most powerful, and stands out as one of Pikachu's greatest moments in the entire series. Pokémon cartoon.
