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Are you searching for Pikachu in Pokemon Legends: Z-A? Trust me, I get it. After spending countless hours exploring every corner of Lumiose City, I’ve discovered the absolute best spots to find everyone’s favorite Electric Mouse Pokemon. Unlike previous games where you’d have to grind for hours or navigate complex evolution requirements, catching Pikachu in Z-A is surprisingly straightforward once you know where to look.
I’m going to walk you through everything I’ve learned about finding, catching, and even evolving Pikachu in this incredible new Pokemon adventure. Whether you’re hunting for a regular Pikachu or hoping to stumble upon a rare Alpha variant, this guide has you covered.
| Quick Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Location | Wild Zone 3 (Southeast quadrant) |
| Secondary Method | Evolve Pichu from Wild Zone 1 |
| Level Range | 6-8 (regular), 41+ (Alpha) |
| Best Time | Day or Night |
| Evolution | Thunder Stone → Raichu |
Let me start with the most important question: where exactly can you find Pikachu? After testing multiple locations and spending hours in different Wild Zones, I’ve pinpointed the most reliable spot.
The easiest and fastest way to get Pikachu is by heading to Wild Zone 3 in the northern part of Lumiose City. This location becomes accessible fairly early in the game, specifically during “The City in the Shadow of Prism Tower” mission when you’re heading to Emma’s agency.
Here’s what makes Wild Zone 3 so perfect for Pikachu hunting:
Multiple Spawns: Unlike some rare Pokemon that have single spawn points, Wild Zone 3 typically has two or more Pikachu spawning in each quadrant. This significantly increases your chances of encountering one.
Southeast Quadrant Hotspot: I’ve had the most consistent success finding Pikachu in the southeastern quarter of Wild Zone 3. If you enter the park and head toward the southeast area, you’ll usually spot at least one Pikachu within a few minutes.
Diverse Pokemon Population: The zone is home to various Pokemon including Litleo, Skiddo, Flabebe, Espurr, and of course, Pikachu. This diversity makes it a great spot for general Pokemon collection.
Time-Independent Spawns: Unlike some Pokemon that only appear during specific times, Pikachu spawns in Wild Zone 3 during both day and night. You can hunt for it whenever it’s convenient for you.
Finding Wild Zone 3 is pretty straightforward once you know where to look. The area is located on Rouge Street, north of the city center. When you check your map, look for the northern section of Lumiose City, and you’ll see Wild Zone 3 clearly marked.
From the city center, head north until you reach the park entrance. Once inside, make your way to the southeastern section, and keep your eyes peeled for that yellow Electric Mouse running around the garden area.
Now that you know where to find Pikachu, let me share my proven catching strategy that’s worked for me dozens of times.
Here’s something I learned the hard way: sneaking up on Pikachu rarely works. These little guys are pretty alert, and they’ll spot you before you can get close enough for a surprise catch. Instead, I recommend the battle approach:
Bring Healing Items: Make sure you’re stocked up on Potions and Revives. While Pikachu isn’t particularly difficult to battle, you don’t want to lose a Pokemon during the encounter.
Save Before Big Attempts: If you’re hunting for a specific nature or want to ensure success, save your game before engaging the Pikachu. This way, you can soft reset if things don’t go your way.
Multiple Attempts: Remember, there are usually multiple Pikachu spawning in Wild Zone 3. If you fail to catch one, just look for another spawn in the area.
If you’re early in the game and haven’t reached Wild Zone 3 yet, or if you just prefer a different approach, you can obtain Pikachu by evolving a Pichu. I actually tried this method first before discovering the Wild Zone 3 location.
Pichu spawns in Wild Zone 1, which you’ll encounter much earlier in your adventure. Here’s the interesting part: you’ll likely spot Pichu near the western gate by a pond, but there might be rocks blocking your direct path.
The Secret Route: Instead of trying to clear the rocks, I discovered a much easier approach. Exit Wild Zone 1 through the western exit, then circle around to enter through the northwestern entrance. This puts you right behind Pichu without needing to remove any obstacles.
Stealth is Key: Pichu is incredibly skittish and will run away the moment it spots you. Stay hidden in the grass and approach slowly. Use your stealth mechanics carefully, and throw a Poke Ball when you’re close enough.
Once you’ve caught Pichu, the evolution process is straightforward but requires patience. Pichu evolves into Pikachu through friendship, not by reaching a specific level.
Raising Friendship Levels:
I managed to evolve my Pichu into Pikachu at level 20, though the exact level can vary depending on how quickly you raise its friendship. Unfortunately, there’s no visible friendship meter in the game (at least not that I’ve found), so you’ll need to rely on general indicators.
When Pichu is ready to evolve, you’ll see an arrow icon next to its portrait in your party menu. Simply select it and choose the “let it evolve” option, and you’ll have your Pikachu.
If you’re an experienced trainer looking for something more challenging, Alpha Pikachu spawns are absolutely worth pursuing. These larger, more aggressive variants are significantly stronger than regular Pikachu, but they make impressive additions to any collection.
I found my Alpha Pikachu in Wild Zone 6, specifically on the rooftop of the northernmost building. This wasn’t a random encounter – Alpha Pokemon have specific spawn points, and this rooftop seems to be a consistent location for Alpha Pikachu.
Key Characteristics of Alpha Pikachu:
Catching an Alpha requires more preparation than catching a regular Pikachu:
Now that you’ve caught your Pikachu (or you’re planning to), let me break down what makes this Pokemon special and how you can maximize its potential.
Type: Electric
Evolution Line: Pichu → Pikachu → Raichu
Notable Moves:
Beyond nostalgia (and let’s be real, that’s a big factor), Pikachu is actually a solid Electric-type choice for your team, especially in the early-to-mid game:
Speed: Pikachu has excellent speed stats, often moving first in battles Special Attack: Its special attack stat is respectable, making moves like Thunderbolt hit hard Versatility: Pikachu learns a diverse movepool beyond just Electric-type attacks Evolution Potential: With a Thunder Stone, Pikachu evolves into the much stronger Raichu
Once you’re ready to take Pikachu to the next level (literally), you’ll need a Thunder Stone. Here’s how to get one and complete the evolution:
Finding the Thunder Stone:
The Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue is your one-stop shop for evolution stones. The store is located on the southern side of Lumiose City, specifically northwest of Wild Zone 1 and a bit west of Hotel Z.
Cost: A Thunder Stone costs 3,000 Pokedollars. This might seem steep early in the game, but by the time you’re ready to evolve Pikachu, you should have accumulated enough money through battles and quest rewards.
Alternative Method: There’s also a chance to find Thunder Stones as random items in Poke Ball pickups scattered around Lumiose City. I’ve found a couple this way, though it’s much less reliable than just buying one from the Stone Emporium.
Using the Thunder Stone:
Here’s something exciting for the future: Raichu is getting not one, but two new Mega Evolutions in the upcoming Mega Dimension DLC. While Mega Evolution isn’t available at launch, it’s definitely worth holding onto your Raichu for when the DLC drops. The ability to Mega Evolve with Raichunite X and Raichunite Y will make Raichu an absolute powerhouse.
During my adventures, I discovered an interesting side quest that involves catching a Pikachu. There’s an NPC who will request a Pikachu, and completing this quest rewards you with a Heracross and other valuable items.
The quest is called “A Use for an Evolution Stone,” and it’s actually one of the more rewarding side missions I’ve completed.
How It Works:
Rewards Include:
Pro Tip: You don’t have to sacrifice your main Pikachu for this quest. Since multiple Pikachu spawn in Wild Zone 3, just catch an extra one specifically for the quest. This way, you can keep your favorite Pikachu and still complete the mission.
After helping dozens of friends catch their own Pikachu, I’ve noticed some recurring mistakes that make the process harder than it needs to be. Here’s what to avoid:
I wasted at least an hour trying to catch Pikachu through stealth before realizing it just doesn’t work well. These Pokemon have excellent awareness, and they’ll spot you before you can get in range for a catch. Just engage them in battle – it’s faster and more reliable.
Nothing’s worse than finally encountering a Pikachu (or worse, an Alpha Pikachu) and running out of Poke Balls mid-catch. Always stock up before heading to Wild Zone 3. I recommend bringing at least 20 Poke Balls or 10 Great Balls for a hunting session.
The southeast quadrant is where you’ll find the most consistent Pikachu spawns. Don’t waste time exploring the entire park randomly. Head directly to the southeastern area, and you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration.
Some players get so focused on finding Pikachu directly that they miss the Pichu option entirely. If you’re early in the game, catching and evolving Pichu might actually be faster than waiting to unlock Wild Zone 3.
When battling Pikachu to weaken it for capture, avoid using Electric-type attacks. Electric types resist Electric moves, so you’ll do minimal damage. Instead, use Ground-type moves (which are super effective) or neutral types to control the damage output.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, here are some advanced techniques I’ve developed for more efficient Pikachu hunting:
If you’re after a Shiny Pikachu (and who isn’t?), Wild Zone 3’s multiple spawn points make it an excellent shiny hunting location.
My Shiny Hunting Routine:
The multiple spawns mean you’re checking several Pikachu per cycle, which significantly improves your odds compared to single-spawn Pokemon.
Want to quickly level up your newly caught Pikachu? Here’s my efficient method:
Exp. Candy Strategy:
Battle Training Route:
For competitive players, Pikachu’s nature matters for optimizing its stats. Since Wild Zone 3 has multiple spawns, you can check several Pikachu in a single visit to find the perfect nature.
Best Natures for Pikachu:
Catch multiple Pikachu and check their natures until you find the one that matches your intended battle strategy.
I’ve experimented with Pikachu in various team compositions, and here’s what I’ve learned about integrating this Electric-type into your squad:
Pikachu excels in the early game as one of your primary special attackers. Its Thunder Shock move is available from the start and provides reliable Electric-type coverage. Pair Pikachu with:
Water Types: Create a strong offensive core that covers each other’s weaknesses Flying Types: Forms the classic Electric/Flying combination that dominated many battles Grass Types: Another Pokemon that benefits from Electric-type support
As you progress, consider whether to evolve Pikachu into Raichu or keep it as is (some players prefer Pikachu for sentimental reasons, which I totally understand). At this stage:
Expand Pikachu’s Movepool: Teach it TMs to add coverage moves Focus on Speed: Use Pikachu as your team’s scout – send it out first to strike quickly Item Consideration: Light Ball items (if available in Z-A) can significantly boost Pikachu’s stats
By late game, Raichu typically outclasses Pikachu statistically, unless you’re running a specific Light Ball strategy. However, if you’re keeping Pikachu for its upcoming Mega Raichu evolution:
Prepare for DLC: Keep Pikachu well-trained and ready to evolve when Mega Evolution becomes available Competitive Build: Focus on maximizing its Special Attack and Speed stats Move Optimization: Ensure it has the best possible moveset for its role
The fastest way to get Pikachu early is by catching and evolving Pichu from Wild Zone 1. Pichu becomes available very early in the game, and you can evolve it into Pikachu by raising its friendship level through regular gameplay, battling, and keeping it in your party. Most players report evolving Pichu into Pikachu around level 20.
For regular Pikachu in Wild Zone 3 (levels 6-8), Great Balls offer the best balance of catch rate and cost. Regular Poke Balls work too, but you might need 3-5 attempts. For Alpha Pikachu (level 41+), I strongly recommend Ultra Balls to avoid wasting time and resources on repeated failed captures.
Wild Zone 3 is the primary and most reliable location for finding wild Pikachu spawns. However, I did encounter an Alpha Pikachu in Wild Zone 6 on the rooftop of the northernmost building. Additionally, you can obtain Pikachu by evolving Pichu from Wild Zone 1, giving you two distinct methods for adding this Pokemon to your collection.
Evolving Pikachu into Raichu requires a Thunder Stone, which can be purchased from the Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue for 3,000 Pokedollars. The shop is located northwest of Wild Zone 1 and west of Hotel Z. Once you have the Thunder Stone, open your bag, go to “Other Items,” select the Thunder Stone, and use it on Pikachu to trigger the evolution.
Pikachu in Wild Zone 3 typically spawns at levels 6 to 8, making them easy targets for early-game capture. These low-level Pikachu are perfect for players who want to add this iconic Pokemon to their team without needing an advanced squad. The Alpha Pikachu variant in Wild Zone 6, however, spawns at level 41 and requires a much stronger team to catch successfully.
Alpha Pikachu has several advantages over regular Pikachu, including higher base stats, larger size, and a higher starting level (41 compared to 6-8). However, Alpha Pokemon are also more aggressive and harder to catch, requiring Ultra Balls and a strong team. For casual gameplay, a regular Pikachu is perfectly viable. For competitive battling or collection purposes, Alpha Pikachu offers better long-term stats.
Yes, Pikachu can learn various moves beyond its Electric-type arsenal through TMs and level-up moves. While its signature moves like Thunderbolt and Thunder Shock are Electric-type, Pikachu can learn Normal-type moves like Quick Attack and Slam, as well as other coverage moves depending on the TMs available in Pokemon Legends Z-A. This versatility makes Pikachu more useful than a pure Electric-type specialist.
Yes, Pichu evolves into Pikachu based on friendship level, not experience level. While there’s no visible friendship meter in Pokemon Legends Z-A, you can raise friendship by keeping Pichu in your active party, using it in battles, feeding it items, and preventing it from fainting. Most players report evolution occurring around level 20, though the actual trigger is the hidden friendship threshold, not the level itself.
After all my hours exploring Lumiose City and hunting down every Pikachu variant I could find, I can confidently say that adding this iconic Pokemon to your team is one of the most satisfying experiences in Pokemon Legends Z-A. Whether you’re catching your first Pikachu in Wild Zone 3, grinding for that perfect Shiny variant, or hunting down the impressive Alpha Pikachu on a rooftop in Wild Zone 6, each method offers its own unique adventure.
The beauty of Pokemon Legends Z-A is that it gives you multiple paths to obtain Pikachu. You can take the quick route through Wild Zone 3, enjoy the bonding experience of evolving Pichu, or challenge yourself with an Alpha hunt. Each approach is valid, and they all lead to the same rewarding outcome: one of gaming’s most beloved characters joining your team.
My personal recommendation? If you’re early in the game and want Pikachu as soon as possible, catch a Pichu from Wild Zone 1 and start building that friendship bond. It creates a more personal connection with your Pikachu, and you’ll appreciate it more knowing you raised it from its pre-evolution. However, if you’re past the early game and just want a quick Pikachu for your Pokedex or for the NPC quest, head straight to Wild Zone 3’s southeast quadrant and catch one there.
Don’t forget about that Thunder Stone either. Raichu is a significant power upgrade, and with the Mega Dimension DLC on the horizon promising two new Mega Evolutions for Raichu, you’ll want to have one ready to go. The Stone Emporium’s 3,000 Pokedollar price tag is absolutely worth it.
Remember to bookmark this guide for future reference. I’ve tested every method extensively, explored every location, and refined these strategies through countless hours of gameplay. Whether you’re a completionist trying to catch every variant, a competitive player hunting for the perfect nature, or just a fan who wants their favorite Pokemon on their team, this guide has everything you need to succeed.
Happy hunting, trainer! May your Poke Balls always find their mark, and may your Pikachu be the start of many more incredible catches in Pokemon Legends Z-A. The adventure is just beginning, and Lumiose City has so much more to explore beyond just this electric little friend. But honestly, starting your journey with Pikachu by your side? That’s the perfect way to experience this amazing game.
