Super Smash Bros. Fighters – Pokémon series – 03 Pichu

Debut
In the Pokémon series: Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver (1999)
In the Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Boxing Ring Title: Shockingly Adorable

Theme Song: Pokémon Gold / Pokémon Silver Medley

Pichu, the Tiny Mouse Pokémon. Electric Type. #175 in the Pokédex. As a species, Pichu are rather weak, and not very good at storing electricity due to the pouches on its cheeks being too small. They tend to unintentionally electrocute themselves when using electric moves, or even discharge electricity when amused or startled. When playing with other Pichu, they may accidentally short out electricity with each other and cause a shower of sparks, causing them both to cry. Sometimes Pichu will do this deliberately with one another, which is assumed to be a test of courage. Pichu have an even chance of being either male or female, though unlike it’s older forms, female Pichu lack the “dent” on its tail. Pichu is the baby form of Pikachu, and evolves into Pikachu if it has a high friendship level with its trainer, and can later evolve into Raichu by the use of a Thunderstone.

Back in its debut in Pokémon Gold & Silver, the player couldn’t find one in the wild. Instead, the only way to obtain one was to catch a female Pikachu or Raichu, and a male Pokémon compatible with them (such as another Pikachu or Raichu, or even Ditto) then put them in the Pokémon Day-Care in hopes of obtaining a Pokémon Egg containing Pichu. Pichu wasn’t very strong, but it could learn some moves that its older Pikachu and Raichu forms couldn’t, such as Charm, Sweet Kiss, and Nasty Plot.

In Pokémon Crystal, the player could obtain an Pichu from an Odd Egg which is obtained from the Day-Care Man; however, the Odd Egg also had a chance of containing either Cleffa, Igglybuff, Tyrogue, Smoochum, Elekid and Magby instead.

Pokémon Emerald would give the Pichu line a powerful exclusive move called Volt Tackle! To obtain it, one of its parents - who must be either a Pikachu or Raichu - must be holding the Light Ball. Upon hatching, it'll know this powerful move!

In Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver, a special Pichu called the Spiky-eared Pichu was introduced! If the player had a Pikachu-colored Pichu in their party and visited the Ilex Forest, Spiky-eared Pichu would reveal herself and join the player's party. If taken to Professor Elm, he reveals that she's been traveling through time with the Pokémon Celebi for quite a while. However, this experience has left her unable to evolve into Pikachu. The only other noteworthy thing about her is that her Pokéathlon stats are different compared to other Pichu.

Pichu also shows up in the various spin-off games, such as Pokémon Channel and the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. Its biggest tole was in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, where Ukulele Pichu served as the player's partner. As its name would suggest, it carries a Ukulele, which it can use to help the player capture Pokémon more easily.

In the animated adaption Pokémon the Series, Pichu have made notable appearances starting in the Gold & Silver season. Notable members include the Pichu Bros., who made their debut in the Pikachu short Pikachu & Pichu, which played before the film Pokémon 3: The Movie – Spell of the Unown. The Pichu Bros. consist of two Pichu, Pichu Big (the one with the scruff of hair on his head) and Pichu Little, who live in a city called Big Town where they hang out and play with their various friends. The two happened to meet Ash’s Pikachu one day, resulting in the trio going off on some wacky hijnks throughout the city. The Pichu Bros. would leave on good terms with Pikachu, and would go off to have their own adventure, as shown in the Pokémon Chronicles side-series.

Another notable Pichu would be Spiky-eared Pichu, who debuted in the movie Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life. Unlike her game counterpart, who lived in the present but was taken to various points in time, Spiky-eared Pichu lives in the distant past. In the film, she decides to help Ash’s Pikachu and Dawn’s Piplup get their friends out of jail by helping them search for a key.

An important Pichu character named Pibu would also appear in the ongoing manga series, Pokémon Adventures, debuting in the chapter "Playful Poeygon2." Pibu is the son of Red's Pikachu Pika, and Yellow's Pikachu Chuchu. While he was still inside his egg, Pibu managed to get into the hands of a Pokémon Trainer named Gold, and would later hatch under his care. Despite being a newborn, Pibu had managed to inherit his trainer's kind heart and bravery, as he was willing to help Gold track down the Mystery Man and stop him from obtaining the legendary time traveling Pokémon, Celebi.

In Super Smash Bros., some of Pichu’s electric moves are surprisingly stronger than Pikachu’s, but said electric attacks tend to hurt him due to his inexperience with handling electricity. One has to play carefully to get good results with Pichu!

Special Moves

Neutral Special: Thunderjolt

Pichu fires off an electric ball diagonally downward. Once it hits a surface, it’ll bounce forward in an arc. It’ll wrap around corners and even bounce on the walls, and even the ceiling as long as it’s not jump-throughable!

The move does the most damage up-close, and gets weaker as it bounces along.
This move does minor damage to Pichu.

The name of the move is taken from the original Pikachu Trading Card in the “Pokémon Trading Card Game” (both it’s US and JP names on the card are similar to what the attack is called in Super Smash Bros.) Otherwise, this move is mostly inspired by Pichu’s electric abilities.

Side Special: Skull Bash

Pichu gets in a crouching position before firing forward, head-first. The move can be charged by holding the Special Button. The longer you charge it, the further Pichu flies!

When uncharged, the move is weaker than Pikachu’s, but at full charge, not only is it stronger, it also flings Pichu farther than Pikachu! Too bad it takes much longer to fully charge up. It also slightly damages Pichu regardless if he hits his opponent or not.

Inspired by the move, “Skull Bash” introduced in “Pokémon Red & Blue”. Skull Bash is a Physical Normal-Type Move that has a power of 100 (in Gens 1-5) or 130 (in Gen 6 and on) and is a two-turn attack, the first turn being the Pokémon prepping itself, and the second turn being the attack. Starting in “Pokémon Gold & Silver”, Skull Bash would also boost the user’s defense, though this effect isn’t in Super Smash Bros. The “self-damaging” bit is exclusive to Super Smash Bros.

Pichu is unable to learn Skull Bash in any of the Pokémon games, though it’s evolved form, Pikachu, could learn it back in “Pokémon Red & Blue”.

Up Special: Agility

Pichu stalls for a sec before dashing forward in whatever direction you hold. (upward if nothing is held) Pichu will use the move a second time if you tilt the control stick in a different direction.

The move doesn’t do any damage, but it’s a good move to use to recover back to the stage, or to play mindgames. Though the fact Pichu takes damage from it will probably relegate the move to being solely used for recovery.

Inspired by the move, Agility, introduced in “Pokémon Red & Blue”. Agility is a Psychic Type move that greatly boosts the Pokémon’s speed, which can possibly allow it to outspeed the opponent and attack first. The “self-damaging” thing is exclusive to Super Smash Bros.

Pichu is unable to learn Agility in any of the Pokémon games, though it’s evolved form, Pikachu, can.

Down Special: Thunder

Pichu summons a Thunder Cloud from above him! The Thunder Cloud shoots lighting downward where Pichu is/was standing. Anyone who hits the lighting takes damage and gets flung away, unless they happen to be very close and underneath where the Thunder Cloud spawned, then they will get sent flying downwards towards Pichu! That will be devastating for them, because once/if the lightning hits Pichu, he releases a powerful burst of electric charges, and anyone nearby will get sent flying!

This move greatly damages Pichu if the lightning hits him.

Inspired by the move, Thunder, introduced in “Pokémon Red & Blue”. Thunder is a Special Electric-Type Move with a power of 120 (in Gens 1-5) or 110 (in Gens 5 and on) and is one of the stronger Electric attacks, though it has poor accuracy. (70%, to be exact) Its accuracy would change depending on the weather, though. (always accurate during Rain, 50% accurate during Harsh Sunlight) The “self-damaging” thing is exclusive to Super Smash Bros. Pichu can learn the move by using a TM.

Final Smash: Volt Tackle

Pichu charges himself up with electricity and charges forward! If he hits someone, the camera zooms in to where Pichu is and he begins wildly bouncing around, trapping the opponent and anyone else nearby in the center of his attack! After which Pichu goes to the center of the camera and unleashes a powerful surge of electricity, zapping everyone away from him! The camera returns to normal after this.

This move causes a great deal of damage to Pichu if he hits his opponent.

Inspired by the move, Volt Tackle, introduced in “Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire”. Volt Tackle is a Physical Electric-Type Move with a power of 120, though it causes the user to take recoil damage. Starting in “Pokémon Emerald”, it is the Signature Move of the Pichu-Pikachu-Raichu line. In order for Pichu to learn the move, a female Pikachu or Raichu holding a Light Ball must be put in the Pokémon Daycare with a compatible Pokémon – such as a male Pikachu, Raichu, or a Ditto – and the end result will be that it’s offspring, Pichu, will know the move.

Additional Notes

Despite not being Electric Type moves, Skull Bash and Agility still do damage to Pichu. Why? Good question.

Two notable alternate costumes Pichu has include the Team Aqua Grunt bandanna from Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire, and the Team Skull Grunt beanie from Pokémon Sun & Moon.

Pichu also has a female alt: Spiky-eared Pichu! Considering that Pikachu has two female alts, it’s possible that the alternate costume of Pichu wearing a flower on its left ear is the second female alt, but that’s just speculation.

Pichu’s move, Volt Tackle, is a reference to Pulseman, an unrelated game made by Game Freak, creators of Pokémon. In that game, the protagonist had a special move called “Voltteccer” which surrounded him in an electrical barrier.

Despite sharing a near-identical moveset with Pikachu, he's not considered an Echo Fighter. Why this is, is unknown.