Bulbapedia

Surfing Pikachu

Surfing Pikachu (Japanese: なみのりピカチュウ Surfing Pikachu) is a recurring Pikachu variant, commonly depicted with a surfboard. These Pikachu know the move Surf, which, prior to Generation VIII, have only been given out in special circumstances, such as events.

Surfing Pikachu in its original appearance as a TCG card

In the core series games

Pokémon Yellow

 
Pikachu surfing in Pikachu's Beach

The surfing Pikachu was featured in a minigame exclusive to Pokémon Yellow, called Pikachu's Beach. This can only be activated in the original editions of the games by transferring a surfing Pikachu from other games. In the Virtual Console editions, only the first partner Pikachu is needed. The Surfin' Dude there apparently also has a surfing Pikachu. In addition, using Surf on the overworld with a Surfing Pikachu will show a different overworld sprite.

  • Surfing

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Like before in Pokémon Yellow, using Surf on the overworld with a Surfing Pikachu will show a different overworld sprite. This time, Pikachu has a red surfboard if the player is male, or a blue surfboard if the player is female.

The player may receive a Surf Pikachu doll via Mystery Gift; however, this item is very rare.

  • Surfing (male player)

  • Surf Pikachu doll (Generation II)

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

A Surfing Pikachu can be found in Yellow Forest, an event-only Pokéwalker course. This Pikachu, when caught, can be transferred to either Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver. Like the Battle Revolution Pikachu, this Pikachu must forget Surf in order to be transferred to Generation V.

Pokémon Info Trainer Memo Pokémon Skills
  PIKACHU ♀ Dex No. 025 Pokéwalker Water Surf
Lv.14 Type Met at Lv. 14. Electric Thunderbolt
  Electric Unknown - Electric Thunder Wave
Item - Normal Quick Attack
  None - Ability Static
Its Poké Ball depends on the one used to catch it.
Can be obtained in: D P Pt HG SS Activation: In-game Event
Can be obtained in: R S E FR LG Activation: In-game Event

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, after becoming No. 1 by achieving the high scores on all four Mantine Surf courses, the player can go to the Heahea Branch of the Surf Association to receive a famous Pikachu that knows the special move Surf from the Boss of Surf Association.

Pokémon Info Trainer Memo Pokémon Skills
  Pikachu ♂/♀ Dex No. 025 Heahea City Electric Nuzzle
Lv.40 Type Met at Lv. 40. Electric Discharge
  Electric Unknown - Normal Slam
Item - Water Surf
  Gold Bottle Cap - Ability Static
Its Poké Ball depends on the one used to catch it.
This Pokémon cannot be Shiny.
Can be obtained in: S M US UM

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!

While no Pikachu can learn Surf in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! or Let's Go, Eevee!, in the former game, the player's Partner Pikachu can use the Secret Technique Sea Skim. When using this Technique, the player and their partner surf on a surfboard to travel across water, effectively replacing the overworld function Surf used to have.

In addition to the Secret Technique, Partner Pikachu can learn the exclusive move Splishy Splash, likely inspired by Surfing Pikachu.

Generations VIII and IX

Starting with Pokémon Sword and Shield, Surf is no longer an event-exclusive move for Pikachu, and all members of the Pikachu family, including alternate forms, can learn Surf by TM.

In celebration of Pokémon Day 2023, a Pikachu that knows Surf and has the Water Tera Type was released in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet via the Poké Portal News. This Pikachu had the Mightiest Mark and appeared in 7★ Tera Raid Battles running from February 24 to 27, 2023 at 14:59 UTC.

Events

In addition to the methods mentioned above, Surfing Pikachu have often been distributed directly through events. The following is a listing of Surfing Pikachu events:

List of events featuring Surfing Pikachu

Gallery

Sprites

   
Overworld sprite from Yellow Overworld sprite from Generation II
(male player)

Artwork

 
Artwork of Chase's Partner Pikachu using Sea Skim
from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

In the side series games

 
Pikachu using Surf in Pokémon Stadium

Pokémon Stadium series

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Clarify info on Japanese Stadium 2

Surf can be taught to a Pikachu in either the original Japanese or international release of Pokémon Stadium. In the Japanese Stadium, Surf will be taught to Pikachu if the player clears the Master Ball division of the L1-30 Division with a Pikachu in their party. In the English version, the player is required to the clear the Master Ball division of the Round 2 Prime Cup with all Pokémon selected directly from a Game Pak, not saving the game during the challenge (continues are permitted), and must ensure Pikachu participates in the final battle (the Pikachu can come from any Generation I game). This does not occur in the Japanese version of the game (this game is known as Pokémon Stadium 2 in Japanese). In all Stadium series games, Pikachu has a unique animation where it jumps on a pink surfboard while using the move. In addition, all of Lt. Surge's Pikachu and Raichu in the series use Surf.

Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire

In Pokémon Box Ruby & Sapphire, after 1499 Pokémon are stored the player will receive an Egg with a Pichu that knows ThunderShock, Charm and Surf. This Pichu, of course, can evolve into a Pikachu that knows Surf.

Pokémon Info Trainer Memo Battle Moves Ribbons
  PICHU* ♂/♀ Dex No. 0172 Random nature. Electric ThunderShock None
Lv5 Type Hatched: (Location hatched) Normal Charm
  Electric Unknown at Lv 5. Water Surf
OT (Hatcher's)
(Hatcher's) 		  -- --
ID No. (Hatcher's) There is no limit to this Pokémon's availability.
It may be obtained on any date, beginning from
when it was released.
It was available in all regions.
Item Ability
  None Static
This Pokémon is English in origin.
This Pokémon must forget the move Surf in order to be able to be sent to Pal Park.
This Pokémon was distributed as an Egg. The OT and ID No. of this Pokémon is the same as its hatcher's.
This Pokémon can be Shiny if hatched in a game different from the game it was received in.
Can be obtained with: R S FR LG E
Obtained from: Colo XD Box Chn Distribution

Pokémon Colosseum, XD: Gale of Darkness, and Battle Revolution

Because the models and animations of Generation I and II Pokémon in Pokémon Colosseum, XD: Gale of Darkness, and Battle Revolution are derived from the Stadium series, Pikachu retains the pink surfboard animation from those games.

While no distribution of Surfing Pikachu was made in Colosseum or XD, in Battle Revolution, players could download a Surfing Pikachu onto a Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver game from the shop for free after defeating Pokétopia Master Mysterial for the first time. It can be downloaded by multiple games, but no two Pikachu can be downloaded by a single card. However, the Pikachu cannot be transferred forward to Generation V or later without forgetting Surf.

Pokémon Info Trainer Memo Battle Moves Ribbons
  PIKACHU ♀ Dex No. 0025 Hardy nature. Electric Volt Tackle None
Lv. 10 Type   Water Surf
  Electric Unknown Lovely place Normal Tail Whip
OT PKTOPIA Apparently had a Electric Thunder Wave
ID No. 06257 fateful encounter at There is no limit to this Pokémon's availability.
It may be obtained on any date, beginning from
when it was released.
It was available in all regions.
Item Ability Lv. 10.
  Light Ball Static  
The date this Pokémon was received is determined by the date on the DS when it was obtained from the Poké Mart.
This Pokémon is English in origin.
This Pokémon must forget the move Surf in order to be able to be sent to Poké Transfer.
Can be obtained with: D P Pt HG SS
Obtained from: PBR Ranch Ra SoA GS Distribution

In the spin-off games

 
Taking a snapshot of surfing Pikachu in Snap

Pokémon Snap

A nod to the Surfing Pikachu can be found in the game's first level, the Beach. If the player lures the Pikachu at the start of the stage near a surfboard with Pokémon food, it will hop on the board and pretend to surf, allowing the player to take its picture for bonus points.

Pokémon Trading Card Game series

Surfing Pikachu is an obtainable card in both Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!. In the first game, the player can obtain two copies by trading a Clefable card and a Chansey card with Mr. Ishihara. In the latter game, the player can obtain two copies by trading a Articuno card and a Moltres card with Ishihara. The second copy of each features the Mt. Fuji Surfing Pikachu variant originally released in the TCG through the JR Stamp Rally in September 1997.

       
Sprite from
TCG GB 		Mt. Fuji sprite from
TCG GB 		Sprite from
TCG GB2 		Mt. Fuji sprite from
TCG GB2

Pokémon Channel

A Surfing Pikachu doll can be bought from Shop 'N Squirtle in Pokémon Channel.

PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure

The Surfing Pikachu appeared in PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. By typing in a certain code , a green surfboard is unlocked, which can then be used by Pikachu so he can play Gyarados's Aqua Dash.

Region Code
North America 02970626
PAL 84925064
Japan 78872252

Pokémon GO

Surfing Pikachu were made available for Pokémon GO's first Community Day event. During the event, players could also potentially teach existing Pikachu Surf via Charged TM. Like all special moves, Pikachu will forget Surf it it is transferred to a core series game.

Detective Pikachu

Using the Pika Prompt while near the swimming pool on the S.S. Prime Treasure will reveal Detective Pikachu standing on a surfboard. He then jokingly tells Tim that he's using Surf before falling off.

New Pokémon Snap

A female Pikachu in Blushing Beach can be lured over to a sandbank, where she'll hop on a Stunfisk, and pretend to surf on it. Taking a picture of this is required for the LenTalk Request "Near the Water's Edge". When submitting the photo, Professor Mirror will comment saying that it looks like the Pikachu is practicing surfing. Similarly, in Maricopia Reef, throwing an Illumina Orb at the Crystabloom at the beginning of the course will cause a Mantine to appear with a Pikachu surfing on its back.

Pokémon Quest

A Pikachu that knows Surf could be obtained by purchasing the Mini Expedition Pack.[1] [2] It is no longer available.

One of the decorations that can be purchased for use in the base camp is a Pikachu Surfboard, which is a surfboard patterned after Pikachu.

In the anime

 
Surfing Pikachu in the anime
 
Puka in the anime

Puka is a Pikachu that seems to be based on this, making its only appearance in The Pi-Kahuna.

A surfing Pikachu is mentioned in the full version of Exciting Pokémon Relay.

Ash's Pikachu later appeared riding a surfboard in The Mystery Menace and Expedition to Onix Island!.

In Battling the Beast Within!, Ash can be seen wearing a T-shirt with the Surfing Pikachu from the TCG card on it.

In the manga

 
Pika using Surf in Pokémon Adventures
 
Yellow's surfing Pikachu in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Pokémon Adventures

Yellow arc

Yellow was able to teach Red's Pikachu, Pika, the move Surf by having him mold his Substitute into a surfboard.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters series

In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, one of Red's rivals, Yellow, has a Pikachu with surfing skills. In The Fake Pikachu!!, he uses it in battle against Red's Pikachu.

In the TCG

Surfing Pikachu originated from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The first card it was printed on was a Wizards Black Star Promo card. They have an original Pokédex entry which reads, "One summer, a group of Pikachu was found riding the waves at the local beach." All Surfing Pikachu have the attack Surf, which notably has an cost that includes Water Energy. Since these cards are not named "Pikachu", Raichu cards usually cannot evolve from them.

Celebrations introduced Surfing Pikachu V and Surfing Pikachu VMAX. Surfing Pikachu V can evolve into Surfing Pikachu VMAX. While Surfing Pikachu V still has Surf, the VMAX card instead has Max Surfer. Max Surfer keeps the theme of having Water Energy in its cost.

Surfing Pikachu VMAX depicts a Dynamax Surfing Pikachu. It appears that Surfing Pikachu's surfboard does not get any larger when the Surfing Pikachu itself Dynamaxes. This is distinctly unlike how Dynamax is depicted in other media, where the shape of the Pokémon does not change, and contrasts with Flying Pikachu VMAX, which has its balloons change when it Dynamaxes. This may be just for comedic effect.

 
Surfing Pikachu VMAX, which shows a Dynamax Surfing Pikachu

The following are cards named Surfing Pikachu, or a variation of such.

Surfing Pikachu
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type Mark English
Expansion 		Rarity # Japanese
Expansion 		Rarity #
Surfing Pikachu   Wizards Black Star Promos     28 Unnumbered Promotional cards      
        Unnumbered Promotional cards      
        Pokémon Web     025/048
Rising Rivals     114/111 Bonds to the End of Time     089/090
Evolutions     111/108 XY-P Promotional cards     264/XY-P
Surfing Pikachu 
Card Type Mark English
Expansion 		Rarity # Japanese
Expansion 		Rarity #
Surfing Pikachu      Celebrations     008/025 25th Anniversary Collection     021/127
Surfing Pikachu 
Card Type Mark English
Expansion 		Rarity # Japanese
Expansion 		Rarity #
Surfing Pikachu      Celebrations     009/025 25th Anniversary Collection     022/127


Merchandise

20th Anniversary Special Pack: M Slowbro-EX + Surfing Pikachu

The 20th Anniversary Special Pack: M Slowbro-EX + Surfing Pikachu (Japanese: 20th Anniversary スペシャルパック「メガヤドランEX＋なみのりピカチュウ」 20th Anniversary Special Pack: MYadoranEX + Surfing Pikachu) was released on the same day as the Expansion Pack 20th Anniversary subset, September 16, 2016, in the buildup to the 20th Anniversary of the Japanese TCG. The pack features the Hermit Crab Pokémon Slowbro in both its regular and Mega Evolved forms as Pokémon-EX cards, its Spirit Link Item card, and a re-imagined version of the Surfing Pikachu promotional card originally released in 1997. All cards feature a layout reminiscent of those from the Original Era. The special pack also comes with 3 Expansion Pack 20th Anniversary booster packs.

Promotional cards:

Product image:

 
20th Anniversary Special Pack:
M Slowbro-EX + Surfing Pikachu
 
The Sneak-Peek Tins
 
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In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 会冲浪的皮卡丘 Surfing Pikachu
Mandarin 会冲浪的皮卡丘 Surfing Pikachu
  French Pikachu surfeur
  German Surfer-Pikachu
Surfendes Pikachu (TCG)
  Indonesian Pikachu Berselancar
  Italian Pikachu Surf
Surfing Pikachu (TCG)
  Spanish Pikachu Surf

See also

  • For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Pikachu.

References

  1. ↑ Pokémon Quest overview page, Pokémon.com
  2. ↑ Pokémon Quest Arrives on Mobile!, Pokémon Quest dedicated website


Pokémon forms and variants
Permanent: Shiny Pokémon (GO) • Alternately colored Pokémon (anime)
Gender differences‎ • Form differences (GO)
Brilliant Pokémon • Alpha Pokémon
Transformations: Mega Evolution • Primal Reversion • Bond Phenomenon • Ultra Burst
Dynamax (Gigantamax) • Eternamax • Terastal phenomenon
Groups: Totem Pokémon • Noble Pokémon • Titan Pokémon
Regional forms: Alolan • Galarian • Hisuian • Paldean
Analogous: Paradox Pokémon • Ecologically similar Pokémon
Pikachu variants: Surfing Pikachu • Flying Pikachu • Cosplay Pikachu • Pikachu in a cap
Miscellaneous: Pokémon fusions • Giant Pokémon • Spiky-eared Pichu • Partner Pokémon
Side series original: Shadow Pokémon • Shadow Lugia
Spin-off original: Shadow Pokémon • Primal Dialga • Toy Pokémon (Rusty Pokémon)
Shadow Mewtwo • Pokéxel • Illumina phenomenon
Anime original: Pink Butterfree • Clone Pokémon • Crystal Onix
Mirage Pokémon • Meta Groudon • Green-crystal Deoxys
Manga original: Thu-Fi-Zer • Black Fog • Black Tyranitar


  This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.
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