Ash's Pikachu: Difference between revisions

Pikachu participated in Ash's first [[Gym]] {{pkmn|battle}} with {{an|Brock}} in ''[[EP005|Showdown in Pewter City]]''. He faced {{TP|Brock|Onix}}, but his {{type|Electric}} attacks were ineffective. Onix then started {{m|bind}}ing Pikachu. Seeing no other option, Ash forfeited. Ash and Pikachu later trained with {{ka|Flint}} in order to increase the strength of Pikachu's Electric-type moves. Ash later challenged Brock to a [[rematch]], where Pikachu managed to defeat [[Brock's Geodude]] thanks to his training. Pikachu then faced Onix again, who was able to Bind Pikachu once again, but this time Pikachu's Electric-type attacks dealt quite some damage. However, despite their training, Pikachu was still unable to defeat Onix, who was tightening its grip on Pikachu. As Ash was about to forfeit again, Pikachu's {{m|Thunderbolt}} managed to turn on the Gym's sprinkler system, severely harming Onix. As Ash was about let Pikachu finish Onix off, he was stopped by [[Brock's siblings]] and he decided to forfeit again. Despite Ash forfeiting the match, Brock still gave him the {{badge|Boulder}}.

Pikachu's next major battle was in Ash's [[Vermilion Gym]] battle against [[Lt. Surge's Raichu]] in ''[[EP014|Electric Shock Showdown]]''. [[Lt. Surge]] laughed at Ash for attempting to defeat his Raichu with its pre-evolved form, angering Ash and Pikachu. Indeed, Raichu turned out to be more powerful than Pikachu, and a combination of attacks from it resulted in so much damage to Pikachu that he had to be hospitalized. Later in the episode, Ash offered to let Pikachu evolve into a Raichu with a [[Thunder Stone]] that Nurse Joy had given him. However, Pikachu refused, wanting to defeat Raichu on his own terms. During the subsequent rematch with Lt. Surge, Pikachu once again faced Raichu. Using moves like {{m|Agility}} and {{m|Quick Attack}}, which Raichu didn't know, Pikachu managed to gain the upper hand and dodge Raichu's attacks. Raichu responded with an extremely powerful Thunderbolt attack, but Pikachu used his tail as an anchor to absorb the shock, and Raichu then ran out of electricity. Pikachu then used his tail to slam Raichu and defeat it, earning Ash the {{badge|Thunder}}.

In ''[[EP022|Abra and the Psychic Showdown]]'', Pikachu was sent out to battle [[Sabrina's Abra]] during Ash's [[Saffron Gym]] battle. It proved to be a tough foe, using {{m|Teleport}} to avoid Pikachu's Thunder Shock. Abra then suddenly evolved into Kadabra, making it much stronger. Eventually, Kadabra used {{m|Psychic}} to control Pikachu's body and repeatedly smash him into the ceiling. Unwilling to see his friend suffer even more, Ash forfeited the match. In Ash's subsequent rematch with [[Sabrina]] in ''[[EP024|Haunter versus Kadabra]]'', Pikachu fought Kadabra again, since {{TP|Sabrina|Haunter}} didn't show up and his other Pokémon were too terrified. Eventually, Haunter appeared and made Sabrina and Kadabra laugh, leaving them incapacitated. As a result, Ash was declared the winner by [[Sabrina's father]], which earned him the {{badge|Marsh}}.

In ''[[EP033|The Flame Pokémon-athon!]]'', Pikachu entered the [[Big P Pokémon Race]] with {{AP|Squirtle}}. The two were at a significant disadvantage due to Squirtle's short legs, and Pikachu's comparative weight, but in a way, this helped as they managed to escape an {{p|Electrode}} self-destructing. They made ground when they reached the water stage, putting them in the top four with Ash, {{an|Misty}} and [[Dario]]. However, intervention from Team Rocket forced a battle, and the two were put out of the running by a {{m|Glare}} attack from {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}}.

 

Ash used Pikachu many times during the [[Indigo Plateau Conference]]. In ''[[EP076|Fire and Ice]]'', Pikachu fought [[Pete Pebbleman]]'s powerful {{p|Arcanine}} and defeated it by using the water made from the melted ice battlefield to conduct his powerful Thunderbolt. In ''[[EP077|The Fourth Round Rumble]]'', he fought [[Jeanette Fisher]]'s {{p|Bellsprout}}, who already had defeated [[Ash's Bulbasaur]]. Despite trying his best, he was easily defeated by the skilled Pokémon's {{m|Slam}}.

 

Pikachu later faced off against Happy, [[Ritchie]]'s {{p|Butterfree}}, in ''[[EP079|Friend and Foe Alike]]''. Despite being exhausted from battling Team Rocket earlier, he still wanted to participate in the battle. Pikachu started off with {{m|Double-Edge}}, knocking Happy to the ground. As Happy tried flying up, he held on to it, and defeated the Butterfly Pokémon with a Thunderbolt. He then faced off against [[Zippo]], Ritchie's {{p|Charmander}}, but due to being exhausted by all his battles, Pikachu was quickly overwhelmed by Zippo's {{m|Flamethrower}} and was knocked out by its {{m|Tackle}}.

In ''[[EP103|Misty Meets Her Match]]'', Pikachu participated in the first part of Ash's battle with [[Rudy]], using his Thunderbolt to blast targets. He then faced off against Rudy's {{p|Electabuzz}}. Pikachu started off using Thunderbolt, but Electabuzz absorbed the attack. He and Electabuzz then both used Quick Attack, but Electabuzz was able to overpower him. Pikachu was then defeated by a powerful {{m|Thunder Punch}}.

In [[EP104|the following episode]], Team Rocket had a plan to capture Pikachu that involved tying him up with Meowth. This succeeded at first, but Meowth and Pikachu got separated from Jessie and [[James]]. Being lost on the island, the two Pokémon had to work together to defeat powerful Pokémon, and get to safety. In the end, Ash, Misty and {{Tracey}} managed to find the duo first, and separated them from each other.

In ''[[EP108|Pokémon Double Trouble]]'', Pikachu was used in Ash's Gym battle against [[Luana]], where he had to fight alongside {{AP|Charizard}}. Despite both Pokémon being eager to battle, they started getting angry at each other right before the battle, affecting their teamwork negatively. However, after seeing Charizard being repeatedly attacked by Luana's {{p|Alakazam}} and {{p|Marowak}}, Pikachu decided to help his partner, cementing their cooperation. As Alakazam was about to unleash its {{m|Hyper Beam}} at Charizard, it got hit by Marowak's Bonemerang, causing Hyper Beam to be launched at Marowak, knocking both Pokémon out. This gave Ash the victory, winning him the {{badge|Jade Star}} and allowing him to enter the [[Orange League]].

In ''[[EP111|Hello, Pummelo!]]'', Pikachu was Ash's first Pokémon used in his battle against {{OBP|Drake|Orange League}}, where he faced off against Drake's {{p|Ditto}}. Despite Ditto being able to copy Pikachu's attacks, it wasn't in good shape as Pikachu was. After continuously exchanging attacks, Pikachu managed to defeat it. Pikachu was then recalled when Drake sent out his {{p|Onix}}. [[EP112|Later]], Pikachu faced off against Drake's powerful {{TP|Drake|Dragonite}}, who had already defeated three of Ash's Pokémon. Eventually, Pikachu managed to jump on Dragonite's head by using his tail as a spring board to dodge the attack, and finally defeat it with a powerful Thunder, earning Ash the [[Winner's Trophy]] and a spot in the [[Orange League Hall of Fame]].