How to get Pikachu and evolve it into Raichu in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Pikachu, a Pokemon staple, reappears in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Here’s how to obtain Pikachu and train it to evolve into Raichu:

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet continue the tradition of including Pikachu regardless of the game’s region. Pikachu is essentially the franchise’s mascot, so it is recognizable to anyone who has played the games or watched the animated series. It has even inspired countless other Electric-type mice Pokémon, such as Pawmi from the Paldea region. Pikachu is renowned for its adorable appearance, its speed, and its electrifying moves, so it comes as no surprise that Pokemon fans desire it.

Nonetheless, it can be difficult to locate in Paldea, as it and its entire evolutionary line are rare spawns. Pichu and Raichu are Pikachu’s pre-evolution and final evolution, respectively. Raichu is an exceptional Pokémon with greater offensive capabilities than its predecessor, Pikachu, but obtaining one is more difficult than leveling Pikachu. Here are the steps required to obtain Pikachu and evolve it into Raichu in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

How to Get Pikachu

Regarding obtaining a Pikachu, players have two options. They can go to its territories and search for a randomly spawning Pokémon, or they can find a Pichu and evolve it into a Pikachu. While Pichu is also a rare encounter, it is located close to the first explorable regions. It is located outside Mesagoza, the game’s central city and home to the Academy. Pikachu appears in the same regions as Pichu, but at a lower frequency.

Pichu will only evolve when its friendship level is sufficiently high. Maintaining it as a member of the main party, healing it, and interacting with it outside its ball will strengthen the bond between you. Therefore, in theory, Pichu could evolve into Pikachu at any friendship level, so long as it is sufficiently high.

The best way to obtain either Pichu or Pikachu is to walk around and search until one appears. Ensure you do not kill them during combat; otherwise, the hunt will have to begin again. Here are the locations where you can find Pikachu or Pichu:

West Country (Area Three)
South Country (Area Two)
East Country (Area One)

Before February 23, 2023, players who purchase the game will have the opportunity to receive a Tera Pikachu Mystery Gift via the online Poke Portal.

How Pikachu Evolves Into Raichu

Raichu appears to only be found in a single province in Paldea, so the best way for players to obtain one is to evolve their Pikachu. Without a specific item, Pikachu has never been able to evolve into Raichu. The same holds true for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Pikachu can only evolve using a Thunder Stone, an Evolution Stone engraved with a lightning bolt. In Paldea, finding Evolution stones is now easier than ever. The majority can be found by randomly picking up items from the ground.

Another option is to buy one from a Delibird Present store in a major city. They are a bit pricey at $3000, but players can earn money quickly by defeating trainers. Pikachu can use the Thunder Stone to evolve at any level, but players may wish to wait until Pikachu has mastered certain moves before using the Thunder Stone. The Thunder Stone can be found in the trainer’s bag under Other Items when it is ready. Put Pikachu in your main party, then use the Thunder Stone on Pikachu.