Pichu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pichu | |
|---|---|
 National Lanturn - Pichu (#172) - Cleffa Johto Furret - Pichu (#21) - Pikachu Hoenn Ninetales - Pichu (#155) - Pikachu Sinnoh Perap - Pichu (#103) - Pikachu |
|
| Japanese name | Pichu |
| Stage | Baby |
| Evolves from | none |
| Evolves to | Pikachu |
| Generation | Second |
| Species | Tiny Mouse Pokémon |
| Type | Electric |
| Height | 1 ft 0 in (0.3 m) |
| Weight | 4.4 lb (2.0 kg) |
| Ability | Static |
Pichu (ピチュー Pichū?), who is Pokémon #172 (#155 in the Hoenn Pokédex) is the pre-evolved version of Pikachu in the Pokémon franchise. Pichu is an electric Pokémon, and will evolve to Pikachu when it gains a level after reaching a certain level of happiness with its trainer. This was discovered by Professor Elm.
Pichu's name derives from the Japanese chū, referring to the squeak made by a mouse, and to the Japanese prefix pii, which is probably related to the word for "little" (see Cleffa). "Pichu" can also be seen as a shortened form of "Pikachu".
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[edit] Biology
Pichu charges itself with electricity more easily on days with thunderclouds or when the air is very dry. One can hear the crackling of static electricity coming off this Pokémon. Its cheeks are pink, and it has short tail and huge ears. When Pichu plays with others, it may short out electricity with another Pichu, creating a shower of sparks. In that event, this Pokémon will begin crying, startled by the flash of sparks.
Pichu is not yet skilled at storing electricity, and therefore it often sends out sparks when it is happy or if it has been startled. Any kind of shock causes it to discharge energy spontaneously. Despite its small size, it can zap even adult humans. However, if it does so, it also surprises itself. According to the Pokémon TV series, Pichu is so young that it often shocks itself when trying to attack an opponent.
[edit] In the video games
Pichu can be obtained in any game from Pokémon Gold and Silver by breeding a female Pikachu or Raichu with a male Pikachu or Raichu or with a Ditto. Due to the fact it is a baby Pokémon, it cannot be obtained by any other way. It's most often used for the special moves gotten from it, as seen below, as it is weak in battle and is generally evolved into Pikachu.
In the Battle Frontier from Pokemon Emerald, Pichu is the electric type used by the first few trainers in every competition. All Pichu in the Battle Frontier hold Sitrus Berries and use Sweet Kiss, Thunderwave, Attract and Shock Wave. This is potentially an annoying set for an unwary opponent.
[edit] Special Moves
An egg containing a Pichu that knows the move Surf can be obtained in Pokémon Box by storing a total of 1499 Pokémon from a single game in the box. In Pokémon Emerald, a male and female Pikachu breeding whilst holding a light ball (only one needs to hold it) will produce a baby Pichu with a new attack called Volt Tackle, making it the only Pokémon able to learn that move. NOTE: This only works in Pokémon Emerald. Not Ruby or Sapphire. It is impossible to have a Pichu that knows both Surf and Volt Tackle at the same time barring the use of unauthorized cheating devices. .
[edit] In Super Smash Bros. Melee
Pichu is an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, voiced by Satomi Kohrogi. It has many of Pikachu's moves, but due to its lack of control over the electrical charge in its body, using any electrical attacks inflicts about 1-4% of damage to Pichu (or Kirby while wearing a Pichu hat), per attack. However, it is found out that most of Pichu's special moves are stronger than Pikachu's which is probably why Pichu is a secret character even though it is much younger than Pikachu. This extra damage done to itself is in exchange for more attack power, a nod to its Pokédex entries which cite its ability to yield powerful amounts of electricity, despite being unable to control it. Even though Pichu can dodge attacks easily due to its small size and speed which exceeds Pikachu's, Pichu is the lightest fighter in the game, making it easy to smash, and its attacks have very little range and power. Pichu is considered one of the worst characters in tournament play, and is often avoided. It is unknown if Pichu will return in the new Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
[edit] In the animé
In the anime, there are two Pichus called the Pichu Brothers, first introduced in the animated short Pikachu and Pichu. Here, the Pichu Brothers (as well as Ash Ketchum's Pikachu) are chased by a Houndour, and with the help of other Pokémon, rebuild their clubhouse. On a Pokémon short ("Camp Pikachu") Ash's Pikachu returns the favour to the Pichus by taking them to the train station to get them home. The Pichu Brothers also appear in Pokémon Chronicles, where they live in a large city which provides plenty of trouble for them to get into and they always end up making a mess while trying to have fun. However, they always find a way to fix their mistakes before the end of each episode. After re-appearing in the fifth short, they had an exclusive episode, "Pichu Bros. in Party Panic", which is only available on the video game Pokémon Channel for the Nintendo GameCube. Also, in the Pokémon Advanced Battle episode "Lights, Camerupt, Action!", a trainer shows some children a film about the Pichu Brothers (mentioned in a letter from a young girl).
Pichus also appear in the season 4 episode "The Apple Corp", in which Ash and his friends are recruited to investigate the theft of apples from an orchard; the Pichu turn out to be responsible. These Pichu were not the Pichu Brothers.
The other Pichu is in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out Of The Gate! as Pikachu's little brother. After Pikachu got captured by Skarmory, Pichu is worried and sad. With the help of the Team Go-Getters, they got through the sinister cave. When they made it out, Pichu spotted the treasure bag his brother was holding. Then Skarmory came out of nowhere and captured Pichu. After being reunited with his brother, Pikachu apologized for getting Pichu in the middle of getting captured. When the Go-Getters arrived, Pikachu told Pichu to open the treasure bag and the seed fell out. Pikachu kicked the seed to Squirtle. When Squirtle swallowed the seed, he got super speed. After defeating Skarmory, the Go-Getters saved Pikachu and Pichu free.
[edit] In the card game
Pichu has appeared on six cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game as a Lightning type Pokémon. In the Neo Genesis and Expedition sets, it is a Rare Holographic card. Also in Expedition, as well as EX Sandstorm, it is a Rare card. It is only a Common card in the EX Emerald set. Additionally, it is the 35th promotional (Promo) card.
[edit] References
- Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue, Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2, Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
- Books
- Barbo, Maria. The Official Pokémon Handbook. Scholastic Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-439-15404-9.
- Loe, Casey, ed. Pokémon Special Pikachu Edition Official Perfect Guide. Sunnydale, CA: Empire 21 Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-930206-15-1.
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon FireRed Version & Pokémon LeafGreen Version Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., August 2004. ISBN 1-930206-50-X
- Nintendo Power. Official Nintendo Pokémon Emerald Player’s Guide. Nintendo of America Inc., April 2005. ISBN 1-930206-58-5
[edit] External links
- Official Pokémon website
- Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Pichu as a species.
- Serebii.net’s 4th Gen Pokédex entry for Pichu
- Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
- PsyPoke Pokédex entry
- Smogon Pokédex entry
- Pichu's World a website based around Pichu
- WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Pichu Previously hosted by Wikibooks
