Pichu

For fighter info, see Pichu (SSBM) and Pichu (SSBU).

Pichu
Official artwork of Pichu from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions.
Universe	Pokémon
Debut	Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions (1999)
Smash Bros. appearances	Melee Brawl SSB4 (3DS only) Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance	Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (2017)
Console/platform of origin	Game Boy Color
Species	Pichu
Gender	Varies
Place of origin	Johto
Designed by	Ken Sugimori
Voice actor	Satomi Korogi
Article on Bulbapedia	Pichu (Pokémon)

Pichu (ピチュー, Pichu) is a fictional creature from the Pokémon series. It debuted in the series' second generation, and represents that generation as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Character description

Official artwork of Pichu from Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions.

Pichu is a small, rodent-like Pokémon with an oval-shaped head, a black, spiky pattern around its neck, and large, arrowhead-shaped ears tipped with black markings. As the pre-evolved form of Pikachu and a baby Pokémon, Pichu is less powerful than its evolved forms. While it cannot learn some moves that Pikachu and Raichu can, it can learn three moves (Charm, Sweet Kiss and Nasty Plot) that its evolved forms cannot. Pichu only evolves into Pikachu when it reaches a very high level of friendship with its Trainer.

The Pokédex explains that the electricity pouches in Pichu's cheeks are still small and unable to store much electricity yet. This, in turn, makes it inexperienced with handling electrical attacks, to the point that it occasionally inflicts damage to itself. While this does not actually occur in the Pokémon games, it has been demonstrated in both the Pokémon anime and Super Smash Bros. Melee. Additionally, its evolutionary family's signature move, Volt Tackle, will deal recoil damage after being successfully used. The Pokédex also categorizes Pichu as the "Tiny Mouse Pokémon".

Due to its inexperience with handling electricity, Pichu may discharge it accidentally and spontaneously if amused or startled, and vice versa. Despite its small size, it can zap even adult humans, but it surprises itself whenever it does so. When it plays with other Pichu, they may short out electricity with each other, creating a shower of sparks, startling them and causing them to start crying. It gets better at holding power as it grows older, where it starts playing with other Pichu by touching tails and setting off sparks in apparent mutual tests of courage. It charges itself with electricity more easily on days that either have very dry air or has thunderclouds, in which case the crackling of static electricity can be heard coming off of it.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

As a playable character

Official artwork of Pichu for Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Pichu is a playable unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, albeit as a perceived "joke character", due to being an intentionally inferior clone of Pikachu that possesses many significant weaknesses. Pichu's most infamous flaw is based on its Pokédex description of harming itself with its own electricity: whenever Pichu performs an electrical attack, it will sustain 1%-4% recoil damage. Along with this, Pichu is the lightest character in Melee, giving it extremely poor endurance. It is ranked 24th on the Melee tier list, placing it in the G tier.

Trophy Description

A Tiny Mouse Pokémon identifiable by its big ears, Pichu evolves into Pikachu. It's not very skilled at storing up electrical energy and will sometimes discharge it if jarred. Although it's small, it has enough electrical power to give even an adult quite a shock. It's often startled by its own power.

• Pokémon Gold & Silver, 10/00 (GBC)

• 

  Pichu [Classic Mode] trophy

• 

  Pichu [Smash, Adventure Mode] trophy

• 

  Pichu [Smash, All-Star Mode] trophy

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Pichu's trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Pichu is one of the five playable characters in Melee who did not return as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It is also the only one who neither has unfinished data on Brawl's disc, nor a new playable character as a successor. Instead, Pichu only appears as a trophy. However, a couple of its unique attributes in Melee (its ability to wall jump and the blue goggles from its blue alternate costume) were given to Pikachu.

As a Trophy

Pichu makes an appearance in Brawl as a collectible trophy. It is obtained by completing All-Star Mode without using a continue. The trophy describes Pichu's appearance in the Pokémon games, and makes no reference whatsoever to its appearance in Melee:

A Tiny Mouse Pokémon. Because its electric cheek pouches are still small, it cannot store electricity yet. Pichu has been known to flaunt its courage by touching tails with others and setting off sparks. It is easier for Pichu to build up electricity when the humidity is lower. Pichu will evolve into Pikachu.

: Pokémon Gold/Silver

: Pokémon Diamond/Pearl

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Pichu's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Pichu once again did not return as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. Instead, it has a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, while Super Smash Bros. for Wii U references it via Palutena's Guidance regarding Pikachu.

Trophy

Pichu

Professor Elm must have been shocked when he discovered a pre-evolution of Pikachu! These cute baby Pokémon often discharge electricity accidentally when something takes them by surprise. They also play together by using their tails to make sparks fly! It's cute to watch, but it's good training for battle, too.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

As a playable character

Official artwork of Pichu for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Pichu has been confirmed to be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. This marks its first playable appearance in 17 years, a distinction shared with fellow Melee newcomer Young Link.

Trivia

• Pichu was the most recently debuted Nintendo character at the time of Melee's release. This does not include Roy, who had not made an official debut in his own home series yet.
• Pichu is the only playable character whose console of origin is the Game Boy Color.
• Pichu is the only playable baby Pokémon.
  • It is also the only playable Pokémon to be part of the same evolutionary family as another playable Pokémon.
  • It is also the first playable Pokémon not to originate from Generation I.
• Pichu is the only playable Pokémon to be an unlockable character in all of its appearances.
• The Pichu evolution family is one of three to have its entire family appear in one Super Smash Bros. game. In Ultimate, Pichu and Pikachu are playable characters, and Alolan Raichu appears as a Poké Ball Pokémon. The others are the Riolu evolution family, as Riolu appears as a trophy in Brawl, where Lucario debuted as a fighter; and the Munchlax evolution family, as both Munchlax and Snorlax appear as Poké Ball Pokémon in Brawl.
• Pichu and Squirtle are the only playable Pokémon to be in their first stage of their evolutionary line.
• In the Pokémon games, Pichu does not damage itself from using Electric-type moves (aside from Volt Tackle and Wild Charge). This Super Smash Bros.-specific attribute most likely derives from its Pokédex entries, which state that Pichu are "unskilled at storing electric power". It could also be a reference to the Pichu Brothers being overwhelmed by their own electricity, as shown in Pikachu and Pichu.