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Light Ball

Description

Doubles Pikachu's Attack and Special Attack.

Overview

Light Ball is the item which makes Pikachu usable, boosting its pitiful offensive stats to impressive heights. Pikachu with 152 Attack EVs reaches 368 Attack, and the special sweeper (252 Spe) hits 398.

Light Ball gives Pikachu impressive offenses for a mixed sweeper, even when its EVs are split. In fact, Light Ball is the only item really usable on Pikachu in basically any tier, as it has hideous base stats in everything except Speed. It lacks the recoil of Life Orb, boosts both stats much more than Choice items would, and leaves it with the freedom to switch moves or use Encore/Substitute.

Unfortunately, Pikachu has decent Speed but not quite enough to pull off a sweep most of the time, something Light Ball cannot remedy. It is also useless without it, so Knock Off or Trick render it dead weight on any team with it.

It is also worth noting that while Pikachu hits very hard with Light Ball Volt Tackle in particular, the recoil will really hurt it. Pikachu can suicide attack Blissey, dying alongside it after Volt Tackling with it.