[SET]
name: FakeSpeed
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Light Ball
ability: Lightning Rod / Static
nature: Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With Light Ball, Pikachu is the embodiment of a glass cannon. The combination of Fake Out and Extreme Speed allows Pikachu to reliably revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Electabuzz, Kadabra, and Galarian Mr. Mime, which helps to circumvent its poor defenses. Fake Out and Extreme Speed having such high priority also helps it to clean weakened priority move users like Thwackey, Piloswine, and Gurdurr. Knock Off cripples switch-ins and nails Ghost-types such as Gastly and Lampent, which are immune to Pikachu's priority. Lastly, Volt Switch allows Pikachu to pivot out of Pokemon that it cannot break past itself, such as Tangela and Ferroseed, and can also be used gain to momentum on Electric-weak Pokemon, such as Golbat and Mareanie, when Knock Off is unlikely to make progress. A Naughty nature is used to avoid decreasing the power of Volt Switch. Lightning Rod lets Pikachu block Volt Switch attempts and potentially boost its own, whereas Static has the chance to paralyze foes if Pikachu is hit by a contact move, although it is unlikely to survive in the process.
Pikachu should mainly use Knock Off and Volt Switch early-game to cripple opposing Pokemon and get out of bad matchups until it can pick off low-health targets with its priority moves. Since Pikachu cripples common walls such as Galarian Corsola and Ferroseed, special wallbreakers like Galarian Mr. Mime, Magmar, and Kadabra are good teammates with it. Entry hazard users such as Stealth Rock Marshtomp, Spikes Ferroseed, and Toxic Spikes Koffing help to wear down opposing Pokemon for Pikachu to clean. Koffing in particular is an exceptional partner, as Pikachu can pivot on its own most common counter in Tangela and bring in Neutralizing Gas Koffing to deny its Regenerator, and Pikachu's Fake Out has great synergy with Toxic Spikes. Pikachu's low bulk means it can only switch into the weakest of attacks, so it should be paired with pivots like Raboot, Vullaby, and Slowpoke in order to bring it in safely. Grass-types such as Thwackey and Tangela make for good teammates, as they can remove bulky Ground-types like Piloswine, Marshtomp, and Gabite that stop Pikachu from pivoting.
[SET]
name: Mixed Wallbreaker
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Grass Knot / Surf
item: Light Ball
ability: Lightning Rod
nature: Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 200 SpA / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
A mixed wallbreaker set takes advantage of both Pikachu's great offensive stats when boosted by Light Ball and its coverage that hits Electric-type switch-ins. Extreme Speed allows Pikachu to overcome its lack of Speed investment and revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Fraxure and Raboot after chip. Volt Switch is boosted by Special Attack investment, letting it hit expected switch-ins like Ferroseed and Charjabug for more chip damage while keeping up momentum. Grass Knot lets Pikachu 2HKO Marshtomp, while Surf guarantees a 2HKO against Piloswine. 56 Speed EVs allow Pikachu to outspeed max Speed Lampent. Lightning Rod boosts Volt Switch and Pikachu's coverage move when Pikachu is switched into an Electric-type attack, so it is preferred over Static.
Pikachu's primary goal is to weaken opposing Pokemon with Knock Off before breaking past them with the help of its teammates or its coverage moves. Pikachu appreciates entry hazards from Stealth Rock Corsola or Spikes Roselia in order to wear down its expected switch-ins in conjunction with Volt Switch. Pokemon with entry hazard removal like Golbat, Gurdurr, and Wartortle are great partners, as this stops Pikachu from taking too much chip damage when pivoting. Consider pairing Pikachu with Electabuzz or Raboot, since they benefit from Pikachu's ability to lure in Ground-types and form a strong pivot core with it. If Pikachu opts for Grass Knot, Pokemon that can check Piloswine and Gabite like Slowpoke and Galarian Corsola are excellent choices, but if it goes for Surf, then offensive teammates like Tangela and Thwackey pressure Marshtomp.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Naive nature with full Speed investment lets Pikachu outspeed Golbat and pressure it harder as well as win the Speed tie against opposing Pikachu. Volt Tackle is a plausible alternative to Volt Switch on the FakeSpeed set for significantly more wallbreaking power, but is not preferred, as it means missing out on momentum against Pokemon such as Wartortle and Vullaby. Thunderbolt can be used on mixed sets to 2HKO Gurdurr and Tangela once its their Eviolites have been removed, but this comes at the cost of losing out on pivoting, Knock Off utility, or priority, all of which tend to be more useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Tangela can switch into any of Pikachu's attacks and Regenerator lets it to reliably check Pikachu throughout the game. Ferroseed is also a solid Pikachu switch-in, and Thwackey has enough bulk to eat an Extreme Speed and threaten to revenge kill it, however, both lack reliable recovery to continuously check Pikachu.
**Faster Ghost-types**: Choice Scarf Lampent, Timid Gastly, and Drakloak all outspeed Pikachu and can OHKO it with their STAB moves, and they are immune to its priority moves.
**Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types such as Pilowswine, Gabite, and Marshtomp avoid being KOed by Fake Out and another attack, and they OHKO Pikachu in return with Earthquake. However, they must be wary of being chipped into range of Surf or Grass Knot.
**Item Removal**: Pikachu is very reliant its Light Ball for its offensive power and therefore needs to be careful switching into or staying in on Knock Off users like Clefairy and Vullaby, as well as Corrosive Gas Koffing.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Jett, 226429]]
- Quality checked by: [[Ho3nConfirm3d, 231074], [Greybaum, 407249]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [username2, userid2]]
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