How to get Pikachu & Raichu in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen

Pikachu can be found very early Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenhowever, due to its extremely low encounter rate, it's easy to miss the Electric Mouse Pokémon during a playthrough. Also, unlike Pokémon that evolve by leveling up, Pikachu evolves using an item.

This guide covers the exact location where players can find Pikachu Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreenas well as where to find the evolution stone to evolve Pikachu into Raichu. Here's the breakdown.

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Every gym (and their Pokemon) in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

There are eight gym leaders in the Kanto region that you must defeat before you can access the Elite Four – here's how to beat them all.

How to get Pikachu in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Pikachu Mode

Pikachu can be found in the following locations in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen:

Viridian Forest
Power plant

Viridian Forest

Viridian Forest can be found north of Viridian Cityand will become available once you have delivered Oak's Parcel from Viridian City Mart to the Professor in Pallet Town. In Viridian Forest, Pikachu has an encounter rate of 5% and appears at level 3-5.

Power plant

The power plant is located south of the Rock Tunnel entrance on Route 10and can only be accessed with HM03 Surf. From the Route 10 Pokecenter, go north until you find the white fence. Go over the fence and use Surf on the river. Follow the path of the river and you will find yourself in front of the entrance of the power station.

In the Power Plant, Pikachu has an encounter rate of 25% and appears at levels 22-26.

How to Evolve Pikachu into Raichu in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Thunderstone mode

Pikachu can evolve into Raichu by using a Thunderstone in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen. There are two ways to get Thunderstones FRLG:

Celadon department store: The evolution stone shop on 4F sells Thunderstones for ¥2100 each.
Power plant: There are two Thunderstones in the power plant i FRLG.
- Thunderstone #1: In the northeast room, in the upper right corner.
- Thunderstone #2: In a hidden tile southeast of Zapdos, directly in front of the large machine. Use the Itemfinder to find it if you have trouble.

Once you get a Thunderstone, place Pikachu in your main party, open your Bag and go to Subject. Choose Thunderstone and then select Pikachu to evolve it into Raichu.

Raichu does not learn any moves from level up. The only moves it “knows” are Quick Attack, Tail Whip, Thunder Shock, and Thunderbolt. And it can only learn these moves from Move Reminder, an NPC that can only be found after the Elite Four. This means that if you evolve your Pikachu early, you won't learn any of its default level-up moves like Raichu, and you'll have to rely on TMs/HMs to expand your movepool. Plan accordingly.