How to Get Pikachu in Pokemon Legends Z-A: Complete Catching & Evolution Guide

Learn how to catch Pikachu in Pokemon Legends Z-A with two easy methods. Plus, evolve Pichu to Pikachu and get Thunder Stone for Raichu evolution.

Let’s be real: no Pokemon team feels quite complete without the franchise mascot making an appearance. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just love having that Electric-type powerhouse on your squad, getting Pikachu in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is probably on your to-do list.

The good news? You’ve got two solid options for adding the iconic Electric Mouse to your team, and both are available relatively early in the game. Even better, I’ll show you exactly how to evolve it into Raichu once you’re ready to power up.

Let’s break down everything you need to know about catching, evolving, and maximizing your Pikachu.

Method 1: Catch Pikachu Directly in Wild Zone 3

This is the straightforward approach—go where Pikachu lives and catch it in the wild. No fuss, no waiting for evolutions.

When Can You Access Wild Zone 3?

You’ll unlock Wild Zone 3 during Main Mission 5: The City in the Shadow of Prism Tower. This is the same mission where you visit Emma’s agency, and it’s a natural story progression point that happens a few hours into the game.

If you’re also trying to figure out the time-changing mechanics, this mission is significant because it unlocks several features simultaneously.

Exact Pikachu Location in Wild Zone 3

Once you enter Wild Zone 3, head to the southeast quadrant of the area. This is your Pikachu hunting ground.

Time of day: Good news here—Pikachu appears during both day and night, so you don’t need to worry about changing time specifically for this catch. That’s one less thing to stress about compared to nighttime-exclusive spawns like Staryu in Wild Zone 2.

Catching tips:

• Pikachu can be a bit skittish, so crouch in tall grass if available
• Don’t approach too aggressively or it might flee
• Have several Poke Balls ready—Electric-types sometimes have higher break-out rates
• Save before attempting if you’re worried about losing the encounter

Why Catch Instead of Evolve?

Catching Pikachu directly means you skip the friendship grind required to evolve Pichu. If you just want Pikachu on your team immediately without extra steps, this is your route. Plus, wild-caught Pikachu comes at a decent level right out of the gate.

Method 2: Evolve Pichu Into Pikachu

Maybe you’ve already explored Wild Zone 1 and spotted that adorable Pichu by the western gate. If you caught it (or if you just prefer the satisfaction of raising your Pokemon from their earliest form), evolution is your path forward.

Where to Find Pichu

Location: Wild Zone 1, near the western gate by a pond

If you haven’t caught it yet or want a refresher on completing that area, check the Wild Zone 1 guide for full coverage. Pichu is one of several Pokemon worth grabbing early since it gives you that evolution path to Pikachu.

How to Evolve Pichu Into Pikachu: The Friendship Factor

Here’s where things get a bit less straightforward. Pichu evolves through high friendship/affection, not by reaching a specific level. This is classic Pokemon evolution mechanics, but the game doesn’t exactly spell out how friendship works.

The friendship problem: As of now, there’s no visible friendship meter in Pokemon Legends Z-A. You can’t check a status screen and see “75% friendship” or anything like that. You’re essentially working blind until the evolution becomes available.

Tested Method for Pichu Evolution

Based on hands-on experience, here’s what works:

Keep Pichu in your active party: This is non-negotiable. Pokemon gain friendship passively just by being in your party as you play.

Battle with it regularly: Using Pichu in battles (and winning) boosts friendship faster than just carrying it around.

Feed it Exp. Candies: This accelerates leveling while simultaneously building that friendship bond. Double benefit.

Level milestone: In testing, Pichu evolved around level 20, though the exact level can vary depending on how much friendship has been accumulated. Don’t treat level 20 as a hard requirement—it might happen sooner or later depending on your playstyle.

What builds friendship:

• Keeping it in your party
• Winning battles
• Using Exp. Candies or other consumables
• Walking around with it
• General gameplay time

What hurts friendship:

• Letting it faint in battles (avoid this!)
• Leaving it in storage boxes for long periods

For more detailed strategies on building friendship, our happiness increase guide covers advanced techniques.

How to Actually Evolve Your Pokemon

Once Pichu reaches sufficient friendship (you’ll get a notification when it’s ready):

1. Open your Menu
2. Select Pokemon
3. Choose your Pichu
4. Select “Let it evolve”

The game won’t auto-evolve Pokemon like older titles. You manually trigger evolution through the menu system, which gives you control over timing.

From Pikachu to Raichu: Thunder Stone Evolution

So you’ve got Pikachu, but you want that extra power boost? Time to evolve to Raichu. This requires an item: the Thunder Stone.

Where to Buy Thunder Stone

Location: Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue

Landmarks to help you find it:

• Northwest of Wild Zone 1
• Slightly west of Hotel Z
• Look for the shop specifically selling evolution stones

Cost: ₽3,000

Story requirement: The shop might not be accessible immediately. If the area is blocked or the store isn’t appearing, progress past Main Mission 5 or 6. Same story progression that unlocks time-changing and other features.

Other Evolution Items Available

While you’re at the Stone Emporium, it’s worth noting they sell all types of evolution stones—Fire Stone, Water Stone, Leaf Stone, Moon Stone, etc. If you’re planning your team around Eevee evolutions, this shop becomes your best friend.

Stock up if you have the cash. Evolution stones don’t expire, and having them ready when you need them beats making extra trips.

How to Use the Thunder Stone

Here’s the process once you’ve purchased it:

1. Open your Bag
2. Navigate to “Other Items” section
3. Scroll until you find Thunder Stone
4. Select it and choose “Use”
5. Select Pikachu from your party
6. Confirm the evolution

Boom—you’ve got yourself a Raichu!

Important consideration: Unlike Pichu’s friendship evolution, using a Thunder Stone is irreversible and immediate. Make sure Pikachu has learned any moves you want it to have first, since evolution can change available moves.

Pikachu vs. Raichu: Should You Evolve?

This is the eternal question for Pikachu fans. Here’s the honest breakdown:

Reasons to Evolve to Raichu:

Better stats: Raichu has higher base stats across the board, especially in Special Attack and Speed. If you’re playing competitively or tackling tougher battles, Raichu is objectively stronger.

Mega Evolution potential: Here’s the big one—Raichu is getting two new Mega Evolutions in the upcoming Mega Dimension DLC. If you’re planning to use Mega Evolution mechanics, Raichu is required. Pikachu can’t Mega Evolve.

Tankier in battles: Raichu’s HP and Defense are noticeably better, meaning it survives hits that would knock out Pikachu.

Reasons to Keep Pikachu:

Iconic factor: Sometimes aesthetic matters. Pikachu is THE Pokemon. If you’re playing for nostalgia or just prefer having the mascot on your team, keep it as Pikachu.

Move learning: Check what moves Pikachu learns naturally versus Raichu. Sometimes the pre-evolution learns certain moves earlier or has access to moves the evolution doesn’t.

Light Ball consideration: In some Pokemon games, Pikachu holding a Light Ball gets stat boosts comparable to Raichu. Verify if this item exists in Legends Z-A before deciding.

My take? Evolve to Raichu if you’re playing strategically. Keep Pikachu if you’re playing with your heart. Both are valid choices.

Building Your Electric-Type Team

Pikachu (or Raichu) fits nicely into most team compositions as your Electric-type coverage. If you’re also considering other early-game catches, think about type balance.

Good teammates for Pikachu/Raichu:

• Ground-type counters (since Electric is weak to Ground)
• Pokemon that cover Water and Flying types (where Electric excels)
• A solid Grass-type to handle Rock and Ground threats

If you went with a Kanto starter, Pikachu pairs especially well with Squirtle/Blastoise, giving you Water and Electric coverage together.

Common Questions and Issues

The Mega Evolution Teaser

Worth mentioning again: Raichu is getting two new Mega Evolutions in the Mega Dimension DLC. We don’t have full details yet, but this makes Raichu significantly more future-proof than Pikachu.

If you’re the type who plans long-term and wants to be ready for DLC content, evolving to Raichu makes sense even if you don’t need the power boost right now.

The fact that there are two Mega Evolutions (not just one) suggests some interesting form variation or version-exclusive content. Keep your Thunder Stone handy.

Crafting Materials and Resources

While you’re hunting for Pikachu, keep an eye out for other resources in Wild Zone 3. Different zones have different crafting materials, and you’ll want to stock up for making better Poke Balls and other items.

Speaking of materials, if you need help finding specific items like Colorful Screws or Clear Purple Sludge, those guides will help you track down what you need.

Final Thoughts: The Pikachu Experience

Getting Pikachu in Pokemon Legends Z-A feels like a rite of passage. Whether you catch it wild in Zone 3 or put in the friendship work to evolve Pichu, adding that yellow Electric-type to your roster just feels right.

Quick recommendation path:

• For immediate results: Rush to Wild Zone 3 and catch Pikachu directly
• For the full experience: Catch Pichu early, evolve it through friendship, then evolve to Raichu
• For competitive play: Get Raichu ASAP and prepare for Mega Evolution DLC

The Pichu → Pikachu → Raichu evolution line is one of the most satisfying in Pokemon, especially when you’ve put in the effort to build that friendship. Plus, having Raichu ready for future Mega Evolutions means you’re set for whatever content drops next.

Now get out there and add that Electric Mouse to your team!

Also Read:

• How to Change Time From Day to Night in Pokemon Legends Z-A (Complete Guide)
• Complete Wild Zone 2 Guide: Every Pokemon Location in Pokemon Legends Z-A

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For official Pokemon Legends Z-A updates and news, visit the Pokemon Legends website or purchase the game from the Nintendo Store.