Raichu

Raichu

Naming
Others	Pichu (immature stage) Pikachu (intermediary stage) Tiny Mouse Pokémon (Pichu) Mouse Pokémon (Pikachu, Raichu) 比超 Béichīu, 比卡超 Béikāchīu and 雷超 Lèuihchīu (Cantonese) 皮丘 Píqiū, 皮卡丘 Píkǎqiū and 雷丘 Léiqiū (Mandarin) 피츄 Pichu, 피카츄 Pikachu and 라이츄 Raichu (Korean)
Binomen	N/A
Original	ピチュー, ピカチュウ and ライチュウ
Romanization	Pichū, Pikachū and Raichū
Morphology
Body type	Sciurine (Pichu, Pikachu) Murine (Raichu)
Average height	30 cm (Pichu) 40 cm (Pikachu) 80 cm (Kantonian Raichu) 70 cm (Alolan Raichu) 21+ m (Gigantamax Pikachu)
Average weight	2 kg (Pichu) 6 kg (Pikachu) 30 kg (Kantonian Raichu) 21 kg (Alolan Raichu)
Intelligence
Sentience	Sentient
Sapience	Non-sapient
Ecology
Place of origin	Kanto region, Pokémon World
Habitat	Forests
Diet	Herbivorous
Locomotion	Facultative bipedal Floating (Alolan Raichu)
Reproduction	Oviparous
Subspecies	Alolan Raichu Shadow Pikachu
Related species	Plusle Minun Pachirisu Emolga Dedenne Togedemaru Morpeko
Status	LC
Behind the Scenes
Universe	Pokémon
Designed by	Atsuko Nishida (Pikachu, Raichu and Alolan Raichu) Ken Sugimori (Pichu)

Raichu is an Electric-type Pokémon species. When overcharged with electricity, Raichu sinks its tail into the ground to get rid of the excess. The charge makes it glow faintly in the dark.

Biology[]

Life cycle[]

Members of this species pass through an immature stage known as Pichu, which evolves into an intermediary stage known as Pikachu. A Pikachu will then evolve into Raichu when exposed to a Thunder Stone.

Pikachu is the only Pokémon, including its other stages, who can use the Light Ball.

Pikachu has its own Z-Crystal which is called Pikanium Z.

Variants[]

The Alolan Raichu variety is also known for its innate psychic abilities, making him an Electric/Psychic-type, and typically moves around by standing on the tip of its own tail and levitating on it as if it was surfing mid-air. Even a Pikachu brought from other regions will evolve into Alolan Raichu if its exposure to the Thunder Stone happens in Alola. Alolan Raichu has its own Z-Crystal which is called Aloraichium Z.

There is a variation of Pichu called Spiky-eared Pichu. It is a female Pichu with three spikes on the tip of her left ear. She cannot evolve, which make her unable to breed and she cannot be shiny.

There is also a Pikachu variant called Cosplay Pikachu. It is a female Pikachu with a black heart on the tip of her tail. She is able to be dressed up into five different costumes and learn exclusive moves that are linked to these costumes. The Thunder Stone has no effect on her and she cannot breed. Except in Pokémon Go, she cannot be shiny and can change of costume. The Gigantamax factor probably doesn't work on her.

Another Pikachu variant is called Pikachu in a cap. It is a Pikachu wearing one of Ash's caps. Except in Pokémon Go, it can only be male and cannot evolve or be shiny. The Gigantamax factor doesn't work on him. He has his own Z-Crystal which is called Pikashunium Z.

Some Pikachu are capable of temporarily assuming a Gigantamax form when they Dynamax. The Thunder Stone has no effect on them.