Pichu Movesets & Competitive Sets

Pichu is probably one of the only Pokemon capable of effectively using a set like this due to its diverse movepool. Being the only Electric-type in the tier capable of using Fake Out or Encore allows Pichu to cause residual damage while also supporting the team with Encore, forcing switches or helping a teammate set up. Volt Tackle is an excellent STAB move to use with its high Base Power. Volt Switch is viable for scouting the opponents team, although this would put Pichu at the mercy of Ground-types such as Diglett and Drilbur. Due to that, Pichu can opt to run Light Screen, allowing it to help teammates take special hits more easily, as well as having use after Pichu dies, or Toxic, allowing it to cripple bulky walls such as Hippopotas. Lightning Rod is the preferred ability as the Special Attack boost it provides by switching into an Electric-type attack boosts the power of Volt Switch. The EV spread gives Pichu 19 HP, minimizing the amount of Life Orb recoil taken from every attack, while maxing out Speed and Attack. The use of Fake Out + Encore can cause many switches, making Spikes and Stealth Rock support from Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Dwebble an excellent way to take advantage of this. The use of Encore + Volt Switch also helps Pokemon such as Misdreavus or Clamperl set up, which can immediately threaten the opponent's team. Because this set is completely destroyed by Ground-types, Choice Scarf Snover and other Grass-, Water-, or Ice-types are usable to dispose of said Pokemon.

Being the only Electric-type with Nasty Plot in the tier, Nasty Plot Pichu is somewhat effective. After a turn of set up, Pichu reaches 26 Special Attack if running Timid, while reaching 28 Special Attack running a Modest nature. STAB Thunderbolt is the main attack, hitting everything that does not resist it for great damage. Hidden Power Grass is used to hit Ground-types such as Sandshrew and Hippopotas, while also hitting Chinchou hard. Encore is used in the final slot to help Pichu set up, while also supporting the team. Lightning Rod is obviously the best ability for this set, as it gives Pichu more chances to switch in, while also giving Pichu a Special Attack boost. This is useful as a +3 Pichu has a chance to OHKO bulky Chinchou with Hidden Power Grass, while +2 Pichu has no chance to do this. The given EV spread again decreases the amount of Life Orb damage Pichu takes, while also maximizing Special Attack and Speed. This set is extremely easy to counter; Munchlax, Ferroseed, Snover, and Magnemite can survive Pichu's attacks even at +2 and destroy it. Fighting-type teammates, such as Timburr and Mienfoo, are useful for removing almost all of Pichu's average counters. Diglett gets a special mention as a counter, for trapping and completely destroying Pichu.

With a Choice Band equipped, Pichu reaches a decent 24 Attack, allowing it to deal massive damage to things not able to take Volt Tackle. Volt Tackle, with its 180 Base Power after STAB, deals good damage to Pokemon who don't resist it. However, because of its recoil, Thunder Punch is a secondary STAB option, with a noticeable power drop in exchange for lack of recoil. Return is the best possible coverage option available from Pichu's pitiful movepool, hitting Ground-types who are immune to its Electric STAB neutrally. Iron Tail is mostly filler, but hits Lileep and Snover hard on the switch, while Toxic is useful for crippling an incoming Hippopotas. Lightning Rod is the preferred ability due to the immunity it provides, and Static will see little to no use on Pichu because it cannot take a hit. Entry hazard support is recommended to secure some OHKOs and 2HKOs, such as the OHKO on Slowpoke after Stealth Rock. Because Magnemite and Ferroseed completely wall this set, a Magnemite of your own is a useful counter, trapping both of them and hitting them with a super effective Hidden Power Fire. Because Ground-types are natural enemies to Pichu, a Snover can be a useful teammate, killing them all with its powerful Blizzard.

Pichu is not very powerful, but this set attempts to remedy this problem by boosting Pichu's Attack stat with Choice Band. Volt Tackle is Pichu's most powerful STAB attack, and should be used early in the game to hit opponents hard, though the recoil damage is a turn-off. Thunder Punch is a reliable STAB attack with no recoil damage, though it is fairly weak. Toxic can be used instead of Thunder Punch to cripple an incoming wall such as Gligar, who would otherwise completely wall Pichu. Return provides good neutral coverage, and hits Pokemon who resist Electric hard. Iron Tail allows Pichu to hurt bulky Rock-type Pokemon such as Onix, but does not have much utility outside of that. Pichu greatly appreciates the extra power gained from Choice Band, which turns 3HKOs into 2HKOs. Pichu can also hold a Choice Scarf, boosting its Speed to 24, meaning it can outspeed all un-Scarfed Pokemon, as well as Scarfed Pokemon who sit at 15 Speed. While an Adamant nature is tempting to use, Pichu will almost always benefit more from the extra Speed that Jolly provides, allowing it to outspeed and get the all-important first strike on certain Pokemon such as Mantyke. The EV spread maximizes Pichu's most important stats, Attack and Speed, while the remaining EVs are dumped into HP, allowing Pichu to take more recoil damage, as well as increasing its bulk slightly. Bronzor and Nosepass are good teammates who can greatly benefit Pichu, both being able to set up Stealth Rock, while the former is immune to Pichu's only weakness, and the latter can spread paralysis throughout the opposing team. Choice Scarf Gligar is also a good teammate, being able to comfortably switch into Earthquake, as well as scouting the opponent's switches with U-turn, thus gaining momentum for your team.

Pichu is the only Electric-type in the tier who has access to Encore, and is one of the only support moves Pichu can make good use of. Encore allows Pichu to force switches and scout; Pichu can Encore a non-damaging move, then set up a Substitute as they switch, before hitting the switch-in with the correct move. Thunderbolt is Pichu's main attack, and will be hurting most Pokemon who don't resist it. Hidden Power Ice complements Thunderbolt well, forming the excellent BoltBeam combination, in which no Pokemon in the tier resists bar Magnemite and Chinchou. The EV spread maximizes Pichu's Special Attack and Speed stats, while increasing its HP by one point, allowing it to create four Substitutes. Pichu can utilize its Attack stat if you wish, opting for Thunder Punch and Return instead of Thunderbolt and Hidden Power Ice, though this is not recommended because it offers worse coverage and a weaker STAB attack. If a physical set is used, the EV spread should be 116 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Spe. Pichu greatly benefits from paralysis support, allowing it to come in on a non-damaging move from a Pokemon who would normally be faster than it and force them out. A good teammate is Nosepass, who has the bulk to spread paralysis throughout the opponent's team, while also being able to set up Stealth Rock, which is invaluable as Pichu will be forcing switches often. Note that both Pokemon are weak to Ground-type attacks, so a Pokemon such as Mantyke, who can switch in freely and fend off Ground-type Pokemon, will be helpful.

With Life Orb, Pichu still receives the boost in power, while also retaining the freedom to switch moves. Volt Tackle is Pichu's most powerful STAB attack, with a downside of recoil damage. Thunderbolt is used over Thunder Punch due to its higher Base Power, and hits most Pokemon harder. Return provides decent neutral coverage, and is relatively powerful. Finally, Hidden Power Ice hits Ground- and Grass-types for super effective damage, who would otherwise easily switch in and force Pichu out. Volt Tackle is Pichu's strongest attack, it is also a physical move, therefore most of Pichu's EVs are invested into Attack, to allow Pichu to hit as hard as possible. However, EVs can be shifted as you see fit from Attack to Special Attack so that Pichu can hit harder with Thunderbolt and Hidden Power. Maximum Speed with a Hasty nature should always be used to outspeed common Pokemon who sit at 15 Speed and below.