This fierce fighter uses electric moves like Thunder Jolt and Thunder. Pikachu Libre is one of the alternate costumes and you can tell she's female by the shape of her tail.
Pikachu (ピカチュウ, Pikachu) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It was confirmed on June 12th, 2018. Pikachu is classified as fighter #08.
As in SSB4, Ikue Ōtani's portrayals of Pikachu from Melee and Brawl were repurposed for Ultimate.
Pikachu is a small lightweight, tied with Kirby, Olimar and Mewtwo for the seventh lightest fighter. It has overall good mobility, possessing fast walking and dashing speeds, high jumps, is tied for the ninth highest air acceleration, and has the fourth highest traction, but slightly above average falling speed and gravity and below average air speed. Due to its fast mobility, a good projectile in Thunder Jolt, a good frame data and some of the fastest defensive options, Pikachu has a good approach and great neutral game.
Pikachu has a decent grab and throw game despite its poor grab range. It has a fast pummel and its forward and back throws are good for edgeguarding and up and down throws are good for combos, with the former being able to KO at around 170%. It has a strong combo game, with moves such as up tilt, its aerials attacks and its throws that can start, extend or end combos reliably.
It also has a strong recovery: Skull Bash and Quick Attack both travel a long distance and the former does not leave it helpless, while the latter can be angled and Pikachu jolts twice, although it cannot be done in the same direction. This makes Pikachu's recovery one of the best in the game, as its long-distanced and very hard to predict.
Pikachu's biggest strength, however, is its amazing air game and dominant edgeguarding game, with the latter being considered the best of the cast: all of Pikachu's aerials can autocancel in a short hop and its neutral, forward, back and up aerials are fast, all of them expect for the latter are multihits that can combo into each other, with their extremely low ending lag making them excellent for combos, edgeguarding and zero-to-deaths with low risk-high reward, while down aerial can meteor smash in its first two active frames and is fast for its category, while up aerial is good for juggling. Pikachu's down aerial also is its only aerial with over 20 frames of ending lag. As a result, Pikachu has strong zero-to-death potential, and it isn't hard to do so, even against experienced players.
Pikachu is not without weaknesses, however: Pikachu has poor range outside of forward smash and down tilt, with many attacks either having having small hitboxes or the hitboxes are placed too close to its body, thus it fares poorly with characters with long disjointed range and projectiles such as Simon or Young Link. It also has very poor endurance, due to being light and falling faster than the characters around its weight class. It also bears inconsistent KO power: forward and up smash are burdened by several sourspots, with the former being stronger in the mid hit, while its forward tilt, forward and back aerials and its back throw are unfit for KOing until around 150% or above and Thunder, while powerful, is slow and has high ending lag, thus possessing many unreliable finishers and poor KO ability. To make this worse, Pikachu doesn't have setups for its KO moves outside of up throw into Thunder, which is not reliable at high percents. Due to its reliance on Thunder Jolt, it also has a disadvantage against characters with reflectors. It also has a notable disadvantage against Ness, Lucas and Mr. Game & Watch, due to its projectiles being energy-based, they can absorb its projectiles and recover damage.
Overall, Pikachu's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, and is regularly considered a top-tier or even a contender for the best character in the game.
Pikachu has been greatly buffed during its transition to Ultimate. Most of the buffs improve its strengths: its already above-average speed has been increased, many of its moves have less ending lag, and its aerials have drastically reduced landing lag, improving Pikachu's overall comboing capabilities. Its most significant direct buffs are in its already great air game and edgeguarding ability, particularly with its new neutral aerial and altered down aerial, with the former now acting similarly to Mewtwo's neutral aerial and having much more combo potential, and the latter now having a clean hitbox that meteor smashes opponents, further improving the overall utility of both moves, while back aerial is now capable of autocanceling from a short hop and always consistently launches opponents behind Pikachu, making it easier to perform a pseudo-Wall of Pain with the move, and the animation is faster, significantly reducing its ending lag to the point it can now combo into itself several times at low percents, while down throw causes now causes 9 frames of hitlag to the opponent, improving its combo ability, and Thunder Jolt has less ending lag, making it safer to use repeatedly and increasing its utility. Its KOing power, one of its biggest weaknesses in SSB4, was also improved, with moves like dash attack, forward aerial, up aerial, up throw and Thunder now inflicting more knockback and down smash connects better and launches lower. Pikachu also drastically benefits from Ultimate's mechanics, as they make its already-incredible and oppressive edgeguarding as well as its on-stage offense even more effective, especially with the new meteor smash and altered aerial attacks, allowing Pikachu to perform zero to death combos without risk even against experienced players.
However, Pikachu is not without its nerfs, with the most significant being the increased startup and ending lag on its grabs, and the altered knockback of up throw, with it more difficult for Pikachu to combo the latter into Thunder, and the changes to neutral aerial removing its KO potential. The removal of Quick Attack canceling also reduces Pikachu's mobility and approach options. Furthermore, Pikachu also still suffers from many of the same weaknesses that plagued it in SSB4: short range, poor on-stage endurance due to its lightweight status, and limited KOing ability. Outside of that, the nerfs are generally minor and inconsequential.
Overall, Pikachu's buffs outweigh its nerfs, and it is considered to be even better than in SSB4, similarly to fellow top-tier characters Peach and Lucina. While Pikachu is not as common as some other top-/high-tier characters, it has still received above-average results courtesy of players like ESAM. This has led to many top players, such a s Samsora and the aforementioned ESAM, describing it as a top 5 character, and a good amount of them, such as ESAM himself, Pandarian, Dark Wizzy and ZeRo went as far as to put Pikachu as the single best character in the game, and the latter, during the demo, months before the game was released, even said that Pikachu was broken, although this is debatable, with some arguing that Peach, Snake or especially Joker are better because Pikachu lacks the results the they have.
Like all veterans returning from SSB4, Pikachu has a more subdued color scheme, more closely resembling its appearance in recent mainline Pokémon games.
Like other fighters, Pikachu is significantly more expressive. It now appears much angrier during some animations, such as neutral air and shielding; it now also frowns when attacking or hit, unlike in Smash 4 where it had a permanent smile.
Pikachu now faces the foreground at an angle, instead of facing directly forward. In addition, it always faces the screen regardless of which direction it turns, causing all of its animations to be mirrored.
Pikachu's cheeks flash white when it uses electric attacks.
Pikachu only waves once during its side taunt, shortening its duration. Down taunt is also faster.
For its side taunt, the voice clip duration of the second "Pika" has been shortened; now cutting off prematurely.
Two new costumes featuring the female Pikachu design, which has a heart-shaped tail, have been added. These replace its goggles and Choice Band costumes from SSB4.
It deals less knockback (10/9/8 base/45 scaling → 12/18 base/20/30 scaling). Combined with the increased traction across the cast, this allows Pikachu to connect more hits against opponents before they are pushed out of range.
The sweetspot and mid-strength hitboxes have been moved very slightly forward (Z offset: 7 (sweetspot)/9.5 (mid) → 7.2/9.6), marginally improving their range and thus the move's overall damage output, while the changes to jostle mechanics make up for the hitboxes not reaching in as far as a result.
Up tilt has an altered animation, with Pikachu scooting its backside up to hit with its tail. This causes it to have less range behind Pikachu, but more range in front of Pikachu.
Because of this, it can no longer hit opponents hanging at the ledge.
The middle hitbox is marginally smaller (3.84u → 3.8u).
Dash attack has significantly less ending lag (FAF 50 → 36).
It has gained a shieldstun multiplier of 1.8×. Combined with its reduced ending lag and the increased shieldstun for ground attacks, this makes it much safer on shield, with the clean hit being only barely punishable by a shield grab.
The clean hit deals more damage (10% → 11%) with knockback scaling not fully compensated (90 → 88), improving its KO potential.
Its hitboxes have a shorter duration (frames 6-9 (clean)/10-16 (late) → 6-8/9-12).
It has a higher hitlag multiplier (1.2× (clean), 1× (late) → 1.5×), making it much easier to DI.
All portions of forward smash have more horizontal range during their latest active frames (Z offset: 9.2 → 11.2 (early), 15.6 → 18.6 (clean), 23 → 25 (late)).
The early hit has a shorter duration, which causes the clean and late hits to be active earlier, and the late hit has a longer duration (frames 15-17 (early)/18-20 (clean)/21-22 (late) → 15-16/17-19/20-29).
Forward smash has more ending lag (FAF 49 → 54).
The clean hit and the late hit during its latest active frames have a smaller hitbox (4.1u → 3.6u (clean), 5.2u → 4u (late)).
The clean hit has less base knockback during its first frame (60 → 50), making its KO ability less consistent.
Up smash's early hit has a longer duration, with the late hit having a shorter duration instead (frames 10-11 (early)/12-13 (clean)/14-17 (late) → 10-12/13-14/15-17).
Down smash's looping hits have a lower SDI multiplier (0.8× → 0.5×) and launch opponents closer to Pikachu (170° → 178°), allowing them to connect more reliably.
The last hit always sends in the direction Pikachu is facing, and launches at a more horizontal angle (50° → 37°), improving its KO and edgeguarding potential.
The last hit has slightly less base knockback (55 → 51), but more knockback scaling (190 → 192).
Pikachu has a new neutral aerial: it discharges electricity around itself, hitting 4 times, similarly to Mewtwo's neutral aerial.
Neutral aerial has a longer duration (frames 3-5 (clean)/6-20 (late) → 3-6, 9-12, 15-18, 21-22) with its total duration is unchanged, reducing its ending lag.
The first three hits use the autolink angle (367°). This allows Pikachu to drag opponents down with the move and combo into many of its ground attacks, which is further complemented by its lower landing lag.
The last hit launches at a more vertical angle (361° → 60°). Combined with its multi-hit nature, this significantly improves its combo potential.
It deals slightly more damage if all hits connect (8.5% (clean), 5.5% (late) → 1.8% (hits 1-3), 3.5% (hit 4); 8.9% total).
Its hitboxes have altered size (7u (clean hit), 4.5u (late hit) → 5.5u (looping hits), 6u (last hit)), increasing its range compared to the previous late hit, but making the hitboxes smaller than the previous clean hit.
It auto-cancels slightly later (frame 35 → 37), although it can still auto-cancel in a short hop.
Due to it hitting multiple times, the launching hit deals less damage (8.5% → 3.5%) with knockback not fully compensated (30 base/104 scaling → 50/140), no longer KOing at realistic percentages.
Forward aerial hits six times instead of five, and deals more damage if all hits connect (1.7% (hits 1-4), 3% (hit 5) → 1.4% (hits 1-5), 4.8% (hit 6); total: 9.8% → 11.8%).
It has lower hitlag multipliers (0.7× → 0.5× (looping hits), 2.2× → 1.5× (last hit)), making it harder to SDI out of.
The looping hits have different angles (74°/280° → 35°/310°/60°/290°), allowing them to connect better.
The last hit deals less base knockback (50 → 40), but has more knockback scaling (150 → 154), which alongside its higher damage output improves its combo and KO potential.
It has slightly more startup lag (frame 10 → 11).
However, its total duration is unchanged, giving it one frame less ending lag.
The hits' timings have been altered (frames 10-12, 14-16, 18-20, 22-24, 26 → 11-25 (rehit rate: 3), 27).
Back aerial auto-cancels earlier (frame 48 → 38), allowing it to auto-cancel in a short hop.
The last hit always sends behind Pikachu, making it easier to combo and edgeguard with.
The looping hits have larger hitboxes (3.5u/3.5u → 4.2u/4.2u), allowing them to connect better.
The last hit has less knockback scaling (180 → 160), increasing its combo potential, but reducing its KO potential.
It hits six times instead of eight with its damage compensated (0.8% (hits 1-7), 3% (hit 8) → 1% (hits 1-5), 3.6% (hit 6)) and its animation has been sped up.
This drastically reduces its ending lag (FAF 59 → 44), significantly improving its combo potential to the point it can combo into itself several times at low percents.
However, this shortens the duration of its hitboxes (frames 4-33 → 4-25).
It has an altered ending animation, with Pikachu spreading out its limbs while in a more upright position.
Down aerial has gained a clean hit during its first two active frames, which deals more damage (12% → 13%) and meteor smashes opponents (361° → 270°), with knockback not properly compensated (20 base/84 scaling → 16/86). This allows it to start combos onstage and improves Pikachu's edgeguarding ability.
Due to this clean hitbox being smaller (5.7u → 5.5u), the move's range on startup is now reduced.
Standing grab has a larger hitbox (3.1u → 4u), slightly increasing its range despite extending slightly less far horizontally (Z2 offset: 8.1u → 7.9u).
All grabs have more startup (frame 6/8/9 (standing/dash/pivot) → 7/11/12) and ending lag (FAF 28/35/33 → 37/45/40).
Dash and pivot grab do not extend as far horizontally (Z2 offset: 9.8u → 9u (dash), 13.4u → 12.7u (pivot)), reducing their range.
Pikachu grabs the opponent with one hand instead of two.
Pummel deals more hitlag (3 frames → 12), but has less startup (frame 3 → 1) and significantly less ending lag (FAF 16 → 6), slightly shortening its duration.
It deals less damage (1.9% → 1%).
When pummeling, Pikachu headbutts the victim as well instead of just using electricity.
Back throw releases the opponent faster (frame 31 → 26), with its total duration unchanged. This increases its ending lag and shortens the distance Pikachu moves back before throwing, making it less effective for setting up edgeguards, while still giving the opponent enough time to DI.
Up throw deals more damage (1% → 3% (hit 1), 3% → 5% (throw), 4% → 8% total) with knockback scaling not fully compensated (150 → 129), granting it KO potential at around 170%.
The first hit deals knockback to bystanders, rather than simply damaging them, making the move safer to use in doubles play.
Its increased knockback reduces its combo potential, especially into Thunder.
Down throw inflicts 9 frames of hitlag on the opponent upon release. While making it easier to DI, this noticeably improves its combo potential.
The first hit is coded to disappear on the same frame it comes out. As a result, the throw deals less damage (8% → 5%) and no longer hits bystanders, but oddly enough, Pikachu and the thrown opponent still experience hitlag from the first hit.
It launches at a slightly more vertical angle (80° → 83°).
Skull Bash deals marginally more damage when uncharged (6.1714% → 6.2%) and has more knockback scaling at all charges (62 → 78).
It has less ending lag it if doesn't hit an opponent (FAF 81 → 75).
If the move hits an opponent, it causes Pikachu to bounce back in a recoil animation with much less ending lag (FAF 45 → 22), even if the opponent shields it, making it safer to use.
Pikachu's body no longer stretches as much during the move, which means opponents cannot hit Pikachu by attacking the space above it.
Quick Attack cancelling is no longer possible, hindering Pikachu's approach options, especially from the ledge.
It has an angle indicator to telegraph Pikachu's trajectory. This may help prevent missed directional inputs, but makes Pikachu's movement more predictable.
Thunder's discharge has more knockback scaling (66 → 77), improving its KO potential.
The meteor smash at the cloud deals set knockback (74 base/60 scaling → 55 base/125 set/60 scaling), allowing it to connect more consistently into the discharge.
When struck by the bolt, Pikachu glows a bright yellow while flashing a dark tint, much like its depiction in the Pokémon anime.
Volt Tackle involves Pikachu dashing forward quickly while surrounded by a ball of electricity. If this initial attack connects, Pikachu traps the opponent in place and speeds around the stage at different angles, racking up damage before launching opponents with an electric blast at the end of the move.
Volt Tackle is easier to control, requiring only a single button press rather than having to control Pikachu's slippery movement.
Pikachu can no longer chase down opponents if the initial attack misses, and may self-destruct if initiated too close to the edge.
Even though Pikachu is widely considered a top tier character, it has been slightly buffed via game updates. Its grab game was slightly improved, thanks to a faster pummel and larger grabboxes. Although Thunder Jolt's shield damage output was decreased as part of a near-universal nerf to projectiles, this nerf is largely inconsequential for Pikachu.
An electrified double kick performed from the baby freeze, a variation of the freeze breakdancing move. It deals more damage when angled upward, and the lower angles semi-spike. Deals moderate knockback; the unangled version KOs Mario around 155% at the edge of Final Destination.
An overhead tail swipe, starting from behind Pikachu. An excellent combo starter, comboing into itself at low percents and into Pikachu's aerials at low to mid percents. A powerful juggling tool. Has moderate startup lag, however, as it does not hit opponents in front of Pikachu until frames 9-10, depending on their size.
Lays down and sweeps its tail in front of itself. Has good horizontal reach and very low ending lag, making it somewhat spammable. Can trip at low percents.
A battering ram. The early hitbox deals solid damage and good knockback, allowing it to KO middleweights around 135% on Final Destination. It also has fairly low startup lag (frame 6), and the early hitbox lasts deceptively long. However, the late hitbox has no KO potential at any reasonable percent, and the high ending lag prevents either hit from comboing.
Rears its head back before leaning forward and releasing a large orb of electricity in front of it, leaving a trail of electricity. The early hit comes out on frame 15, the clean hit on frame 17 and the late hit on frame 20. The center of the ball deals the most damage and knockback, having high horizontal KO potential. The trail deals the second most damage and the least knockback, and the tip deals the least damage and second most knockback. Has good range, with a hitbox the close to the size of Pikachu. The uncharged sweetspot KOs Mario around 80% at the edge of Final Destination, although the early hit doesn't KO until 105% and the late hit until 100%, giving the attack several sourspots and making it very inconsistent. Also has a long duration and noticeable ending lag (31 frames), making it very easy to punish if shielded or dodged.
An overhead tail swipe. Unlike Pikachu's up tilt, it starts in front of it and has good vertical KO potential. The early hit comes out somewhat quickly (frame 10) and lasts until Pikachu's tail goes above it, after which the clean hit lasts until the tail goes behind it. The early hit's sweetspot is located on Pikachu's body, and is very difficult to land outside a shield break punish. The early sweetspot KOs middleweights around 115% on Final Destination, while the early sourspot KOs around 125%. The late hit, however, deals minimal damage and knockback.
Charges its tail with electricity before spinning it around, shocking opponents. Has the least damage potential out of all its smash attacks, dealing only 13%. It KOs middleweights around 95% at the edge of Final Destination and deals good horizontal knockback. Also has the least start-up out of all its smash attacks, coming out on frame 8, but its 42 frames of ending lag makes it very punishable if used poorly.
Poses while charging itself with electricity, shocking nearby opponents. It hits 4 times, with the final hit having weak knockback. One of Pikachu's most versatile tools; it is useful for breaking out of combos due to its very fast startup (frame 3) a generously low amount of ending lag (17 frames), it's notorious for its combo ability into itself or into other aerials until high percents and to drag down opponents for edgeguarding offstage, and can also combo into jab, up tilt, forward tilt, down tilt, grab, or even up smash due to its low ending lag. Like all of Pikachu's other aerials, it can autocancel in a short hop.
Spins its forward with an electrically charged head, shocking opponents. Moderate startup lag at frame 11 and hits 6 times. Has low landing lag, and extremely low ending lag (15 frames), the lowest of Pikachu's aerials, making it an effective spacing option, but has two very small looping hitboxes, which are very close to Pikachu's head and don't use the autolink angle, thus having terrible range and unlike Pichu's version, the hits don't always connect properly because they don't launch at the autolink angle. The multiple hits and long duration make it an effective aerial for SHFFing. Due to its lenient amount of ending lag, it is an excellent combo and edgeguarding option and can connect into a down aerial for meteor smashing or combo into other aerials.
Spins around horizontally, hitting multiple times, with a pose at the end to launch foes. Very fast, coming out on frame 4 with a long active duration and very low ending lag (18 frames) and can hit all around Pikachu, but it's below average knockback doesn't make it reliable for KOing until very high percents and has very short range, only hitting opponents very close to Pikachu. At such it's more useful for combos, and at low percents, it's notorious for its ability to combo into itself four times, or even five times if used at 0%. Can drag down opponents, and has a landing hitbox. It has 18 frames of landing lag, however.
An overhead tail swipe, starting from behind Pikachu. Extremely fast, coming out on frame 4, with very low ending lag (19 frames) as it autocancels and is interruptible at frame 27. A solid combo starter, useful for juggling or comboing into itself and other aerials at low percents. Has low horizontal knockback.
Points down and spins its head downwards, launching opponents. The clean hit last for two frames and is a powerful meteor smash, while the late hit has good horizontal knockback. It has low ending lag with 22 frames of vulnerability, but it's the highest of Pikachu's aerials. Has a landing hitbox. However it has 22 frames of landing lag.
Lays the opponent on its tail and shocks them. It's Pikachu's most damaging throw, but is too weak to KO and not fit for combos either, thus having little utility outside its high damage output.
Rolls backwards before launching the opponent with a tomoe nage, a throw used in judo. Very good for setting up edgeguards, as it has high base knockback and the animation means opponents near the center will end up being launched near the edge, but it is unimpressive as a KOing option as it only starts KOing middleweights around 165% at the edge of Final Destination.
Heaves the opponent onto its head and headbutts it upwards. A good low percent combo throw. Has decent knockback growth, making it Pikachu's best KOing throw, as it KOs opponents at around 170%. However, its KO setup with Thunder is less consistent due to its higher knockback.
Lays the opponent on the ground and performs a senton. A good combo starter comboing into every aerial except down aerial reliably from low to mid percent, allowing Pikachu to start chains.
Shoots a ball of electricity. A very useful projectile, as it deals good damage, moves quickly, and can be spammed. When it goes over the edge, it sticks to the platform it's on, looping around until its lifespan is over or it hits the bottom of a soft platform. This property allows it to be used to pressure opponents trying to recover by using it near the edge and hitting them when they attempt to grab it.
Charges up before launching forward at a high velocity. Can be charged to increased damage, knockback, and distance. Useful for horizontal recovery, as it has a hitbox protecting it, high horizontal distance, and can sweetspot the ledge. Can also be used to punish shield breaks due to its high knockback when charged; however, it has high ending lag. If inputted like a smash attack, it immediately starts with some charge.
Zips upward at high speeds, dealing damage to opponents on contact. Can be angled; if angled in a different direction after the first time it is used, Pikachu will use it again. It covers great distance and can be unpredictable if used well, but it leaves Pikachu helpless. It's also an approach option, however in this case it can be predictable and it is unsafe on shield. Pikachu also cannot use the Quick Attack canceling technique anymore.
Calls down a bolt of lightning from the sky. If the bolt strikes Pikachu, it will create an electric explosion around itself, dealing massive knockback and granting Pikachu intangibility for 10 frames. If an opponent is struck near the top of the bolt or at the cloud, they're launched down into Pikachu and will get hit by the discharge as well; otherwise, they're launched upwards. Has high endlag if the bolt doesn't strike Pikachu. The thunderbolt becomes active on frame 13, but there is a long gap before the discharge, and thus, it's easy to attack Pikachu before the thunderbolt hits it and is very vulnerable to counters.
Left: Backflips and spins (its "character chosen" animation in Super Smash Bros.).
Up: Ears perk, scratches its right ear.
Right: Sleeps.
A small excerpt of the title theme of Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green Versions, a track which would go on to become the Pokémon main theme and the title theme for the entire series.
Even before the game got released, Pikachu's buffs to its strengths, including its already excellent edgeguarding game, caused players to think of it as one of the best characters in the game and particularly, ZeRo, who even said that Pikachu was broken during the demo. This perception became more evident especially after the 3.1.0 nerfs to Pichu and Peach, as many top players consider Pikachu to be either the best in the game or among one of the best, alongside Joker and Snake. Despite this, as with Brawl and Smash 4, Pikachu has a relatively small playerbase compared to many other top tiers, with ESAM being the only Pikachu player to have consistently high placements in majors.
Any number following the Smasher name indicates placement on the Spring 2019 PGRU, which recognizes the official top 50 players in the world in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from February 1st, 2019 to July 7th, 2019.
Captain L (#50) - Considered the best Pikachu player in Canada and one of the best ones in the world. Placed 7th at Battle of BC 3 and 25th at MomoCon 2019 with mostly Pikachu. Has wins over Fatality, Mr E, and WaDi.
Kishiru - The best Pikachu player in Japan. Placed 17th at Umebura Japan Major 2019, 25th at Umebura SP 3, and consistently places top 16 or top 8 at Toryumon Kiwami tournaments.
Pikachu fights against other Pokémon on various Pokémon stages, with Poké Balls as the only available item. The title is a reference to Ash Ketchum's signature catchphrase in the Pokémon anime, which doubles as the title of the first episode and the 20th movie.
Each character can be unlocked by clearing Pikachu's Classic Mode, or the Classic Mode of any preceding character, if all preceding characters have been unlocked. Once all the above characters are unlocked, clearing Classic Mode with any of them will default to Mario's character unlock tree, starting with Sonic.
Pikachu was among the fighters summoned to the cliffside to fight an army of Master Hands.
During the opening cutscene, Pikachu was present when Galeem unleashed his beams of light. While attempting to run away, Pikachu was noticed by Sonic, who slowed down for Pikachu in an attempt to save it. However, both of them were vaporized and placed under Galeem's imprisonment along with the rest of the fighters, except for Kirby.
Pikachu can later be found stuck on an island that can only be accessed by falling into the current of a waterfall, then the player must confront the spirit of Esna before they can battle to awake it.
Pikachu's Fighter Spirits can be obtained by completing Classic Mode. They are also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 500 coins. Unlocking Pikachu in World of Light allows the player to preview the first spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As Fighter Spirits, they cannot be used in Spirit Battles and are purely aesthetic. Each Fighter Spirit has an alternate version that replaces them with their artwork in Ultimate.
Additionally, Pikachu makes an appearance in a few Support Spirits.
This is the first time Pikachu was not the first Pokémon character to be explicitly announced for a new Smash title, with Mewtwo being confirmed before it.
Pikachu's pose in its official artwork resembles its front sprite in the Generation III Pokémon games.
In the E3 demo of the game, Pikachu's portrait used its in-game model as opposed to its official artwork. This was also the case with Link, Mario and Villager.
Pikachu's alternate costume featuring goggles has been removed and returned to Pichu, who was the original owner of said palette swap in Melee.
Pikachu, in comparison to the other starters, has the least amount of characters in its unlock tree, having only seven characters as opposed to the standard eight.
Pikachu is the only character in the entire roster to have two different facial expressions when standard grab and dash grab are missed. It dons a scared look when it whiffs the former, while the latter will have it have a more irritated expression respectively.
Due to its new Pikachu Libre costume and another one of its alternate costumes, Pikachu is now the only member of the Original 12 to change sex between costumes, as well as the first of the Original 12 to technically be a different character in one of its costumes (while characters like Link and Captain Falcon have costumes resembling distinct characters before like Fierce Deity Link or Blood Falcon, clear differences show them to not be the real thing, such as maintaining the same body underneath their clothes or a difference in shoes).
Like all veterans returning from SSB4, Pikachu has a more subdued color scheme, more closely resembling its appearance in recent mainline 
Like all characters, Pikachu's 
Forward 
Quick Attack no longer has 
