How to Get Pikachu as Your Starter in Pokemon: FireRed
While Pokemon FireRed limits you to choosing Bulbasaur, Squirtle or Charmander as your first Pokemon, this doesn't mean you have to stick with them. Any Pokemon can be used as your lead Pokemon, including the Electric-type Pikachu. Setting Pikachu as your lead means he's the first Pokemon to be sent out in every battle unless switched with another Pokemon. Getting Pikachu early in Pokemon FireRed is a bit time consuming but doesn't require much more than that.
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Things You'll Need
- Pokemon LeafGreen or another Pokemon FireRed
- Game-link cable
- Game Boy Advance (2)
Instructions
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Catching Pikachu Yourself
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1
Start the game and head north leaving Pallet Town. Professor Oak will stop you so he can give you a Pokemon.
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2
Choose any of the three Pokemon (Bulbasaur, Squirtle or Charmander). You will battle your rival. After facing him, leave and head north to Veridian City. Stop at the Pokemon Mart and get the package for Professor Oak. Then return to Pallet Town.
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3
Give Professor Oak the package. Professor Oak gives you five Pokeballs in return for your help. You now can catch Pikachu.
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4
Head north again, moving past Veridian City into Veridian Forest.
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5
Walk around in the tall grass in Veridian Forest and battle the wild Pokemon that appear. You will fight mostly bug Pokemon. Eventually you will encounter Pikachu. The rate at which Pikachu appears is completely random, so you could find one in your first battle or after several minutes of searching.
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6
Weaken Pikachu using attack moves but don't make it faint. Select the "BAG" option and use a Pokeball to capture it. When you capture it, Pikachu is yours to use as you please.
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7
Take Pikachu to a Pokemon Center and speak with the woman at the desk to restore its health. Then press the "Start" button and select "POKEMON." Select Pikachu and choose the "SWITCH" option. Select the Pokemon on the left side of the screen to replace it with Pikachu.
Trading for Pikachu
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8
Follow Step 1 through Step 3 as listed in the above section.
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9
Walk in the tall grass to battle wild Pokemon. When you encounter one, weaken it using attack moves. Then select "BAG" and use a Pokeball on it. This will capture the Pokemon.
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10
Head north to Veridian City and enter the Pokemon Center. Take the stairs on the left to go to the second floor.
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11
Connect your Game Boy Advance to another Game Boy Advance using a game-link cable. The second Game Boy Advance must have a copy of Pokemon FireRed or Pokemon LeafGreen inserted. The player must have captured Pikachu, must have Pikachu in his party and must be at the second floor of any Pokemon Center to link trade.
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12
Talk to the woman at the far-right side of the room and select "TRADE CENTER" on both consoles. Follow the on-screen instructions, enter the room and choose the Pokemon to be traded, making sure the second player selects Pikachu. Once the trade is complete, you can now set Pikachu as your lead Pokemon as in Step 7 in the above section.
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1
Tips & Warnings
A traded Pikachu won't always obey your commands unless you have the appropriate gym badge. If this concerns you, catching your own Pikachu is the way to go.
Be sure not to let your own Pokemon faint while hunting for Pikachu. Visit Pokemon Centers often to heal and avoid fainting.
References
- Photo Credit Lightning image by Justin Pirtle from Fotolia.com
