What to know

  • Pichu evolves into Pikachu through high friendship, not by leveling up.
  • You must manually trigger the evolution once friendship is high enough.
  • Pikachu evolves into Raichu when exposed to a Thunder Stone.
  • You can also catch a wild Pikachu later in the game instead of evolving Pichu.

Evolving Pichu into Pikachu in Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t about levels — it’s about the bond you share. The friendship mechanic returns in this title, requiring you to show consistent care and attention to your Pichu.

Where to find Pichu

You can encounter wild Pichu early in the game, most often around Wild Zone 1, near a small pond west of the gate area. They are rare spawns, so it might take a few encounters to find one.

How friendship works in Legends Z-A

Friendship (sometimes referred to as happiness) increases based on your interactions with your Pokémon. Pichu’s evolution to Pikachu will only trigger when this friendship value crosses a certain threshold.

How to manually evolve Pichu into Pikachu

Once friendship is maxed out, Pichu won’t automatically evolve. You’ll need to initiate it yourself.

Open the Pokémon menu and highlight your Pichu. You’ll see an evolution icon next to its name. Select it.

Choose “Let it evolve” to trigger the evolution animation.

You now have Pikachu — a stronger Electric-type companion with boosted stats and access to better moves like Thunderbolt and Volt Tackle.

How to evolve Pikachu into Raichu

To evolve Pikachu further into Raichu, you’ll need a Thunder Stone.

Step 1: Get a Thunder Stone.

You can purchase one from the Stone Emporium in Lumiose City once it becomes available, or find it as loot in certain wild zones.

Step 2: Open your bag.

Go to “Other Items” and select the Thunder Stone.

Step 3: Use the stone on Pikachu.

Confirm the evolution when prompted — Pikachu will evolve into Raichu instantly.

Alternative: Catching Pikachu directly

If you’d rather skip the friendship grind, you can find wild Pikachu in Wild Zone 3. They’re moderately rare but much easier to evolve once caught, since you can directly use a Thunder Stone on them to obtain Raichu.

Friendship evolution tips

Here are a few extra tips for building friendship faster:

  • Equip Pichu with items like the Soothe Bell, which increases friendship gain.
  • Keep it out of storage — boxed Pokémon don’t gain friendship.
  • Heal it often and avoid unnecessary fainting.
  • Winning trainer battles gives faster results than battling wild Pokémon.

The bond that sparks Pichu evolution

Evolving Pichu in Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t just a mechanical step — it’s a reflection of how well you treat your partner. By keeping it active, avoiding knockouts, and sharing adventures, you’ll soon have a loyal Pikachu ready to grow into Raichu. Whether you prefer to raise your electric pal from scratch or catch one in the wild, the result is a powerful team member that truly represents your bond as a trainer.